Motorcycle Safety Course

Larry S

Larry S

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Throwing this out there for discussion. Next weekend I’ll be taking a motorcycle safety course at my local community college. I promised my dad that I would take the course before I start riding again. The last time I rode a motorcycle legally was in the late’80’s. Until then I had been riding most of my life. I am excited to learn from this course, get my license and get back in the wind! It’s been a long time coming.

Anyway, this course is a three day affair, four hours on Friday and nine hours each Saturday and Sunday. We are required to bring an approved helmet, eye protection, full fingered gloves, long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy footwear. After successfully completing the course you are given your certificate of completion which you then take to your DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) whereupon they issue you your operators license. All without taking either the written or driving exam. All of that for only 20 dollars. That’s a real good deal in my opinion.

Has anyone else taken or taught one of these courses? Likes, dislikes? Thanks for listening.
 
Riding any motorcycle is an exercise in risk management. 'SAFE' is a situation or condition where the risks are minimised ro a level which would be tolerated by the stake holders. So please do not begin teaching about safety, by starting in the middle of the subject. There are only two references to risk management in the Bible. However most of our safety laws are prescriptive like the ten commandments, rather than performance-based. We have the incident, then develop a law to stop it from happening again. Too bad if you are dead already. In Australia, since 1992, we have changed.
- https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-au/Standards/AS-ISO-31000-2018-1134720_SAIG_AS_AS_2680492/
 
Last edited:
acotrel said:
Riding any motorcycle is an exercise in risk management. 'SAFE' is a situation or condition where the risks are minimised ro a level which would be tolerated by the stake holders. So please do not begin teaching about safety, by starting in the middle of the subject. There are only two references to risk management in the Bible. However most of our safety laws are prescriptive like the ten commandments, rather than performance-based. We have the incident, then develop a law to stop it from happening again. Too bad if you are dead already. In Australia, since 1992, we have changed.
- https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-au/Standards/AS-ISO-31000-2018-1134720_SAIG_AS_AS_2680492/
Click to expand...
Well! - that was helpful Alan!
 
What state do you reside in?
For what it is worth, long sleeve shirt is hardly a notch up on the safety scale. A prudent rider wears proper kit which is readily available nowadays. Even in the current heat wave I get my rig on.
I am both in awe and amazement as I see the scooter crowd rush by in tee shirt shorts and trainers.
 
Onder said:
What state do you reside in?
For what it is worth, long sleeve shirt is hardly a notch up on the safety scale. A prudent rider wears proper kit which is readily available nowadays. Even in the current heat wave I get my rig on.
I am both in awe and amazement as I see the scooter crowd rush by in tee shirt shorts and trainers.
Click to expand...
They obviously have skin that matches their heads :-)
 
Can somebody from over there (or here, even) explain: 'Operators License', please? Given the OP was a rider already I'm confused...
 
my wife took one at Gaston Community College just to see if she could do it she went on to get her MC endorsement had nothing but praise for the course and instructors
 
I've had my MC also endorsement for 50+ years.. The rules in Texas were..... Anyway now I believe to receive one the course is required so never allow it to lapse. I've seen old farts with brand new touring bikes lined up in the parking lot of Whataburger Field to attend a course as I cross over the bridge entering Corpus Christi.
Used to you took a written and only rode a short distance in front of a DPS trooper... having met his approval you were licensed to operate one. New riders died like flies years ago for lack of proper training/instruction. okay I'm shutting up.
 
jbruney said:
I've had my MC also endorsement for 50+ years.. The rules in Texas were..... Anyway now I believe to receive one the course is required so never allow it to lapse. I've seen old farts with brand new touring bikes lined up in the parking lot of Whataburger Field to attend a course as I cross over the bridge entering Corpus Christi.
Used to you took a written and only rode a short distance in front of a DPS trooper... having met his approval you were licensed to operate one. New riders died like flies years ago for lack of proper training/instruction. okay I'm shutting up.
Click to expand...
This is the bit I don't understand... How would/could you: 'allow it to lapse??' Here in 'ol Blighty once you've taken the Govt. test to gain a 'full' license for a motorcycle, that stays with you until you're 75.... Unless taken away by the courts for motoring offences etc..
 
