Not many people talking about this actually , so here am I again with ‘another’ controversy, because I can’t keep my mouth shut about things which should have been said a long time ago. I’m looking forward to see in comments if the subject deserves to be ‘controversy’ in your eyes at all, so here we go…
In Europe as a kid of the 70’s, you had to make a drivers license and to ride a 50cc moped for 2 years. It cost 50 Euros, 6 classes and 1 riding hour. Don’t think you just open that motor to get 70 km/h hour out of it, because it was restricted by law to 25 km/h, so about 15 miles per hour! The cops new our games well, and it was not just costly to get caught… they could also locked your next drivers license step away for another year.
By the age of 16, you ramp up to 80cc lightweight bikes. The drivers license is comparable with the one for riding a moped, but comes with more required class and riding hours before you can make the driving test. That education cost about 1500 Euros, 11 riding hours and 24 hours of classroom! Those bikes are top speed restricted to 80 km/h, and you are riding them for another 2 years.
Now you’re 18, and since you went through a riding odyssey of 4 years- you are looking at another 400 Euros to get a drivers license to ride all kinds of motorcycles as long they are restricted to a maximum of 48 horsepower. You think that’s tough?!… there is more to come, because if you have crashes or fool around with the traffic laws- you will extent the 2 years period before you finally make it to a non-restricted motorcycle.
Now let’s say you are ‘mom-in-laws-favorite’ and stick tightly to the rules for another 2 years… yes, then it is time to make the A-license for another 1700 Euros, 12 hours of classroom and 11 hours of riding including a drivers test. Then… yes, finally then you are qualified to ride any motorcycle with all of its horsepower’s. At that point I should mention that when I was 20, that the entire motorcycle industry agreed with the laws to restrict the horsepower to ALL models to 100 hp maximum- to protect the riders from aggressive horsepower-marketing by the manufacturers. Makes kinda sense to me today, I must say. But I come back later to this once more. However, I don’t know if that ‘self-restriction’ is still ongoing over there, because I live in the country of my heart, the United States of America, since 2008 now.
So I had to renew my license as I emigrated and I didn’t complain hearing that I can make a motorcycle drivers license for only 28 bux. I mean… compared with the 3500 Euros I’ve spend… that’s a smile on the face right there. So I answered those funny questions in a written exam to get a temporary drivers license for 12 months… WHAT?! I mean… at least back then, nobody knew that Can Akkaya- a ex-racing pro from Europe, actually really can ride or not… right?!
Yes ‘I can’, but this is maybe like a ‘suicide permission’ or a ‘license to kill’ for someone else, because nobody (!) even asked me if I can ride… they just gave me a motorcycle drivers license. Just like that. I’ve passed my DMV circle riding test one week after my written exam. Maybe I was an exception getting so easy to a drivers license?… unfortunately not, but there are at least some more rider orientated looking options out there… but are they really?! Let’s see…
Anne signed up for my Basic Rider 1on1, which is designed to teach riders who don’t know how to ride AND who are not having a motorcycle drivers license yet. So I ask questions where she’s at and find out that she actually just achieved a drivers license, so I am referring her to my Road Skill 1on1 program which would be the logical next step. She had a hard time to make me understand that she need to learn from the scratch, and rejected my suggestions. My confusion… I am in a conflict thinking that a rider needs to learn from the scratch, even though the drivers license has been successfully mastered already. Feel me here?!
Since I don’t want to charge or offer a not suitable program, I offered to just transfer her Basic Rider to Road Skill after seeing her on a motorcycle and she would have to live with my decision… I was glad I didn’t! Anne-Marie was totally terrified and told me her story with that ‘certified school’ she took at some dealership parking lot:
I signed up for CMSP and I came into this class excited, I came out of this two day class as scared as I can ever be! I can’t even tell you how many times I dropped the bike, I lost count. And get this…. I passed!!!
Read Anne-Marie Pham’s full review here
What I’ve seen was a totally lost soul, but not ready to give up on a new hobby, and I had to win her trust first. I don’t even start talking about the curriculum what those schools have to go with, and which produces fears and hold backs towards braking. It was all showing- and shocked me a lot. Anne’s confidence grew by the hour, and she hired me for another Basic Rider session before I will give her my OK for the Cornering class, where she will learn all survival skills my way!
Comparing the European system with the regulations in the U.S., it seem to be bad for the economy over there and also it makes it hard to recruit new riders, because more and more kids are skipping the pain and just wait till they can drive their stupid VW Golf GTI once they are 18 years old. This is what this is all about friends… the economy. A ‘quick’ drivers license makes a quick sale. For me, this is almost like giving a new rider a unlocked gun and to say… “Just point it where ever you want- and this here is the trigger!”
Sure- if you would have asked me when I was 16, to make a drivers license for only 28 bux by pretty much answering 36 questions correctly and for doing some circles on a parking lot… I probably would have declared that day a Holiday, especially if you also would have told me that I could just go and pick a 210 hp liter bike right away! Would it been healthy for me?!… no it wouldn’t. Don’t you tell me you’ve done wise decisions from 14 till 25 years of age… so I didn’t, and so it would be not too bad if someone helps keeping things in check a little. The system has to change… now!
Headcoach Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach Corp
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Looking back I was pretty damn dumb. I got my permit and license all in less than 4 weeks, with zero two wheel experience prior to the weekend safety course that I took. Then I hopped on my Daytona 675 and just took things really slow. Dropped it on my first attempted uturn.
