So you haven’t ridden a motorcycle for 20 years and you’re wondering where to even start? Probably not the way I did.
For twenty years I had this quiet itch — the kind of thing you tell yourself you’ll “get round to.” Then one afternoon my son rolled up on the 125 he’d bought for commuting to work, and that was that. I asked him the one question that still mattered after two decades away — “is it one up and four down?” — climbed on, and disappeared off down our track before he could really answer. When I finally got back on, I realised I hadn’t ridden a motorcycle for 20 years.
I handed that bike back a different man. Twenty years vanished in one lap. I was a biker again — no debate, no thinking it over. Done.
Returning to Riding After Not Having Ridden a Motorcycle for 20 Years
Here’s what a sensible 56-year-old who hasn’t ridden in two decades does not do: walk into the local BMW showroom and buy a brand new R1250GS.
I came extremely close to doing exactly that.
Before your heart runs away with your wallet, a few things are worth sitting with first:
- Weight — a heavy bike is a completely different animal at walking pace
- Seat height — can you get both feet down, comfortably, every single time?
- Engine power — too much too soon is intimidating, not fun
- Comfort — you’re coming back for the joy of it, not to prove a point
Even if your heart’s already set on a certain style, sit on a proper range of bikes and get a short test ride in before you commit. I seriously considered an R1250RT, but a good friend talked me out of getting a full tourer for my first bike back — and he was right to.
Is It Like Starting All Over Again?
Not really — but plenty has changed.
The bike itself was the biggest surprise. My original GS had barely any rider assistance — ABS, maybe, and that was about it. This one feels far more stable and noticeably more powerful. The old shaft-drive torque reaction isn’t nearly as pronounced as it used to be either, which is exactly what caught me out on one of my early falls.
The gear has moved on just as much. If you’re coming back, upgrade your kit properly:
- A quality, modern helmet
- Sturdy, armoured gloves
- Proper boots — not old trainers
- A jacket with built-in armour
- Reinforced riding trousers
It makes a real difference, not just to safety but to comfort in every kind of weather. I promised Mrs C I’d buy the best kit I could afford, and ended up with a BMW adventure jacket and trousers — miles ahead of my old Belstaff jacket and cheap leather jeans.
The other big change? Traffic — there’s a lot more of it, and the standard of driving is the worst I’ve ever seen (Road traffic estimates in Great Britain: 2024, 2025). The old advice to ride like everyone’s out to get you has never felt truer.
Do I Need to Train?
The BMW dealer wouldn’t let me test ride anything — fair enough, given how long I’d been off bikes — so my very first ride on the GS was straight out of the showroom. “A little nervous” doesn’t quite cover it. I stalled at the first set of lights with a queue of cars behind me and felt like a complete beginner all over again.
So I did the sensible thing: found an empty car park and went back to basics.
If you’re getting back on a bike after a long break, do this before you do anything else:
- Ride slow, and practise smooth stops and gentle starts
- Work slow-speed figure eights and U-turns to rebuild your balance
- Practise emergency stops until the brakes feel familiar again
- Get comfortable putting your feet down smoothly at a standstill
- Add some gentle weaving between cones once the rest feels natural
It comes back faster than you’d think. Soon enough I couldn’t stop grinning — I’d forgotten just how much fun this actually is.
If you want more structure than “find a car park,” we’ve turned this into a full 30-day plan for your first ride back.
I’ve always been the sort to want to get properly good at things — I used to be a pilot, so courses, exams and checks are practically in my blood. I signed up for the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) Advanced Rider course, though BikeSafe (run by many UK police forces) and the DVSA’s Enhanced Rider Scheme are both excellent options too. Any of them will sharpen your skills and hand you some genuinely useful feedback. More on the IAM course another time — for now, just know it’s worth every penny. If you’re weighing up the options, here’s a rundown of returning-rider courses.
Just Remember Why You’re Doing This
I’ve chased plenty of hobbies over the years, but I always seem to circle back to the ones I’ve done before. Bikes are the perfect example — once you’ve caught the bug, it never really lets go.
I’ve since told the full story, from the day my son came home with a 125 to the advanced course that rebuilt my confidence, in 20 Years Off the Bike: Why I Got Back Into Motorcycling.
Wondering why being back on the bike feels so good? I wrote about the mental side of riding in Motorcycling and Mental Health: Why Riding Clears Your Head.
