I'm anxious, Advanced Riders Course Coming Soon

[cookie]

This is my first Motorcycle riders course. I grew up with mini-bikes to dirt bikes to small street to bigger street to big bikes. I currently ride an 08 RT with 22K on the clock. I'm 54 years old and feel silly. I feel like I am a good safe rider. I have read articles and a book or two on the subject. Sure I have learned the hard way a couple times, I have the scars to prove it.
I just can't shake this nervous energy in my gut when I think of this one day course coming up. The description of the course is a four hour classroom and four hours on the asphalt.
Should I be nervous? A little help please.
Thanks,
Jeff

[Newstar]

Jeff, is this the MSF Advanced Rider Course?

Regardless, it is good that you signed up. IYou can't go wrong with this. You are riding your own motorcycle for the course and it's a great way to improve your skills and get to understand your motorcycle. The course consists of several riding exercises including quick stop, proper braking, and cornering techniques.

I teach the Beginner Riders Course. Several exercises are quite similar and I've taken the ARC several times. I do not know how long you've been riding but we recommend to our beginner students to get a few thousand miles experience, then sign up for the Advanced course (now known as the Beginner Riders Course II) Assuming all the miles you referenced are your own, I think you will get alot out of it and do fine. Remember, it's your bike and your safety. If you feel either are compromised, you can certainly choose to end the day early.

Relax and enjoy it!

[Jackie 62737]

Jeff,

Been there, done that. The first time I took a riders course I was affriad I was going to do something really stupid and make a fool of myself. Nowdays I'm a old hand at making a fool of myself so it doesn't make me nervous anymore.
Seriously though, what you are feeling is the fear that with your age and experience you are going to find out that you're not nearly as good as you thought you were (which you probably will). You're viewing this as a test (of your manhood) when it's only a learning expereince. I can tell you from hard experience that there are many worse places to learn, and to make a mistake.
After it's over you will be a better rider and a safer one. You will have a better grasp of your own abilities and weaknesses and that alone will make you a better rider.
Relax and enjoy cause I'm sure that there are others in the course that feel the same way you do.

[Greenwald]

This is my first Motorcycle riders course. I grew up with mini-bikes to dirt bikes to small street to bigger street to big bikes. I currently ride an 08 RT with 22K on the clock. I'm 54 years old and feel silly. I feel like I am a good safe rider. I have read articles and a book or two on the subject. Sure I have learned the hard way a couple times, I have the scars to prove it.
I just can't shake this nervous energy in my gut when I think of this one day course coming up. The description of the course is a four hour classroom and four hours on the asphalt.
Should I be nervous? A little help please.
Thanks,
Jeff

Took it two years ago - a hoot!

You are right to be excited - learned to lean my R1200RT over further than I thought possible, corner with more confidence, and brake / swerve while in a curve.

Enjoy it and absorb all the confidence it will inspire. :thumb

[tommcgee]

Should I be nervous? A little help please.

When I took the ARC, the GPS track was fun to look at later. 12 miles in that parking lot one brisk April day.

If you have good observant instructors, you will learn something about your riding.

[Voni]

When Paul and I took the Rider Advanced Training School at Laguna Seca Reg Pridmore asked the class who was nervous about the upcoming day. A few of us timidly raised our hands. He looked hard at the rest and said "Now the REST of you are who make me nervous!"

I learned so much that day!

Have a blast!

Voni
sMiling

[40427]

After a break from riding due to some health issues I decided to get back in the saddle. The first thing i did after buying another BMW was to sign up for the MSF Advanced rider class.
Some of the best money i ever spent on motorcycling !

I try to take some type of professional training every 2 -- 3 years now and am always amazed at what i learn. Mostly I think I learn about all the bad habits I have picked up since the last class.

Personally i wish every rider would take at least a one day training/re- training course every couple of years.
Face it folks, most of us are of an age where the old reflexes and vision just are not what they used to be, and some simple training can keep you alive and riding a bit longer.

[Greenwald]

After a break from riding due to some health issues I decided to get back in the saddle. The first thing i did after buying another BMW was to sign up for the MSF Advanced rider class.
Some of the best money i ever spent on motorcycling !

