The Basic RiderCourse is very popular; it is offered
through various local training affiliates in most states
in the U.S. and it provides
valuable training for both new and experienced riders.
By successfully completing the Basic
RiderCourse, even a newbie who has never been on a
motorcycle can gain enough skills to hit the streets.
However, getting up the courage to ride a motorcycle among
all the crazies in those cars is something not taught in
the class!
Safety First
Motorcycle riding obviously involves higher risks than
many other forms of transportation, so it is vital to
understand those risks and how to minimize them.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic
RiderCourse teaches fundamentals that every rider should
know – from proper riding gear, to basic motorcycle
control, to searching for and avoiding potentially
dangerous situations.
Once I decided to get a motorcycle
endorsement on my driver's license, MSF training was my
next step; I was under no illusions that the handful of
hours I spent on a dirt bike had prepared me for riding
on the streets.
The best place to learn technique – and
I mean proper technique – is from the pros.
Friends can always be counted on to loan a bike and
teach you to ride, but sometimes what they teach is not
the best or safest method. For instance, I can’t
tell you how many motorcyclists have told me they never
use their rear brake.
It’s my life on the line, and taking
that into consideration, I plan to constantly soak up
all the knowledge and skills that I possibly can.
And at such an affordable price (locally it was $150,
but will vary by region) there is no reason not to take
the MSF Basic RiderCourse as a start.
Instructors ride each exercise first to demonstrate the
skills required by the students.
Preparing for the RiderCourse
The Basic RiderCourse consists of approximately 15 hours
of total training, both in the classroom and on the
bike. It's usually spread out over a few days or a
weekend. Note that the majority of the time is
spent actually riding the motorcycles, with only a
handful of hours of classroom time.
The training can be intensive, therefore
it is important to be well-rested before the course
begins. It is surprising how tiring it can be to
ride around in a parking lot for five hours!
Motorcycles are provided for the Basic
RiderCourse by the local training affiliate.
Helmets are also usually provided, but be sure to check
with local instructors to confirm.
Participants are expected to wear long
pants, shoes that cover the ankle, full-fingered gloves,
a long sleeved shirt or jacket, and eye wear (sunglasses
are okay). Students without proper attire are not
allowed to ride, and thus will not be able to complete
the training.
Depending on the time of year, consider
layering your clothes for flexibility. I took the
class in the end of April in Montana and needed long
johns and a ski jacket! It was freezing!
Check the weather and bring rain gear if necessary,
because classes are usually not cancelled due to rain.
Also, remember to bring sunscreen and lip balm – two
full days in the sun can do a number on your face and
lips!
Students can expect plenty of seat time during the
RiderCourse training.
What to Expect
Typically, the work starts in the classroom with a
couple of hours of discussion and some short videos;
then the group goes outside and puts what they learned
into action. Training manuals are provided for the
students to keep and at the end of the first day,
students are expected to go home and study.
Breaks and a lunch are scheduled
throughout the day and it is crucial to return back to
class on time. Students who are late are not
allowed back into the class and will not get a
completion card. Take that into consideration when
deciding whether to bring a lunch or to leave the
training area to eat.
Each student picks a motorcycle to ride
– our location had a selection of standards, cruisers,
and dual-sports in 200cc to 300cc capacities. If
the student has never ridden a motorcycle before, no
worries; instruction starts with getting comfortable
with the bike with a combination exercise involving
“power walking” and learning clutch control (using the
friction zone).
The student straddles the bike and is
taught to slowly release the clutch until the “friction
zone” can be felt. The friction zone is the
feeling given by the clutch as the power starts to reach
the rear wheel. It’s important to understand how
this works and to master it to become a successful
rider.
Each riding drill is first demonstrated
by an instructor. Participants then repeatedly
practice essential riding skills such as clutch and
throttle control, maximum braking, swerving, cornering,
slow maneuvers, and riding over obstacles.
The hands-on training has already proven
valuable to me as a new rider. For example, the
maximum braking drill came in extremely handy last week
when I almost hit a deer (whew, deep breaths).
Taking corners too quickly is the main
cause of single rider accidents, and knowing how to
approach and proceed through corners and understanding
countersteering (i.e. press left, go left) has already
saved my skin.
When corners were sharper than I
anticipated, I used my knowledge of countersteering to
press into the turn; without the course, I may have
tried to turn the handle bars in the direction of the
turn which could have resulted in a high-side.
The Basic RiderCourse isn't only for new
riders. There were a few seasoned riders in my
class; some had been riding for twenty years, and all
said they learned new skills and the course was very
helpful. Our class was half women, half men, and
ages ranged from fifteen to sixty.
By the way, men -- my apologies for
generalizing, but taking the Basic RiderCourse in no way
makes you a wimp. It’s always smart to learn
and practice skills that will not only make the ride
more enjoyable but could one day save your life.
Keep your eyes ahead and your attention on the Instructor!
Passing the RiderCourse
At the end of the second day, students take both a
riding test and a written test. The written test
is multiple choice and covers exactly what is in the
manual. According to the instructors, if a student
participates in class and studies the manual, the
written test shouldn’t be a problem. I agree.
The riding test involves several of the
skills learned during the Basic RiderCourse training.
