Basic Motorcycle Course
Congratulations, and Kudos to you for making the first correct move in becoming a full-fledged motorcycle rider… you have signed up for a Basic Motorcycle Rider course to learn how to ride properly, and most importantly, how to do so safely. Even for those riders whom have been away from riding for a good number of years can benefit from taking a course. The Basic Rider Course is just that, a basic course, under controlled situations in a parking lot supervised by the watchful eyes of the coaches and trainers. There is still much to learn and skills to develop once you complete the program, so please be aware of that. You never stop learning!
Not all Basic Rider Training Programs are the same as some have been developed through a national organization (example, in Canada, The Canadian Safety Council or the U.S. by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation), or have been developed by other organizations or privately. The major goals in all usually are toward teaching basic skills as to operating the motorcycle, and doing so safely. However, if you decide to take a course, check out its background first, and what it offers. One way of knowing is to check with your insurance company (or projected insurance company) to see if they recognize the course offered.
As a motorcycle coach / trainer, I have noted a number of items that can stand in the way of a riding student from achieving their fullest potential. I have put together a short list of some of the issues I have noted over the years, which can impact on the student’s performance and success. This list is by no means complete but just some of the more “usual” ones. So here they are, in no particular order.
1. The First Session Impression.
Most, if not all recognized courses, have a lecture and classroom teaching / learning component. While this is the least “fun” part of the over-all course, it is an extremely important part as it lays out the ground work for what will be covered and why, including such as the introduction to motorcycling, how motorcycles work, what the responsibilities of the student are, and how to do all this safely. As a lecturer / teacher / coach, I / we try to make these sessions as exciting and “entertaining” as possible, while at the same time conveying the mandatory material to the students. I /we may not always be able to reach each student as each has varying degrees learning styles and prior classroom experiences that may cause a student to “wander” every so often.
However, as technology has crept ever deeper into our personal lives, the cell or “smart phone” seems to garner more and more of the owner’s attention, and during this classroom time we find ourselves competing more and more with hand held devices, regardless of asking that they be either shut off, used only for emergencies, or whatever depending on the organizations stipulations. This creates “gaps” in the teaching - learning process, and leads to important concepts being missed.
2. I Already Ride, So What Can You Teach Me?
But how do you ride? Many coach / trainers will tell you the better student to teach is the student with no prior experience. They do not have any bad habits or techniques and therefore are able grasp what is being implemented because they know no other way. In comparison, some students whom already have ridden a street bike, or a dirt bike, come with some habits already ingrained. Some of these habits are positive and are what would be taught or expected on the highways. At the same time, a number of those ingrained habits could be bad or detrimental to the students safe operation of a motorcycle and need to be corrected. Many of the students I have witnessed were not even conscious that they doing. They may have been “self taught” or taught by someone else who was unwillingly (or willingly) sharing their bad habits. Bad habits lead to even worse bad habits.
Some of the bad habits are very obvious and easy to pick out (braking style –only using one set of brakes, kick stand up before getting on the bike and still up when dismounting, using one finger on the front brake or clutch levers). Some are not so easy to pick out as they may tend to be hidden, such as situational awareness induced by a lack of shoulder checks and a “tunnel vision”, body placement on bike and the poor posture it creates, looking at the clutch and brake levers when s/he is using them, and lack of confidence at certain speeds, to name a few.
The “Gearing Up” Basic Riding Course starts at the point it presents a “new beginning” for all students, whether they have experience or not, and advances step-by-step, to its conclusion, thereby each student is coached through, and to do, the same things as offered by the curriculum.
For the student coming into the course, try to do so with an open mind and that you will learn something new or something you never thought about before. I have seen many experienced students come into the basic course and have an “a-ha” moment. Remember, much about riding a motorcycle depends on muscle memory, and if your muscles remember the good habits, chances are they will continue that way.
3. Friction Zone and Clutch Control Confidence
If there was ever an exercise that can induce a demoralizing effect to one’s confidence, it is that of mastering the Friction Zone and becoming comfortable enough to move on to all other lessons that require proper use of the clutch. While some students pick up on how the friction zone (and where it is on their bike), and how it works in conjunction with rolling on and off of the throttle, relays the engine power to the back wheel. Some students will continue to struggle with this, and in effect, will have issues with almost all other exercises.
In many cases, it will require additional practice by the student and added support by the coach / trainer, and could also need different approaches to solving the problem. I have found if one coach is unable to help a student progress, another coach may, and probably will ask another coach to lend a hand. The coaching “team” approach really is the best way to teach and learn as subtle differences in delivery give the student the greatest chance for success.
