Practice, practice, practice. Train your skills. Practice makes perfect. Practice only makes for improvement. Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall. You play the way you practice. You heard these or similar sayings from parents, friends, teachers and employers, but how do they pertain to motorcycle safety?
Studies indicate that 80% of all motorcycle riders have never attended even a basic motorcycle education safety program and have basically taught themselves to ride. Many riders who are included in these figures add to the annual statistics of motorcycle crashes which lead to injuries, property loss and worse. Are you included in this group? Up until 2004, I sure was. I taught myself how to ride. Every chance I got, I would borrow my friend's Yamaha 175 Enduro wearing no safety gear and thinking as a teenager I was invisible. After riding off and on for 20+ years my wife persuaded me into enrolling in a Basic Rider Course (BRC). The rest as they say is history.
From the BRC, I next attended an Instructor Prep Certification Class to become a RiderCoach. For the past 5 years I have taught others the importance of motorcycle safety. By learning the correct way from the beginning, bad habits can be eliminated or at least minimized. I later completed a Skilled Rider Course (SRC) and have since taught those classes as well. Recently I became Certified to teach both the Honda SMARTrainer and Introductory Motorcycle Experience (IME). Whether you have never ridden a motorcycle or have years of experience, the Honda SMARTrainer is a great teaching tool. The IME is for those who have thought about riding and wondered if they should get their motorcycle license. The IME is a 60-90 minute hands-on experience. RiderCoaches will provide you with a fun, enjoyable experience. The IME will help you determine what your next step might be. To Ride or Not to Ride.
Many motorcyclists who find themselves in the 50+ age range and have been riding 30+ years know too well that back when they started there were few courses offered. Today is a totally different story. Previously I mentioned the BRC and SRC classes of training. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) created the Rider Education Training Systems (RETS) to keep rider's skill level at it's optimum level by offering many classes to better their riding abilities.
Classes within RETS now include; the BRC, Basic Rider Course 2 (License Waiver), Basic Rider Course 2 (Skills Practice), Street Rider Course 1, Returning Rider Basic Rider Course, 3-Wheel Basic Rider Course, Scooter Basic Rider Course, Street Rider Course 2, Advance Rider Course, Safe Motorcyclist Awareness and Recognition Trainer, Introductory Motorcycle Experience, Scooter School (An Introduction to Scooters Rider Course), Military SportBike Rider Course, DirtBike School (An Introduction to DirtBike Rider Course), DirtBike School (Trail Riding Rider Course). What was once only one class being offered, then moved to two different classes is now fourteen! MSF believes in life-long learning.
"The MSF encourages a comprehensive core of courses beyond simply learning to operate the controls, start out, turn and stop. Because the riding task is a skill of the eyes and mind as well as of the hands and feet, and because safety requires proper perceptual orientation, cognitive abilities, and psycho-motor skills, it is important to take safety seriously. Skills are perishable and need renewal and lifelong commitment." - MSF
Remember when skills are not used over the course of a winter, off-season, or when not riding, they tend to deteriorate to some extent. This is also true as we age. As we age our reaction time slows, eye-sight worsens and balance can be affected. These are all reasons to keep training your skills. Your need to "ride your A-game" all the time. This translates to be your best whenever you ride! You can't be your best if you have been drinking, using drugs, or are distracted. You also can't be your best if you have never trained to be. Contact your State's Motorcycle Safety Director, College or local Motorcycle Dealership to see when they are offering the next Rider Safety Class and then take advantage of training that might save your life!
Daytona Bike Week is fast approaching! Most riders from the Midwest who will be attending fail to practice their riding skills prior to hitting the busy highways of Florida. When was the last time you rode, or practiced life-saving skills? Please take time in an empty parking lot and practice your swerves, quick stops and clutch control before riding.
