Safety Course - Worth the Investment
Quote:
Originally Posted by
aka1004
Thank you all.
I have not been on a 2 wheeler in 22 years...
That safety course is for beginners right? How much actual training before you take the test if there is a test?
Speaking only of the California Safety Course, I'm glad I attended. It's a three-day course here and $250. they provide the motorcycle, usually as big as a Honda 750. here, they started off by classroom instruction and if you didn't pass the classroom (technical stuff), rules of the road, using the "SEE" technique Search, Evaluate, and Execute, you didn't get a chance to go on the road. They have the course marked off. But you start by power walking the bike (two wheel only) across the parking lot (big azzed one too) about a hundered times til you can't stand up. THEN you start the engine. Oh it's fun, in a mean kinda way! But when you leave, you'll at least be reasonably competent. Then youpractice, practice, practice. Just recently, California is permitting Spyder owners to use their Spyders for the road skills test. Piece of cake. I'm wondering what Texas is doing since they recently increased the speed limit to 80 mph! Jesus, do you think that's fast enough? Almost like driving in Germany! Won't be enough to bury at that speed!:hun:
VA Sounds Like California...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Yfactor
In VA they use 250 Suzuki and all experience levels make up a class from those that have never been on a bike to those that have been riding for years. Most of the long time riders are there due to tickets for being caught without a license. Strange thing is a lot of those that are rank beginners score better than those that have been riding for years. The beginners did better due to no bad habits to break. This course is two full days with both written and skills tests being given on the second day. All the material for both tests are covered fully with lots of help for those that need it. Upon completion you are given a certificate which you take to DMV and they give you your endorsement. You can ride on the certificate for 30 days before you have to go to DMV. I had not ridden in over 25 years when I took the course and have to admit it seemed so simple (for me). It was hovering around 98 deg. both days and in full gear that was more like 100+ deg.
:shemademe_smilie: :yes: :spyder:
Sounds just like what I experienced here in California! We had some OGs (Old time Harley guys) that had been pulled over once too many times. but they were also the first ones in the course that laid their tiny bikes down. The "Box" was the trickiest, ding figure 8s in a tiny box, the "swerve and brake", the 360, all geared to see how much control you had. But the instructors were firm and fair. But if you didn't pass, you didn't get your money back...but they gave you a second chance to get it right. I enjoyed the course, although the new riders showed us all up! they seemed to breeze through everything. Funny how that works!!!:firstplace:
CA's Safety Course IS the Skills Test...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
aka1004
Dallas area and thank you.
California does not require motorcycle license for spyder so I guess will have to take skills test and may be even written test if they have a seperate one for motorcycle.
Do you get your permanent license on the spot?
I live in Northern California and immediately after getting my Spyder, I signed up for the Safety Course. Since it's emphasized a LOT here, I didn't want anything close to a hassle by CHP, cit police, or the Sheriff's Office. They can be quite rude to motorcyclists. The 2-3 day course went over the entire motorcycle handbook. Most of us aced the test, which was a condition of continuing on in the course. A few didn't pass the test. That included some older guys that drove their Harleys to the class! They had to walk home! But they put us through a lot before they told us that we were being evaluated for the 'skills" protion of the class. But what was so neat was that we literally went through the skills portion all day long, until the last segment included the evaluation. We got our certificates, went to DMV where we took another test (rules of the road), and eye exam, and a temporary license pending the receipt of the actual endorsement on your license. My license was re-issued with the new endorsement affixed to the license. Good to go! And it was for the two-wheel since our skills test was on a two-wheel (mine was a Honda 750)...that's how you get around it i think. But recently DMV is allowing operators to use their Spyders. I don't know how that works for two-wheel motorcycle endorsements. They will figure it out. I like it because I can comfortably ride in the Diamond lane!:f_spider: