My brother showed me the basics then I went to the MSF course about a month after I got my Sporty. Never rode before that.

 

Learned on a friend's Honda 160.

Bought a Triumph Bonneville many years later - and the rest is history.

SDammi

 

My older brother gave me my first 1976 Honda XL125 dirt bike when I was in grade school. I learned all about shifting, downshifting, and general motorcycle control over the next 20 years of racing and jumping. Then I moved on to a street bike last summer ('06) and bought my '04 Sporty.

I didn't take the safety course but I passed the driving tests with flying colors due to my prior research (LOTS of good articles and books with tips on the net, as well as in the safety handbook.) Otherwise, it's a matter of learning through experience! I've learned A LOT through experience, luckily nothing major that put me in harms way (well, not too much!).
z
One of these days I believe I will take the MSF, to make sure that I haven't developed any bad riding habits. I would take the course sooner, but the holidaze and a couple of big "home expenses" has strapped me for cash for a while!

Just ride safe and know your limits. Practice and get confortable before you ride on the street. Cruising around in the neighborhood helped me a lot. Just to get use to stopping the bike at stop signs, taking off, signaling, etc.

Definitely born to ride!

ioNate

 

I was given the old2 or 3 minute crash course by my dad and brother, way back when (early 80's), on our firstmini-bike.

 

Hey SportyPig, could you make your signature pic a little bigger. I can't quite see it.

[sm=happybounce.gif]

 

Got my first scoot (if ya wanna call it that) when I was 7. A Honda Mini-Trail 50. Learned by getting tired of the pain of digging rocks out of my knees, elbows and butt. Graduated to an XL-70 when I was 9, then an XL-100 when I was 12. 1st real "Street bike"(that I was licensed to ride on the street) was a Honda CL-650, then later, bought a Ninja 600R. Two marriages, 5 kids, and 15 yrs later, bought my 1st Harley.

 

My son bought a crotch rocket right before his first deployment. He asked me to ride it around while he was gone. By 3rd time over, he was interested in a cruiser. Bought a Honda shadow 1100, when he got shipped again, so I had two bikes to ride. Really liked the cruiser so bought myself a Night Train and have never looked back. He still has the crotch rocket, but decided the cruiser was too "old school" for him. My wife never minded because the bikes were "for him" originally. Now she likes to ride with me!!!

don

 

Mini bikes, Whizzer, moped, zundap motorscooter, dirt bikes, friends streetbikes, then my own. Finally took the MSF course and realized I never really knew how to do it right till then.

 

1st bike a wrought iron framed mini bike w/5hp Tecumseh,learned in the dirt 2 friends used to let me ride there bikes,One an SL 70 the other a SL 125.When I break the rear tire loose on the snortster,instantly brings back those days

 

Taught myself on a 79 kz650 in the parking lot next to my house. Fell over once or twice, and learne3d how to pick the bike up. I rode as much as I could everyday for many years. I still do, in fact...