Basic Rider Course - My Experience - FYI

 I don't usually post to newsgroups, but felt I really should share my
thoughts about this class.  Just took it this weekend and here's my
opinion.

The BRC is too short in duration for a beginner with no experience to
learn everything that's expected, let alone learn it well enough to
pass the final evaluation and obtain their motorcycle license.  I feel
their course description is very misleading and sets people up for
disappointment on many levels.  Don't believe it when they say "you
need to know how to ride a bicycle".  You need to know more than that,
much, much more....

There are too many exercises to cover in 10 hours of riding time.
Asking 12 students to do 17 exercises in 10 hours, allows approximately
3.2 minutes per person for each exercise.  This certainly is not enough
time for a beginner to gain confidence at one skill before moving them
on to the next.  I felt like I was being herded along like a cow.

I believe this course places a too great a demand on a beginner or
minimally experienced rider both physically and mentally by asking them
to learn way too much in too limited a time frame.  We had a 50%
failure rate in my class.  Those who did pass had dirt bike experience
or had been riding for 2 or more months on their own bike.

The instructors were pleasant and knowledgeable enough, however, I was
very discouraged by the whole experience.  Not one time throughout the
entire course, was I asked if I needed extra help with the skills I was
having problems with. There were no offers from the instructors to take
me aside for additional individual coaching, although the course
information I received clearly indicates to allow extra time for
individual instruction.  A little hands on instruction would have been
very helpful.  It wasn't offered, nor was it mentioned that we could
ask for it.

The bike I was on was very bad, shifting to 2nd was nearly impossible.
I mentioned the shifting problem a couple of times and didn't receive
much of a response.  Just a "try harder" or you "clearly missed the
pedal".  BS - 50% of my shifts from 1st to 2nd wound up in neutral.  I
spent so much time & effort shifting, by the time I hit 2nd I was 2
feet away from my target cones.  I don't understand why you can't use
your own bike if you have one.  I have insurance and a registration.
I'm covered and so are they.

I am not saying I got nothing out of the course but, I certainly
expected to walk away with better riding skills and more practical
knowledge than I did for the amount of money I paid.  But the time they
allocate for it is simply not adequate enough for a beginner to learn
anything substantially well.

By the way, I am a 47 year old woman with 4 years passenger experience
on three different types of motorcycles, full dresser touring, sport
and standard cruisers and one months driver experience on my own
standard cruiser bike.  I'm not a young kid on a rice rocket.  I failed
the course and I feel that happend because their expectations are way
too high for beginners and they don't allow enough time for the
students who need extra help.

I would not recommend this class to anyone who hasn't had at least
three months or more of practice on their own motorcycle.  There is
value to be had from the course, but it's simply not for beginners as
it's described.

 There were nine people in my MSF class and eight of them passed.  All but
two had no prior experience riding a motorcycle. Otherwise, I share your
view that the instruction was superficial. If the fee had been substantial
I'd have been really disappointed, but for only $40 I can't complain.  The
instructors did make clear that practice outside of class would be necessary
to properly learn the skills, and pointed out that the range was available
for practice on most days.

 

It would have been nice to be in your class.  We had all 12 students in
ours.  I would have had more time to practice with nine students.  -Dave

 
Except that it was November, at night, temps in the 30s, and instead of
giving people more time and attention for the mandated 5 hours each the
range class ended after 4 hours in both sessions.

 

I would agree the BRC is generally not for beginners as I experienced it. I
too feel it is misleading and should be longer to help those that are really
beginners. I passed it, but watched people fail that could have passed with
a little more time on a bike and some pass should have had more time on a
bike. All in all the course is helpful, but I thinks it needs revamping.

Jerry