I took the MSF course in PA about 10 yrs ago just to see how I was supposed to be riding. It was identical to what you are doing. I highly recommend it. It improved my riding abilities all around. I learned on dirt bikes way before I was first licensed, and rode my whole life, but it really opened my eyes to a lot of good strategies and ways to avoid trouble. The class was all newbies and we rode Suzuki TU-250s. I had to relearn my feet for the class.
Russ
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Okay..... memory lapse.... but still stays with you 'til 70,
Click to expand...

...Yes, although hasn't always been so.

blog.passmefast.co.uk

History of the UK Driving Licence | Driving Law | PassMeFast

UK driving licences have now been around for over a century—and they've changed a lot. Click here to learn how driving licences have changed.
blog.passmefast.co.uk blog.passmefast.co.uk

"Driving licences were changing too: from 1957, they were valid for three years rather than one."

"So, in 1973, licensing was computerised. Out were the old red booklets—in were new green paper licences. Then, in 1976, full driving licences became valid until a driver’s 70th birthday, ending the need to renew every three years."
 
L.A.B. said:
...Yes, although hasn't always been so.

blog.passmefast.co.uk

History of the UK Driving Licence | Driving Law | PassMeFast

UK driving licences have now been around for over a century—and they've changed a lot. Click here to learn how driving licences have changed.
blog.passmefast.co.uk blog.passmefast.co.uk

"Driving licences were changing too: from 1957, they were valid for three years rather than one."

"So, in 1973, licensing was computerised. Out were the old red booklets—in were new green paper licences. Then, in 1976, full driving licences became valid until a driver’s 70th birthday, ending the need to renew every three years."
Click to expand...
Yes, all very interesting, but I'm still puzzled as the OP's inference was that his course was necessary to obtain an 'operators license', even though he'd ridden 'legally' in the past...
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Yes, all very interesting, but I'm still puzzled as the OP's inference was that his course was necessary to obtain an 'operators license', even though he'd ridden 'legally' in the past...
Click to expand...
Obviously not the same system as we have and sounds like entitlement to ride/drive certain types of vehicle lapses unless renewed every so often?
 
We renew periodically in Texas and you have to choose to keep it.... at additional cost of course. I don't pay too much attention to this, although I manage to keep my license up to date before it goes null/void. Rather than pay the fee some allow it to lapse, so they pretty much have to begin from scratch to obtain the endorsement again.... The state has to have the income, but OTOH we have no state income tax here and I'm good with it as is.
 
EstuaryBoy said:
Yes, all very interesting, but I'm still puzzled as the OP's inference was that his course was necessary to obtain an 'operators license', even though he'd ridden 'legally' in the past...
Click to expand...
It is not necessary to take this course to obtain your motorcycle license. To get my license without this course, I would have to take the written and riding exam all at the DMV (PITA). It will cost me more money to do it this way and I also wouldn’t have the added benefit of the safety course. As for the “legally “ part. Whom among us has never ridden a bike or driven a car without a license? I’m trying to be safe, legal and save cash. Sounds like a good idea to me. I don’t know how to post emojis or I’d post a smiley face so you’d know I wasn’t being pissy. Lol!
 
jbruney said:
We renew periodically in Texas and you have to choose to keep it.... at additional cost of course. I don't pay too much attention to this, although I manage to keep my license up to date before it goes null/void. Rather than pay the fee some allow it to lapse, so they pretty much have to begin from scratch to obtain the endorsement again.... The state has to have the income, but OTOH we have no state income tax here and I'm good with it as is.
Click to expand...
Same thing here in Illinios except we do have a state income tax.
 

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