We were tested on cornering, maximum braking, slow
maneuvers, and swerving.
I’ll admit, when I heard about the
dreaded U-turn drill (slow maneuvers) that was part of
our test, I panicked. I had successfully completed
every single skill that day except for the double U-turn
and was sure I’d fail the riding test. The
instructors assured us we could butcher one of the
skills and still pass the course.
There are only two ways to fail the
riding test: 1) if a student drops their bike –
automatic failure; and 2) If too many cumulative points
are missed throughout the riding test, the student will
not pass.
Our instructors told us that it is rare
for someone to fail the class, but it does happen on
occasion. Everyone in our class graduated, and
several of the students who passed were previously only
experienced as passengers on other people's bikes.
Most of the organizations who teach the
RiderCourse will issue a completion card upon passing
the class. Many states will waive the formal
riding test and/or written test for a motorcycle
endorsement for anyone who has successfully passed the
MSF Basic RiderCourse. So in effect, if you pass
the RiderCourse, you’ll have a license to ride a
motorcycle.
And there’s an even better bonus -- many
insurance companies give discounts on motorcycle
insurance to those who have passed the RiderCourse.
That’s money saved to put into accessories!
Speaking of motorcycle licensing, some
states require that the new rider first pass the
standardized
ALT-MOST
test, which was previously described on
webBikeWorld.
wBWVideo: Demonstration of a student exercise
at the MSF Basic RiderCourse.
Use It or Lose It
As good as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic
RiderCourse is, practice is still necessary.
Instructors urge students to practice, practice, and
practice the skills. The local motorcycle police
still practice every morning in a parking lot nearby for
a half an hour to keep their skills sharp.
Conclusion
All riders, new or seasoned, could benefit from the MSF
Basic RiderCourse. Everyone I’ve ever talked to
who has taken the training has thought it was extremely
valuable.
As a new rider, I can’t even imagine challenging the
streets without having first taken the RiderCourse.
The technique and knowledge a rider will gain is worth
much more than the time and money invested in the
training – in fact, when you’re talking about lives and
safety, it’s priceless.
Please
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From "J.L." (7/09): "As I'm sure any of us
who have taken the BRC (Basic RiderCourse) can attest, that's a very accurate
write-up.
To put in a plug for a potential next step, I recently took the (Experienced
RiderCourse) ERC "skills practice" course (see
the wBW ERC review), and really found it useful. If it's available
where you live, I highly recommend checking it out if the BRC was your first
exposure to riding (as it was for me).
They have them in both bring-your-own-bike, and use-their-training-bike flavors.
I took it about a year after I took the BRC, with about 6 months of riding on my
own bike (I wanted to take it much earlier, but where I live, it's not offered a
lot due to low demand).
The one "problem" with the BRC for me was that it felt at times rushed due to
the huge amount of items covered. Plus, there's the ticking clock anxiety
of the test that you know is coming. I frequently found myself wishing I
could practice a given exercise a couple more times, just to make sure I really
got it...but no chance; the class goes on to the next segment.
The ERC skills practice course gives you that chance. It's basically an
afternoon of doing most of the riding exercises you do in the BRC...but with no
test and basic familiarity with everything, you really get a chance to
concentrate on your skills, under expert supervision. And there's a lot
less yelling, as it's unlikely in this class that someone's going to ride their
bike into the storage container or put a death-grip on the front brake in a
turn.
Additionally, there is some new material covered. Practicing riding with
one hand was useful, and a great proof of the effectiveness of countersteering.
I've since noticed a big improvement in my low-speed maneuvering skills and my
clutch work. And it's funny to me how the dreaded "box" exercise of the
BRC morphed into something fairly easy and straightforward in the ERC.
Obviously not for riders with years of experience, or those that totally aced
the BRC...but for those of us still new to the sport, it's worth the time I
think...at the very least, it's cheap insurance."
From "C" (7/09): "As an Instructor here in
the Mid-Atlantic area I was pleased to see such a positive review of the Basic
Rider Course on webBikeWorld.
Whereas I'm not a "dyed in the wool" MSF supporter I DO support
rider training and education and is why I made the personal investment to become
an Instructor.
I would like to point out to your readers that along with the
Basic Rider Course (BRC) and the Experienced Rider Course (ERC) there is another
course that is offered in most locations, but doesn't get as much attention as
those two do.
That would be the Basic Rider Course 2 (BRC II). This
class is geared towards those riders that already have knowledge and experience
with the 6 primary controls. Thus allowing them to bypass the first few
exercises that are so important with new riders such as learning to use the
friction zone, starting and stopping smoothly along with the basics of shifting.
This is a compressed class that is run in one day here in our
state all of which is spent on the range. It might be done differently
elsewhere. What is covered in the classroom during the BRC is also
compressed and discussed between exercises while on the range.
If you have riding experience (such as in the dirt/off road),
but need to get your motorcycle permit, then this might be a practical
alternative to the BRC.
Regardless of which you choose, you will walk away with some
new-found skills or polished the tarnish off of those old ones.
I have yet to date had any student state the class was a waste
of their time -- even from the young and cocky ones.
Just remember, the learning never ends and no matter how long
you're been riding you can ALWAYS be a better rider."
