motorcycle, a Yamaha V Star 250.
Dear WRN,
Ive been thinking of getting a motorcycle and the license with it. I fell in love with bikes because of my grandpa, but Im a complete beginner and a little nervous. Im willing to learn on a manual motorcycle, but want to know if an automatic one would be better for a 5-foot-even small girl like myself. Any advice is welcome.
Thank you,
Jada
Ohio
Please post your response below in the comments section. Thanks.
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Because I’m 5 feet 4 inches, I found that finding a motorcycle that fit me off the sales floor was difficult. If you have enough money you can have some bikes fitted to your height, but it’s not cheap. If you decide to go with an automatic bike this limits the bikes available to you even more.If you have an automatic bike you also lose the ability to engine brake, when you let off your throttle the bike should slightly slow a bit if the correct gear is chosen.But at the end of the day, this will be you on your bike. Ride what feels comfortable and right for you at this point in your riding experience.
Hi Terri,Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom.Regarding this portion of your comment, “If you have an automatic bike you also lose the ability to engine brake, when you let off your throttle the bike should slightly slow a bit if the correct gear is chosen.”In fact, automatic motorcycles will immediately slow down when the rider rolls off the throttle, which is similar to engine braking a manual motorcycle.Thank you for allowing us the ability to explain this very important detail to WRN readers.
If you’re bad at shifting (car or motorcycle) get an automatic! It takes that part of the stress out of motorcycling for a new rider. Try a dual-clutch. With a dual-clutch, you can start out in automatic and use manual (or sport mode) when you get more comfortable.I ride a Honda Gold Wing, but my wife, who has been terrible with manual transmissions (car, truck, and motorcycle) since her teenage years, rides a Honda DN-01 dual-clutch. After owning two other bikes and one scooter, she finally says she’s found her bike. She’s confident, competent, and, most of all, happy. And, the DN-01 is shorter than many bikes and can keep up at highway speeds.Unfortunately, the DN-01 is no longer manufactured. Look for a used one, or find a dual-clutch bike that fits you.
Thank you all for the comments! This advice is amazing!
I just got my license last September after taking and passing the BRC, at the age of 40. I have never driven a motorcycle and have tried manual transmission maybe 20 years ago and hated it. I was very nervous about learning the shifting on a motorcycle, but the course was amazing and really made a difference. The shifting was nothing like in a car.A month later I bought my first bike, a Victory Octane. I rode around the neighborhood in first gear, getting used to the bike (it’s sooo different than the Kawasaki Eliminators we used in the BRC). I practiced in parking lots and rather quickly moved into second gear. I actually got into third by accident, and it was fine. It’s actually a lot of fun and quite easy switching gears.As others have said, it’s about what you are comfortable with. But automatic transmission is available on a lot fewer bikes than manual and it is more expensive. I’m 5 feet 5 inches and I felt the bikes I felt comfortable on was very limited. I could imagine at 5 feet it’s a lot more limited, especially for a new rider.
As with everything we do, start with what makes you comfortable, keeping in mind that you can move up and or branch out.Move up to a manual shift or branch out to a trike, automatic or not. Follow your heart and leave your expectations behind.Live and learn in your own time. Enjoy the ride!
Not sure what is best for you. I’m “older.” I learned to drive a manual car that gave me a great heads up. Maybe try taking a driving lesson with a manual if available.
I’ve never understood the big mystique of a manual shift. Someone invented the automatic transmission for a reason! I’ve tried to get the hang of a manual to know avail. I was so busy trying to learn to shift, I wasn’t enjoying the ride, and I gave up. Also, I am only 5 feet 2 inches so most bikes didn’t fit me. I purchased a semi-automatic Can Am Spyder touring bike and I will never go back to two wheels. I don’t worry about my feet touching the ground or laying the bike down. I know the die-hard two wheeler big bike riders don’t like them, but now I enjoy the ride instead of constantly worrying about trying to shift or hold the bike up! And I can smoke a Harley!
I did just this and was very happy that I did. I rode a Ridley for the first year and learned so much. I sadly outgrew it over time due to limitation of speed as I got braver. I’d do it again for sure. After that year I bought a Harley-Davidson V-Rod that I rode for two years. Then I changed for what I believe is my last time, to a Harley Springer Crossbones.
