[Jeff in Kentucky]

I trailered my new bike home in 2002 to practice on 30 mph streets for a while, before getting on 55 mph and 70 mph highways. Most beginners start out in a big parking lot, with plenty of room to take corners too wide.

I started on dirt bikes. At 8 years old, the first dirt corner I came to I lost traction for the front tire (tucked it) and crashed, but it was an old mini-bike with a 3.5 horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine, so it was no big deal.