I remember when I first started to make a little money as a teen.
A friend and I were ready to put together a PowerPoint to convince our parents to let us get motorcycles. The research was damning, but we were more than prepared to skew the details.
It never happened.
Between the hard no from our parents and the fact that we severely underestimated the costs, the lifelong dream of riding motorcycles would have to wait until we were adults.
As it turns out, our parents really did have our best interests in mind.
We were nowhere near ready to ride motorcycles.
The responsibility, the skills, the costs, the risks! – we had no idea what we were in for, other than all the wrong reasons.
Since then, I have encountered a lot of motorcyclists and aspiring motorcyclists, both on and off my motorcycle (yeah, I finally got one).
And I have learned a lot about the types of people who should and shouldn’t ride motorcycles.
And as much as I want to advocate that everyone should ride a motorcycle, I recognize that this advice does not cater to all types of aspiring riders.
In this article, I will go over some of the people who should and shouldn’t ride a motorcycle.
And don’t worry, if you feel like you fit the bill for someone who shouldn’t ride motorcycles, I will also offer some tips and guidance to easily make you a safe rider in no time.
Who Should Ride a Motorcycle
Let’s start this off with the good stuff. Here are the types of people that I think should ride motorcycles.
1. Anyone who wants to ride a motorcycle
If you want to ride motorcycles, you are the type of person who should ride motorcycles.
This is really the most important factor.
If you think they’re cool, if you love the sound, if you’re drawn to the sense of adventure, you deserve to ride a motorcycle.
It doesn’t matter what you think may be holding you back, just about any person of any age, can ride a motorcycle.
2. Anyone who is prepared to learn to ride correctly and safely
Coupled with the point above, this is the next important factor and between the two, it’s all you really need.
If you are prepared to learn how to ride a motorcycle safely and effectively, you are the type of person who should ride motorcycles.
As you can see from all of my articles on the MSF course, this is the route you should go.
Nothing compares to the lesson you learn during the MSF course and there is no better way to learn how to ride a motorcycle than the MSF course.
For a breakdown of the MSF course, check out this article on taking the MSF course as a beginner.
And for those of us who are impatient, I also have an article on how to learn how to ride a motorcycle safely on your own.
3. Anyone with dirtbike experience
If you want to ride a motorcycle and you already have dirtbike experience, you are going to be a great rider.
Not only are you already familiar with the controls, but you also know how to handle a motorcycle that gets out of control.
A lot of the lessons you learn on a dirtbike carry over to motorcycles and sometimes you know more than your average rider.
4. Anyone with experience on the road
If you want to ride a motorcycle and you’ve already had experience driving a car road, you are already armed with some of the tools you need to drive a motorcycle safely on the road – But only if you’re a safe driver.
If you have years of driving experience, you are already well aware of how to stay safe on the road.
You know not to change lanes at an intersection, you know how to wait until you clear your blind spots, and you’re used to following at a safe distance.
Even more, you’re most likely familiar with your local roads. These are all great skills you can take with you when you finally decide to get a motorcycle.
5. People who seek thrill and adventure
Not trying to encourage recklessness, but if you are the type of person who seeks thrill and adventure, there is nothing like the thrill and adventure of riding a motorcycle.
Nothing compares to the feeling of twisting the throttle and feeling the motorcycle accelerate you forward.
All of a sudden those boring local roads you’re used to become a different type of playground you can have fun on (legally..).
The whole world opens up and all of a sudden, you want to ride everywhere and do everything on that motorcycle. You can even take it to the track and ride safely but close to the limit of grip.
A motorcycle is the ultimate toy for those of us who love the sense of adventure and the thrill of doing something fun and sometimes dangerous.
6. Mature and responsible people
Almost in direct contrast to the point above, the best motorcyclists are the ones who are mature and can ride responsibly.
What seems like a limitation actually opens up a whole new possibility of freedom.
For starters, the riders who ride the longest are the ones who learned the balance between improving their skills and still riding responsibly.
In fact, the best riders are the ones who realize that there is always something to learn.
Anyone seeking community and camaraderie
Finally, if you are looking for an awesome community of people, you will find all types of groups in the motorcycling community.
From the bikers who ride in parades to the weekend warriors who meet up every Sunday for coffee and backroads – there is a community for every rider.
Who Shouldn’t Ride a Motorcycle
As much as I want to advocate that everyone should ride motorcycles, for some people, it is just not a safe idea.
Here are some of the people that I recommend shouldn’t ride motorcycles.
1. Immature or Reckless people
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run across people who got their first motorcycle only to wreck it or lose it within the first year.
And how many of us have heard the old “I can’t get a motorcycle, I’d kill myself on one of those”?
More often than not, these types of riders severely underestimate the responsibility and respect that comes with riding a motorcycle.
I don’t care if you want a motorcycle just to wheelie and hoon around town or to pull triple-digit numbers on the interstate, the best riders always know the balance between having fun while riding somewhat responsibly.
People who are too reckless or immature to understand their limits should hold off on getting a motorcycle until they have more life experience.
I advocate that all people can be riders, but I also advocate for lifelong riders, and this means riding safely and responsibly.
2. Anyone who doesn’t see the benefit of the MSF course
The MSF course is not the end all be all of motorcycle training, but it is one of the best ways for new riders to learn practical motorcycle skills.
I actually have a few articles on the MSF course and it’s because I genuinely think all riders should take the MSF course.
The MSF course goes so much further than just showing you how to operate a motorcycle. It also teaches you a variety of skills that make you a safe and smart rider.
3. Anyone who doesn’t see the benefit of wearing motorcycle gear
I know a lot of us got into motorcycles because they look cool, but trust me, the coolest-looking riders wear real motorcycle gear.
And I get it, the hoodie and Vans look is a cool look, but nothing beats the riders who are wearing full gear.
Not only do they look the coolest, but there’s a certain stigma about a fully geared rider that tells you that they’re probably a good rider.
I know when I started riding I immediately noticed a difference between the riders who wore full gear and the riders who didn’t.
I wanted to look like one of the riders who wears gear.
For a detailed breakdown of motorcycle gear as well as some good reasons to wear it, check out this article on essential beginner motorcycle gear.
4. Anyone who physically cannot ride
Finally, the only people who can never ride a motorcycle are people who are physically or mentally unable to operate a motorcycle.
Unfortunately, not all of us are lucky enough to have the tools we need to ride a motorcycle.
But this should really be the only limiting factor for aspiring riders.
All of the other reasons in this article can easily be remedied but if you are physically unable to ride a motorcycle, unfortunately, it is not safe for you.
Luckily, there are all types of other dangerous activities you can get into – within reason.
Are you ever too old to ride a motorcycle?
This point also brings up a good question, are you ever too old to ride a motorcycle?
I actually have a great article on this topic exactly, but I genuinely believe that you can never be too old to ride a motorcycle.
Of course, age can affect some of the things that help you ride a motorcycle, but if you are able-bodied, you can earn to ride a motorcycle at just about any age.
Conclusion
In conclusion, just about anyone can learn to ride a motorcycle.
Of course, sometimes you may need to hold off on getting one until you are ready, but any issues can easily be remedied with a mindset shift and a little determination and patience.
I hope this article was more inspiring than not, and I hope to see you out on the road.