Beginner Rider Information

I once was told that there were two kinds of riders, the ones who have crashed and the ones who will crash. Though I didn't believe it at the time (and I still don't), I now know which category of riders I fall into. I want to give you my account of my first crash along with a few lessons I learned.

Patriot Motor Corporation (Pink Sheets:PMCY), parent company of Patriot Motorcycle Corporation, announced its successful entry into the rapidly growing V-Twin motorcycle market. With high-profile visibility at two of the industry's biggest and most important events, dealers and distributors from around the world got their first glimpse of the newly formed Patriot Street Bike Division products that include both the original Steed(R) by Patriot(TM) custom 300 series -- by famed bike designer/builder John Covington -- and the new groundbreaking, affordable Patriot(TM) V-Twin 200 series model, officially unveiled and introduced at the 6th Annual V-Twin Dealer Expo (February 4-6, Cincinnati, OH) and "DealerNews" Dealer Expo 2006 (February 18-20, Indianapolis, IN).

Motorcyclists looking to learn more about proper riding technique and work on improving their bike-handling skills can turn to the all-new, second edition of ?The Motorcycle Safety Foundation?s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence.? The book is a comprehensive, soft-cover how-to manual for new motorcyclists who want to increase their knowledge, and experienced riders who want to sharpen their existing skills.

Getting Started With Motorcycle Riding Can Be Intimidating To A New Rider. There are so many questions: What type of motorcycle will best suit your needs? Should you even look at motorcycles and try to buy one before you actually know how to ride? How do you learn how to ride if you have no motorcycle? What type of gear and equipment do you need? What are the motorcycle laws in your area (i.e. Do I have to wear a helmet)? How can I get started with this?!!! And not look like a total idiot?!!!

What?s the difference between a hardtail and a softail? And which is better? Well, the difference is easy to point out, but the argument as to which is better is in the preference of the rider and not as clear cut. Besides, isn?t the enjoyment of riding more important than a debate over nostalgia? If you already have formed an opinion on hardtails versus softails this argument will most likely not convince you otherwise, but in case you haven?t, let?s welcome this discussion for the moment.

Question: ?What is reasonable mileage per year for a used motorcycle? For cars, the standard is 12k per year, however with motorcycles, in most places, people can?t ride them year round or don?t because of family, etc.?

Question: How big (engine size) should your first bike be? Response: A motorcycle with between 200 and 400 cubic centimeters (cc) of power is a good size for a beginner. When you are starting out as a new motorcycle driver, it is as important to master the environment as it is to master the motorcycle.

Question: What features drive up the price on a motorcycle? Response: Of course, you will need a helmet, glasses or goggles, a leather jacket, chaps, gloves and boots that are cut just above your ankle. If you have made a choice to buy a motorcycle, you have made a choice to purchase the right kind of equipment.