4. There Is No Such Thing As A Stupid Question!
All too often I find new students are afraid to ask some of the burning
questions they might have about motorcycling because they are afraid others will think them “stupid” or not motorcycle savvy. Instructors are more than open to questions from their students, and welcome them. There is no better time to ask those questions than in the friendly, controlled environment of a rider course. I do encourage my students to ask any and all questions, and let them know that I may not have all the answers they are looking for. As well, I remind the students that while we encourage questions, there is a time to ask questions that do not relate to the lesson being taught at that instance, as the time required to properly answer these questions could interfere with the students “time in the saddle”, and lesson progression.
5. Motorcycling May Not Be For Everyone
For some students, they may find that no matter how hard they try,
and no matter how much encouragement and individual training they receive, they do not reach the “comfort zone” which will allow them to both operate and enjoy the open road on a motorcycle. This is one of the main reasons we suggest to students that they not purchase a motorcycle before finding out if they will actually like riding a bike (and are able to pass the government requirements to get a license). In addition, many training organizations offer an “intro” course that is far less expensive, and takes far less time, which will give the student the opportunity to know whether biking is a “yay” or “nay”.
Not all Basic Rider Training Programs are the same as some have been developed through a national organization (example, in Canada, The Canadian Safety Council or the U.S. by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation), or have been developed by other organizations or privately. The major goals in all usually are toward teaching basic skills as to operating the motorcycle, and doing so safely. However, if you decide to take a course, check out its background first, and what it offers. One way of knowing is to check with your insurance company (or projected insurance company) to see if they recognize the course offered.
As a motorcycle coach / trainer, I have noted a number of items that can stand in the way of a riding student from achieving their fullest potential. I have put together a short list of some of the issues I have noted over the years, which can impact on the student’s performance and success. This list is by no means complete but just some of the more “usual” ones. So here they are, in no particular order.
1. The First Session Impression.
Most, if not all recognized courses, have a lecture and classroom teaching / learning component. While this is the least “fun” part of the over-all course, it is an extremely important part as it lays out the ground work for what will be covered and why, including such as the introduction to motorcycling, how motorcycles work, what the responsibilities of the student are, and how to do all this safely. As a lecturer / teacher / coach, I / we try to make these sessions as exciting and “entertaining” as possible, while at the same time conveying the mandatory material to the students. I /we may not always be able to reach each student as each has varying degrees learning styles and prior classroom experiences that may cause a student to “wander” every so often.
However, as technology has crept ever deeper into our personal lives, the cell or “smart phone” seems to garner more and more of the owner’s attention, and during this classroom time we find ourselves competing more and more with hand held devices, regardless of asking that they be either shut off, used only for emergencies, or whatever depending on the organizations stipulations. This creates “gaps” in the teaching - learning process, and leads to important concepts being missed.
2. I Already Ride, So What Can You Teach Me?
But how do you ride? Many coach / trainers will tell you the better student to teach is the student with no prior experience. They do not have any bad habits or techniques and therefore are able grasp what is being implemented because they know no other way. In comparison, some students whom already have ridden a street bike, or a dirt bike, come with some habits already ingrained. Some of these habits are positive and are what would be taught or expected on the highways. At the same time, a number of those ingrained habits could be bad or detrimental to the students safe operation of a motorcycle and need to be corrected. Many of the students I have witnessed were not even conscious that they doing. They may have been “self taught” or taught by someone else who was unwillingly (or willingly) sharing their bad habits. Bad habits lead to even worse bad habits.
Some of the bad habits are very obvious and easy to pick out (braking style –only using one set of brakes, kick stand up before getting on the bike and still up when dismounting, using one finger on the front brake or clutch levers). Some are not so easy to pick out as they may tend to be hidden, such as situational awareness induced by a lack of shoulder checks and a “tunnel vision”, body placement on bike and the poor posture it creates, looking at the clutch and brake levers when s/he is using them, and lack of confidence at certain speeds, to name a few.
The “Gearing Up” Basic Riding Course starts at the point it presents a “new beginning” for all students, whether they have experience or not, and advances step-by-step, to its conclusion, thereby each student is coached through, and to do, the same things as offered by the curriculum.
For the student coming into the course, try to do so with an open mind and that you will learn something new or something you never thought about before. I have seen many experienced students come into the basic course and have an “a-ha” moment. Remember, much about riding a motorcycle depends on muscle memory, and if your muscles remember the good habits, chances are they will continue that way.
3. Friction Zone and Clutch Control Confidence
If there was ever an exercise that can induce a demoralizing effect to one’s confidence, it is that of mastering the Friction Zone and becoming comfortable enough to move on to all other lessons that require proper use of the clutch. While some students pick up on how the friction zone (and where it is on their bike), and how it works in conjunction with rolling on and off of the throttle, relays the engine power to the back wheel. Some students will continue to struggle with this, and in effect, will have issues with almost all other exercises.
