| What to Look for in a Motorcycle Safety Course | | | | learn about how the various road conditions can affect |
| Taking a motorcycle safety course is a very | | | | your motorcycles performance. Don’t wait until you |
| responsible action, especially if you are new to the | | | | are out in the rain or snow to find out how differently |
| concept of riding one. You will learn valuable | | | | your bike handles. |
| information about how to properly operate your | | | | Since safety equipment is a vital part of operating a |
| motorcycle. You will also learn about preventative | | | | motorcycle, your instructor should help you will |
| issues so that you are less likely to be involved in an | | | | determining the right safety equipment for you as well |
| accident. Most insurance companies will also offer you | | | | as how to wear it properly. No motorcycle safety |
| a discount on motorcycle insurance if you have | | | | instructor should be allowing any member of the class |
| completed such a course. You will also be more | | | | to participate without the proper safety equipment at |
| prepared for the written and skills testing to obtain your | | | | all times. |
| motorcycle license. | | | | Part of a good motorcycle safety course should |
| Taking a motorcycle safety course won’t benefit | | | | include teaching you driving defensively. It isn’t |
| you if it doesn’t offer the necessary information. | | | | simply enough to know how to operate your |
| Don’t be drawn into a low cost course that is | | | | motorcycle. Keep in mind that motorcycles easily get |
| compacted into only a couple of hours. Since you will | | | | into the blind spots of vehicles and large trucks. You |
| be spending a great deal of time on your motorcycle, it | | | | have to be alert to the reactions of other people on |
| is important that you have a solid foundation of | | | | the road for your own safety as well as that of those |
| information from which to draw from. The instructors | | | | on the road with you. This is not a responsibility to be |
| should be well educated in the areas they are | | | | taken lightly. |
| teaching. Don’t be afraid to ask for credentials. | | | | With more than 4 million licensed motorcycle operators |
| Before you sign up for a motorcycle safety course, | | | | in the United States, it is important that they have been |
| ask questions. Find out what the itinerary will be as well | | | | properly trained in how to operate their equipment. One |
| as if you will get a certificate upon completing the | | | | small mistake can lead to a serious accident. Learning |
| course. Make sure the information that will be covered | | | | the basic information as you start out operating a |
| is going to sufficiently cover all the areas. Find out how | | | | motorcycle will give you the best opportunity for it to |
| many instructors there will be as well as how many | | | | be fun, memorable experiences for you. |
| students will be in each class. Smaller classes make | | | | You can find out about motorcycle safety courses in |
| for a better learning environment. | | | | your area by looking on the internet. You can also |
| Talk to your friends, family members, and co-workers. | | | | contact local motorcycle associations in your area. |
| Find out if they or their spouse has taken an | | | | Many of them offer such safety courses taught by |
| motorcycle safety course. If they have find out when | | | | experienced riders as part of their commitment to the |
| and who sponsored it. Ask them what they liked about | | | | community and to their organization. You can also |
| it as well as what they would have liked to have seen | | | | contact the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. While you |
| differently. This can offer you a great source of | | | | may feel that you are qualified enough to operate a |
| information about the quality of a particular instructor. | | | | motorcycle without such a class, keep in mind that |
| Your safety course should teach you about each part | | | | there may be valuable information that you never |
| of your motorcycle. You will also need to learn about | | | | considered thinking about offered. If this isn’t a good |
| basic maintenance and emergency repairs that you | | | | incentive, then keep that insurance discount in mind! |
| may have to do while on a bike ride. You will want to | | | | |