Apr 07 2009
How to pick the motorcycle to ride during your motorcycle safety course.
I have seen some discussion about picking the motorcycle that you end up with at the course. I have been looking at these forums; Best Beginner Motorcycle Forum and Total Motorcycle Forum . In the discussion I have seen that some courses do a kind of a “shotgun start”. The instructors tell the students to pick a motorcycle. Not all classes are that way. At the sites where I teach we tend to assign larger or taller students to taller motorcycles or the student that is smaller in stature or has little or no experience to smaller motorcycles or motorcycles with a smaller displacement (less CCs).
Here is a way to gauge the fit of the motorcycle if you happen to be at one of the shotgun sites. Stand next to the motorcycle (some sites get kind of huffy if you mount it before that exercise) if the motorcycle fits within 2-3 inches of the top of your inseam, the motorcycle will probably be comfortable for you.
You will want to know why this is so important. You generally end up riding that motorcycle through the whole weekend (and during the riding evaluation). The idea is for you to become well acquainted with your motorcycle so you do your very best on your riding evaluation. If the site allows a student to change motorcycles every 2 exercises, they will never get used to one and may affect that students learning.
Arrive a little early the first riding day and scout out motorcycles. Just because you are a dirt bike rider or sport bike rider, don’t just grab one of those. Have a look at them all. Like I have said in the blog several times. The class is NOT about looking cool. It is about being comfortable and relaxed so you can learn and pass the evaluation. That way you can get your endorsement and THEN you can go out to look at the COOL motorcycles and gear. So even if you have to ride the dorkiest motorcycle on the range (usually not a lot of those), just make sure you are comfortable on it. If it doesn’t fit, don’t wait until the second riding day to tell the instructor. It is MUCH easier to swap you into a different ride on the first day. Spring is here, Summer is coming. GET REGISTERED TODAY.
