Advanced rider course?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
I've taken it before. Sure I learned things. This is an advanced course, so there's a lot more time spent riding and working on your own riding skills. Hard braking, tight turning, etc. All good things to get better at.
Biggiest single for me was learning how much I was dropping my eyes to look at the nearby pavement instead of looking through the turns. This screws up your ability to get through the turns smoothly and easily. I thought I was looking through, but the coach showed me how much I wasn't.
Plan on taking it again with my RK, as well as some others. I do not believe I will ever know all there is to know about riding, or reach a level where I cannot improve still further.
Biggiest single for me was learning how much I was dropping my eyes to look at the nearby pavement instead of looking through the turns. This screws up your ability to get through the turns smoothly and easily. I thought I was looking through, but the coach showed me how much I wasn't.
Plan on taking it again with my RK, as well as some others. I do not believe I will ever know all there is to know about riding, or reach a level where I cannot improve still further.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,580
From: Wisconsin, USA
I took the Riders Edge Skilled Riders course, because I wanted help learning to handle, and especially panic stop, my Ultra.
It was excellent, because you do it on your own bike, not a 250. They recommend having a year/1-3k miles experience.
It was excellent, because you do it on your own bike, not a 250. They recommend having a year/1-3k miles experience.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Streamwood, IL
i took the ARC through Illinois. Was a single day 8 hour course. Was definatly worth it, and helped my low speed, and tight meneuvers a lot.
Ialso handle at speed curves much petter now.
plus the riders are all experienced, so it was a fun group.
got stuck behind a guy who was bragging about how hes taken the brc multiple times. guy was always going way slow through the excersizes. for someown who claimed like 15 years riding experience, he did not seem very good.
Ialso handle at speed curves much petter now.
plus the riders are all experienced, so it was a fun group.
got stuck behind a guy who was bragging about how hes taken the brc multiple times. guy was always going way slow through the excersizes. for someown who claimed like 15 years riding experience, he did not seem very good.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 637
Likes: 25
From: Ketchikan Alaska
I am a firm believer you should do it every few years and if you switch bikes. I took it last year and to help break some habbits that I did and learned alot. The biggest thing for me is to use my rear brake in tight turns.
I talked to the instructor at night and we got on the subject of people and thier bikes. He told me the same thing I saw on here where people recommend to take off the saddlebags, lowers and etc to protect them from damage. We both agreed this would be counter productive since the bike is no longer wieghted the same. I left mine like I ride daily with water and etc in the bike. There was only one bike dropped in the class and that was during a swerve and he locked up the brakes. It was Goldwing of all bikes.
I talked to the instructor at night and we got on the subject of people and thier bikes. He told me the same thing I saw on here where people recommend to take off the saddlebags, lowers and etc to protect them from damage. We both agreed this would be counter productive since the bike is no longer wieghted the same. I left mine like I ride daily with water and etc in the bike. There was only one bike dropped in the class and that was during a swerve and he locked up the brakes. It was Goldwing of all bikes.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
IMO- they are well worth it. For the same reasons that the others have posted in response.
I took one not too long ago as part of a requirement for being a Road Captain in my local Club. We practiced tight turning, slow handling maneuvers, quick response handling skills, panic stops, etc,etc.
If there is one thing I can advise- practice, practice, practice- your panic maneuvers/panic skills/panic stops.
It's one thing to know what to do, it's entirely another thing to be practiced at it.
On my way home from that Riders Course that day I had a cage pull a left turn right in front of me in an intersection when I was doing about 30mph.
I honestly believe that if I had not had that panic stop & maneuver freshly imprinted in my reflexes just an hour earlier, I may not have reacted as quickly and/or as well and probably would have had a rear quarter panel for lunch that day.
Needless to say, I now make it a point to practice panic stops & dodging maneuvers every now & then, just to stay fresh with it.
I took one not too long ago as part of a requirement for being a Road Captain in my local Club. We practiced tight turning, slow handling maneuvers, quick response handling skills, panic stops, etc,etc.
If there is one thing I can advise- practice, practice, practice- your panic maneuvers/panic skills/panic stops.
It's one thing to know what to do, it's entirely another thing to be practiced at it.
On my way home from that Riders Course that day I had a cage pull a left turn right in front of me in an intersection when I was doing about 30mph.
I honestly believe that if I had not had that panic stop & maneuver freshly imprinted in my reflexes just an hour earlier, I may not have reacted as quickly and/or as well and probably would have had a rear quarter panel for lunch that day.
Needless to say, I now make it a point to practice panic stops & dodging maneuvers every now & then, just to stay fresh with it.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
I've taken a few times.
like many a self-taught rider... the first time helped reveal and maybe correct 15 or 20 years of poor technique.
I've continued to take the course a few more times.
and I practice at the high school parking lot.
My work has me travelling for months at a time, during which I don't drive or ride...and after a long lay off I find some practice gets me sharper for the streets.
Mike
like many a self-taught rider... the first time helped reveal and maybe correct 15 or 20 years of poor technique.
I've continued to take the course a few more times.
and I practice at the high school parking lot.
My work has me travelling for months at a time, during which I don't drive or ride...and after a long lay off I find some practice gets me sharper for the streets.
Mike
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 7
From: Junction City, KS
I took it on Fort Benning last year, on an adventure tourer, a Vstrom..... It was tough, but like some previous replies, I corrected a ton of bad habits. I was a confident rider before, but now I honestly feel in total control
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 1
From: Columbus MS
Just finished the BRC 2 on base last month (used to be the "experienced riders course) and as always, the courses are definitely worth a persons time. I changed over to a Road King from a Deuce a week or two before and this really helped me 'bond' with the new bike.