Transported

Scary to think that an entire class of bike is essentially unsafe at any speed. All bikes ought to be able to brake like a sportbike. A cruiser that weighs twice what a sportbike weighs ought to have even bigger discs and calipers.

But, I guess folks who think that T-shirts and half-shells are plenty of protective equipment also think that one thin disc up front and a drum on the rear is plenty, too.

Ash

The riding portion costs $25, and has to be done within 60 days or you are SOL. Chelle had to be on-call the majority of the weekends after we took it, so she couldn't retest. They really need to review that, since it's not like a nurse can simply shrug and tell the facility "Sorry, I have to take my motorcycle test." If you don't have coverage, you WILL be available at the drop of a hat.

Transported

I don't think Amber was implying that folks who fail weren't paying attention, though it sounds that way. And, I also think that a spot of cockiness is necessary to ride well. Nick Ienatsch says a similar thing when he asserts that you must ride like a bicyclist and like a Mac truck at the same time. He means you must understand that we are as vulnerable as a cyclist, but that we can't be passive out there, either. We've got to assert ourselves.

As for passing the course or not, there are many reasons some do well and some fail. Some people overthink things. Some people are just naturals. Some are very timid. Some people have come from a BMX or dirtbike background and so they have a head start. And, some just aren't ever going to be good on a motorcycle, which takes coordination and extreme concentration to ride well.

I rode and raced dirtbikes as a kid and into my teens, then rode street bikes for several years before dropping bikes entirely for family life. I got a 600 sport-tourer and took the test with it and I found it somewhat challenging on the road course. I passed, but I hadn't yet honed my tight maneuvers nor my braking nor even practiced countersteering. I was amazed how well some people (men and women) who didn't have their own bike and had limited experience on a bike before taking the class were able to grasp what the instructors were teaching and to pass the test.

Monkey

This is true, I agree that some have more natural ability than others. Are you you sure about the cockiness factor though? I'm thinking there might be a better word...I do get your point tho. Being confident, fearless or even having brass balls is still different to me than being cocky.

Whitesmokeyzf

I've been riding 25 years and probably couldn't pass it Seriously my mom took the class a couple of years ago and didn't finish it. She rides now and needed alot of 1on1 instruction and a whole lot of parking lot and backroad permit riding before she got her license. She rides pretty good now.

Whitesmokeyzf

A road king has 2 disk in the front and one in the back, it will stop as well as a car and is fun to ride. Its for cruisin, wieghs about 800#, load it up with gear and go 2 up and you can't tell it has a load on it power or brake wise. I agree with your T-shirt / half helmet thing. I bought mine because the wife didn't like travel on the sport bikes and at the time I bought mine they held their value pretty good so I figured if she didn't ride with me much I could still sell without getting too hurt. The only thing I overlooked when I bought it was the image. I can't stand the attitude of the typical Harley rider as much as I can't stand the attitude of sport bikers who think that sport bikes should be the only bikes on the road. I wonder if those folks realize what dumb shits they are, a bikes a bike and fun to ride , everyone likes thier own type of ride, and thats cool. Wave at everybody, we all like 2 wheels and atleast have that in common. If i'm on my Harley and see a sportbike in my mirror you'll get a wave and room to go by and I gaurentee we will both be havein a good time.

Transported

^^^If your particular cruiser stops as fast as a sportbike, then great. But, the instructor above said that cruiser riders need to use the entire hand to bring their bikes to a stop. That seems intolerable to me, especially when the technology is there; it's just cheapness or vanity that is preventing it from being employed.

I've got no issues with cruisers. But, if a design is so poor that it endangers a rider, then I think it needs to be reconsidered.

THOE

In no way is it an easy class that is why not all pass. The BRT class is designed for the person who has never been on a motorcycle. The IRT is for the person who has some experience and knows the controls and how a bike functions. Both classes can get you a card to get your endorsement. ART class that is held at Pats Acres are for people that want to learn how to go through corners with a little speed picking lines and learning how to set up for them before entering them.

Like I said before some pick up on stuff quicker then others do. I watch a husband and wife take the class together and the husband failed. The husband kept getting upset when he made mistakes the wife just kept a happy positive face and was smooth throughout the whole class never in a hurry and seemed to listen when she got instructions.

All in all it is a great way to get your endorsement or brush up on your riding skills.

Whitesmokeyzf

You need to read the post, never said as good as a sportbike. And your statement is stupid. a Corvette will stop better than a mini-van, so should all cars have corvette brakes? thats just a stupid thing to argue. I'm done.

CurveRider

I am glad that they are not passing people that cant ride. with all of the folks picking up bikes due to gas prices passing everyone taking the course would F**K up the streets even more than they already are.

A

Monkey

That's awesome! =)

dscott3509

I took the course at the end of July. We did the written test in the morning, and the riding test in the afternoon. Everyone in our class of 12 passed both portions. I was stunned that everyone in our class passed. The course wasn't easy, but it was done at a comfortable pace. I had never ridden a motorcycle before, and I was shocked at how quickly I was actually riding. My only experience on two wheels prior to the class was many years of racing bicycles, on-road and off, and commuting to work on a bicycle.

