New Adventure Confirmed! I'll be Ridercoaching this year!

nophix

Where's my coffee?
Apr 15, 2012
215
312
63
42
Stevens Point WI
I ride a
2015 Yamaha FJ-09
Got the confirmation a couple days ago, all set to go to the MSF Ridercoach Prep course beginning of May. I've volunteered in MSF almost 20 years ago, but the whole course has changed.

So, pending I pass, which I'm positive I will, I'll be coaching for our local tech college this year. They sponsored me for the course, and my mentor is a good friend who's been actively coaching for several years.

Should make for some fun motovlogs on the way home from classes as well!
 

nophix

Where's my coffee?
Apr 15, 2012
215
312
63
42
Stevens Point WI
I ride a
2015 Yamaha FJ-09
Well, today was day one of retaking the BRC. Basically, you have to take it as a student if you haven't in the last 3 years. It serves as a way to see things from the student's perspective. I haven't been around a BRC in over 20 years, so a major perk for me. Next week starts the official RCP course.

But man, welcome to Wisconsin kicked in full gear! 48f, high winds, and pounding rain most of the day. All of my gear failed except my boots. Feet stayed dry and toasty. I forgot to grab my touring pants and heated liners, because crazy work week and I loaded in a hurry this morning. Thankfully I tossed all my jackets in so I could rotate them out as wet ones dried out. But my pants were soaked all day. Did an hour in classroom after range time, and 45 minutes home, they're still wet. I haven't been that cold on a bike in years. Forecasts tomorrow aren't looking much better.

So now I'm home, in dry clothes, wrapped in blankets with the furnace cranked, pounding hot coffee.

What I did learn though, is 1) Some of the more basic skills in tight maneuvers, I've kinda gotten rusty on. A lot of it has to do with riding bigger, less maneuverable bikes, some to do with just lack of use. It was also nice to have them coaching me as a student, the new way. I did my BRC originally on a military base, when I was an Army brat. I got my M the week after getting my regular D, but to even ride a bike onto base, you had to have the MSF course. My class was taught by literal drill sergents. You can imagine how that went. I was the only student who wasn't an actual soldier, so it was a bit, well, rough. This new course is geared far more to the average person, and far more to people who have 0 motorcycle experience. It was odd having them tell me to dial it down to novice speeds. That was my biggest struggle. A lot of the range works is stuff I basically do on reflex and muscle memory. One of the biggest things is the 4 finger on the brake technique. I'm a heavy sport rider, and did lots of track time. I trail brake and do all the things you would think, and most of that means 2 fingers on the brake lever, and still working the throttle. I also rev match downshifts. Had to break that habit as well.

Overall, aside from weather, it was a great experience. Not looking forward to tomorrow, just because it's looking like another day of garbage weather, but the class itself and the instructors are fantastic. I do need some brush ups, and the other instructors are definitely getting me ready to do the RCP.
 

nophix

Where's my coffee?
Apr 15, 2012
215
312
63
42
Stevens Point WI
I ride a
2015 Yamaha FJ-09
Well, that was a humbling experience! It's amazing how much basis skills can diminish when you don't take time to practice. I passed the BRC tests without losing any points, but it wasn't graceful. Thought for sure I caught points on the U-Turn portion at least.

And, I even managed to drop the bike during practice. Granted the course was drenched again, but it was a ll me. So, I always 2 finger brake. The bikes I tend to ride have very aggressive brakes, and I also trail brake a lot. Years of track time and fast riding. Fwiw, I've even taught some top notch track riders. At speed, I"m pretty much untouchable. Well, for MSF, they want 4 fingers on the lever. And RiderCoaches are expected to show that. So i was making every attempt to break the habit. Well, on the quick stop through a corner practice, I remembered to use 4 fingers, and immediately started sliding the front wheel. Got that under control, and didn't realize I was also sliding the rear. Let off the rear brake just before I was stopped, and it kicked a little. Tried to catch it as it fell over, but once you get to that point, we all know just set it down. No damage, no injury, basically just set the bike down on it's side, and had a severely bruised ego. I was also probably going a bit faster than I should have been. Another thing I need to work on, riding at true novice speeds. I was probably going twice the speed I should have been for the exercise. RC's were awesome the whole time. I honestly thought I was done right there, but they walked me through the whole thing. Even admitted they've done the same. It was practice, not the skills test. Bikes get dropped a lot during practice.

