Sensei Says Grasshopper Sucks

Sensei Phil was talking about our ride up the Snake to a friend, not knowing he was on speakerphone (dontcha hate when that happens?). The gist of it is I need to get on the throttle and go. Apparently I also need to get on the brakes and stop, so I have some work to do.

On that short ride up Mulholland, I was slow but I was in complete control, ready to stop at any moment. I stayed to the inside of my lane. I looked through every turn and kept the RPMs high (easy enough on a 250 Ninja). Was I overly cautious? In his opinion, yes. And he is a fantastic rider, very experienced, puts safety first, and his Buell is signed by Shawn Higbee, OK? He's Sensei.

Still, the road is dangerous. No, let me restate that -- the road is fun, but people on it ride dangerously, as though it's their private race course. Sports cars, bicyclists, motorcycle riders, so many people push the limits on this twisty stretch. And last Sunday was a black day: 3 notable crashs, 1 death, on Mulholland and vicinity.

Sensei says I'm too cautious, like I'm preparing for an earthquake that may never happen.

Basic Rider Course - Why You Want to Fail the Test

The motorcycle safety courses offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation are a fantastic way to learn how to ride. Learning to ride a motorcycle is a chicken and egg thing -- which comes first, the bike or the training? If you don't have a motorcycle of your own, it's hard to find a friend who will let you thrash their bike as you learn. And pretty much everyone thrashes their first bike.

Motorcycle Rider Education (MRE) offers state approved courses for brand new riders. They provide the motorcycle, helmet, and really big parking lot! Course details vary from state to state; in my state, California, the course includes a classroom session and two half-days of riding. For me, the most exciting benefit was the DMV certificate which allowed me to waive the dreaded skill test at the DMV.

This class is perfect if you've never ridden a motorcycle before. You get to duck walk, wobble, weave and stall, all under the watchful eye of a friendly rider coach. Then you take your test, you probably pass, and you go on your way.

But are you ready for the road? Honestly, probably not. You're ready to practice in a parking lot on your own. Here's a tip, and you won't read it anywhere else: if you're a really new rider, consider not passing the test. Give the classroom session and the two days of skill instruction your very best efforts, but hold back a tiny bit on the test. Here's why: if you don't pass, you can take the class again for free. (Check with your own location first, but this is pretty standard.) That means twice the riding, twice the instruction, twice the practice before you have to find a bike and be on your own.