Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Experienced Rider Course

Similar I think to Thundershortz' post about the ride like a pro class, last week I registered for the advanced rider course put on by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Been wanting to take it for a few years, just never got around to it. Problem is, there are only 3 classes (left?) this year in Montana. One's tomorrow and I've already got plans, so I signed up for one of the last two on August 29th. So I get to take the class just before riding season ends.

::sigh::

As an experienced rider... and an old fart (which equates to an elder to you all you younger (than me) folks) I endorse the taking of this course and suggest just about anyone riding for 100 years or less could (would) gain (perhaps their very own lives) immensely from this course. Riding is an art to be perfected, honed and otherwise enhanced by any means possible.

Never underestimate that fact that if you survived your last ride, it was by in part... fluke. Bury your ego and realize you can only learn more.

I wish I could hear what Evil had to say about this... but I can imagine.

Tell 'em, MM. These young pups could larn a thing or three from the Exalted Flatulent Ones like us'ns. We've all had that one split second of attention drift and woke up at the last instant for a course correction or a Shoot-the-Bird moment with some cagers-on-cellphones. Seems like we play defense most of the time. Courses can keep you sharp, and maybe even alive.

There's no substitute for more learnin'...

And cubic inches...

And Porsche...

I recently took the Ride Like a Pro Course in Houston put on my motor officers and was not surprised at what I had problems doing. Well worth it to be able to handle your bike at low speed.

One of the Harley riders got a lot of experience in Picking Up a Downed Cruiser. Three or four times, I think.

I took the ERC back in Nov. The Navy now requires to be taken every three years due to all the sailors and Marines killing themselves on bikes. Anyway, it was a great refresher course. The exact same material and course obsticles as in the Basic course except this time you're on your own ride vice a 200cc putt-putt. Most walked away not really learning anything they didn't already know, but we all walked away with much more confidence in our abilities and respect for what our bikes could really do in adverse situations.

In short...an excellent course that I recommend to all riders!

I had sold my beloved '79 Bonny in '82 at the behest of my then SWMBO. I should dumped her instead. Not having any riding at all in 25 years and at the tender age of 64 when I bought a new Speedmaster in March '08 I thought this course could be helpful.

Wisely I used their little bike instead of my 500 pounder and I really learned a lot. I never would have thought I could do a U turn inside that small an area.

The slow speed riding really gave me a lot of confidence.

Of course once I got my license and new bike I promptly fell down 3 times inside of a month at 1 MPH doing a left turn at slow speed. Even with full riding gear it hurts but my pride was more wounded than my body.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who is serious about safe riding on a bike. Now if there was someway to learn how to ride my Speedy on dirt or gravel roads and feel safe I would pay for that but that front end is just so heavy it does not seem to able to move well on a loose surface and plows deep into the soft stuff and scares the ++++ out of me all the time.

I will keep it on the hard surface but maybe my next bike should be a 250 CC dirt bike just for fun.

I do the ERC every spring. It's really a lot of fun, and I get to undo all the bad habits I got into over the last season. The real fun is the look on the Harley riders faces when my America can go through the S turn maneuver in 1/3rd the time they take, AND stay inside the box.

Dan, as with all dirt bikes, when in the loose stuff, just stand up (butt off the seat) and twist the throttle wide open!
Power will get you through! (or make for one he11 of a U tube moment)

How much does it cost, John? Is it two days or one? I figure if I can get my 18 year old son to take the beginner course, I should lead by example and take the advanced, or vice versa.

Depends on how your state's program is run. In Montana it's one day, use your own bike, $75.

When I took the ERC, it was scheduled for one day. Showed up at 7:30ish, started around 8:30ish, worked through lunch and had grad certs about 1:30.

Took the advanced riders course a few years back. In the group, I was the only one that
DID NOT get my motorcycle endorsement THAT year. With 25 plus years under my belt I felt
somewhat insulted. Requiring a mire 500 mile to be considered an advanced rider is ridiculous.

I did get my satisfaction however. Riding my Indian and taking my turn first on every
maneuver, every time the instructor received a complaint on how the riders bike was "too big
to do that," he would put at my bike and say, "If that bike can do it, your bike can do it.
It was raining too.

Hey John, how did that course go?

No idea. I was home sick.

Sorry to hear about that. If ya prepaid I hope you got your money back.