After 40 plus years of riding I decided to take the Motorcycle Riders Course. Just finished up today. WOW....... Wish I would have taken it years ago. I was amazed at the fact you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Really did pick up some good pointers and will now work to correct some things I have been doing "Wrong" for a long time. For those of you that haven't taken one of these courses, I HIGHLY recommend it. 

AND, after talking with my insurance company I get a discount !!! $14.00 a year !!!! At that rate the course will have paid for itself in only  17.86 short years !!!!!! 

My husband has been riding for over 20 years and he took the riders course with me last Spring. He thought it was beneficial to go through the course again too!

I reckon its a good idea for everyone to do a bloody refresher course..I did an advanced rider course last year and learnt a shitload of new stuff..Bikes have changed,roads have changed so it only makes sense that our riding styles have to change a bit,just to stay bloody safe out there...CHEERS BOOF

You bet. I took it as a refresher before getting back in the saddle/seat.

Never did take the beginning course, But I went through the advanced course and it was well worth it. One thing the instructor told us that stuck with me was that of all the people that have taken the advanced course, less that 8% of them have EVER gotten into an accident after graduation.

The first one I did was in CA in 1980. Army required for riding on post (Ft. Ord). Then had to redo at another post so did intermed in 1993 and the basic course in 1994 to become instructor certified. I want to go again on this bike now if I can ever get a weekend free at the same time a class is being taught.

Good for you. As Mike (RexTheRoadDod) said, something everyone should do no matter what your riding level. I have actually taken the advance course several times. It is a great place to practice evasive and emergency maneuvers in a controlled environment.

I took it 8 years ago when I started riding again after a 15 year layoff.

Time and money well spent, IMO

GaryTJ, that's a 180 of what my instructor told our class 20 years ago. He said "there's only two kinds of riders, those that's been down, and those that's going down." And he was right for the most part. I kept in touch with a lot of those folks, and over the years, we had all been down, at least once. BUT, if it weren't for the training we received, I don't think any of us would have survived. It's now mandatory to take the course here in Florida. You can't get endorsed without it, and even older riders cannot be "grandfathered" in. I personally, think it's a good idea, and I recommend it to everyone. There are things you just don't forget. And they will save your life. Ride Smart Ride Free
Tweek

Well hopefully he's not instructing anymore...idiot. It's one thing to let people know the dangers of riding a motorcycle, and the fact you should always be prepared for an emergency, and we all have heard that saying at one time or another...but it's a whole nother thing for a person in a position like that to say something that could or would cause you to fear riding. Isn't he being paid to teach people how not to go down???

I think that what he was trying to get across, was the course gave you the skills to be aware and to avoidance techniques that a non trained person would not be aware of. After going through the course, I believe him.

Tweek, per my earlier post, I too took the course 20+ years ago. Believe me when I say it's NOT the same today as it was then. Everytime I have attended or observed, I have learned something new that has helped.

I took it about 10 years ago......fun class, good tips.....should be mandatory for all riders.

I'm not going to sit here and tell you I've never been a dumb ass before (Bowling Green) but these clowns think it's cool to completely trash out there bikes. Notice the second dip shit after he destroy's his scoot......he light's up a cigar.

Mate All the course in the bloody world cant fix stupid..Bloody dickheads..CHEERS BOOF

I learned a long time ago and it was reinforced in the riders course (notice how I steer it back to the main topic.. LOL) that it is always when you are showing off and screwing around is when you get bit in the arse. Just ride normal and enjoy yourself and live to ride again.

When the instructor said that, it really didn't scare me. What it did do was prepare me. For what "could" happen. And in my case, it did. More than once. I had a couple of incidences, where I will always be glad that I remembered what I had been taught. I'd love to take the advanced course, now. Not enough money in the kitty, at the moment. That didn't sound right, did it? LMAO Ride Free
Tweek