If you’re bad at shifting (car or motorcycle) get an automatic! It takes that part of the stress out of motorcycling for a new rider. Try a dual-clutch motorcycle. With a dual-clutch, you can start out in automatic and use manual (or sport mode) when you get more comfortable.I ride a Honda GoldWing, but my wife, who has been terrible with manual transmissions (car, truck, and motorcycle) since her teenage years, rides a Honda DN-01 dual-clutch. After owning two other bikes and one scooter, she finally says she’s found her bike. She’s confident, competent, and, most of all, happy. And, the DN-01 is shorter than many bikes and can keep up at highway speeds.Unfortunately, the DN-01 is no longer manufactured. Look for a used one, or find a dual-clutch bike that fits you.
I feel like the limiting factor would be your budget. If the finances allow for the purchase of a “training” bike and then the purchase of a “regular” bike, go ahead and find a motorcycle with an automatic to start on. There are a lot of things going on when riding — what you’re looking at, what your hands are doing, what your feet are doing, body position, etc. Breaking that down into smaller bites can be useful when first learning to ride. If you don’t have to worry about shifting and can get the rest of the actions down to where you can do them without thinking, and THEN add the shifting component, all the better.If finances don’t allow for multiple bike purchases, just go for the bike that fits you best and jump in with both feet. I guess it’s the difference between learning to swim by starting in the shallow end with someone holding you up or throwing you in the deep end. You learn to swim either way, there’s just a little more initial panic in the latter method.
This is a great idea that helped me a ton when I started riding just three years ago. I’m also 5 feet tall, and was very interested in bikes for cost-savings, but for me, it felt like learning manual along with learning the balance would be too much. I started on a maxi scooter (that’s a larger kind of scooter) so it would feel much more like a motorcycle than a scooter.I was looking for maxi scooters 250cc to 400cc range to start (like the Honda Forza/Reflex). The scooters weighed 400 pounds or more which is typical for the average motorcycle as well. I learned a lot from riding a “bigger” scooter to start, too, since I had to handle it well as a smaller rider. You can always change it up when you feel more confident riding. Going to a lightweight motorcycle after that helped me learn manual while not stressing too much about handling. Then I was able to go to a heavier bike once I felt comfortable enough with that.Do you know what your inseam is? Mine is 28 inches and I use Daytona Lady Star boots that give me a 1.5 inch rise to help reaching the ground. I also bought boot lifts on Amazon that give me an additional inch if I really need it. I’ve gotten custom seats that are lowered, and I’ve also found you can adjust handlebars, pegs, and even the bike suspension (moderately) to reach the ground better. Especially as a lighter rider, you won’t affect suspension as much as the average rider.
I rode as a driver for the first time in my life at age 59 when I took the MSF course. It’s called STARS here in Idaho. I was petrified but in love all at the same time. The day after I passed the course I purchased a Suzuki Burgman—a touring scooter that is automatic. I rode it every day for three months. I wanted to be able to focus on getting over my fear without having to think about shifting. For me, that was the right course.After three months, I traded the Burgman in for a Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail. I had no problems going back to shifting because I had finally gotten past a lot of the fear. I rode that for several years and then traded it for the Harley Softail Slim pictured here.As others have said, it is a personal decision. What works for one might not work for the other. Do what feels best to you and don’t compare yourself to other riders.
I am with everyone else, you can only do what is right for you. As a kid, my dad had a Rupp minibike that was basically an automatic motorcycle that could be registered for the street. I learned how to ride a motorcycle on that little thing. It was great for learning how to corner and balance a bike. Now I ride high strung sportbikes and have ridden my husband’s Harley around. I truly believe that the manual transmission is a huge part of riding and gives each bike its personality. There are bikes out there now that make it much easier for beginners to learn how to shift. The new Suzuki SV650 even has low RPM assist now, and seems very beginner friendly. A lot of the newer, smaller cc bikes are coming out with this as a feature for new riders. My running joke is that if you want an automatic sportbike, get a liter bike, you won’t get out of first gear (since most can hit 105 mph in first before redlining) That’s what one of our sales friends always jokes, anyways (don’t actually get a liter bike as your first bike, though LOL, well, a liter sportbike anyhow). There are lots of options out there for you, my best advice is do your research and see what works. There are not a lot of automatic motorcycles to choose from, so you are limited in selection. In fact, some motorcycles that come with an automatic transmission are very very expensive, especially if you are on a budget as a new rider.
I’d say that building the muscle memory of proper clutch control early on would be beneficial. With that said, I’ve never ridden an automatic motorcycle. I do agree with the earlier statement that having more choices in motorcycles when making your selection is a plus.
I rode my first motorcycle this year and it was a little intimidating. However, I had no issues learning to shift. If you’ve driven a stick shift car you shouldn’t have any either. All the prior advice is great and does help but in the end you have to do what is comfortable for you. It’s only you out there.
