By Tim Marks
It was very early on a chilly Sunday morning in April as I rode west on metro Detroit's Seven Mile Road in the dark.
Why in the world would I be out on such a day and at such an hour?
I was on my way to the (MSF) Basic Rider: Returning Rider Course at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan.
Back in the fall, when I bought my bike, a fellow bike rider and neighbor recommended that I take the Basic Rider Course (BRC) offered by the State of Michigan. I had no reason requiring me to take the course since I kept my cycle endorsement up to date on my driver's license for many years. However, my experience during my first 200 miles of riding convinced me I ought to take her advice.
I discovered that Michigan offers a returning rider (BRCRR) version of the basic course. The BRCRR is a one-day version of the three-day BRC. The focus of the BRCRR is for those with experience riding who want to improve their skills and/or qualify for their license endorsement. I already had the endorsement but improving my skill would make me feel more comfortable and safe on my bike. I logged onto the Schoolcraft College web site and signed up for the class.
The BRCRR requires students to supply their own bikes, while the BRC supplies the bikes for the class. The cost for the class is a bargain at $25.
I arrived at the college around 7:30 a.m. for the 8:00 a.m. class. In the classroom, I found about 20 anxious students. It was a diverse group with women and men of all ages. There was even a police officer there to train on his departmental BMW!
The bikes ranged from sport bikes to Harleys, included a scooter and, of course, my beloved Suzuki "Thumper".
The planned curriculum began with morning of class work followed by an afternoon of riding exercises, but because of the threat of rain, we only spent an hour or so in the classroom before we moved outside. We returned to the classroom after the road skills test to finish the classwork and take the written test.
The course began with a basic road exercise used to determine if you had the skills to remain in the Returning Rider class. The exercise included starting, shifting, stopping and executing a simple slalom to demonstrate each rider's skill level. The BRCRR assumes an ability to ride your motorcycle while the BRC starts from the more basic premise that you can ride a bicycle.
The riding exercises included slow speed maneuvering like a tight figure eight and U-turns. We practiced hard braking as you might have to do in an emergency. We became adept at tight turns, curves, evasion techniques, lane changes, and other needed motorcyclist skills.
After about five hours of riding, we took the dreaded skills test. There was no need to fear however, as our instructors did a brilliant job of helping us develop the needed skills.
We returned to the classroom to finish up the course work. The written test was considerably easier than the skills test. After the test, we finished up some paperwork and we each received our certificate.
Passing the BRCRR or the BRC allows a waiver of the state endorsement skills test in most states and, for those of us already endorsed, it often qualifies riders for an insurance discount.
The course left me with better bike skills and made me much more confident while riding.
For more information about motorcycle safety courses in your state contact your Secretary of State or DMV office. Here in Michigan we are fortunate to have motorcycle enthusiast Ruth Johnson as Secretary of State who is dedicated to motorcycle safety.
Be safe out there!
© Tim Marks 2015 All rights reserved
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