Motorcycle Rider Program

Hey guys! Guess what? I got my motorcycle endorsement!
Yep, that’s right. I, Damian C., can now trade up my Toyota for a lean, mean, 2-​wheeled cruising machine! BADASS.
3 weeks ago my friend and I were talking about how exciting it would be to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Two days after that we found a link to the Motorcycle Rider Program offered through UIUC. The FULLY REFUNDABLE cost of $ 20 for 20 hours of instruction was too much of a steal not to take advantage of, especially since, if you pass the written and driving test, you get your endorsement!!! On top of that, they provide the bike and the helmet, so all you need to bring is your driver’s license, eyewear, long pants and a shirt, footwear above the ankles, and full-​fingered gloves. We were pretty late in the game and all admission was offered on a walk-​in basis, so we decided to press our luck and successfully walked-​in to a class.
This is something I have always dreamed of doing, but the opportunity never presented itself. I come from a family of male motorcycle riders whose time on the bike was put to a premature halt by the #1 lady in their lives. Truth be told, I always wanted to learn, but I always feared the «honey, that’s dangerous, and I really think you should re-​consider» lecture from the #1 lady in my life (MOM) and the «Son, you need to be careful and smart» conversation with Dad. After my first 4 hours of in-​class instruction, I felt confidence in the program and felt even more confidence in telling my parents about my latest adventure. Of course, I got the lectures, but my mom decided I «was at that age where I can make my own decisions» (which I thought would have been 10+ years ago, but thanks for always looking out for me, Mom!).
My class was broken up over five 4-​hour sessions (there are other options available depending on the location and dates), with the first 4 hours in class, and most of the next 16 out on the range. I pride myself on being extremely talented and able to easily take to any skill or task in front of me, but to be honest, riding is not as easy as I thought. Obviously, it’s not a car, so you have so many more considerations, such as appropriate riding gear (helmet, gloves, eyewear, boots, and special clothing — there is apparently a whole science behind it!), lack of protection in the event of a fall or accident, knowing when to press, lean, shift your weight, and use your handlebars, and, most importantly, maintaining good riding posture and looking ahead. I struggled a little bit at first; my pressing wasn’t great, my leaning was just OK, my stopping distance was a little longer than appropriate, and my U-​turn would have thrown me right into oncoming traffic. Those who have ridden a motorcycle, or even a scooter before, will definitely have an advantage over those who have not. However, I am a firm believer than you learn best by getting thrown to the wolves, and fortunately the instructors were constructive in their criticism and provided invaluable coaching to help us learn the necessary skills to pass the basic course.
So when the time came to test my riding skills, I geared up and put my game. err, motorcycle face on. All the practice and training paid off — I passed!
So am I going to go ride out on the Dan Ryan? No, certainly not. However, I now possess the basic skills to operate a motorcycle and am super excited to get some hours and miles in. Unlike some of the bozos you see on the street, I plan to ride safely and always have as much protection as possible. I also plan to take the intermediate and advanced courses offered in the future when I am more experienced and want to learn more skills.
Also, to note, as a walk-​in, I did not end up having to pay the $ 20 registration fee, but the program is well worth it and I would happily donate to keep it going and give proper training to future bikers, like moi. Not to put any of the other local riding schools out of business, but based on reviews and the curriculum on their websites, you are getting the same education and experience through this program and saving multiple Benjamins.
So if you see the geared up hot-​looking guy riding around on a motorcycle in Chicago, wave. It might be me, and maybe I’ll let you hop on!