Why I Consider Rider Education In California A Joke – Part 2/3

As you might remember from reading part 1- I still consider the general motorcycle rider education nothing else as a joke. That hasn’t much changed since then, so I’d like to make riders aware of these things, and not to bend down too early for that shiny thing… it’s maybe not gold, even when it looks like it…

OK, do you agree with me that ‘reading’ a book about the Alps is different as actually ‘being’ in the Alps?!  Motorcycle riding is not a static 1- 2- 3- thing… this is loaded with emotions, variables and ‘feelings’.  It’s not just black and white- but lots of gray zones. A book can’t make you feeling these things, and it’s on the imagination of its reader how the content… has found a place on his/her mind. In other words… what if you read a book about how to ride a motorcycle- but your imagination gives you a other understanding about it?! The result

is that you take out your bike to try those things- and you’ll do them wrong. In fact… nobody is there to correct you. Yes, reading is power, but in fact you don’t learn from it that much. At least it helps thinking about it- but again, there is no guaranty and control if you fully understood comprehensive subjects.

And there are motorcycle forums, packed with “experts” who are letting out their superficial knowledge under the soft blanket of anonymity- covering new riders with ‘good tips’ about braking, steering, and all time favorite… body positioning.

OK, let’s see… there is that new rider who can’t resist posting a question about ‘body positioning on a sport bike’. It doesn’t take long to make tons of those experts coming up with their version of it, which are all different of course. So the confused newbie has to listen to the loudest, rudest, and most aggressive corresponding ‘expert’… because that obviously must be right.

The outcome is that the ‘expert’ recommends doing Hanging Off like Valentino Rossi does- because the “perfect” body position is, to be so much off the bike that you can see yourself in the mirror.  Really?!… yes, that’s technically correct, but highly dangerous to suggest to a rookie street rider who obviously has to learn essentials like even to shift the gears. But the new rider is listening to it, because he/she doesn’t know what’s wrong and what’s right, and their hope for getting free help makes them skipping on reality sometimes.

I can’t make these ego driven people shut, because I don’t want to give them what they actually looking for… attention- so should you. Please stop listening- or even ask on forums. You don’t know who’s answering and about the quality of an advice. If you don’t know if your starter or the relay is the reason your bike doesn’t fire up… then ask a forum- but not about things which can have a bad influence to your health, for maybe the rest of your life!

All I am saying is, that you need to see the Alps yourself. If you need a guide to show you the best and safest way to climb up that Eiger North Wall- then you’ve got to be 100% sure what that guy is capable of, because he’s the one who’s holding your rope!

Headcoach Can