The proper action to take when riding an unfamiliar motorcycle for the first time is to:

Every bike is a little different, so don't start riding an unfamiliar motorcycle without first familiarizing yourself with how it operates. Do a safety and maintenance check; find out where everything is located; and work the throttle, clutch, and brakes a few times to learn its gear pattern.

• Just start riding. There is no better way to learn than by doing.
• Just start riding. Most bikes are similar, so you don’t have to take the time to identify safety features.
• Work the throttle, clutch, and brakes before riding to learn the bike's gear pattern.