Taking the PA Basic Rider Course tomorrow
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 148
Likes: 7
From: Central Pennsylvania, USA
Taking the PA Basic Rider Course tomorrow
Or more accurately, the "range" portion of the the course. My wife and I are taking the course together, and at the end, if we pass, we will have our Official Motorcycle licences.
I used to beat a 125 around the farm in the 80's and hadn't driven a motorcycle for 35 years, until buying a well used Sportster this past summer- -and having a blast restoring it to health and riding around the neighborhood. My skills came back pretty quickly, and I'm having fun riding. Then after finding a whale of a deal, and buying a used Road King (that needs some TLC) the day before Thanksgiving, my wife says - don't sell the Sporty, I want to ride it- -so she is taking the class with me. She has never let the clutch out on a cycle, so this will be an experience. We would probably be divorced if I tried to teach her to ride - so this is good!
So far the "Basic Rider Course" is real BASIC. Motorcycles have handlebars, 2 wheels, clutch lever is on the left, brakes on the right.... Wide mix of people in the class, about 1/3 women, and all ages and ethnicities. Instructors are keeping it fun.
Weather is supposed to be cold for our range time - low 32, high 40 both days, and it may even snow on Sunday. Won't have to worry about road rash...there will definitely be multiple layers between skin and pavement.
Not sure of the bikes we're using yet, rumored to be Honda Grom's (125's), and there was some mention of 250's also.
Wish me luck!
I used to beat a 125 around the farm in the 80's and hadn't driven a motorcycle for 35 years, until buying a well used Sportster this past summer- -and having a blast restoring it to health and riding around the neighborhood. My skills came back pretty quickly, and I'm having fun riding. Then after finding a whale of a deal, and buying a used Road King (that needs some TLC) the day before Thanksgiving, my wife says - don't sell the Sporty, I want to ride it- -so she is taking the class with me. She has never let the clutch out on a cycle, so this will be an experience. We would probably be divorced if I tried to teach her to ride - so this is good!
So far the "Basic Rider Course" is real BASIC. Motorcycles have handlebars, 2 wheels, clutch lever is on the left, brakes on the right.... Wide mix of people in the class, about 1/3 women, and all ages and ethnicities. Instructors are keeping it fun.
Weather is supposed to be cold for our range time - low 32, high 40 both days, and it may even snow on Sunday. Won't have to worry about road rash...there will definitely be multiple layers between skin and pavement.
Not sure of the bikes we're using yet, rumored to be Honda Grom's (125's), and there was some mention of 250's also.
Wish me luck!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,078
Likes: 19,236
From: The Wasteland
I took the basic course in PA when it was held at the Mt Joy Vo-Tech back in 2001. I had already been riding bikes for well over 20 years at that time but it was still worth taking the course. There was a 68 year old lady in my class who had never even sat on a bike let alone rode one and she passed the course with flying colors! IMHO it is well worth your time. When I took the course we used 250 Honda Rebels. After the book learning part of class, things will progress nicely for you and your wife, trust me you'll like it.
Sounds like that would be a blast man! My Wife and I do everything together. Heck, we scheduled our first sexual encounter, but alas, I've been riding a long time, but she finally scheduled her MSF in two weeks. Going to be hot hot hot down here in Texus. But we will be finally riding legal.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 137
From: PA
Took the course in 1984. then took it again in 2005 to refresh since I been off a bike for so long. The second time was a blast cause I didn't have to worry about pass or fail since a had my MC endorsement! 
Or more accurately, the "range" portion of the the course. My wife and I are taking the course together, and at the end, if we pass, we will have our Official Motorcycle licences.
I used to beat a 125 around the farm in the 80's and hadn't driven a motorcycle for 35 years, until buying a well used Sportster this past summer- -and having a blast restoring it to health and riding around the neighborhood. My skills came back pretty quickly, and I'm having fun riding. Then after finding a whale of a deal, and buying a used Road King (that needs some TLC) the day before Thanksgiving, my wife says - don't sell the Sporty, I want to ride it- -so she is taking the class with me. She has never let the clutch out on a cycle, so this will be an experience. We would probably be divorced if I tried to teach her to ride - so this is good!
So far the "Basic Rider Course" is real BASIC. Motorcycles have handlebars, 2 wheels, clutch lever is on the left, brakes on the right.... Wide mix of people in the class, about 1/3 women, and all ages and ethnicities. Instructors are keeping it fun.
Weather is supposed to be cold for our range time - low 32, high 40 both days, and it may even snow on Sunday. Won't have to worry about road rash...there will definitely be multiple layers between skin and pavement.
Not sure of the bikes we're using yet, rumored to be Honda Grom's (125's), and there was some mention of 250's also.
Wish me luck!
I used to beat a 125 around the farm in the 80's and hadn't driven a motorcycle for 35 years, until buying a well used Sportster this past summer- -and having a blast restoring it to health and riding around the neighborhood. My skills came back pretty quickly, and I'm having fun riding. Then after finding a whale of a deal, and buying a used Road King (that needs some TLC) the day before Thanksgiving, my wife says - don't sell the Sporty, I want to ride it- -so she is taking the class with me. She has never let the clutch out on a cycle, so this will be an experience. We would probably be divorced if I tried to teach her to ride - so this is good!
So far the "Basic Rider Course" is real BASIC. Motorcycles have handlebars, 2 wheels, clutch lever is on the left, brakes on the right.... Wide mix of people in the class, about 1/3 women, and all ages and ethnicities. Instructors are keeping it fun.
Weather is supposed to be cold for our range time - low 32, high 40 both days, and it may even snow on Sunday. Won't have to worry about road rash...there will definitely be multiple layers between skin and pavement.
Not sure of the bikes we're using yet, rumored to be Honda Grom's (125's), and there was some mention of 250's also.
Wish me luck!
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If you're a current/former vet, the course is free: https://ridefree.harley-davidson.com/americanheroes/
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Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Bumfuk Egypt
Good deal. I wish there was a class that was more advanced than the basic, but not actually the advanced class. When I took the class a few years ago, a lot of it was just too basic for the hands on part. Not that we didn't need to review it, but I can only push a bike back and forth across the parking lot so many times before I lose interest LOL.