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Post by hordak on May 16, 2008 8:31:02 GMT -5
So everyone talks about the BRC as the holy grail. Like if you don't take it and touch a bike you will be a statistic in a month. I'm wonder how many people didn't take it and lived to tell about it. Not trying to down it. In fact i would love to take the course but that would mean leaving my bike in the garage all summer, taking the class in sept. getting one week of riding in then putting it up for the winter
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Post by tamarack on May 16, 2008 8:57:48 GMT -5
Well, I'm self taught but I've been riding, in one form or another, since I was ten years old. I didn't purchase my first street bike until I was 20. So I had ten years of "riding lessons" before I got on the street.
I can see the wisdom of the BRC if you've never been on a bike before.
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Post by xsyamahadg on May 16, 2008 9:24:41 GMT -5
I'm self taught also, this year marks over 50 years that I have been actively riding. I have to say that in those early years of riding, I probably made every mistake that a young rider can make, but that's the way we learned back then, there were no courses available. I think the MSF courses and other courses like the BRC have much to offer a new rider, and old riders who think they know it all. I'm all for new riders taking the course, but I don't know if I would have the patience to wait for an opening to take the course.
Just saying......
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Post by amtrak on May 16, 2008 21:36:40 GMT -5
Self taught here also........we were not politicaly correct back then,we were responsible for our actions.....my younger friend started riding three years ago and before he took a riding course he did not belive me when I told him about counter steering,ya know ,steer left to go right etc..so after taking some kinda course he now belives me when I talk motorcycle safety. Years on a bicycle I think helped me also:-) I fell into it naturally,I was at home while on a bike,ya know what I mean!!!!!!the smile or the far away look in your eyes or just the ahh when in the saddle.......whoops getting a little off topic. The only way to learn to ride is to hit the roads,watch your mirrors and anticipiate the moves of every vehicle around you and learn to relax going around a curve..just go with it...staight roads are easy,learn to lean with the bike........soo many things to learn....don't get frustrated at first,it will all fall into place.....and then....where do I wanna ride to tomorrow as you whip out the atlas. Good luck.
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Post by bill on May 17, 2008 4:25:52 GMT -5
No formal training was available when I started to ride, I guess it was just an extension of riding a push bike. I think some of the training schemes they have now are pretty good and lets be honest, any training is better than none, if it's going to make the rider more aware of whats going on around him/her and bring down the number of fatalities.
Thats the biggest threat to bikes in my opinion, the casualty rate. I know that European Governments are looking at it a lot more seriously than ever before.
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Post by 87fxlr on May 17, 2008 6:04:22 GMT -5
Self taught here as well. I started on mini-bikes at about 9 or 10 and moved my way up to street bikes.
The Mrs. went throught the BRC course to learn and I took it with her. It was a good experience and taught everything from the basics. Is it the end all? Not by any means but it does give the beginner the basics. The only way that you get to the point of anticipating the blue haired old lady and the Excursion driving soccer mom is by experience and at the beginning by having the mindset that you're invisible (I still do at some 30 years later).
In other words take the course and learn what you can. These folks that give them really do know what the are talking about.
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Post by vstrom2up on May 17, 2008 8:52:41 GMT -5
Too bad I couldn't vote for all 3 choices since I am learning by using ALL information I can get. Not only from my own experience, but from experienced riders and also the BRC. I voted for the BRC, but not because it's "everything by the book." I learned how to ride on a dirt bike. Now I want to try the road and I am currently riding on the road with a learner's permit so in that respect I am self/husband/friend taught. That said, I am taking the course. I just don't think I can ever have too much information about riding techniques and safety. There is no substitution for experience either. Is the BRC going to guarantee I won't be in an accident? Absolutely not. However, it will give me more in my "arsenal" to help me avoid an accident and return home safely. BTW, hordak, if you want to take the course in September, there's no reason that bike has to stay in the garage all summer. The learner's permit gives you very few restrictions. I'm not particularly fond of riding at night or an interstate anyway. Or go get your endorsement and take the course anyway. My husband has had his endorsement for almost 30 years and is taking it with me to "bone up" on the basics (like 87 did with his wife). I've had a blast already this year on my bike...no BRC course or endorsement needed!
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Post by hordak on May 17, 2008 10:29:41 GMT -5
Too bad I couldn't vote for all 3 choices since I am learning by using ALL information I can get. Not only from my own experience, but from experienced riders and also the BRC. I voted for the BRC, but not because it's "everything by the book." I learned how to ride on a dirt bike. Now I want to try the road and I am currently riding on the road with a learner's permit so in that respect I am self/husband/friend taught. That said, I am taking the course. I just don't think I can ever have too much information about riding techniques and safety. There is no substitution for experience either. Is the BRC going to guarantee I won't be in an accident? Absolutely not. However, it will give me more in my "arsenal" to help me avoid an accident and return home safely. BTW, hordak, if you want to take the course in September, there's no reason that bike has to stay in the garage all summer. The learner's permit gives you very few restrictions. I'm not particularly fond of riding at night or an interstate anyway. Or go get your endorsement and take the course anyway. My husband has had his endorsement for almost 30 years and is taking it with me to "bone up" on the basics (like 87 did with his wife). I've had a blast already this year on my bike...no BRC course or endorsement needed! Oh I know. I am on my 3rd permit from my third state( long story) and I'm just waiting for a day that is dry and a day my wife has off to watch the kids to happen at the same time. . I think your way is good and probably my same route. I was referring the the folks who claim you should never try to ride before taking the course.
