A: Welcome back! After 20 years away from motorcycling there are three issues to focus on: your skills, advancements in motorcycle design and changes in the traffic environment.

Even if you are confident that you can pick up where you left off, err on the side of caution and consider yourself a novice again. Play it safe and find an opportunity to take formal training. Refresh your old skills, learn some new ones, and let the course serve as a reality check for your physical and mental preparedness for riding.

Over time, visual acuity, reaction time, and other personal characteristics change. With formal training you can work on ways to compensate for those changes. If you select an MSF Basic RiderCourse or one of our advanced courses, you will also benefit from the evolution of our curricula and the latest instructional methods employed by MSF-certified RiderCoaches.

Motorcycles have continued to evolve in the past 20 years. Engines on the biggest cruisers and touring bikes have grown. Sport bikes have even greater power-to-weight ratios, along with improved suspensions and state-of-the-art brake systems. The latest entry-level bikes have big-bike features and styling that make them attractive to a new generation.

New categories of motorcycles have been introduced, such as adventure bikes and a variety of three-wheel configurations. A number of models powered by electric motors are available. Advanced features, such as anti-lock brakes, traction control and selectable drive/power modes are becoming more common.

Do your research to ensure you choose the right model to fit you and your riding style.

The traffic environment has also changed, but we hesitate to characterize this as “evolution.”

More motorists mean more congestion. Distracted driving has become an epidemic with the advent of smart phones and other electronic gizmos. Bigger and taller sport-utility vehicles (harder to see over and around) dominate the scene. Tighter state budgets may mean poorly maintained roadways. Staying safe on two wheels in this era requires 360-degree alertness and a heightened focus on the task.

Motorcycling, for you, can again be a safe and fun pursuit, as long as you take the time to become well-rehearsed and well-versed in basic maneuvering techniques and risk-management strategies, and, as always, ride within your limits.