Motorcycle Controls
Nearly all motorcycles have standard transmissions, so you must shift them yourself. As on bicycles, motorcycles typically have two brake controls, one for the front tire, and a separate one for the rear tire. Also, motorcycles have on/off switches, starter buttons, a throttle, turn signals, and horns. To control a motorcycle you use both of your hands and both of your feet.
Ignition Switch
Usually located near the instrument cluster, its positions usually include ON, OFF, LOCK, and PARK. The Lock position allows the key to be removed and engages a steering-lock mechanism. When locked, your motorcycle can only move in circles, unless a couple of Samoans pick it up and toss it into the back of their Ford F250. The Park position is a Lock position that also leaves the taillight on. Park is good for draining your battery in about an hour, leaving you no easy way to start your computerized-ignition electronic-fuel-injected electric-start bike. I believe the Park position is actually a clever built-in IQ test.
Clutch lever
This lever operates the clutch. Squeezing the clutch lever towards you with the fingers of your left hand will disengage the clutch and disconnect the engine power from the rear wheel. Releasing the lever will engage the clutch and provide power to the rear wheel.
You will use the clutch when you
To change or select a gear
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High beam / Low beam switch
This is used to switch your headlamp between high beam and low beam. You operate it with your left thumb. On high beam you'll probably see a blue light on your instrument panel.
Horn
On most motorcycles, this makes a plaintive bleating sound which can be used to attract sheepdogs and send drunken friends into episodes of spasmodic laughter. On the freeway it's just slightly less effective than spitting.
Turn Signal Switch
On most motorcycles you push the button to the left to indicate a left turn, to the right to indicate a right turn, and you push the button straight in to turn off the turn signals. Use your thumb to operate the switch.
Harleys and BMWs have the left turn signal on the left handlebar and the right turn signal on the right handlebar. You push a second time to cancel.
Engine cut-off switch
This allows you to shut off the engine without removing your hand from the handlebar. You operate it with your thumb. When stopping the engine normally, use the ignition switch. You're less likely to leave your keys in the ignition when leaving your motorcycle.
Electric starter
Most motorcycles won't start unless the clutch is pulled in. To start your motorcycle:
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When the engine starts, immediately release the starter button. You can damage the starter clutch (an expensive little thingy deep inside the engine) by running the starter while the engine is also running.
Front brake lever
This applies the brake to the front wheel. To use it squeeze the lever towards you. Use all the fingers on your right hand for maximum control and stopping power. The harder you squeeze, the harder you brake. To release the brake release the lever.
Throttle
The throttle controls the engine power, exactly like the accelerator pedal in a car.
To speed up the engine twist the throttle towards you. To slow down the engine release the throttle or twist the grip away from you. Most throttles will spring back to a closed position when released. In this position the engine will run at 'idle' speed.
Shift lever foot control
Gears enable you to match engine power to road speed. You use a low gear to start off and a higher gear once you've gained speed. Changing smoothly through the gears is a skill that will improve with practice. The gear selector is usually on the left side of the motorcycle, just in front of the footrest.
The neutral position is when no gear is engaged. Most motorcycles have a green warning light to show when the gears are in neutral.
Gears are selected by lifting or pushing down the gear lever with your foot. Push down for a lower gear. Pull up for a higher gear. When you release the lever, it will return to the center position, ready to select another gear. Most motorcycles have five or six gears. A typical gear pattern is 1-N-2-3-4-5. The N is for neutral, which is selected by either a half lift from 1st gear or a half push from 2nd gear.
Rear brake pedal foot control
This pedal is usually on the right side of the motorcycle, just in front of the footrest. Push = stop.
Instruments
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Steering a Motorcycle
Motorcycles work much like bicycles; however they weigh a lot more, so to get maximum performance you have to push and pull harder. This makes it more apparent how they actually work.
On any two wheel vehicle there is a transition speed, which is typically about 2 mph. Most people can't ride a motorcycle or a bicycle below 2mph, so they're unaware of this. Below the transition speed, you steer a motorcycle like a car: you point the front wheel where you want to go. Above the transition speed, you do exactly the opposite: you push on the handlebars to make the front wheel move in the opposite direction, and the motorcycle leans into the curve and starts to turn. This is called counter-steering. This fact is why you fell down on the bicycle the first few times: your brain had to learn to do opposites. Beginners often don't believe these statements, so here's an easy test. Get going about 35-40 mph on a motorcycle on a long straight road without traffic. Remove your left hand from the handlebars. Now using your right hand only, push the right handlebar forward gently. The bike will start to turn to the right. Pull the right handlebar gently towards you and the bike will pick back up to straight, and, if you keep pulling, start to turn to the left.
A very important rule on motorcycles is that you go where you look. If you want to turn, first look towards where you want to go. Next, press on the handlebars. If you want to turn left, press on the left handlebar and the motorcycle will start to lean to the left and turn to the left.
Finally, lean with the bike. Many beginners are very uncomfortable leaning, and want to sit up on top of the motorcycle. This just makes the motorcycle lean further to accomplish the same turn. In normal street riding, you can just lean with the bike at the same angle as the bike and you'll be fine. Some beginners wish they could turn without leaning. Sorry, can't be done: laws of physics. In racing situations, riders get underneath the bike for better control.
Above, we see a racer who is looking where he wants to go, pulling on the left handlebar to continue to turn right, and leaning into the corner - in this case to the point where his knee is on the pavement. You won't be cornering quite this fast in the next few months.
When you're cornering, it's best to hold the throttle on slightly so as to maintain speed, or even very slightly increase speed through the corner. Most bikes work best when they are slightly accelerating. If you suddenly get off the gas, the weight will transfer to the front tire and the bike will turn into the corner very sharply. This is very disconcerting for a beginner. It's best to maintain speed through the corner. This means you have to learn to judge cornering speeds and do your braking before you enter the corner.
That's about all I have to say on steering, because this is a skill you learn from practice, not from reading.