How Long Does it Take to Learn to Ride a Motorcycle?

Undeniably, riding a motorcycle is not a piece of cake. And that’s why beginners keep asking the same question, how long does it take to learn to ride a motorcycle? 

You can learn to ride a motorbike in just a few hours if you’ve driven the bicycle. But if you haven’t ridden even a bicycle, it’ll take you weeks to balance the motorbike. Similarly, if you’ve ever ridden a manual gear bicycle, you can learn to ride a motorbike in a few hours.  

Let’s look at what it means and what you can do about it. 

While writing this post, I leave no stone unturned so you can learn to ride a motorbike easily and quickly. 

How Long Does it Take to Learn to Ride a Motorcycle? 

I know how frustrating it’s when your whole friend group learns to ride a motorbike except you. Believe me, I was also there in your situation years back, and see now, I’m a professional rider. 

According to some experts, learning to ride a motorbike isn’t rocket science. Anyone can learn to ride a motorbike. But here are a few exceptions that you need to remember. 

Exception of your past driving experience, if you have ever ridden a bicycle, you’ll find riding a motorbike relatively easy. You’ll even have to just learn motorbike gear and controls to be a rider. And it’ll take you from a few hours to five days. 

But if you didn’t ride any bicycle, believe me, it will take you weeks to be a good rider. 

First, you’ve to learn how to balance the motorbike, then you’ll have to learn motorbike gears and controls. 

On What Factors Depend on Learning to Ride a Motorcycle? 

As I said earlier, riding a motorbike isn’t a piece of cake, and there are some factors on which your learning depends. These factors are:

Factors Influence your Learning to Ride a Motorcycle	Details
Your Motorbike	Some motorbikes come with excellent stability, while some motorbikes like sports ones come with insufficient stability, which isn’t suitable for beginners.
Your driving experience	If you’ve ridden a bicycle, riding a motorbike isn’t a big deal for you. You just have to learn motorbike controls and manual gear.
Your motorbike power	High CC motorbikes aren’t suitable for beginners and thus strongly influence your motorbike learning skills.
MSF course	If you’re attending a motorbike course, you will quickly learn how to ride a motorbike.
Your Muscle Memory	Some people have slow muscle memory, causing them to learn motorbikes in months.

Your Motorbike

 If you still think all motorbikes are the same, you’re mistaken. Not all motorbikes are the same. 

Some motorbikes come with excellent stability, while some motorbikes like sports ones come with not so good stability, which isn’t suitable for beginners. 

Experts always recommend using low CC motorbikes while learning. If you’re a total beginner, always use a motorcycle below 150 CC for learningṣ. 

Naked, dirt and semi-naked motorbikes are easier to learn and forgiving than sports motorbikes. 

Most sports motorbikes come with low stability and aren’t suitable for beginners.  

Your Motorbike Power

Power in terms of CC is something that we don’t discuss much when learning motorbikes. 

Thanks to Hollywood logic, which says high CC motorbikes are best no matter who you are and your riding experience.  Try to understand that high CC motorbikes have enormous power that beginners couldn’t handle.

Almost all high CC motorbikes except Harleys haven’t much stability, which is not suitable for beginners that’s why experts always recommend riding and using low CC motorbikes for learning. 

Your Driving Experience

As I mentioned earlier, your motorbike experience impacts hugely on motorbike learning.  If you’ve ridden a bicycle, riding a motorbike isn’t a big deal for you. You just have to learn motorbike controls and manual gear. 

And it will take you even a few hours to five days to learn all of these things. 

MSF Course

Motorcycle safety foundation is a well-established foundation course that teaches beginners to ride motorbikes. If you have ever taken this course, you can learn how to ride a motorbike quickly and easily. 

Your Muscle Memory: 

Establishing muscle memory isn’t an easy task, and you’ll need to do a lot of practice to do this. 

Fortunately enough, not everyone has similar muscle memory, and that’s why some people take a few weeks to learn motorbikes while some take months.

How Long Does it Take to be a Professional Rider? 

So far, you know what is the approximate time it will take you to ride a motorcycle is. Now the question arises, how long does it take to be a professional rider? 

According to professional riders, learning to ride a motorbike like a pro is quite long. It will take approximately one year to become a professional rider. It’s because to be a professional rider, you want good years of experience.

And to be a professional rider, you will need a lot of practice. 

Will an MSF Course Help You?

Experts always recommend taking a motorcycle safety foundation course (MSF) if you’re a beginner. But have you wondered how an MSF course is beneficial for you? 

MSF is the most famous course for beginners looking to learn motorbike. In this course, trainers teach beginners some ways to be a professional rider. In easier words, a course like MSF helps shorten the time for you to be a good rider.  

Suppose you’re someone who’s struggling to learn to ride a motorbike. In that case, I highly recommend enrolling in MSF to be a professional rider. 

How Long Will it Take to be a Stuntman?

So far, you understand how much time it will take to be a professional rider. Now the question is, how long will it take to be a stuntman? 

To be a professional stuntman, you need to give at least two to three years of practice and dedication. Although it can be dangerous, experts recommend wearing proper gear while practicing and learning stunts. Also, don’t forget to choose a low CC motorbike if you’re still a beginner. 

Warning: I’m not recommending anyone to do any motorbike stunts because it can be dangerous for anyone. 

How Hard is it to Learn Motorbikes? 

Beginners usually underestimate themselves and ask everyone whether learning to ride a motorbike is easy or not?

It’s pretty standard, even though I did it too. But this approach isn’t too good. Try to understand one thing. 

Every person has different stories; some believe motorbikes are easy to learn, while some think it’s pretty challenging.  

Whatever their story is, one factor which remains constant is that motorbikes are easy to learn.  Yes! Motorbikes are easy to learn for those who know how to ride a car and bicycle. 

It’s because bicycle riders know how to balance themselves when riding two-wheelers. While car riders know where to accelerate and where to apply brakes. 

These two things usually take most of the time and are quite challenging. And thus, both types of people find no or minimal challenges while learning to ride a motorbike.

But beginners who don’t know how to balance and apply brakes find some challenges while learning motorbikes. 

Also, read my previous post where I’ve discussed why beginners shouldn’t choose high CC motorbikes. CLICK HERE to read.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Verdict: 

How long does it take to learn to ride a motorcycle? You can learn to ride a motorbike in just a few hours if you’ve driven the bicycle. 

But if you haven’t ridden even a bicycle, it’ll take you weeks to balance the motorbike. 

Similarly, if you’ve ever ridden a manual gear bicycle, you can learn to ride a motorbike in a few hours.  

I’ve also mentioned some factors which influence your motorbike learning. Doesn’t matter how good your muscle memory is; you just need to do a lot of practice.