In my opinion, the correct answer to both these situations would be to suggest that the person take the local Rider Safety Class. Now, not all of them will, but if you know a little about the class and can give them the reasons it would be good to take it, you may have helped the world get a safer rider instead of the jerk that gives the whole riding community a bad name.
A lot of the riders out there that you see cutting off cars, weaving in and out of traffic, or riding wheelies down the interstate, did not take the safety class. Some don’t even have a license to legally ride a motorcycle.
We all have bad riding habits that we have picked up over the years. If we try to teach someone else to ride, we end up passing those bad habits on to the new rider. That is another good reason to send them to the safety class.
Here are some good points in favor of taking the class:
- Most classes provide the bike so no denting or scratching your ride.
- Classes will provide the most current local laws pertaining to motorcycles
- With most classes, if you pass, you can apply for (maybe even get) your motorcycle endorsement.
- Some insurance companies will give you a lower rate if you take the class.
- The class teaches the basics and some of the stuff we forget because it is second nature to us.
Now here is the leg work you will need to do: Find out who teaches the classes in your area and how do you sign up? Unless you can provide this information, most people will not do the leg work themselves and will just forget you suggested it.
In Illinois, the classes are free. You have to put $20 down to save your spot. But after the class you can get that back or donate it to the class and get a t-shirt. The classes are run through our Department of Transportation and funded through a fee on motorcycle license plates. (In other words, every motorcycle owner in Illinois is paying for the classes so we should be pushing people to take them!!!)
Classes are also taught by MRF, Harley Davidson, and some community colleges. Those can be expensive to take. But, they are still worth it!
And it is not a bad idea that if you moved to a new state or you want to sharpen your skills, to just take the class again. We can always learn something.
Here are some articles and videos for information on the classes.
https://www.dmv.org/articles/benefits-of-taking-a-motorcycle-safety-course/
