Life gets in the way. A career, a family, a house move, and somewhere along the line the bike ends up sold or sat under a cover in the garage. If that sounds familiar, you are in very good company. Some of the happiest riders we see are the ones coming back to it after years away.
And there is no better time than a long, warm summer to rediscover why you fell for two wheels in the first place. Here is what to expect, and how we can help you ease back in without any pressure.
You are not starting from scratch
First things first. Riding does not leave you. The muscle memory, the road sense, the feel for a bike, it comes back faster than you think. What has usually faded is confidence rather than ability, and confidence is the easiest thing to rebuild.
What has changed since you last rode
Bikes have moved on, and mostly in ways that make life easier and safer:
The technology
ABS is now standard on a huge range of bikes, so a panic stop is far less likely to catch you out. Many models have traction control and rider modes too. Honda's new E-Clutch even lets you ride without touching the clutch lever if you want to, while keeping full manual control when you fancy it. It is a genuinely lovely thing for anyone easing back in.
The gear
Modern kit is lighter, more comfortable and far better in the heat and wet than the leathers you may remember. Getting back on is a good excuse to sort your protection out properly.
Your own confidence
This is the big one, and it is completely normal to feel rusty. The trick is to rebuild gradually rather than throwing yourself in at the deep end.
How to ease back in
Consider a refresher
You do not have to relearn everything, but a refresher session or an assessed ride is a brilliant way to knock the rust off with someone experienced alongside you. It is confidence in an afternoon. Our friends at Phoenix Motorcycle Training have an array of courses to get you confident on the road again.
Start on something manageable
You do not need the biggest bike in the showroom. A sensible, friendly mid-size machine is far more fun when you are finding your feet again, and it is easy to move up once you are back in the swing of it. Come and talk to us about what suits where you are now, not where you were ten years ago.
If you still have your old bike
If there is a machine that has been stood in the garage, do not just jump on and go. Tyres, brakes, fluids, battery and fuel all suffer from sitting still. Bring it to a local reliable garage (We can help with all things Honda Motorcycles) for a proper check, or read our pre-summer ride out checks first, and we will make sure it is safe before you head out.
We would love to help you get back on
There is no pressure and no daft questions here. Whether you want to browse our used bikes, talk through the training options, or just have a coffee and pick our brains about getting back into it, our door is open.
Pop in, give us a call, or drop us a message. This could be the summer you get back to doing something you have quietly missed.