It was so bad, I had no idea to look where I want to go and the bike will go there. Nobody told me that, ever, after hundreds of hours on YouTube and trial/error I finally started getting the basics down
And now here I am doing track days. I have spent thousands on gear and help though to get where I'm at. Haven't had my license for a year yet still. And I ride my FZ 10 daily to and from work and school in San Francisco.
I think I'm one of the few that got really lucky, but I'm also a good example of how easy and broken the process is.
I bet those certified schools are proud of themselves having 'another rider passed'.
The system has to change, even if new riders will hate me for it. You are an example here Alex.
This is an important topic! A motorcycle test should be similar to getting a race license! Were you are followed by a instructor at various speeds and various conditions!
Yes, that's what's happening in Germany. A teacher drives in a car behind the new rider. Teacher on a radio got the riders back.
Again... I didn't see myself how this actually helped me back then, but I was also not in an age to make rational decisions myself.
Free country back or forth... there is a way to help making decisions along the way... isn't it?!
We live in a society of instant gratification without the forethought of second and third level effects. People get excited about getting a motorcycle and wanting to ride and forget about how dangerous it can be. They learn to ride on the city streets where it is most dangerous or they learn bad habits from "California Approved Riding Courses." Motorcycles require a great deal of practice and learning the right way to operate your motorcycle is critical to increasing your skills and abilities to avoid dangerous situations. It is a continuous learning process and investing in yourself to learn better will net you better results!
I can relate to what you are saying as I see it all the time in Arizona as well... I grew up riding so no issues with me but my family did not and I sent them to the 2 day local school in which they came out licensed but dangerous in my opinion. I was so glad I was able to take them under my wing once they finished the 2 day class because even though they were considered licensed by the state I considered them dangerous to themselves and others. I did one on one coaching with them and took them to a track to expand upon the basics that they were taught so they could practice and actually become proficient riders with enough knowledge and experience to be a safe rider on the road.
I am not surprised that it isn't much different in other states.
A new curriculum needs to be established!
Good point. Rider training in America is almost nonexistent. Most successful street riders in America started out on dirt bikes as kids, learning from their enthusiast parents. What do you do if you didn't grow up in a motorcycle riding family? Programs like the ones Cam offers can make the difference between success and failure. Remember, "self taught" means learning from your own mistakes. Mistakes on a motorcycle can possibly hurt or kill you. Best to learn from a professional.
Thx Chris.
Unfortunately, and I guess you know- ego is big on this sector. Ego makes blind.
Wow, I totally agree! It might be the immigrant in me, but most other countries have laws similar to this. I see way too many idiots on the road here in America and I know a lot of it can be ignorance. If a driver/rider doesn't know it's wrong they'll keep on doing it!
I don't think I'm perfect and I have a lot to learn, but being open to learning is the important first step.
Yes, tighter drivers licensing concepts are also like a 'idiot filter', don't you think?
Unfortunately you don't know what you don't know until it is too late. On motorcycles that can be fatal. It is way too easy to get a license. If they increased the mandatory training before you get your license, I truly believe it would reduce fatalities significantly!!! I am an ER Respiratory Therapist. The majority of motorcycle traumas I see are new riders!!!
Yep, and it can involve other people too, which should be the hook for the Laws to get on this
And lets not even mention the dealerships. Sure, i understsnd they need to earn a living, but seriously, how many many out there sell motorcycles to a newbie just because they don't want to loose the sale? Ive always wondered way we didnt adopt the European way to get licenses or require some to take a riders course. No, they just need to answer questions and show they can turn a bike and know the CONTROLS....THAT'S IT...! Yet, to geyba drivers license for a car,, look at what you have to do. Things do need to change and people need to start going thru motorcycle classes, mot just once or a weekend, but longer, unless they can show prior riding experience. I learned on the dirt and (raced mx and desert) that gave me the basic skills but my eyes were opened wide when i staryed on the street. Sure i went for rides on back of dads but wasnt truely prepared for my own....think these newbies are? I totally with you Coach...!!!
Well yes, but they also would sell bikes if the maximum output wouldn't be 200... but at about 100. The direct responsibility are the manufacturers, and secondarily the government to let this happen.
I agree with you. USA doesn't provide adequate training. One of my biggest challenges is gauging proper corner speed. I started off with a Ninja 650R and then got a Duke 690. Having never experienced the gradual transition from 50 cc bikes, I feel like I never know what is the right corner speed for any turn. That is terrifying sometimes. I recently bought a Honda CBR300. It wasn't until riding this bike that I finally realized it how much sense it is to start small. I wish I had listened to all my friends years ago when they told me to start with a 250cc bike. The CBR is so confidence inspiring because I can put both feet on the ground, throw the bike around, full throttle the machine, squeeze the performance out of it, and not feel like it will kill me at the next turn. Granted, taking all of Coach's classes (Street Riding, Cornering Schools, Track Days, Knee Down School, Wheelie School) and having the 5000+ miles of seat time on the other bikes helped a lot.
Yep, and this isn't something you can learn on a dumb parking lot. Keep honing your abilities :-)
...and let's be honest... you still have way to go, right?!
I think to own a motorcycle drivers license should be a privilege- not a obviousness. This would also work like a 'filter', and sorts hooligans more out
I bought my first motorcycle at 15. I had one to ride my whole life but didn't get a license until I was about 40 years old. Never got a ticket, never even got pulled over. Never had an accident, never got any injury of any sort. After getting a license things didn't go so smooth. Ha!
:) Well, that's quite the opposite Steve.