In many cases, it will require additional practice by the student and added support by the coach / trainer, and could also need different approaches to solving the problem. I have found if one coach is unable to help a student progress, another coach may, and probably will ask another coach to lend a hand. The coaching “team” approach really is the best way to teach and learn as subtle differences in delivery give the student the greatest chance for success.
4. There Is No Such Thing As A Stupid Question!
All too often I find new students are afraid to ask some of the burning
questions they might have about motorcycling because they are afraid others will think them “stupid” or not motorcycle savvy. Instructors are more than open to questions from their students, and welcome them. There is no better time to ask those questions than in the friendly, controlled environment of a rider course. I do encourage my students to ask any and all questions, and let them know that I may not have all the answers they are looking for. As well, I remind the students that while we encourage questions, there is a time to ask questions that do not relate to the lesson being taught at that instance, as the time required to properly answer these questions could interfere with the students “time in the saddle”, and lesson progression.
5. Motorcycling May Not Be For Everyone
For some students, they may find that no matter how hard they try,
and no matter how much encouragement and individual training they receive, they do not reach the “comfort zone” which will allow them to both operate and enjoy the open road on a motorcycle. This is one of the main reasons we suggest to students that they not purchase a motorcycle before finding out if they will actually like riding a bike (and are able to pass the government requirements to get a license). In addition, many training organizations offer an “intro” course that is far less expensive, and takes far less time, which will give the student the opportunity to know whether biking is a “yay” or “nay”.
6. Mind and Body
While riding a motorcycle is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, this is some times a hard sell to both the student’s mind and body. Some students believe that they have to demonstrate the lessons perfectly the first time out of the gate, and nothing could be farther from the truth. Rider trainer / coaches know that it takes practice, patience, a good mind set, and repetition in order for the riding components to be done properly, but rarely perfectly. Coaches know this and will encourage and support the student to improve while knowing the student will not be “perfect” in their approach.
At the same time, many students tend to lose confidence in themselves because they are not riding perfectly, or over analysis the operation of the motorcycle (i.e. clutch / roll on, roll off throttle) and thus put undo pressure and stress on their body, which in turn causes a whole new set of problems for them to overcome. Motorcycle trainers are looking out for students whom have clenched hands on the bars, shoulders tense and not relaxed, arms straight instead of bent, just to name a few. The coach / trainer will undoubtedly talk with the student to help them to relax and enjoy what they are doing, and make suggestions to correct the rigid posture. As the course continues and self-assurance improves, the student almost always changes their over-all posture as they relax. Mind and body have to work together.
7. Speed - Too Much / Too Little
In order to really enjoy a motorcycle, the use of speed is essential in order to stay with traffic flow on the road, and the ability to manage one’s speed correctly is paramount. Two signals that I use a lot during training is, first of all, that of speed up, and secondly, and not nearly as much, the signal to slow down. It is hard to imagine that most students tend to ride their bikes during training at a very slow speed, even when the lessons require a mid-range upper gear. Twisting the throttle to feel the input of the engine, and therefore, sending power to the rear wheel takes practice at different gears, and speeds. Most students have a tendency to “rev” up and then when in the desired gear, especially in first gear, will roll off the throttle and use just the idle speed to maneuver around the course. We spend a lot of time trying to convince students to use more throttle and speed in a number of the exercises. With a faster speed (but not too fast!), the motorcycle becomes more stable and does what it was designed to do. Trust it.
8. Are You Ready To Ride?
When we do our lecture evening prior to the actual riding portion of
our course, we emphasize two components of getting ready to ride, “Is the bike ready, and are you ready?” In the Basic Coarse, the bike has been made ready for the student, but the student’s preparation of his or her self could be one of the biggest issues facing them. We know that students, for the most part, are somewhat nervous, and excited, at the same time. In a number of training programs I have been associated with, our start time on a Saturday and Sunday morning is early, and it is not unusual to have students come in lacking sleep due to being up to their normal time, or are where a bit anxious and had a hard time sleeping due to this. In addition, despite our warnings about getting plenty of rest, especially after the first day of the coarse, or staying away from an “over exuberance” of alcohol or other items, we always get some students whom arrive the next day and their riding has taken a few steps backward, and then they try to overcompensate and end up applying additional stress which can lead to not being successful in the end.
For the student, they are spending a good amount to take the coarse,
and hopefully learn how to ride properly, so why put that in jeopardy by not being ready to ride. Most trainers will tell you that riding not only relies on physical inputs, but the mental game is more important.
