I'm old enough that when I got my automobile license here in PA they asked me if I wanted the motorcycle endorsement on it. Back then, there was no test, you just asked for it and got it. At the time I said no. Dummy me. Four years later I had my first street bike, the laws had changed, and a permit was required. I got one and rode and rode and rode.
I learned a few things the hard way, got taught a lot of myths and tips from older riders, and eventually just rode without a license or permit. They never checked those things back then.
About '79-'80 I quit riding - usual story, wife, kids, responsibilities....
2003 I got the bug and bought my '03 TA. Got a permit good for a year, then another, then another. Finally decided to take the MSF course and make an honest man of myself. Took it, passed it, no problem. Legal.
My course took place in February. During the riding portion on 2 Saturdays it was cold and it was snowing. In my class there were several people who, in my opinion, were there for the wrong reasons. A few of us were already riding and just wanted to get legal. We gravitated to each other and bonded in a way. We knew the hazards and had some stories to swap...
But there were others who were there because:
My husband said he would buy me a Harley if I passed this.
I think riding a bike would make me cool.
My brother gave me a chopper and the cops keep hassling me.
My boyfriend bought me a Harley and said I should do this so I can ride with him.
During the riding portions of the course, Husband's wife actually did ok.
Cool man dumped his 250 cruiser about every other turn. Still passed the course, however.
Chopper boy kept duck-walking around the turns and still passed.
And girlfriend dumped the bike on her leg and left in an ambulance - her knee was about as big as a football by the time they came.
That was a couple years ago. I'm no expert rider, by any stretch, a man's got to know his limitations...
But.... (here's the opinion part}
During this 4 day circus, those of us who actually rode kept saying "Surely the instructors will weed some of these people out" but they never did. Some people are not meant to ride motorcycles. Just like some will never be acrobats or brain surgeons or ballet dancers. The instructors were good, but they never reached that conclusion. They passed everyone. Maybe not the injured-knee girlfriend - I never found that out - but everyone else in that class passed and got their motorcycle endorsement. They are now free to navigate the highways and byways legally.
In today's pc world, maybe the instructors can't tell people that driving a motorcycle is probably not a wise choice for them... but there isn't a whole lot of "safety instruction" involved when you let these people loose on the highway.......