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Post by mgorman on May 17, 2008 22:31:49 GMT -5
A safety course is only as good as its instructor(s). Not only do you get advice and a safe place to practice, you usually get an insurance discount.
Being self taught, there were things I never new, especially in the racing world. I just rode as fast as I could always on the edge. I had to have reconstructive surgery on a knee and took a year off to heal and rehab. I spent the year studying tapes on technique, positioning and control anticipating getting dirty again.
After one year I went back to my 1st race. The 1st few laps were scary but I fell into a rhythm and tried my best to do things right. Everything I did was being applied from what I had read and watched and everything clicked. All my old habits had been replaced by the new knowledge in my head. I had started on the last row out of harms way and after 2 hours finished 2nd on a borrowed bike that I rode for the 1st time on the parade lap.
Even though I had won races in the past, that race was a turning point for me as I felt fluid and in control the whole time. So relaxed that at the end of 2 hours I felt like I could have gone another dozen laps.
I wish I had learned correctly the 1st time. If so, I'd won more events, been injured less and damaged fewer bike parts.
If there were one bit of advice I had to give to a new rider, it would be “Before you turn left, turn right.” Quite a few people try to turn a motorcycle like they turn a car, by turning the bars in the direction they want to go.
On a bike it is backwards and here is a safe way to learn. Take your bike and go find a large open, empty parking lot. Ride in a straight line at about 20-25 mph, arms relaxed and a light grip on the bars. Push forward on the left grip while looking forward. When you do this, the lower portion of the bike will initially turn to the right but since your mass is going straight only the wheels go to the right and you body and bike will tip to the left initiating a left turn. Push the right grip forward and the bike will turn right. This is also good way to practice figure eights.
Good luck on your test.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2008 8:42:40 GMT -5
I can't choose only one option. First, a friend taught me the basics - the controls, shifting etc. Then self taught for my first two or three bikes. Finally after years, I took the basic rider course with another friend. I learned a lot from each source. And I've learned a lot from various user groups like this, just reading everyone's experiences. I'm still learning.
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ragezro
New Member
aka: Bad Juju
Posts: 11
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Post by ragezro on May 28, 2008 10:54:29 GMT -5
Self taught, trails, dirt and street. Learning off road is best IMHO. Stupid hurts a lot less there than on pavement. Something lost on a lot of new to riding beginners is small "cc" bikes. Everyone wants to start out on a 100hp or more bike, that's insane to me. Riding a bike is more akin to learning to fly than driving a car and you don't get to fly an F16 on your first flight so why would a beginner go out on a Busa on day one? Get a small displacement off road bike and you will do a little sky, dirt, sky school of hard knocks, not only will you'll learn, you'll get to live to try again.
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Post by wenchie on Jul 22, 2008 9:40:10 GMT -5
Wren has been riding for over 30 years. It was after we got together that I really got into bikes. After riding with him for 10 years I wanted my own. He taught me a lot. I also took the course & did learn a lot from it too.
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Post by Bob on Aug 8, 2008 3:08:16 GMT -5
Nothing wrong with taking the course even after you know how to ride. It'll pick out the bad habits you've aquired over the years. Take the course!!
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Post by roadrunner on Aug 15, 2008 18:20:48 GMT -5
I really think there should be other options in this poll. I was basically self taught but in later years took the ERC. Never took a BRC. From 6 years old I rode a Schwinn until I was 13 years old Then at 14 I twisted the throttle of a Whizzer, then Harley 125, then later in 1954 a Harley 61 Police special and that was a "real" motorcycle. Years later - In 1984, I was leading a group ride up in Wisconsin Dells when I was taken out by a drunk driver. Spent 21 days in the hospital. Both bones in my left arm were broken between the wrist and elbow. Had 2 plates and many screws put in to hold everything together. The plates are still there. After that accident, I thought I needed to be more aware of others and their actions. Three months later I bought another bike (Gold Wing) as soon as I could pull in the clutch! ;D I took my first MSF Course which was an ERC (Experienced Rider Course) in 1985. I have taken the ERC course every 2 years since that 1985 course. I am still learning and hope to continue. I now take the course 2up with the wife. Now that is difficult turning figure 8's in a 22' x 60' rectangle 2 up! I think I am finally getting the hang of it. ;D Looking back I have been riding for 54 years - wow - time flies when you are having fun.
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Post by shoe48 on Aug 15, 2008 21:09:00 GMT -5
Rode minbikes and off road bikes for years before going to the street ,,, Back then in 1973 you could do both car and bike the same day , so that is what I did ,, always wanted to take the advance course ,, maybe I still will one day
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