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Range Riding
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There is a post a few days back, entitled MA Licensing, that evolved
into some stories about various states licensing practices over a number
of years.
I got my license back in 73, when all I had to do was circels in
clockwise and counter clockwise rotation in a parking lot, and a couple
figures 8s. It's wasn't hard. Since then I have taken the MSF here in
Massachusetts, and it was based on 2 half days of classroom, and 2 half
days of range riding. The range riding was mainly focused on basic
riding skills, for the first day and then the 2nd day it focused on the
low speed manuevers required to pass the license exam, which was done at
the end of the 2nd day. Everyone passed in my group, even though a
couple people were clearly not ready, in my opinion. But, what do I
know.
Anyway, since then, many of my good friends and/or riding acquiantances
have takend the ERC, and they really rave about it. I haven't taken it,
but am considering it. yet, what it seems to be from what they tell me
is, again, low speed manuevers, only this time on your own motorcycle,
rather than the Honda Rebel 250s or equivalent.
While I agree that low speed manuever skills are important skills to
have, I question the seemingly total emphasis on this. Panic stopping
seems very logical, as does some exercises in counter-steering, but I
seem to wonder how that relates to so many other critical skills
involved in riding in traffic and at highers speeds. Of all the people
that have taken it, when I ask "so what are the valueable skills you
learn?", I don't seem to get an articulate answer, other than something
like, "Well, I can turn my bike aroud in a much smaller radius than I
used to." ...it never seems to fully satisfy my question, so I pose it
here.
What is it with the range riding capability in the ERC and these low
speed manuevers that is so compelling? Secondly, what if anything does
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It isn't that the low speed maneuvers are "so compelling", it's that
training and testing motorcycle riders at highway speeds simply isn't
practical.
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Tell that to various state DMVs that require you (with a learner's permit)
to have a licensed motorcycle operator "near" you while riding. (Why? ...
to call 911 when you high-side???) -Dave
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Uh, how does "having a licensed motorcycle rider 'near' you while riding"
comprise training and testing at highway speeds? As you pointed out, it can
only be effective after the fact, and there are no tests (other than
survival) involved.
In an ideal world I'd like to see potential motorcycle riders undergo
intensive classroom and track instruction before they're turned loose on the
public highways; but then, I'd like to see that required for SUV-driving
soccer moms too; and neither thing is likely to happen in the foreseeable
future.
You just can't do high-speed testing in a DMV parking lot.
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the ERC not accomplish that is also importantg to being a very competent
rider, if anything?
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Look at this from another angle. Are you so confident of your skills
that you think there is nothing you can learn from the ERC? It's not
a panacea. Passing the ERC with distinction is not even sufficient to
guarantee competence on the road.
But for almost everyone, the skills practice and reinforcement of good
habits and negative reinforcement of bad habits is a worthwhile use of
their time.
The reason why the ERC curriculum isn't more encompassing of what a
rider's total skill set should be, is fairly obvious to me, in our
litigious environment.
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