We were even able to use me as an example for the class in the end. I have track day accolades, pro level licensing, the whole shebang. Everyone knew from the introduction part that I was retaking the BRC as part of the RCP program, and when we had to discuss our riding background, I did give a brief explanation. At the end, the RC's were talking about diminishing skills, and I added how everyone watched me struggle with some of the exercises, and even watched me drop a bike on the range. My background and experience, none of it mattered because I let those base skills get rusty. It really had several other students realizing they needed to keep practicing, and hopefully they won't let those skills go like I did.

I did also really enjoy the process. There were a few students who struggled hard, but they had no quit in them. They gave it everything. And as they would finally learn something, or start to sort it out, I was legit cheering in my helmet for them! My mentor for the program asked me after today if I still wanted to be a RiderCoach. My answer was absolutely, now more than ever. The BRC may have humbled me, but it really gave me clarity as to why we do this.
 

nophix

Where's my coffee?
Apr 15, 2012
215
312
63
42
Stevens Point WI
I ride a
2015 Yamaha FJ-09
Lots of acronyms there that no one out of the USA will understand, are you able to explain them to us please? :)
I thought Motorcycle Safety Foundation was international?

RCP is RiderCoach Prep. Its the program to teach new instructors. BRC is Basic Riding Course. It's the course that takes new riders from beginning to licensed. RC is RideCoach.

What do you guys have over the pond when it comes to teaching new riders? Now you have me curious. I know you guys have tiered licenses, which I honestly think we should implement here, but I'm keen to see the difference in the training course.
 

nophix

Where's my coffee?
Apr 15, 2012
215
312
63
42
Stevens Point WI
I ride a
2015 Yamaha FJ-09
Also, really glad we bought this little G310R. I was so frustrated with myself, I took it out tonight for a while and literally did nothing but U-Turn drills with it in a parking lot. Everything else I was decent on, the U turn box kicked my tail. Glad to know I can still get it done. By the time I finished I was full lock both ways with ease.

277522514_10159997699242700_9059194865248822674_n.jpg
 
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Theodor

Don't wannabe
Nov 16, 2017
1,121
1,737
113
39
Estonia
I ride a
Valkyrie 1500
What do you guys have over the pond when it comes to teaching new riders?
Over here we have it pretty easy, compared to some other EU countries beginner riders get - about 30h of traffic law and 10h of riding theory, followed by minimum of 40h of riding with instructor, first at the practice field and then in traffic. Traffic law part will be reduced by 2/3 if you already have car drivers license.
To get the license you need to pass theory and riding tests first at school, to be allowed to the official tests, and then at the governments Transport Administration tests, which consist of 2 parts. First the riding exercises, randomly selected, but I believe always have hill stop and controlled braking included. Most people I know have also had to do figure 8 in box and a swerve. Second part is ride in city traffic and highway to demonstrate traffic and traffic law awareness.
However, we do have foundations here, who also do riding courses for people who already have licenses and just want to learn more or refresh their memory. These classes focus more on riding technique than legal aspect of riding. I am yet to go to one of those, but sooner or later I will. There is only so much you can practice/remember on your own, without impartial set of instructors eyes.
 

HippoDrone

Admin
Jan 2, 2017
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West Sussex, UK
I ride a
1984 Honda CB100-N
2012 Moto Guzzi V7
2017 Suzuki GSX-R750
2020 Beta 390RR
2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660
What do you guys have over the pond when it comes to teaching new riders? Now you have me curious. I know you guys have tiered licenses, which I honestly think we should implement here, but I'm keen to see the difference in the training course.
In the UK it is quite complicated.

At 16 years old you can apply for a provisional licence, but you also need to do a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) which is a few hours in a carpark riding round cones and then a brief road ride with an instructor. That then allows you to ride a 50cc with "L" plates.