I try to take some type of professional training every 2 -- 3 years now and am always amazed at what i learn. Mostly I think I learn about all the bad habits I have picked up since the last class.

Personally i wish every rider would take at least a one day training/re- training course every couple of years.
Face it folks, most of us are of an age where the old reflexes and vision just are not what they used to be, and some simple training can keep you alive and riding a bit longer.

Refreshing and delightful attitude on your part. Glad to hear it.

As a professional motorcycle trainer, I see too many 'veteran' riders that come thru additional training venues show up believing they cannot possibly have developed any 'bad habits' - first hurdle that needs to be vaulted.

I agree with you that re-visiting some form of exposure to formal training (doesn't have to be MSF) every 2-3 years would keep all of us safer and presenting a better impression to the non-riding public. :thumb

[RoboRider]

Since you haven't had any type of formal training, I'd suggest you take the BASIC MSF class first! I did it after a couple of decades of untrained riding. I had to unlearn many bad habits.

I followed with the Advanced course, which I didn't think was all that great, but I took it pretty quickly after the basic, so that was part of the issue.

Once you take the Basic rider course, I'd skip the advanced and go right into some REAL advanced training, like Voni suggests. There are many track schools. You can use your RT (I wouldn't), rent a sport bike, or pick up a pretty decent used sport bike. I went as far as to get my CCS racing license (which sounds like a bigger deal than it is).

Track riding training will elevate you to a level of skill that is invaluable on the street.

I take some kind of riding course every year so far for the last 5 years, including dirt and off road courses.

[ANDYVH]

Good on you for taking your riding skills up to the level where I feel we ALL need to be, AT MINIMUM!

I've been a MSF instructor of the BRC and ERC for 20 years now, and like Kevin Greenwald said, I too have seen many a marginal "experienced" rider.

It's actually good that you are anxious, it sets a level of expectation for you. Just relax, ride the course ONLY for you, take in all the instructors have to say, ask LOTS of questions, especially questions about "why specifically do we do this?" A good instructor will be able to answer your questions in many ways.

You'll learn a lot, and your riding will become easier, more focused, with less mental energy expended to get better results! That is the main result I want for all of my students. I can't wait to get ARC certified, to teach the ARC later this year.

[walterK75]

Just in case you think age is a concern, don't. I took a couple of riding courses at an older age than you and it was fine. In fact, it is a great feeling to do as well as, or better than, the younger riders. These courses are riding skills and that doesn't require a lot of strength, just control of the bike, which is why you are there.

Also to get in the mood read Proficient Motorcycling by David L. Hough. I read them every spring before I start riding for the season.

[40427]

Another thing i did was to take the "Ride Like a Pro" course from Jerry Palidino.

Periodically i set up my own course now in a vacant parking lot and practice, I also practice at least one set of skills every time i ride as much as i can.

A goal I set is to learn bike control like the riders in the professional ranks who do demonstrations at bike meets. I have seen some HD and Goldwing riders do stuff that I never thought was possible on two wheels.

Wonder if there are any demonstrations like that at any BMW event ??

[cookie]

Thank you for your encouraging remarks. I do feel better about the big event. The course description is; Public version of the military sportbike rider course. It is a California Motorcyclist Safety Program held at Sierra College in Roseville Ca.
Great now I'm looking forward to it.
I have been riding since 1972. I learned early if you are going too fast and you don't understand countersteering you won't make the turn. I still have the scars.
Other lessons have involved gravel and going too fast. Most of my beginning skills developed with dirt bikes, I can't imagine just hopping on a street bike and riding without some formal instruction at this point in my life.

[hultman]

This is my first Motorcycle riders course. I grew up with mini-bikes to dirt bikes to small street to bigger street to big bikes. I currently ride an 08 RT with 22K on the clock. I'm 54 years old and feel silly. I feel like I am a good safe rider. I have read articles and a book or two on the subject. Sure I have learned the hard way a couple times, I have the scars to prove it.
I just can't shake this nervous energy in my gut when I think of this one day course coming up. The description of the course is a four hour classroom and four hours on the asphalt.
Should I be nervous? A little help please.
Thanks,
Jeff
No worries, Jeff. From your description of your experience, you probably will have a better skill base than many of the instructors.

