How to Get in Shape For Riding Your Motorcycle
If you haven’t ridden your motorcycle for a while, you may find that it’s more tiring than you remember it being. Because you have to engage a number of different muscle groups to stay balanced on your bike, it can be exhausting and painful to ride if you’re not in shape. However, if you take the time to work those muscle groups when you’re not on your motorcycle, you should be able to ride without pain or discomfort. Here’s what to know.
Why Does Getting in Shape Matter?
Yes, your motorcycle does the bulk of the work when you’re riding it. However, compared to a car, you’re balancing on two wheels and your body weight is used to turn and corner. Therefore, you have to have sufficient muscle strength to keep yourself and your bike upright, as well as enough stamina to perform turns and take corners safely.
Strength-Training Guide
Targeting the specific muscle groups that are used to keep yourself balanced and steer your bike will help you significantly. Strengthening your legs, arms, and core in particular is necessary. Exercises to try include:
- Legs: squats, lunges, leg presses
- Arms: pull-ups, tricep press-downs, bicep curls, Supermans
- Core: crunches, sit-ups on an exercise ball, Russian twists, planks
Additional Tips
Stretching before and after every ride will help limber up your joints and muscles. You can even do some jumping jacks to get your blood flowing. Taking daily walks will also increase your overall stamina and contribute to your strength.
Come see us at our location in McAllen, TX, to check out our wide stock of new and used motorcycles for sale. Let us know if you’d like our assistance with financing your motorcycle purchase or trading in your old bike for a new model. Desperado Harley-Davidson® serves our customers in Edinburg, TX.