If you’ve ridden a bicycle with multiple gears, you basically have the concept of changing gears already in your skill set. Having experience with a manual transmission car is a similar concept, but like the prior reviewer said, it’s completely different in a car.The most criticality important thing you can do as a beginner is take the MSF course. This is an absolute must. You will learn everything you need to know about shifting gears and lots of other things that will make you a safer and more skilled rider. They also provide the bike and helmet, so you don’t have to buy any gear or have a bike to find out if riding is for you. As part of the course, you’ll also take the rider test and leave with a certificate that you take to the DMV to get your motorcycle endorsement added to your driver’s license. You’ll also get a discount on your insurance for taking the MSF course, so it’s totally worth the $250. At the end of the course, you’ll also know if motorcycling is something you’d like to continue doing, so if you decide it’s isn’t, you haven’t spent much money (compared to buying a bike and gear) to find out. I’m in my forties, and I had never ridden a motorcycle before I took the MSF course. I’m only 5-foot-1 and 118 pounds, and the most important thing for me when I was looking for my first bike was being able to put my feet flat on the ground when I stopped. I started with a Suzuki S40, a one-cylinder 650cc cruiser, and I outgrew it in six weeks (about 1,000 miles of riding).I think the feel of the bike when you sit on it is far more important than whether or not you have to change gears, so go sit on a bunch of bikes to see what feels the most comfortable. There aren’t very many automatic bikes out there, so that will cut your selection down significantly. They’re also a little pricey for a first bike. One option might be getting a quick shifter put on a manual bike. That means you won’t have to use the clutch for moving up the gears, although you will still need it going down. Still, a quick shifter might take some of the stress out of learning how to use a clutch. Everyone is terrified when s/he first starts riding a motorcycle. No matter how scared you feel, that’s how everyone else felt, too. You will become more comfortable, even if you start slow in parking lots and quiet neighborhood roads. And I think you’d be surprised at how quickly changing gears would become second nature to you.
When I took my basic rider course I had every intention of riding a “twist and go” scooter. That all changed when I learned how easy it was to negotiate a manual transmission. I am glad I learned how to use a manual transmission during the course so that I could ride anything I wanted to. And As I grew in my riding ability and experience, I was able to adapt to everything I rode. I still had my scooter, but I got a larger bike soon after. The learning never stops. Good luck!
I started on a bike I bought on eBay, a 1983 Honda CM450a automatic, and two years later I still adore her! But the fact that she was an automatic is not why I chose this bike. In addition, there aren’t many automatics left out there, so you could have some difficulty finding one. I did take the MSF beginner’s class (and intermediate) and learned to ride on a regular bike and that is still what I would recommend for anyone. Advantages to learning on a regular bike are: a much greater selection of bikes (including one whose seat is a good fit for your height, which mine would not be), and the ability to easily move to a different bike if/when your needs change. Disadvantages are: really none, other than the learning curve. As I said, I adore my bike and she is great for my particular needs. My bike is super easy to ride and is able to keep up with the big bikes under normal riding conditions. Plus, the lack of shifting means my carpal tunnel syndrome doesn’t get aggravated (I lost some feeling in my left hand for six weeks after my beginner class–surprise!). But if I wanted to do a serious highway trip, this would not be the bike I’d choose. The jury is out on whether I will move up to a larger bike, which will require me to re-learn shifting. So I would recommend learning on a bike that will not limit your future choices.
I worried about the shifting when I started riding a few years ago. I started riding my own bike when I turned 60, but as it turned out the shifting isn’t the problem. The weight of the bike and sharp turns are what I had a problem with. I started riding on a very large Honda, and now ride a Harley-Davidson Road King. I think the most helpful thing is to ride every chance you get, practice in parking lots and on back roads and practice with someone who has experience and can critique your riding.
I was a very nervous beginner when I got my Yamaha V Star 250 in December 2013. I had it delivered to my house because I wasn’t confident enough to ride the 27 miles home, and not until September 2016 did I move up to a bigger bike. I’ve driven manual transmission cars for more than 25 years, but I don’t consider that an advantage, as the controls are basically reversed (clutch and primary brake on handlebars with bike; use feet with car).I’ve read about some riders who wanted to learn how to handle two motorized wheels without the burden of shifting who began on scooters and then switched to a manual motorcycle after gaining confidence. That is an option, as well as an automatic motorcycle.If you do have a quiet flat neighborhood, and/or a nearby parking lot for practice, I would suggest going to a small displacement manual motorcycle. They are forgiving and easy to handle, and if you can practice without traffic you will progress faster than taking the added cautious step of an automatic. The decision should rest upon your confidence level—as a beginner, don’t let anyone push you outside of your comfort zone!