youtube/watch?v=GIn8jVQ_IVo My 50th birthday is approaching and it’s time to renew my driver’s license. I decided to get a motorcycle license endorsement added this time around. Instead of trying to find a motorcycle to take the test with at the DMV, I decided to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Harley Davidson Rider’s Edge New Rider Course at my local Harley Davidson shop, Earl Small’s in Marietta Georgia (USA). For a total of $325 I received some 25 hours of professional classroom and range riding training on a 500cc Buell Blast that was provided. Upon successful completion of the course, I received a waiver that exempts me from having to take my State’s motorcycle test to receive my motorcycle license. I rode dirt bikes as a kid, but I haven’t been on a motorcycle in some 30 years. My prior motorcycle riding was of little value as most of my former riding skill and proficiency was long gone. No matter, riding on the street is an entirely different ballgame. Fortunately the course is designed to teach someone who has never seen, much less ridden a motorcycle how to ride and ride safely. Trust me, there is a lot to know and I believe it’s best to avoid learning the hard way at the risk of damaging your own motorcycle and/or body. The Rider’s Edge course format on the riding range is broken down into blocks of short training steps where each exercise builds on the previous exercises until before you know it, you are not only riding the motorcycle, but you are successfully performing ever increasingly complex maneuvers. Even though you may not achieve total perfection in your execution, you will learn and understand the correct fundamental techniques and be more than skilled enough to pass the riding proficiency test at the end. I would say the DMV is only testing your minimum skill level, pass or fail. The Rider’s Edge course is comprehensive in teaching all aspects of motorcycle operation. From how to properly perform basic mounting up and starting procedures, to executing correct riding techniques and strategies, this course coaches you on how to ride safely on the road. There would be far fewer motorcycle accidents if this course were a licensing requirement. I have lost many friends over my 50 years, some to motorcycle accidents. I know several who survived motorcycle accidents as well. In those accidents where I know most of the details, I now understand what the rider either did wrong or failed to do correctly which could have prevented or at least lessened the severity of the accident. I have never feared motorcycles, but I had a great fear of riding them on the street because I did not know how to minimize the inherent risk factors. This course teaches risk minimization by stressing the use of safe riding techniques and overall strategy. It is a huge confidence builder. I can’t say enough good things about the professionalism and patience of my primary instructors/coaches, David Tegelaar and Peter Morton. Ray Earls and another instructor assisted and they were great as well. Oh, did I mention just how much fun the course was? It was AWESOME! :) And, I got a huge sense of accomplishment when I passed! But what if I hadn’t passed the first time? No problem, it would only cost $25 to retake the course. I can’t think of a better value anywhere. If anything, it’s way underpriced. I can’t recommend the course enough to anyone interested in motorcycling. There are other more advanced Rider’s Edge safety and skills development riding courses available for those who already ride and have a motorcycle. I plan to take those too. For my friends in the Atlanta area, here is where I signed up: earlsmallshd/default.asp?page=new-rider-course For those elsewhere, use this Rider’s Edge locator program to find a course near you harley-davidson/en_US/Content/Pages/learn-to-ride/search-riders-edge.html?locale=en_US&expLvl=new
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 05:57:13 +0000
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