Question about Experienced Rider Course

[mishab]

Greetings,
I took the experienced motorcycle course last saturday at the city college location and want to share a few thoughts.

1. There was a great difference in my confidence riding to the class and riding home from the class. I felt more comfortable riding back home and that alone was worth 75 dollars. Having someone reassure your skills is a great thing.

2. Learning how to ride at a super low speed was a new thing for me and I think the instructor did an excellent job explaining mutiple reasons behind this excersise.

3. Learning how to handle the bike with one hand was somewhat hard at first but that alone made me bond with my bike a lot better.

4. Having to ride your own bike throught the course practice is a nice thing. I now know what it takes for my bike to stop quickly.


I can go on and on about the class, but the bottom line is that I recommend this class for anyone who wants to increase their level of confidence on the bike.

One thing that made me to want more is the fact there was not much skill work. I felt that the experienced motorcycle training is very similar to the regular motorcycle training course, but offers individual student attention + one gets to run his one bike.

I was wondering if there is class that offers street and freeway riding skills? I know the course focuses on safety and safety is my first priority, but i want to improve my skills making turns at faster speed, avoiding obstacles at 50 miles per hour, etc.

Is there is private school that offers that? Is there someone who is experienced and is interested in doing a quick session and observe a fellow beginner?

- Misha

[bunnygoat]

if you want to get some serious training, the police are now offering a civilian version of their famed motor cop classes.
it's in dublin and there's a post on here about it.

[2legs2wheels]

also I have heard that trackdays help...I have never been to one but plan on goign to one in june (i guess you too may be interested in a beginer's trackday).

[tripleboston]

Do you have a URL or contact to get some info on the next class in SF?

[ironmonk]

I think this maybe the moto cop class that bunnygoat was talking about:

http://www.alamedacountysheriff.org/rtc/classes/evoc/2day_inter_civ_motor/class.htm

I email them a while back. Seems their website is out of date. They are not teaching the civilian class at this time. They wanted me to check back after July.

[Enchanter]

Originally posted by mishab
Greetings,
I took the experienced motorcycle course last saturday at the city college location and want to share a few thoughts.

1. There was a great difference in my confidence riding to the class and riding home from the class. I felt more comfortable riding back home and that alone was worth 75 dollars. Having someone reassure your skills is a great thing.

2. Learning how to ride at a super low speed was a new thing for me and I think the instructor did an excellent job explaining mutiple reasons behind this excercise.

3. Learning how to handle the bike with one hand was somewhat hard at first but that alone made me bond with my bike a lot better.

4. Having to ride your own bike throught the course practice is a nice thing. I now know what it takes for my bike to stop quickly.


I can go on and on about the class, but the bottom line is that I recommend this class for anyone who wants to increase their level of confidence on the bike.

One thing that made me to want more is the fact there was not much skill work. I felt that the experienced motorcycle training is very similar to the regular motorcycle training course, but offers individual student attention + one gets to run his one bike.

I was wondering if there is class that offers street and freeway riding skills? I know the course focuses on safety and safety is my first priority, but i want to improve my skills making turns at faster speed, avoiding obstacles at 50 miles per hour, etc.

Is there is private school that offers that? Is there someone who is experienced and is interested in doing a quick session and observe a fellow beginner?

- Misha

The entire course is about building skills. Many people think that just because the course is in a parking lot, that they didn't get any 'street' skills.

The skills you practiced are the same skills that you will use at the 'highway' speeds that you mention.

You practiced proper braking techniques that are used at ALL speeds. It's up to you to now take those techniques and apply them to the speeds that you travel.

The cornering techniques that you learned are the same ones that you will use at 50mph. Again, it's up to you to practice them.

The class is meant to teach people at lower speeds not only because of space available, but also because at lower speeds people can avoid being driven by their fears. At lower speed, riders have more time to process their actions and become more aware of their mistakes.

I think that what you are seeking is 'confidance'. Take the skills taught in the course and practice them to gain that confidance you seek.

On another note, the class exercises are very similar to the basic course. That is because studies have shown that that it is these basic skills that are missing in accident involved riders. 'Experienced' riders tend to think that there are these special skills that they use that novices do not use. That is simply not true. The skills are the same.

[redline]

I'll be at the experienced rider course on Sunday. I figured it would be like Enchanter & Mishab described. I look forward to the practice & seeing what bad habits I've picked up.

Mishab: if you're practicing at the parking lots and still want more, I tried the California Superbike School and the CLASS schools. Both of those will give you practice with hard braking and will help you expand your control of the bike. They were both a lot of fun, too. They mix class and road (track) time. However, both cost a lot more than the $75 course you just took.