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Motorcycles, Licensing and Risk

Understanding this page may save your life.

Many new motorcyclists are at a much higher risk of injury than is necessary or acceptable. Following the 5 steps presented here will reduce your risk as you become a skillful and knowledgeable motorcyclist! This procedure also will increase your fun and enjoyment while learning about motorcycling.

STEP 1: Make an informed choice to pursue riding (driving) motorcycles. By attending the first 3-hour riding session you will gain the information and physical knowledge that you need to make an informed decision about riding motorcycles. The session is only $98, and we provide the motorcycles and helmets. We ride in this first session, so you will gain the physical knowledge you need to help you make informed choices.

This first 3-hour session of the begin2ride course is called, “Basic Motorcycling Skills."
In this first session you will:

Ride with true beginners. Experienced riders are not allowed to attend.
Ride appropriately sized 125cc street motorcycles.
Develop and practice the physical skills of.: Clutch control, shifter control and shift pattern, smooth take-off, and proper stopping technique.
Receive much information including an effective risk management technique for new riders and the DMV Motorcyclist Handbook.

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At the end of this session you will be in a position to decide to pursue street riding, or make an informed choice not to pursue street riding.

STEP 2: Fully explore and enjoy your beginners-time. Be sure to know how to control speed and direction of a motorcycle BEFORE your first ride on the street. This will eliminate many of the unnecessary risks that first time street riders face.

The second 3-hour session of the begin2ride course is called “Stability and Leaning”. In this session, you develop throttle control and techniques to stabilize the motorcycle, and you will:

Practice and build on the skills learned in the 1st session.
Practice turning and leaning.
Practice surmounting obstacles.
Practice all the components for controlling speed and direction of a motorcycle.

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The third 3-hour session of the begin2ride course is called “Combination Skills”. The skills practiced in this session are used on every ride, even your first ride home from where you buy your motorcycle!
In this session, you will:

Practice the skills for controlling speed and direction of a motorcycle in combinations.
Practice shifting and surmounting obstacles.
Practice cornering techniques.
Practice downshifting while stopping.

Do not ride on the street for the first time until after you complete session 3 of the begin2ride course.

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STEP 3: Study the DMV Motorcyclist handbook and complete the written test at the DMV for your restricted license. The restrictions are “Don’t ride with passengers, don’t ride after dark, and don’t ride on the freeway.” These restrictions are more than just legal restrictions; they are good guidelines to follow while you develop your motorcycle skill and knowledge.

Example motorcycle test #1 Example motorcycle test #2

STEP 4: Enjoy your learners-time. In order to increase your enjoyment and reduce your risk during your learners-time, try not to be in a hurry. Plan to take six months to a year to learn what you need to learn to become a skillful and knowledgeable motorcyclist.

This is a very important element of reducing unnecessary risk. Once you have completed Session 3 of the begin2ride course and you have obtained your learner’s permit you are ready to enter your learners-time. You will need an appropriately sized motorcycle to practice riding on the street.

We provide the continue2ride course to assist you in gaining knowledge, lower risk and increase your enjoyment. The continue2ride course includes a practice session with an instructor, and a week long on-street riding practice using the motorcycle you had trained on!

In the continue2ride course 3-hour practice session, you will:

Practice all the skills needed to control speed and direction.
Practice using your signals while turning and changing lanes in traffic.
Practice an effective pre-ride check of the motorcycle.
Learn an effective risk management system for riders in their learners-time.

We encourage you to take the motorcycle you practiced on home with you for a minimum of 1 week. This way you don't have to ride the motorcycle every day during that week, only choose to ride on days you feel up to the study and practice of street riding.

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STEP 5: Test yourself so you know when your learners-time is ending. As mentioned earlier, it takes six months to a year to become a skillful and knowledgeable motorcyclist.

An excellent way to measure your progress is to take the skill test at the DMV.
***We strongly recommend you complete 500 on-street miles on an appropriately sized motorcycle before taking the physical on-bike test for your unrestricted license.***
Click here to view some data regarding the different on-bike tests.

Watch the following videos to see how the test is conducted: This test is FREE and is conducted by an impartial civil servant: (Note: Riders under 21 are not allowed to challenge this more difficult DMV test but must obtain the DL389 certificate by taking the easy test at designated providers.)

Motorcycle Skills Tests #1-Course Layout
Motorcycle Skills Tests #2 - Pre-Test
Motorcycle Skills Tests #3 - Control Identification
Motorcycle Skills Tests #4-Serpentine/Circle Ride
Motorcycle Skills Tests #5-Slow Ride & Circle Ride
Motorcycle Skills Tests #6-Gearshift Ride
Motorcycle Skills Tests #7-Motorcycle Drive Test
Motorcycle Skills Tests #8-Common Errors

If you cannot complete this test error free, you should not consider yourself a skillful and knowledgeable motorcyclist. You are still in your learners-time and need more practice and study. Keeping this in mind will reduce your risk while riding.

We provide the test2ride course to help you practice the skills for the DMV test. Also, ongoing-riders may take the test2ride course to ensure their skills are still at the appropriate level even after years of riding experience.

If you do not follow these five steps you will be accepting unnecessary risk. If you have some beginner experience with motorcycles, please complete the continue2ride orientation page and call us for a free consultation!

Orientation Page

Our goal is to help you reduce your risk and increase your enjoyment while becoming a skillful and knowledgeable motorcyclist.

If you follow the above steps you will ride at a lower risk during your first 6 months of street riding, the highest risk time of your journey.

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Our Mission Statement

*IMPORTANT* Since 1994 there have been two different on-bike tests available for the unrestricted M1 motorcycle license. We recommend the test that requires a higher skill level to pass since riders who pass the higher skill test to receive their motorcycle license are less likely to experience crashes or experience the ultimate morbidity, a fatality.
Click here to view some data regarding the different on-bike tests.

page edited 03.09.10