How to make motorcycle training better

I must confess I’m done with motorcycle training for a while. I don’t think for good. I now understand why some riders never take a training class. I understand why some disparage training.

A longtime bona-fide rider should be excellent with danger management. A cool head. Their riding style is often technical precision. With that said, I’m stunned with behavior I find in supposedly professional “experts”.

Every year I tried to fit in one training class, but some of the trainers the U.S. Motorcycle Safety Foundation is sanctioning aren’t very good. Nothing is perfect but with all the training happening along with, better bikes, better gear, some of the accident stats aren’t improving.

I believe its motorcycle training that needs to get better, or more accurately the trainers. In the years I’ve been riding and attending training I’ve experienced the following personally or witnessed it happen.

The brand of bike attack

Making disparaging remark towards the brand of motorcycle a student road to class needs to go. Cornering a student and asking, “So, what made you buy foreign?” “Um…I got a good deal on a used first bike?” The response… “I’m a proud union man, and it’s why I ride American.”

The gear attack

Stopping class to make remarks about a student’s gear; with taunts like “I’m a true American” as a reason to not buy foreign gear. It’s especially puzzling when the instructor rode a Honda to class. Most all gear today is made in China.

The “not in my club” attack

There’s all different kinds of riders. There are commuters, thrill seekers, and long distance travelers, etc. I’d place my rider type in the “commuter” category. I’m not into being a gansta.

An instructor giving favoritism to fellow tough guys or tough ex-military should go. Sending a person out with an endorsement and the overconfidence that his “brother” helped him pass the tests may put that rider in danger. Especially if they’re a new rider!

Anger issues

Visible anger issues with the instructor when a student makes his first mistake aren’t healthy for the class. Instructors asking for post class feedback and post training improvements should be charitable with feedback. When an instructor hears something they don’t like or agree with, they corner and verbally attacks the student later. That should go.

Weird gesturing

Don’t do odd and strange out of the norm gestures out on a training range. When an inquiring student asks what’s going on, now were onto the next phase (insert instructor anger issues here.)

Name calling

Calling students stupid, numskull, etc. creates resistance and builds learning barriers. This isn’t a boot camp. Calling competing instructors from other schools incompetent f*cks or other like names is childish.

To you professional “experts” who I looked up too, you ruined my confidence in you…thanks. I’m riding off. I’m done with financially subsidizing this kind of behavior.

A chilly January ride with my GoPro

Windows Phone and the Nokia Lumia 920

Be the Grinch

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope we’re finding you well. My motorcycle is getting a break from all the spring to fall riding. I still ride in the winter, but I select days I know favor temperature and traction.

If you live in certain parts of North America, now it’s a lot colder. It’s also wetter. The colder it gets the more likelihood of snow or ice. Dealing with just the rain and cold, colder temperatures reduce your brain and body’s ability to respond. The traction and visibility issues with rain should be self-explanatory.

Every year I run into the one rider that wants to know if you’re a “real motorcyclist.” I’m talking the one who rides in rain, cold, and I’ve even know one that rides in the snow sometimes. The worst conditions imaginable, they’re out there.

What I find concerning is sometimes they haze, manipulate, coerce or put other kinds of pressure on riders who aren’t doing the same. You know the drill. Often because you’re the “nice” guy, they want to ride with you. Even in summer, they’re still seeking you out for a ride.

They complain about how nobody wants to ride with them. They’re riding alone for a reason. Word is out on them by riders who know how dangerous this type of individual is.

Going against the Christmas spirit of charity, I would implore you to be the Grinch. Don’t ride with them. They’re riding alone for a reason. Leave it that way. Don’t you get snookered in by them doing something you wouldn’t otherwise normally do.

A Motorcycle Fail Compilation

I don’t know what to say!

Motor Mania

Motor Mania is a 1950s cartoon from Walt Disney. Goofy gets behind the wheel of a car and turns into another personality, an aggressive one. Watching this I thought, there’s a lesson here!

Election Day Tomorrow

President Obama

I’ve been pretty busy and haven’t had time to blog about the current American political landscape. I blogged a bit about one of the primary’s, but those posts garnered some of my lowest visitor hits. With the divisive mentality that seems to permeate everything, I think people were partially tuned out of all things politics. I understand.

I vote for people I think will do the best job. I keep a lot of my views to myself. Today, it ruins friendships, relationships and can even hurt you career-wise. I do appreciate those who run for office.

There’s never been a presidential election like this in my lifetime. It also might be one for the history books because it seems so close the day before the election. If Governor Romney wins, it will be because of the spirited challenge he mounted after his primary victory. If President Obama loses, he will only have himself to blame.

Governor Romney