COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Basic Rider Course

The best place to start once you’ve made the decision to ride. Covers the basics of operating a motorcycle and safety-oriented mental strategies. Motorcycles are provided for your use during the class. Successful completion of this course, consisting of five hours of formal classroom activities and ten hours of riding instruction conducted over three sessions, plus a knowledge and skill tests will earn the required documentation to take to the DMV to put the endorsement on your valid driver’s license. The course may also earn you an insurance discount.

15 Hands-on Riding Exercises in the Course:

1. Motorcycle Familiarization

Review T-CLOCS pre-ride inspection
Identify location and operation of important controls and major parts
Review mounting/dismounting procedures
Review elements of good posture

2. Using the Friction Zone

Become skilled in using the clutch friction zone for control

3. Starting & Stopping Drill

Coordinate the friction zone, throttle, and brakes to control the motorcycle
Start out and stop with precision and control

4. Shifting & Stopping

Shift gears and stop smoothly

5. Basic Skill Practice

Refine low-speed maneuvering skills
Refine throttle use and brake manipulation for corners

6. Pressing to Initiate and Adjust Lean

Understand the maneuvering elements needed for negotiating curves
Experience the effects of handgrip pressure and handlebar movement to initiate and adjust lean

7. Stopping More Quickly & Tight Turns from a Stop

Develop a feel for progressive braking pressure to stop more quickly without skidding
Practice making a sharp turn from a stop

8. Stopping Distance Demonstration

Observe a demonstration of the reaction/braking parts of total stopping distance
To understand effects of speed on braking distance
To relate the results to intersection strategies

9. Limited-Space Maneuvers

Refine maneuvering skills to allow turns in limited spaces
Learn the counter weighting technique

10. Stopping in a Curve

Learn to maintain control while stopping in a curve
Understand traction management

11. Curve Judgment

Improve skills for negotiating multiple curves
Understand the “search-setup-smooth” strategy

12. Multiple Curves & Lane Changes

Practice negotiating curves and lane changes
Understand safety margins and gap selection

13. Crossing an Obstacle & Swerving

Learn techniques for crossing over obstacles
Execute a basic swerve
Practice turning from a stop
Refine slow-speed weaves

14. Skill Practice

Capstone exercise that combines a variety of maneuvers

15. Skill Test

To assess basic skills using a cone weave, normal stop, turning from a stop,
U-turn, quick stop, obstacle swerve, and cornering maneuver.
To demonstrate basic motorcycle control skills and ability to avoid an obstacle
To demonstrate ability to use the proper technique to negotiate a curve

What Will I Need?

1. Prerequisites:

Able to balance and ride a bicycle
Possess either a driver’s license or learner’s permit
17 years and under will need written parental consent

2. What to Expect

15-hours of instruction (5 hours classroom/10 hours riding)
1. Friday evening (Classroom portion) 5:00pm-10:00pm
2. Saturday morning (Part 1 of driving range) 6:30am-11:30am
3. Sunday morning (Part 2 of driving range and skills test) 6:30am-11:30am
Range exercises include low-speed maneuvers and basic skills such as shifting, accelerating, braking, cornering, U-turn, lane change
You’ll be with the same group for the duration of your training
You’ll receive individual RiderCoach feedback while learning to ride
Types and/or models of motorcycles available vary by site.

3. What to Bring

Food/beverages for breaks and lunch; bottled water is provided
Your riding gear
Pen/pencil for classroom sessions

4. What you MUST Wear:

Long-sleeve shirt or jacket
Long pants made of sturdy material with no holes, rips or tears
Over-the-ankle footwear
Eye protection (full-face helmet with visor is accepted)
Full-finger gloves
Full-face or ¾-face helmet