2Wheeltips

We know it has been a while, but we have completed the curriculum for the "after the BRC/BRT" set of videos.  They are grouped into 3 sets:

Introduction and reality check
These videos go over the basics to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. You last chance to bail out before it's too late!!

Parking Lot Practice
In your motorcycle class, you practiced on a bike so small and weak that no self respecting biker would be caught dead on one. Now that you have a license, you need to go out and practice what you learned again on a real bike.....your bike. These videos will show you what you need to practice and why.

Road Practice
Now that you can ride around a parking lot without loosing control of your bike, it's now time to hit the road. But the road is a very dangerous place for a newbie. These videos give you tips on how to handle situations that can help you avoid imortality in a youtube motorcycle crash video or worse.

We have  list of 50 or so videos so it is an ambitious undertaking to say the least. Let us know what you think and give us suggestions on videos you would like to see. If you have film or videos you would like us to use, let us know and we will let you know how to get them to us.

Here are some videos from the MSF website. I decided to be good and link to them instead of embedding them in the 2wheeltips.com website. (plus they probably would get upset if I did). Anyway, check them out. Some of them are old, small and grainy......but......the information is good.


Welcome to the Ride

BRC Hightlights

Group Riding

Common Road Hazards

Let me know what you think.

Checkout the link to the road perception tests from the MSF website. Let me know what you think. I played around with it for a little while and it looks good.

Make sure you set the speed to slow.

http://www.msf-usa.org/riderperception/

So you took the BRC…you either passed it and got your motorcycle endorsement or you are licking your wounds because you failed the class.  Now what?  Well, if you passed, you may be thinking to yourself: 

• Am I really ready for public roads?
• What do I do now to expand on what I learned in class?
• How do I continue my path to becoming a really proficient motorcyclist?
• Who is willing to ride with a newbie and help mentor me?

And, if you failed the class, you may be thinking:

• What do I do NOW if I really want to get my license?
• Who will help me get myself motivated and prepared to try again?

Thanks to 2wheeltips member, Thundurburd, we have added these topics to the site.  Thundurburd pointed out to us how important it is to continue the learning process even after the BRC is over.  Anyone who took the BRC without ever having sat on a motorcycle before knows that, even once you have successfully graduated from the class, you are far from experienced.  You are a newbie, a novice with lots to learn.  After all, you learned to ride on a protected range, and public roads have all kinds of realities that the range cannot simulate (inclines, tight curves, all kinds of road debris and impediments).  Here, we offer videos, blogs and forums that will help you as you continue the learning process and make your way to becoming a proficient motorcyclist.  And, if you failed to pass the BRC the first time around, we understand that, too.  Not everyone passes the first time they take the class.  Perhaps there are issues that you need to understand better in order to complete the class successfully. 

Either way, watch our videos, read our blogs, send us your questions and link up with other bikers who can also help guide you on improving your ride!

Are you considering learning how to ride a motorcycle?  Do you already have your license but never took a Basic Rider Course and are now considering taking one?  Then, this group is for you!

Signing up for the Basic Rider Course in your area is a great beginning.  But, there are many ways you can prepare yourself in order to get the most out of the class.   After all, the class itself is only a few days long (depending upon which version you take) and it can be tough to digest all of the information that is being thrown your way in such little time.  Here, we will help you prepare to take the BRC, give you insight into what issues you should tackle BEFORE the class, which areas you might want to focus on more DURING the class, and what to expect AFTER the class. 

I was reading an article from the October 2009 issue of GQ magazine titled "Easy Riding - A GQ Motorcycle Primer".

There is a very interesting quote by one of the MSF coaches who contributed to the article. I've included part of it below:

"Once you pass (the BRC), you can ride on any road in America. "But practically speaking, you are qualified to ride in an enclosed lot with two instructors watching."

One of our members said that his BRC instructor told him:

"Congratulations, you are now qualified to ride a 125cc motorcycle around cones in a closed parking lot"
--------
As bad as they sound, the above quotes reflect reality.  Passing the BRC does not make you an instant skilled motorcyclist. You are now a person who has spent a few hours practicing the most basic motorcycle skills on a bike you cannot even purchase at a dealer.

I am not putting down or critizing the BRC or other basic training classes because they are important. Most motorcycle accidents involve people with no training. But once you get your license, you need lots of practice to become a skilled and safe motorcyclist. The BRC is the foundation on which you build your good skills.

It matters what and where you practice. Riding around in parking lots will help your slow maneuver skills and as a new rider you should go to parking lots and practice as often as you can. But you also need to practice road skills such as merging into traffic, switching lanes, target fixation, going around curves, wet weather riding, braking and acceleration. To become a skilled rider you should practice all of these things.

Think of the BRC as an excellent beginning rather than the finish line. You spend a few years, many hours and quite a few miles on your bike before you become a skilled rider.

This is a story from one of our members, jtw. He is a MSF coach currently in Iraq and will be back in Nov./Dec. '09.
__________

So there you are, driving down the road, stuck in traffic on a hot summer day.  Temperatures soar into the high 90s as your air conditioner works overtime.  As you sit there pondering what the hold up is, trying to maintain some sort of sanity, you see a motorcycle in your rearview mirror.  Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing you don't see everyday, but today something clicks in your mind as you feel the cool air from the A/C vent blow across your face.  You think to yourself, "That could be me.  Free from this metal cage that surrounds me in this maze of traffic.  Breathing fresh air.  Wind in my face.  Freedom."  And you know what?  You are 100% right...that could be you.  With a little determination and the right training that could very easily be you.

