Topic: Basic Rider Course

[neudl]

Just curious who has taken one, and their thoughts.  I have been riding offroad for years, and bought my first streetbike (CB550) this last summer.  I already knew how to ride, but thought it would be a good idea to take a rider course, plus it gets you the endorsement in WA.  I thought it was a great class, but was amazed how many people failed (about half).  Pretty much anyone who did not come into the class with riding experience ended up failing the riding test.  Is this the same experience that others had?  I did pass without a problem, but there were a couple of women who had already bought new Harleys that either dropped out after the first day of riding or failed - I can't imagine that they are going to take the rising test at the DMV, which would require them to make the same tight u-turns, but on a 1200cc cruiser instead of the 200cc bikes they rode in the class.  Not a chance.

[Chris Liston]

Both my brother and I took the Rider courses.  Very good courses.  I had no riding experience at all when I took my course about 9 years ago.  I took the experienced course a year later.  My brother took the basic course last year and also my cousin.  Everyone I know that takes the course loves it.  You have a nice controlled environment to learn the basics without the risk of dropping the bike or getting hit on the road.  My friend just took the same class but it was offered by HD and cost 100 bucks more but he had a great time and learned alot too.  Benefit is going to DMV the next week and getting your license

I suggest everyone take the rider course if they are new to riding or even take the experienced course.  Alittle brushup on fundementals never hurts.

[Klark Kent]

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=12289.0
-KK

[Glenn Stauffer]

When I bought my 550 from a friend, I had never ridden before and nearly crashed the thing in a parking lot trying it out.  So, I signed up for the basic rider course and that course gave me sufficient confidence that I felt comfortable out on the road afterwards.  When I took it, the only people who failed were those who hadn't spent much time dealing with a manual transmission - they never seemed to get the idea of a clutch.

I've suggested this course to anyone who I hear wants to start riding - these days it seems there are plenty of folks giving thought to a motorcycle to save money on gas.  No excuse not to take it in PA - its free and you get your MC license if you pass the written test and riding test that's given as part of the course.

[mb3000gt]

I took it and thought it was great. Even though it cost almost $400 here in NYC i think its the safest way to learn.

[medic09]

I took it.  Great fun, good coaching.  Hadn't been on a bike in 30 years, and this got me over the hump and my endorsement in the bargain (in NM).  Cost I think was $175.  Money well spent.

My wife took it after me.  Was a good, safe way to introduce her to riding and preserve family harmony.    No pressure, and if she hadn't liked it, she didn't have to ride afterwards.  Instead, I had to buy her a Honda Shadow two months later. 

I don't think anyone failed in my class, and one person failed in the wife's.

From a professional standpoint as someone who scrapes people off the interstate after their crashes, I do wish just about everyone took the course.  Especially the teenagers going out and buying crotch rockets... 

[martini]

I took one for the insurance break even though I knew how to ride and I was suprised how much I got out of it. It was a great course with great instructors and a great bunch a students some of whom I still ride with. At the end of the course we did our tests for our liscences. I was suprised at how nervous I was. The pressure was on because we all went out one at a time while the others watched. Everyone was super supportive, especially for those that didn't pass. So, yes I recommend it to anyone, even if you already know how to ride, you might be suprised at what you have forgotten or just not bothered to practice in a while.

[dusterdude]

it amazes me that the states say they want to save lives by offering courses,then charge an arm and a leg to take them,its a wonder why anyone takes them at all.

[Klark Kent]

and there is still a waiting list.  they charge a fortune and i still had to wait three months.  worth every penny though and made licensing a breeze.  I havent swerved since the class and i often think about how i know how hard i can throw the bike back and forth without dropping it to get around an obstacle, and that i got a chance to try it out on a dmv bike, and that i dont have to  learn how to do it for the first time in a panic situation. that #$%* pays for itself after the first obstacle avoided in the real world.
-KK

[mwohlenhaus]

in MN in order to get your motorcycle endorsement before you are 18 you have to take a basic course.  it was a good experience.  I had been riding bikes for about 4 years so I knew how to ride one, but the class taght me some evasive manuevers that have really helped.

[samfig]

I took it here in Illinois and loved it.  The instructors were true enthusiasts and the people were great as well.  There were a bit of husband wife pairs (the husbands trying to get the wives to ride) but other then that it was mainly men.  I highly recommend doing it if you have never ridden before.  But if you have been riding off road for a while I can't imagine any reason for doing it other than the test at the end for your license.
just my 2 cents

[neudl]

I did end up taking it, just because I heard it was useful no matter what your skill level.  As an aside, in Washington, the $25 dollars you pay for your endorsement goes into a fund to subsidize the class.  You have a choice - if you don't want to sit on the waiting list, you can pay $250 (unsubsidized), and pretty much get in a class right away, or pay $100 (subsidized) and wait for one of the subsidized slots, which takes a couple of months.  I did the latter, not being in a hurry.

[sparty]

it amazes me that the states say they want to save lives by offering courses,then charge an arm and a leg to take them,its a wonder why anyone takes them at all.

You can't put a price tag on your LIFE.  Safety and conficence is why people take this course, especially newbies... It took the course even tough I have been riding motorcycles since the age of eight.  My dad is a course instructor and he taught me how to ride many moon ago.  I still took the course and the advanced rider course as well.  I'd take a third course if it was offered. 

I think that they sould be priced lower, but I wouldn't not take a course just because it cost me some of my hard earned cash.

Take the course, it does make a difference.

Sparty

[dardoonk]

I took it here in NC.  I was never on a bike before the course & had my MC endorsement two days later.  Cost $150.
They put you on a "250cc Waddevatheygot" (A lot of Rebels) & you won't have to worry about smashing your own new wheels.

I'm a pretty big guy, so they put me on the tallest bike, a Kawasaki something.  It was kind of a old dual sport & had a knobby type tire. 
If you've never ridden, stay off these things;  the throttle was an on/off switch & first gear is for pulling stumps.....  Neither of which is "Rider Course" friendly.

That my 2 cents.........

[TheGenuineThing]

My 19 year old daughter took the riding course this summer and passed with no problem.... has her license and is planning to work on her bike this winter in between her college courses and the rest of her social life.  There was quite a diverse group of people taking the course with her, including a middle-aged couple and a 30-something woman... all of who passed the course and went on to get their licenses.  I think anyone who would quit the course wasn't terribly motivated to begin with....

[jdigga]

I took this course with kuyarico last weekend and thought it was great.  I'd never ridden a motorcycle prior to getting my bike a couple months ago, so I wanted to take it for the training just as much as the on-cycle test waiver.  Besides, it was only $25.

One guy dropped out the first day on the bikes during the rock-back-and-forth-using-the-friction-zone exercise.  I thought he was going to launch the thing across the parking lot.  He didn't feel comfortable with the clutch (didn't know how to drive a stick, either).  Everyone else passed the course.

I'd like to take the Experienced Rider Course next year.