Basic Rider
 

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Do you have basic riding skills and a motorcycle temporary permit or endorsement? Are you confident with your motorcycle abilities?  Click here for our new Basic Rider-2 Course.

Basic Rider Course
Motorcycle Ohio provides the motorcycles, helmets and a student workbook. All you need is a desire to learn, a motorcycle valid temporary permit or endorsement, the proper clothing and the right attitude. A valid temporary motorcycle permit includes taking and passing a knowledge test. Let's take a closer look at what is required to take and pass the Basic Rider Course.

Classroom instruction is an integral part of the success of the Basic Rider Course. The lessons learned through active discussion and lectures help the rider to be safe on the road.
Basic Rider Classroom Handbook

Classroom topics include:
  • Introduction to motorcycling
  • Preparing to ride
  • Street strategies
Practice riding sessions include:
  • Motorcycle familiarization
  • Using the friction zone
  • Starting & stopping drill
  • Shifting & stopping
  • Adjusting speed & turning
  • Control-skills practice
  • Cornering
  • Matching gears to speed
  • Stopping quickly
  • Limited-space maneuvers
  • Pressing to initiate lean
  • Cornering judgment
  • Negotiating curves
  • Stopping quickly in a curve
  • Obstacles & lane changes
  • Avoiding hazards
  • Skills practice
  • Skill evaluation
Motorcycle Ohio provides:
Helmets - Department of Transportation (DOT) - approved
There are a limited number of helmets available at each training site throughout Ohio including the mobile program's two tractor-trailer units.

There are both 3/4-open and full-face helmets available to borrow during the riding portions of the course. However if you borrow an open-faced helmet from Motorcycle Ohio or use your own, you will need to provide eye protection such as sun glasses, safety glasses or goggles. Full-face helmets with the face shield closed do not require additional eye protection.

Students with their own helmets are encouraged to use their helmets, as long as the helmet is DOT-approved and has a sticker certifying the DOT approval.

Motorcycles
Motorcycle Ohio, including the mobile program, has a sufficient number of training motorcycles so that each student has his or her own motorcycle to ride during the riding portions of the course. Students who wish to use their own motorcycle must submit the following to Motorcycle Ohio:

  • Letter requesting permission from the MO office stating reason for using your two-wheeled motorcycle/scooter in the MO class (example: modification for handicap use).
  • State the motorcycle/scooter engine size (no more than 500cc and a minimum of 100cc).
  • Name of insurance company that has the motorcycle/scooter insured.
  • No motorcycle or scooter with more than two wheels on the ground will be allowed in the BRC, BRC-2 or ERC courses. The course curriculum is designed for two-wheeled vehicles only.

On the day of range activities, after state approval has been given, the student must show proof of insurance to the instructor and have the motorcycle/scooter safety checked for roadworthiness.

Student Workbooks
 Motorcycle Ohio provides each student with a student workbook covering the material to be learned during the course.

Rider Responsibilities

You will be riding a motorcycle during this course, therefore you are required to wear protective clothing during the riding portions of this course consisting of the following:

  • Over-the-ankle sturdy footwear
  • Full-finger gloves
  • Long-sleeved shirt or jacket
  • Long pants without holes -- preferably jeans
  • DOT-approved helmet if you have one -- limited number of helmets available to borrow
  • Eye protection if using an open-faced helmet or a full-face helmet with the face shield open

In order to take the basic rider course, you are also required to have a Temporary Motorcycle Learner's Permit or a Motorcycle Endorsement on your driver's license.

Registration Fee
  • If 18 years old or older, there is a $25.00 non-refundable registration fee.
  • If you are under 18 years of age, the course is free.
  • You must be at least 15-1/2 years old to take the course.
  • A parent or guardian must sign a liability waiver before the first riding session.
  • Passing the course is mandatory in order to obtain a motorcycle endorsement on your license.
Other Suggested Items
  • Foul-weather gear -- the course is conducted rain or shine
  • Sunblock
  • Pencil and paper to fill out paperwork and take notes in classroom

Passing the Course
This course should not be viewed as a pass or fail experience. The Basic Rider Course is of great value to beginners and experienced riders alike in that it allows the student to learn about motorcycle operation and how to reduce the risk of riding a motorcycle.

Motorcycling is not for everyone. For those students which do not pass the Basic Rider Course, they have learned about motorcycling and their ability and desire to participate in the sport in a controlled environment under the watchful and helpful eye of trained instructors.

The following is required to pass the course:

  • 100% attendance in both classroom and riding sessions
  • 96% or better on a written knowledge test (mulitple choice, 50 questions - all questions are covered in the student workbook or the classroom movies)
  • 20 or fewer points deducted on the Riding Skill Evaluation at the end of the course. You will be evaluated on the riding skills you have been practicing during the course and are necessary to reduce the risk of riding a motorcycle. The Riding Skill Evaluation is similar to the On-Cycle Endorsement Test given by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
  • No errant behavior -- this is a safety course!
  • If you are 18 years of age or older, you do not need to pass this course to take the on-cycle endorsement test given by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and get your motorcycle endorsement added to your license.
If you are under 18 years of age you do need to pass this course in order to take the on-cycle endorsement test given by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or receive the skill test waiver (under certain conditions) to get a motorcycle endorsement added to your license.

Medical and Other Special Considerations
Please make the Motorcycle Ohio office aware of any special requirements you may have so that arrangements, if possible, can be made ahead of time. Special requirements include anything you think may detrimentally affect your ability to safely operate a motorcycle. Examples include but are not limited to:
  • Too short to sit on the motorcycle with both feet touching the ground
  • Neck or back injuries that may affect your strength or mobility
  • Recent injury(s) or surgery
  • Pregnancy
  • Mental illness
  • Vision or hearing problems
  • Physical disabilities especially those affecting the hands, legs or neck.
  • Ability to learn or take tests such as but not limited to dyslexia, ADD or mental retardation

Riders with medical or other special considerations may be requested to sign an additional waiver and release depending on the type and severity of the medical condition which may effect the rider's ability to safely participate in the course. Additionally, the rider may be requested to have a physician verify in writing the medical condition and the physician's assessment of the medical condition.