Motorcycle safety class

I finished the Advanced Rider Course yesterday on my recently-acquired Triumph Tiger 1050. About half the riders were on crotch rockets with a mix of other bikes. I felt pretty good at the end of the day when I finished the test with a perfect score. The only other perfect score was a guy riding a beat-to-crap Suzuki V-Strom that he had clearly used to do a lot of off-roading. The riders on big cruisers didn't stand a chance, dragging their footpegs through the corners.

Did they teach you how to emulate a drunken cowboy on a mechanical bull by taking one hand of the bars and waving it at all other passing motorcycles?

(quoted from post at 03:02:45 08/22/11) I finished the Advanced Rider Course yesterday on my recently-acquired Triumph Tiger 1050. About half the riders were on crotch rockets with a mix of other bikes. I felt pretty good at the end of the day when I finished the test with a perfect score. The only other perfect score was a guy riding a beat-to-crap Suzuki V-Strom that he had clearly used to do a lot of off-roading. The riders on big cruisers didn't stand a chance, dragging their footpegs through the corners.

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Good for you!! A soldier can't register his bike over here without passing a safety course first and a refresher each year... Just too bad they can't protect you from drivers with cell phones....

heres some advice from somebody thats been riding since before anybody knew WTH a Fonzie was...traffic cones dont move...neither do painted stripes...when you get out in traffic...RIDE PARANOID...they really are out to get you.

Congratulations on the perfect score.

May I also suggest you take a co-rider class if one is available so that you can inform co-riders what they should and should not do as well as general information such as proper clothing, etc.

If you will wind up with a good sized road bike and will ever pull a trailer a trailering class is a good one to take as well.

Since so many accidents are caused by vehicle drivers that didn't see the motorcycle and rider I suggest that you grit your teeth and wear very brightly colored clothing. Neon colors are good. I got started with them for bicycle riding and then progressed to wearing them while motorcycling.

As I used to say when I still motorcycling--keep it upright and between the ditches.

Took the motorcycle driver license test in 1971. There was a big Indian guy there, with a brand new Harley. I had a new Honda CB350- not as agile as a dirt bike, but sure more so than a Harley.

State Patrolman administering the test came over and asked if I'd let the guy use my bike for the test, I said sure. He went over to the guy, said something to him, guy looked over at my bike with a big frown and shook his head no. Stater smiled at me, shrugged his shoulders, and started the test.

Well, it wasn't the chief's first rodeo, that's for sure. He snaked that Glide through the cones like it was a moped. Didn't know you could go that slow, turn that much, and still stay upright. When he finished, he looked at me with a smile this time, I returned it with two thumbs up.

Well I have yet to take a motorcycle safety class but then I also have had a motorcycle drivers license for more then 41 years now. Back when I took the test I asked them how I was suppose to get the bike to the test area and they told me to ride it there so I did. Took the written test and then the guy said here and gave me my license. I asked him what no driving test and he said heck no I saw you ride you and you did every thing as you should have so you pasted the test. I have had my license ever since and now have a Class A CLD with only to things missing off of it. The boy did take a safety course to get his license a few years back and did well on it

I was 16, I am not 51, so 35 years for me.

I was 14 when I got my first license and I lived at that time in Athens TN. I also totaled a 1965 Chev Bel-Air with a Honda 90 when I was 15. The guy made a left turn out in front of me and all I had time to do was turn the handle bars hard to make the bike start going the same way as the car. I took out the front fender both doors and the back fender with that bike. The only part that might still have been good on it was parts of the engine. The frame was a twisted mess both rims where twisted and well just a big piece of scrap iron.. Me I got a broken arm and a scare on the left side of my face

In the real world you have to ride like you are invisible. If someone has the chance to pull out or turn in front of you, you have to assume that they will. I did my road test on a new '77 Sportster. Then you had to leave the courthouse, drive it around the block and if you returned without incident you passed!

That is good stuff, score like that. I used to get my permit, drive with same, but never had a chance to get the test done. The thing I thought ironic is that I had a class 1 (now CDL A) but you have to take a separate road test for a motorcycle, yet you are qualified to operate an 18 wheel vehicle, well maybe I'm just ignorant LOL !

I can though, appreciate, respect and highly recommend any kind of safety instruction because of the way people drive and their lack of respect for anyone else, be it a bike or a big truck. Idiots using smart phones, and just plain dumb-headed people who drive like they are the only one on the road. There is so much bad driving habits and or lack of respect today, getting on a bike now is a serious risk, you had best keep your eyes focused at all times. Bikes seem to brake well, or I always thought, so speed is important, once you get beyond a certain speed, in a variety of conditions, be it a country road or city street, its a threshold of no return if something happens, deer, person, dog, another car etc. etc. etc.

I used to enjoy a quiet ride on a bike, used to commute on a bike, and even vacationed on a bike, places 50-100 miles away. Don't think I care for it any more, both bikes are in my garage since '93 or '94, couple ole reliable Maxim's, they served their purpose, but when I try to think of all the people I knew that are not here anymore,that were killed on a bike, it gives me a headache. My uncle in South Carolina was killed on a Harley when a dump truck pulled out in front of him in '05, from a job site, he never had a chance, as always I get the call, and had to break the news about 1 mashed up relative.

Safety is king, maybe in another area it would be fun again, but around here, you take your life in you hands just getting to a country road.

Did you learn why the motorcycle driver always wants to be in the front of a line of vehicles??
Is it a requirement to take the baffles out of the muffler or is that only if your on welfare??

I took the advanced course last September. It was a good experiance. I don't know how or why but being the oldest rider, 60, I was picked to go first. I surprised myself and did very well. Some of the young guys complimented me on my control. 98 Sportster.

The last guy to take the test dumped his bike, Harley Softtail,as he exited the course. His front end hit some gravel and slid. He and the bike were ok. He asked the tester if he flunked and the instructor said he passed because it did not happen while taking the test.

I felt really bad for the guy.

I would highly recommend the class to anyone who is going to get a MC lic.

Got three Nephews (Sorry for the dark pic) that will take the refresher course every year and do believe it does them good.

They take several trips a year. And highly recommends every one that rides take it!!

Dave, the Advanced Rider Course is a new MSF course based on the military Sport Bike Course. Which was developed to reduce the number of servicemen killing themselves on crotch rockets.

Old, the day I say I'm too old to learn anything new, that's the day I cash in my chips.

My biggest problem when I had a m/c was not my riding but other idiots driving.

Went through about 10 years ago after being stopped for no endorsement. I told cop never needed endorsement when I started riding. Three of us. Other guys were telling me how to pass. I waTChed them flunk and tried my system. Asked how many point off for different mistakes, tried to minimize mine and passed the first time. Lady cop was givin the test. I ran over couple cones, but not many points off. Still ride 1 hour every nice day in Mich. Bicycle 1 hours too. Started at 31, now 68 in two weeks. Lord watched over me and I hope he continues to do so. Don't hurry no more. Have fun while you can if you can. God Bless all. Dave

Yep understand that. Any day a person can learn something new is a good day in my book

I have been street bikes for over 20 years. I got really skilled working at a motorcycle shop. Each night we would have to put about 20 customer owned and shop owned bikes - mostly gold wings back in the warehouse. They were too much trouble to straddle, so we would ride them side saddle through rows of bikes inside the building to park them. I am sure I could pass the DMV test riding side saddle.

However, I am not even close to the skill level of this cop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJxOsYh12yY

Congratulations on taking the course.