Riding a motorcycle isn't rocket science. The key is simply your comfort level with the machine. If you are still uncertain about where the pedals and levers are, or if you are still focusing on how much it might hurt if you fall down, you won't be paying enough attention to that pink Buick that's trying to kill you.

It sounds to me like you've learned the best way possible, from your own experience. Not to say there isn't some value to formal instruction, but there's probably a fair bit you could actually be teaching them! :thumb

[Greenwald]

No worries, Jeff. From your description of your experience, you probably will have a better skill base than many of the instructors.

Riding a motorcycle isn't rocket science. The key is simply your comfort level with the machine. If you are still uncertain about where the pedals and levers are, or if you are still focusing on how much it might hurt if you fall down, you won't be paying enough attention to that pink Buick that's trying to kill you.

It sounds to me like you've learned the best way possible, from your own experience. Not to say there isn't some value to formal instruction, but there's probably a fair bit you could actually be teaching them! :thumb

Always good to know how much we're appreciated. :brow

[hultman]

Always good to know how much we're appreciated. :brow

As I said, Kevin, there is "some value" to formal instruction, but riding a motorcycle is a bit like flying an airplane. It may be important to learn where the center of gravity is, but learning to fly is purely a seat of the pants operation. You can be a great pilot without any classroom at all, but all the classroom in the world won't teach you to fly.

Sorry, but that's just the way it is. :nod

[ANDYVH]

I'll agree, motorcycle riding, like flying, is a "seat of the pants" operation. However, in my years as a MSF instructor I have met many students who would likely NOT have survived much past their first six months of riding without 1st having formal instruction. And of the thousands of students I have had, there have been some to which I flat out said "riding a motorcycle is NOT a good idea for you." One was a 6'-4' guy, the size of a linebacker, who was very timid on the bike.

Decades ago, the weak or ineffective learning rider was weeded out by traffic and crashes. I think we all know someone who bought a bike (without any training), dumped it within days, and the less than 100 miles bike languished in a dusty garage to be sold away at a loss. At least these days we can offer basic skills instruction and traffic strategy skills to get them past that inital "lift-off" and hopefully back home succesfully with the wheels downs and "flaps up".

[guitardad]

Hey Jeff, I guarantee you'll have fun! I've been coaching the ARC a little over a year now, and it seems every rider has gotten something worthwhile from it, regardless of their skill level. You should expect to get some very individualized coaching, so let us know what you think afterwards. :thumb

[john1691]

Not to mention some insurance providers provide a discount with proof of completetion. I take the course every 3 years, even though my current insurance co. does not provide a discount. It was mentioned that much of riding, like flying, is "seat of the pants", but a lack of knowledge in either hobby can get you killed, regardless of how good your seat is. While I've never had an "ah hah" moment at a ARC that might save my life, I have been forced to practise skills I don't regularly think about. Not that I don't know about them, but I become complacent in my riding and don't always practice things I should. Just like a good pilot will continue to practice emergency landings even when it seems second nature, we need to continue to hone our skills, so that when that Buick/deer/pedestrian move into our line of travel, we can safely avoid, whether we are riding slowly in a straight line, or at speed in a corner.

Enjoy the course, remember it isn't a competition with anyone else there.

[Fourcats]

This is my first Motorcycle riders course. I grew up with mini-bikes to dirt bikes to small street to bigger street to big bikes. I currently ride an 08 RT with 22K on the clock. I'm 54 years old and feel silly. I feel like I am a good safe rider. I have read articles and a book or two on the subject. Sure I have learned the hard way a couple times, I have the scars to prove it.
I just can't shake this nervous energy in my gut when I think of this one day course coming up. The description of the course is a four hour classroom and four hours on the asphalt.
Should I be nervous? A little help please.
Thanks,
Jeff

Practice your figure 8s {slow speed manuvering}, "eyes up" looking though the turns.