At 17 years old you can do the same, but are allowed to ride up to 125cc with "L" plates. You can then also do a motorcycle theory test and then a motorcycle practical test which still only allows you to ride a 125cc bike, but you can remove the "L" plates. This gets you an A1 licence.

At 19 years old you can do the same, but instead of doing the 125cc practical test, you can do a theory test and then a practical test on a bike with more than 245cc and power between 25-35kw. This gets you an A2 licence.

At 21 years old you can do the same, but need to have done the 245cc test at least 2 years prior, then you can do a practical test on a motorcycle over 595cc with a power output of at least 50kw and a minimum kerb weight of 180kg. This gets you an A3 licence (full motorcycle licence).

At 24 years old you can do direct access, where you do a CBT & theory test, then the practical test on a bike over 595cc which gets the A3 licence.

You can see why motorcycling is getting killed off over here and why the demographic is getting older and older, you basically have to be 24 years old to get a full bike licence. When I di my training, I applied for a provisional licence, did a CBT, then did a test on a 100cc bike and was allowed to then ride whatever I wanted.
 

Theodor

Don't wannabe
Nov 16, 2017
1,121
1,737
113
39
Estonia
I ride a
Valkyrie 1500
The tiering is very similar here. 14 years of age you can do the moped, up to 50cc license.
16 can get 125cc up to 11kw.
18 can get up to 35kw (not limited from anything originally over 70kw), no cc limitation. the "A2 tier"
20 full motorcycle license in case you have had A2 tier for at least 2 years already.
24 full motorcycle license from scratch.
 
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nophix

Where's my coffee?
Apr 15, 2012
215
312
63
42
Stevens Point WI
I ride a
2015 Yamaha FJ-09
Ours, you can get a class M via the permit/road test route or by taking the 2 day MSF course. You could technically take the written test and get on the road on a Panigale V4 and there’s nothing stopping you. It’s legal as long as you ride before dark with a helmet and no passenger. Once you pass the road test, which is super easy, or pass the basic rider course, all restrictions are removed, except requiring a helmet under 18 in my state. Each state is different on helmet laws even. Here once you’re licensed and over 18, none are required. Just some vague form of eye protection.

I don’t think going to the extreme is the answer, but a lot of crashes here happen because people jump on bikes that are way too big with no experience.
 

Guest

Guest
Apr 6, 2018
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Y'all got a lot of patience.

In Ontario we have freedumb.

8 am on your 16th birthday: You wake up. Today is your day little man!

9 am on your 16th birthday: You write a multiple choice test that you're allowed to get a handful of questions wrong and still get your license. No riding test necessary.

10 am on your 16th birthday: You're at the Ducati dealership like a baller.

10:30 am on your 16th birthday: You're firing up your brand new 215 horsepower Ducati Panigale V4 SP2.

10:41 am on your 16th birthday: You're calling your insurance company because you wrecked your shit.
 

nophix

Where's my coffee?
Apr 15, 2012
215
312
63
42
Stevens Point WI
I ride a
2015 Yamaha FJ-09
Well, an update!

And a very happy one at that!

If you saw my latest post, you know the last few weeks has been very tough. But, in spite of all of it, I DID in fact finish Ridercoach Prep, and I officially got my email yesterday. I am now a Ridercoach! I have a student teaching assignment next weekend, to make up for the one I missed after the work injury, but that one is a Wisconsin specific deal. After that, I start instructing!
 

HippoDrone

Admin
Jan 2, 2017
7,683
7,006
113
West Sussex, UK
I ride a
1984 Honda CB100-N
2012 Moto Guzzi V7
2017 Suzuki GSX-R750
2020 Beta 390RR
2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660
Well, an update!

And a very happy one at that!

If you saw my latest post, you know the last few weeks has been very tough. But, in spite of all of it, I DID in fact finish Ridercoach Prep, and I officially got my email yesterday. I am now a Ridercoach! I have a student teaching assignment next weekend, to make up for the one I missed after the work injury, but that one is a Wisconsin specific deal. After that, I start instructing!
Awesome news mate! :)
 
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