The Motorcycle Basic Course (MCB) is geared for beginners. However you must have a valid driver’s license or learners permit to take the course. These courses are offered throughout the country. My experience relates to the course offered at a local community college in Springfield, Missouri.
1. Why Take the Course?
There are lots of benefits to taking the course. A huge benefit to me is that passing the written & riding course serves as a waiver for the DMV. Upon course completion you receive documentation; just present that at the DMV and receive your motorcycle license. That’s a much better alternative, in my book, than taking the DMV’s test. Other beneifts:
- Learn important safety rules, including some pearls that are bound to stick with you for a lifetime of riding;
- Receive technical guidance. This includes clutch/throttle control, staight line riding, stopping, turning & shifting, sudden stops and swerving. Even if you have someone at home willing to teach you, it’s always helpful to learn from a pro;
- Get hours of focused practice time;
- Small class size means plenty of attention when you need it;
- Instructors are experienced and certified; and
- A chance to make new friends.
2. The Logistics
I was still working full time when I took the course in 2018, so I opted to the weekend option: Fri 6–9 (classroom), Sat and Sunday 8-5 (classroom/riding). I took the class in November. It happened to be a very cold November weekend. Although you can’t predict the weather, I highly recommend improving the odds of more moderate temperatures. But don’t aim for mid-summer if the temps are high in your area, because riding takes place with “all the gear, all the time”. That can get VERY hot indeed.
When you register for the course, you’ll receive or be directed to your State’s DMV Motorcycle Operator Handbook. Read this over and study the rules of the road. They’ll show up during the classroom portion of your course. And, of course, they’ll be important when you actually hit the road.
Indoor class time took place in a small conference type rooom with tables, chairs, whiteboard and a desk for the instructor. The outdoor riding sessions where held in a large parking lot.
As mentioned, this was a small class size of eight riders. I’m most certain that with the exception of the instructor, I was the oldest person in the room but there was a wide range of ages and a 50/50 mix of male and female students. In terms of previous experience, there were no experienced riders in the course. Some students had ridden bikes previously but all were still beginners.
3. Protective Gear
Protective gear is a requirement. You’ll hear it often: all the gear – all the time. My site had helmets available for loan but I would recommend taking your own. You know – hygiene. Additional requirements:
- over the ankle boots
- full finger gloves
- denim weight pants
- long sleeves
- eye protection
4. The Bikes
Bikes are provided. Students are trained on a 250 cc bike. These are relatively small bikes, i.e I’m 5’4″ and could easily walk with the bike between my legs. In fact, that’s the first training exercise.
These bikes are widely considered ideal as starter bikes. They are easy to control as you learn to manage balance and speed; no concern going out of control before you’ve learned the ropes.
5. The Course
Day 1 – 100 % classroom. Pretest. Introductions. Rules of the road and safety rules/expectations for the riding class
Day 2/3 – Some brief periods in the classroom. But the majority of the time is spend on the bikes and learning the very basics. This means: how to turn on the bike, where to locate vital controls, how to stop and signal. The first exercise was walking the bike. From there, as students became more comfortable, we progressed through a serious of low speed manuevers, i.e. riding in a straight line, learning to turn, making figure eights, starting and stopping.
Day 3 – At the end of Day 3 we completed a written test and then proceeded to the riding test.
If you’re considering purchasing a 2, or even 3 wheeled bike, I highly recommend the course. I was able to take my bike out on the road with confidence at this course.
