A Motorcycle Training Course Has More Benefits Than Just Safety

Editor’s Disclaimer: Please do your due diligence before enrolling in a bike course. We had a disappointing and regrettable experience with the business in this story; specifically the said instructor’s ostentatious behaviour, putting down students, and general inappropriate comments left us pretty discouraged by the whole new bike experience. Fortunately, second time around we found a better course led by a great instructor – made all the difference. (These opinions not of the author.)

Summary:

1. Lower Motorcycle Insurance Premiums
2. Discounts From the Bike Manufacturers
3. Rebates from Scholarship Funds
4. The Obvious Safety Gains
5. Good for the Body, Mind, and the Soul

We also include a Motorcycle Training Directory – U.S. Regions and Canada– at the end.

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Empowered. That’s just one word that alumni of Calgary’s Too Cool Motorcycle School training program use to describe how they feel upon completing the course. And that’s a word that impresses Trevor Dech, owner and chief instructor of the Too Cool school.

“I knew what it meant,” Dech says, and adds, “But I looked it up in the dictionary, and the definition of empower is what I believe to be our mission statement. It says: ‘Make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life…’ on a motorcycle, I’d add.”

Since 1991, Dech has been training students to ride. His passion for helping neophyte motorcyclists led him to develop his own program, and in 2003, Alberta Transportation certified Too Cool Motorcycle School to provide accredited rider training. He’s often asked why someone might spend the money and take any kind of motorcycle training – as opposed to simply learning to ride on quiet streets and challenging the Class 6 exam.

Apart from feeling empowered, as already mentioned, Dech says there a number of other benefits to seeking out professional rider training.

1. Lower Motorcycle Insurance Premiums

First, there are monetary savings. Although there’s an up-front cost to taking any program, Dech says, “Training will give you an opportunity to be in a different category of insurance. You’ll get a better deal, and you might have to shop around a bit, but you can save a lot of money because a number of insurance companies will knock some money off their premium.

“And those savings should continue for years. For example, if you save $200 the first year, you’re likely to save that much again year after year. The training is a gift that keeps on giving.”

Dech suggests a neophyte rider take the insurance savings and invest in better-quality riding gear.

“That’s a benefit you won’t get without taking the training,” he says.

2. Discounts From the Bike Manufacturers

Also, some manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Honda, and Kawasaki provide discounts on purchases of certain motorcycles when shown proof that an approved rider training course, like the one offered by Too Cool Motorcycle School, has been completed. Dech adds that some dealerships might have partnerships with select rider training schools to offer further incentives.

3. Rebates from Scholarship Funds

Another potential money-saving opportunity is applying for the Paul B. Memorial Scholarship Fund. Established in 2011 by the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, the fund is in honour of Paul Bachorz, a BMW MOA member who left behind seed money that would allow the group to “…award grants to individuals in the motorcycle riding community to assist them in pursuing rider education and training opportunities,” the BMW club’s website explains.

“The Foundation will award grants of up to $250 for MOA members, or up to $100 for non-members (neither amount to exceed the actual cost of the training), towards the cost of participation in an approved training course.”

Dech says the group has reviewed Too Cool’s training curriculum, and they recognize it as fitting with the BMW MOA’s mandate. But, it’s up to each individual student interested in taking a training program to apply well in advance of taking the course. Apply for a Paul Bachorz Rider Safety Training Rebate here.

4. The Obvious Safety Gains from a Beginner Course

Besides monetary savings, taking a safety course provides several safety gains.

“A lot of people use the adage practice makes perfect,” Dech says. “But, as they say at the Yamaha Champions Riding School, ‘Perfect practice makes permanent.’”

Dech is presently a YCRS Champions Certified Coach (3C) and was the first Canadian instructor to receive the designation that, according to the YCRS website, gives 3C coaches “the recognition they deserve for taking their education and their riding to the next level in a desire to pass along their knowledge to the greater community.”

Dech continues, “You need to learn the correct way to ride so you can practice correctly. If you’re doing it wrong, and you practice that, you just get better at doing it wrong.”

…most say they learn techniques they just wouldn’t have known about, such as slow riding, tight turns, proper braking and counter – or push – steering.

After taking instruction from Too Cool, some past students say they’re more aware of their space out on the roads, whether on a motorcycle or in a car. Others say they gain a better understanding of how a motorcycle is made (or engineered) to be ridden.

By far, though, most say they learn techniques they just wouldn’t have known about, such as slow riding, tight turns, proper braking and counter – or push – steering.

“That counter steering is just a foreign concept to so many taking the course, and these are safety gains that will keep you alive on the roads,” he says.

5. Good for the Body, Mind, and Soul (Really)

Finally, there are mental and psychological rewards to completing a rider training course.

And that takes us back to the beginning, where the word empowered was used to describe how some Too Cool alumni feel about learning to ride.

“Other words,” Dech says, “include memorable, freeing, lifesaver, wonderful, fun, cool, legendary, refreshed, confident, informative, enlightened, meaningful, comfortable, complete, encouraged, inspired and rewarded.

“Those are from real people with real emotions,” he adds, “and those are just some of the rewards of learning to properly ride a motorcycle.”

Just as Lanchi Dech, Trevor’s wife and Too Cool’s motorcycle operations manager, can attest.

“I’d wanted to ride since junior high school,” she says, “But I’m 80 pounds and 5-feet 2-inches tall. So many people told me I would never be able to handle a bike.”

But in 2013, she got in touch with Trevor. He had her first come to the training lot, where she sat on a couple of machines.

“Trevor told me I was fine, and I just never looked back,” she says.

Including dating and finally marrying Trevor, of course. And what kinds of motorcycles does Lanchi ride?

“What doesn’t she ride would be a better question,” Trevor says, and Lanchi concludes, “A Kawasaki Ninja 300, Honda CBR600RR, Suzuki DR650 and a BMW F750GS.

“I ride them because I have the confidence to do it.”

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Motorcycle Training Course Directory – US Regions and Canada

Here are some motorcycle training courses near you.