So you wanna ride a motorcycle. Awesome! Here's how you get started.

I wanna ride a motorcycle on public streets!

Things you need:

• You need to be old enough to get a license and endorsement. Usually 16, in some places younger.
• You need several thousand dollars to pay for license fees, riding course fees, safety gear, a bike and insurance.
• You need to know how to ride a bicycle.

Things you don't need, but will make it easier:

• Experience driving a car on public streets
• Experience driving a manual transmission car
• Physical fitness. You do not need to be in great shape to ride a motorcycle, but general health and especially core body strength make it more comfortable. If you are severely obese, you will have fewer options for bikes and safety gear.

Learn to Ride and Get a License

United States

In the US, street riders are legally required to have an "M endorsement" added to their driver's license. If you don't already have a driver's license, get one. Then, you need to get an M endorsement. Part of the M endorsement process is to prove you have the practical skills to safely operate a motorcycle. There are usually two ways to do this:

• Recommended: Complete an approved beginner riding course
• Alternative: Pass a practical skills tests administered by an approved person

A beginner riding course is strongly recommended. Courses are typically one weekend long and provide motorcycles and helmets (although you can also bring your own if you choose). The courses are designed for absolute beginners- personally, I never even touched a motorcycle before taking a course. It's also a great way to cheaply "dip your toes" into the hobby to see if you like motorcycling before you spend thousands of dollars.

Different states have different approved courses. As of 2021:

• California: CMSP
• Idaho: Idaho STAR