Whats the the best way to learn bike riding? Start off with a dirtbike or what?

Motorcycle Safety Course!!!!!!!!! Things have changed out there....

I started riding about 3 years ago (I'm 28 now) and I started on ATV's and dirt bikes. Starting out on something that was easy to handle and that I wouldn't lose control of was a great way to start. My first real road bike was a GSXR-600 and I have been riding it for about 2 years now. Learning to ride a motorcycle has been a great experience and something I'm happy I finally did. Best of Luck to you.

Take the MSF course. Ride a bicycle - both road and off-road - for physical and mental conditioning. Dirt bikes will make you a better bike handler, no doubt. To be a better street rider, you need to ride on the street. Here are my picks for newbies (no particular order): Suzuki SV650; Suzuki DRZ400 dual-sport; Kawasaki Ninja 250; Ducati Monster 695. Elio - fitter and faster @ 48 - Deeh '01 Aprilia Futura '03 Yamaha Zuma '08 Kawasaki KLR 650

Get a scooter! Even a larger scooter is pretty easy to ride, and will very quickly get you up to par. If you get a scooter 125 to 250 cc, then you can use it for the road test too.

Getting into the groove again on a road bike is what you have to do... and an MSF course is an excellent first step. That being said, dirt riding experience is invaluable. When you ride in the dirt you get used to dealing with the rear tire slipping out from under you and you don't panic, which is a useful skill when you hit a wet or sandy patch on a curve while riding street. As for the crappy cagers, DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE. Look ahead 5 or 6 cars at least, if you see brake lights half a mile up start slowing down, ANTICIPATE what the idiot's are going to do and assume that they don't see you (your horn is your second most important defensive weapon, your brain is the first). I learned to ride defensively as a motorcycle messenger on the streets of Manhattan with the Cosmic Messenger Service (little Hodakas). If you don;t look you die.

Although a dirtbike off-road will help you refresh your knowledge of the controls there are substantial differences, much better to take a basic training course. As for other road-users, I view them with mistrust and expect them to do something stupid/dangerous but never consider "laying it down" in most cases there are alternatives. The crucial skill for riding is observation, experience adds to this.

If you started out on a dirt bike you're already one up on everyone. Ride defensively and if you're going to make a move commit to it and don't hesitate.

Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. Then buy a used beater Honda Nighthawk 250, and ride it around for about six months. It is going to fall over at least once, and it's better to have that happen with a used beater that's lightweight. Then buy the motorcycle of your dreams.

You can probably pick up a used Motard(dual-Sport) somewhere. Then you can take it out on the dirt to re-learn the fundamentals of riding. Then you can take that bike out on the street when you are ready.