9. The End Game - Assessment / Evaluation / Test
While riding a motorcycle is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, this is some times a hard sell to both the student’s mind and body. Some students believe that they have to demonstrate the lessons perfectly the first time out of the gate, and nothing could be farther from the truth. Rider trainer / coaches know that it takes practice, patience, a good mind set, and repetition in order for the riding components to be done properly, but rarely perfectly. Coaches know this and will encourage and support the student to improve while knowing the student will not be “perfect” in their approach.
At the same time, many students tend to lose confidence in themselves because they are not riding perfectly, or over analysis the operation of the motorcycle (i.e. clutch / roll on, roll off throttle) and thus put undo pressure and stress on their body, which in turn causes a whole new set of problems for them to overcome. Motorcycle trainers are looking out for students whom have clenched hands on the bars, shoulders tense and not relaxed, arms straight instead of bent, just to name a few. The coach / trainer will undoubtedly talk with the student to help them to relax and enjoy what they are doing, and make suggestions to correct the rigid posture. As the course continues and self-assurance improves, the student almost always changes their over-all posture as they relax. Mind and body have to work together.
7. Speed - Too Much / Too Little
In order to really enjoy a motorcycle, the use of speed is essential in order to stay with traffic flow on the road, and the ability to manage one’s speed correctly is paramount. Two signals that I use a lot during training is, first of all, that of speed up, and secondly, and not nearly as much, the signal to slow down. It is hard to imagine that most students tend to ride their bikes during training at a very slow speed, even when the lessons require a mid-range upper gear. Twisting the throttle to feel the input of the engine, and therefore, sending power to the rear wheel takes practice at different gears, and speeds. Most students have a tendency to “rev” up and then when in the desired gear, especially in first gear, will roll off the throttle and use just the idle speed to maneuver around the course. We spend a lot of time trying to convince students to use more throttle and speed in a number of the exercises. With a faster speed (but not too fast!), the motorcycle becomes more stable and does what it was designed to do. Trust it.
8. Are You Ready To Ride?
When we do our lecture evening prior to the actual riding portion of
our course, we emphasize two components of getting ready to ride, “Is the bike ready, and are you ready?” In the Basic Coarse, the bike has been made ready for the student, but the student’s preparation of his or her self could be one of the biggest issues facing them. We know that students, for the most part, are somewhat nervous, and excited, at the same time. In a number of training programs I have been associated with, our start time on a Saturday and Sunday morning is early, and it is not unusual to have students come in lacking sleep due to being up to their normal time, or are where a bit anxious and had a hard time sleeping due to this. In addition, despite our warnings about getting plenty of rest, especially after the first day of the coarse, or staying away from an “over exuberance” of alcohol or other items, we always get some students whom arrive the next day and their riding has taken a few steps backward, and then they try to overcompensate and end up applying additional stress which can lead to not being successful in the end.
For the student, they are spending a good amount to take the coarse,
and hopefully learn how to ride properly, so why put that in jeopardy by not being ready to ride. Most trainers will tell you that riding not only relies on physical inputs, but the mental game is more important.
9. The End Game - Assessment / Evaluation / Test
And where does all this lead? The dreaded finale, call it what name you want: Assessment, Evaluation, or whatever, the “End Game” is really a Test of all you have accomplished during the riding portion of the Basic Course. In as much as Trainer / Coaches have prepared the student to the best of their abilities for riding on the road, and the test itself really has nothing in it that the student has already encountered along the way, many students get “Test Anxiety”, and this ultimately influences how well they do. The biggest difference is that you will have to line up behind others and wait for your turn to “ride through”. We encourage our students throughout the whole course, and especially during “The Test” to take a deep breath, relax the shoulders, and embrace the experience. As in the “real world of motorcycling”, don’t be concerned about what the other students do on the test, just “ride your own ride”. Do what is necessary for the here and now, not all the other things that you have learned that may be flooding your mind, and only concentrate on the learned skills needed for each portion of the assessment, err, evaluation, ahh, test.
Over-all, your best chance to really enjoy biking and to do it as safely and as skilled as possible is to take a Basic Riding Course. In Canada, there is the National “Gearing Up” program that is offered in each province, through a Canadian Safety Council affiliate, such as the Ottawa Safety Council in the Ottawa, Ontario region. There are other programs, but as mentioned, check them out to make sure you are getting a fair shake for your buck.
In conclusion, your decision to take a recognized rider course is the smartest thing you can do.
Over-all, your best chance to really enjoy biking and to do it as safely and as skilled as possible is to take a Basic Riding Course. In Canada, there is the National “Gearing Up” program that is offered in each province, through a Canadian Safety Council affiliate, such as the Ottawa Safety Council in the Ottawa, Ontario region. There are other programs, but as mentioned, check them out to make sure you are getting a fair shake for your buck.
In conclusion, your decision to take a recognized rider course is the smartest thing you can do.