One of the first steps to making that dream a reality should be getting some sort of formalized training.  The most common form of training is a Basic Rider Course.  The course is exactly what it says it is, basic.  This course is not designed to make you an expert racer, but rather to give you a start and the tools necessary to continue your education and training and put you safely into the world of two wheels.  It will set you on your way to being a safe and responsible motorcyclist.  All 50 states have some sort of formalized basic rider training and currently I believe that most states, minus a couple, use the MSF Basic Rider Course as the guideline.

Whether you have bought your first bike or are waiting to see how the training goes to determine what your first bike is going to be you need to prepare yourself for the training you will receive.  At this point you might be asking yourself, "what is going to happen when I get there?  What do I need to do to prepare myself?"  Well, lucky for you I have some answers to those questions, but let's start before you get there.  I know this sounds funny, but it would really help you and the rider coach if you can ride a bicycle.  The ability to ride a bicycle shows that you have some basic balance and will probably grasp the concept of motorcycle riding quicker than some.  While this is not a guarantee, it is a good starting point.  Now please do not misconstrue this as if you cannot ride a bicycle, you cannot ride a motorcycle, because nothing could be farther from the truth and I don't want to discourage anyone from trying to learn to ride.

As far a preparing for the course itself, the biggest piece of advice I could give you is to relax.  Riding is supposed to be a fun experience, so the more relaxed you are the more fun you will probably have.   Get a good nights sleep prior to the course.  A well rested body is going to learn more and be more able to adapt to some of the new things you will do while riding a motorcycle the first day on the range.  Bring appropriate attire with you to class.  Depending on the time of year, it could be very warm or very cold.  I have coached courses when it was snowing at the beginning and by the end it was 60 degrees.  Dress in layers and be prepared to add or subtract as needed.  Have the proper over the ankle footwear, gloves, long sleeve shirt, long pants, and DOT approved helmet with you for the time spent on the motorcycle range.  When you first arrive, an instructor should greet you and make you feel welcome and at ease.  Since learning a new skill can be relatively stressful most coaches will attempt to lower the stress level during classes as much as possible.  Again, the lower your stress level, the more you will be able to learn.

 
The first part of the first day will be spent in the classroom learning about the basic controls of the motorcycle, learning about some of the risks associated with motorcycling and also how to minimize those risks.  You should take part and participate in class.  The more you put into the class yourself the more you will get out of it.  Share your experiences, fears, and expectations with others in your class.  You will probably find that you are not alone in your thoughts.  The rider coaches are there to facilitate your learning.  They will give you the tools you need during class and range time, but it is going to be up to you to apply these tools.  Pay attention, ask questions and share.  After the first few hours in the classroom you will probably get a break for lunch and then it will be time to apply some of what you learned on a real live motorcycle.

There are 9 exercises for the first day of training.  What the exercises are is not as important for you as what you should be getting out of them.  Each exercise builds on the previous and the whole course will be progressive in nature.  That is you will learn about the friction zone (clutch control)  before you learn how to start and stop.  You will learn basic starting and stopping before learning how to shift.  I think you get the point.  After each exercise you will be able to see your progression and will probably be surprised by some of the new skills you have learned.

After the first day you will probably have some homework to do.  There are a lot of questions in the back of the Basic Rider Course guide that will be answered in the classroom.  The first day you will be given time in class to find the answers before answering them as a group.  After you answer the rest of the questions at home the classroom portion for day 2 should be quicker as you go through the questions in class which will get you back out onto the range and riding that much sooner.  The classroom portion of day 2 will cover some strategies to apply while riding out on the street, and will take what you learned yesterday a step farther.  At the end of the classroom session for day 2 there should be a written evaluation to see how much you have learned over the 2 days of classroom.  To prepare for this exam beforehand read the BRC study guide, answer the questions in the back and visit the Basic Rider Course review at www.msf-usa.org.  If you do all of the above and participate in classroom discussions you should have very few problems.

Day 2 on the range is a continuation of the first day.  Again, remember that the course is progressive.  There will be a little more expected of you on day two than there was on day 1.  Day 2 will be another 8 exercises followed by a skills evaluation.  After you pass the written evaluation and the skills evaluation you will be given your completion card.  Depending on your state laws this card will be good for waiving the riding test at the local DMV.  It will also be good for lowering your insurance on your motorcycle, depending on your insurance company.  Check with your local authorities, DMV and insurance company to get more details.  Your rider coach will also be a great source of information for local rules and regulations.

Some things to keep in mind...Your rider coach will not let you progress to the next exercise if you do not meet the objectives for the current one.  Your safety is the coaches primary concern and you will not progress faster than you are capable.  The coaches are trained and have lots of practice identifying areas that need work, or areas where you are doing very well.  Remember that we are usually our own worst critics.  While you may not think you are doing well, the rider coach may see something completely different, and they will let you know.  make sure you get a good nights sleep for both nights of the course.  Eat well, drink lots of water and take care of your body.  You will get tired by the end of the day.  Most importantly relax, smile and have fun learning.  After all, isn't that what motorcycling is all about?