Last Day For Motorcycle Safety Course In Pa

It’s my last day for the motorcycle safety course in Pa! This Safety Course comes in four parts, over three days. The first day was a remote learning session. The second day was split into two parts: the first half being taught on a closed motorcycle riding course and the second half in a remote classroom again.

Today is on the same riding course from before and with actual motorcycles. A final passing grade means a completed road test and a real Pa Motorcycle License.

This day was exciting, not only because it being the last day, but I got to see protective motorcycle gear working first hand: A Motorcycle Safety Course Accident?

Who Proves The Motorcycle Safety Courses In Pa?

As I wrote before, people are familiar with safety course provider Motorcycle Safety Foundation, typically called “MSF.” However, in Pa, the state picks a course provider and funds the course.

In Pennsylvania, through this direct control, completing the approved motorcycle safety course counts as a successful road test for a motorcycle permit holder to obtain their Pa Motorcycle License. Currently, Total Control Training is that safety course provider.

Format For My Last Motorcycle Safety Class?

This class is held on the riding course. An open parking lot with some pre-painted lines and a storage shed for the student motorcycles. Yes, you are provided a motorcycle for the class, typically a 250cc size cruiser-like motorcycle. Although there was a Honda Grom there, which I wasn’t fast enough to grab. :/

The instructor provided scenarios and placed mini-traffic cones as markers for events like edges of the road, corners, and objects/vehicles in the road. These mini-traffic cones were large enough to see and small enough to ride over. I found myself with lots of practice riding over them.

Where In Pa Is My Motorcycle Safety Course Location?

The location was a parking lot next to a PennDot service center. This location was convenient for getting to and having background highway noise for realism. Also, have flush toilets for breaks and food services. I like coffee, and there was coffee.

The Motorcycle Safety Course Learning Material.

On the first day, we covered basic safe motorcycle operations. We mainly focused on using the clutch’s friction zone at low speeds while safely turning, braking, and accelerating the motorcycle. All while playing, follow the leader.

This day, we road as teams, going exact directions, changing lanes, and interacting with each other safely. We even had a scenario where we drove around independently and came together at a four-way stop to learn 90 turns from a complete stop.

Then came the emergency scenarios.

The instructor placed cones to mark outlines of vehicles, and as we drove at faster and faster speeds, he would call out what side we had to swerve on command. The instructor was trying to provide the element of surprise to the operation. This swerving portion was a real test to learning the principles in counter-steering.

At low speeds, < 20 mph, the motorcycle’s steering operates like a bicycle’s. You move the handlebars, and front wheel, in the direction you want to go. With counter-steering, about > 20 mph, the bike tends to want to stay upright. You move the handlebars in the opposite direction to where you want to turn, and the bike banks and turns in your intended path.

This opposite movement is counter-steering and counter-intuitive to a like long bike rider like me. I’m sure I have steered like this on a bicycle since I’ve gone fast enough, but most of my life, I pedaled < 20 mph.

To keep the right mindset for counter-steering, I didn’t think about turning handlebars opposite; I thought about leaning my body into the turn. This leaning pushed the inside grip away and performed the counter steering.

Motorcycle Safety Course In Pa Final Exam.

For the final motorcycle riding exam, we had an entire course of driving evolutions to perform, one rider at a time. Objects(outlines marked by mini-traffic cones) we had to swerve around. Tight corners to display our use of lane position. Even a slalom portion tests our ability to use the motorcycle’s controls(clutch’s friction zone, balance, and steering) at lower speeds.

We went one at a time, and the instructor was quick to make notes about our performances. We couldn’t hear each other over the engines, but I’m sure we were all rooting for one another.

FAQ: Complete My Pennsylvania Motorcycle Road Test.

Did I pass the Motorcycle Safety Course?

OK, first, let me say this. There is a great benefit to not going first in a test like this. You get to watch how others perform, see the difficulties and formulate a solution before you have to test.

I went first. Why? I figured to get it over since I’m the type to get more stressed seeing others make mistakes feeling I would repeat them.

So did I pass? Yes!!!!! It seems you don’t have to be perfect since I wasn’t an ideal rider. Yay!!!

The Motorcycle Instructor’s Reaction.

So at the end of the class, after the final riding exam, the instructor calls you over to him to get your results. He reviews your weaknesses and hands back your Motorcycle Learner’s Permit. If you passed, you get a rubber stamp on it with his signature. A stamped Learner’s Permit is now your Pa Motorcycle License till the real one comes in the mail. Like I said above, I passed. I thanked the instructor and complimented him for his ability to teach. I told him I never drove a motorcycle before, and this class was my first time. He was taken back by it, paused and laughed, and only said this was amazing.

Okay, Have A Motorcycle License, Now What?

Exactly now what? I have a Pa Motorcycle License now; I can only figure the next step is getting my hands on a motorcycle. I intend to develop better riding skills based on the course instructor’s feedback and when I personally review my performance. Based on how comfortable I am riding a motorcycle I will slowly advance my riding skills. It’s December, and although not too cold this year, it’s not motorcycle weather. I hope to get my hands on a motorcycle soon enough to start practicing my new learned skills on the street. But at very slow speeds.

Speaking of very slow speeds, the riding course is a large parking lot. Once I get a motorcycle, I will be spending lots of time in a parking lot getting familiar with the safe operation before I head out on the road with traffic.

Thanks for following along, and I hope you feel motivated to take a Motorcycle Safety Class. I expect I will be taking more classes in the future as I become a more proficient motorcycle rider.