First off, note to self...do not schedule this when the temperature for the day is forecased to be 99 degrees. A day of puttering around a parking lot in these temps is crazy.

I will go ahead and admit that I have been riding without my endorsement since I moved to Texas 7 years ago. Finally bit the bullet and scheduled the course so I can get the endorsement. That was the major reason but I was trying to remain open minded about what I might learn or maybe unlearn (bad habits)

My class consisted of 10 peeps. 8 guys and two ladies. (pretty smokin hot ladies by the way) Basically I was the only one in the class who had any past experience on a bike other than two guys who had bought bikes and rode them around the neighborhood a bit.

For those that have taken this you already know but the first half of day one was classroom and the written test. I will say this about it, if you can't pass this test then you don't need to swing a leg over a bike. Regretfully I did miss one of the 50 multiple choices questions but that was my being in a hurry and not reading the question and all of the answers completely. All of the answers are not neccessarily wrong but you have to choose the best answer.

Then we hit the parking lot and where it got to be aggrevating although I really shouldn't have let it get to me. Basic exercises on how to start the bike, where controls are located etc. etc. I will admit my preconceived thoughts about the ladies was ill founded. They both did quite well other than one that wasn't the best at paying attention and kept jumping ahead of the rider coach. The biggest surprise was one of the guys who had just bought a new bike and said he had rode it around the neighborhood. My comments on that are going to remain limited but I'm seriously considering asking for his phone number and calling him before I hit the streets on my bike or even in my cage so I know to be going in a different direction. If they pass this guy then I will change my thoughts on this whole thing and consider it a certificate mill rather than an actual learning experience.

On to the other exercises. Basic stuff such as friction zone, proper braking and such. I realized that I relied on my back brake way more than I should. Guess I need to start wearing down those front pads a bit more. When we got the the weaving between the cones I was actually having fun. Other than being behind the afore mentioned gentleman who doesn't need to be on a moped must less on a street bike. He threw everyone out of synch.

Overall, the day was a good experience though and other than the extreme heat I enjoyed it. I would have rather been out riding with the group that left the dealership for a benefit run at 9:00 this morning but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Nobody went down.....aforementioned guy came close on at least 4 occasions that I saw. Everyone had fun. Everyone seemed to learn something and gain confidence. ++++ to all

Day 2 starts at 7:30 tomorrow and hopefully the heat won't be so bad. From what I have seen so far I would recommend the course for everyone. It might be a bit boring for people with a bit more experience but I think you will come away with at least a bit of new knowledge.........

 

if you get a chance take the advanced riders course. it will help you out a whole lot better.

 

I took the class when I got my Fatty so as not to have to take the state sponsored class and all its BS and also got a 10% discount on my insurance. Not a bad class if you keep an open mind. Now here in Abq there is a woman suing the dealer, Harley Davidson and prolly anybody else she can think of cuz she crashed at the training and burned her leg. after seeing the news report I could see she is not the best candidate to be on a harley or a bicycle for that matter. It is kinda strange that there was a camera recording the whole thing, looks like a set up to me. Can anybody say WERE IS MY LAWER....WAAAHH!!!!

 

My wife took the course last weekend, +1 on not taking it on a hot day. She passed and felt that she learned a lot.

 

Funny, I took the same course today. Man was it hot!!!!! and I agree the basic stuff got old very quick.
I did pick up some things in the class though.

 

I was with various rescue squads for 30 years, and for the last 7 years I taught the Emergency Vehicle Operation course (EVOC) and my students fell into one of 2 catagories.... Type 1 could maneuver the ambulances through the toughest courses I could set up. Yet, they barely passed the written test. Type 2 Aced the written test, but could not handle the driving portion.
Bet your guy is a type 2....

 

I took the class when my wife wanted to start riding a motorcycle. I had ridden before and could not believe what I learned from the class. It made me a much better rider.

 

It ain't hot yet.

 

You get out of it what you want. I took it nearly 20 years ago when I was 16 so I could get the IL endorsement before I turned 18. My dad took it with me. He had been riding for 30+ years. He even learned something and went back to take the advanced course on his Goldwing.

I might take it again next summer with my wife.

 

I did mine on a saturday and sunday, the road course anyway. I had to work the night before overnight 3rd shift. That saturday was hot, I was sweaty and miserable. I was so tired by the end of the day I was making stupid mental errors. The instructor asked me what was wrong and I told him I didn't sleep the night before I had work. He pretty much ripped into me than about safety.

I told him it was the only time I could do it and he walked away disgusted. Oh well, he road a bmw anyway and bashed harleys the whole time.