BlueZZR

I passed with flying colors.

pkaustin

Both DMV and Team Oregon are under ODOT.

I have no knowledge about audits, or what may cause them, but Team Oregon students' re-test eligibility hinges only on a rider's score, not on some overall pass/failure rate. Since I fill out the forms, I would know.

In nearly a decade of teaching TO classes, I've never been questioned or influenced on my classes' pass/fail rates.

ltaylor

Hi all,

I'm new to this site and also pretty new to motorcycling. I started w/a Honda Elite 80cc scooter (1 yr), then upgraded to a 250cc Honda Reflex scooter. I got my endorsement w/the Elite, so have been endorsed for 3 yrs. I just sold my scooter and now have a Honda PC800. I've been riding regularly, both to commute and road trips, and have put about 2k miles on the bike since I got it. So...which class do I take? I don't need to get my endorsement, so I'm guessing the Intermediate course? I also attended the Sport Touring NW rally this past weekend, listened to several of sessions with Nick Ienatsch (sp?) and chatted w/him (am practicing his trailbraking) and also David Hough (and read Proficient Motorcycling cover-to-cover).

Also, my husband's been a motorcycle rider for close to 50 years - road (now has a BMWRT1100) and dirt (KTM450?), but he's also wanting to take some training.

So...which classes do we take? The same ones? He'd thought so, but he's WAY better than I am.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated - especially from the TO instructor who's posted in this thread!

Thanks...L

trayson

Excellent explaination. I was "corrected" quite a bit for not doing 4 finger braking in the class, and they explained it just like you did.

As far as pass rates, most of our class passed. I had to take my riding portion in the rain, and did all right. I was determined to pass though. In fact, on the sweeping turn where you had to stay between the lines I felt myself drifting to the outside. Darn it I was gonna pass though so I leaned in a little more and peg scraped my Kawasaki Eliminator that I was on! LOL The rest of the class were quite amused.

I can't imaging how someone could fail the written if they paid attention. They even reviewed the "tricky" questions with us minutes before the test. I got 100% on the written.

Definitely a worthwhile course overall. I wouldn't have wanted to take those skills tests as a NOOB on a sportbike!

damion

Which class you should take depends on what you want to learn... do you want to brush up on basics, practicing street skills that we all should have, but generally forget about because they're TOO basic? If so, take the Rider Skills Practice. It's an extension of the material presented in the BRT and IRT, but considerably more challenging.

Or do you want to learn/practice line selection and management, linked turns, and higher-speed emergency maneuvers? If so, take the Advanced Rider Training.

They are both worthwhile courses... if you can spare the time and money, take them both. If you have to choose one, I'd go with the ART.

AceTracer

This is exactly what happened to me. The people that I told I failed were surprised, because I seemed to do so well on the course. I was noticeably better than a lot of folks at turning, swerving, stopping, and generally handling my bike.

The only issue I had was getting in and out of first gear, since my two years of experience on mopeds and my current bike, a Hondamatic, has trained me to just twist and go, so easing out that clutch took some getting used to.

Oh, and the "head turn". Though I made sure to turn my head before every turn, almost in an exaggerated manner, I was still getting called on it, to a point where one instructor asked me if I had neck problems. Sure enough, even though I again made sure to do head turns during the test I was taken off points for it, and as I got 23 points, that alone failed me.

Also, the skills retest is $25. I go back in 16 days to take it again, this time with no prior practice or experience with the bikes in question (I took the course in Salem, the soonest available class, I'm taking the retest in Swan Island). Hopefully I pass and don't let $200 go down the drain.

damion

This gets a lot of people. You may feel like you're doing it in an exaggerated manner, but you're probably not. The turns you're doing on the test are tight enough that your chin should be almost or completely parallel with your shoulder. Just because you're looking through the turn with your eyes doesn't mean your head is turned far enough. In addition to looking through the turn with your eyes, point your chin and nose all the way through the turn. If you're not doing that, then you're not turning your head far enough.

As for being used to the bike, you'll have a warm-up exercise before the test, so you can get used to how your assigned bike handles.

AsianRider

the instructor said to me that i was goin a little bit too slow goin around the corner during the test other then that i did great on everything else and got 100% on my written test.... i think 2 of the students in my class didnt pass i know one of them for sure didnt he droped the bike during a sharp cornering but they let him retake the test though... and the other one u could just tell he wasnt goin to pass hitting cones and stufff...it was pretty easy for me though.... i jus got mine last week...

mobo14

oh mann. my brt class starts tomorrow. i hope i pass!

if there's anything i should know or any tips you guys wanna give me, that would be very well appreciated. :]

dscott3509

Bring plenty of water/Gatorade, and snacks. Other than that, relax, have a good time, and listen to the instructors.

mobo14

what about the way you ride? i've been riding for a while with just my permit now (DMV wouldnt let me take my endorsement test because im under 21) and i wanna know some good habbits to have.

dscott3509

Listen to the instructors. If you listen to anything I say, it may conflict with the instructors. They are the ones evaluating you, not me. Doesn't matter a fig what I think may be a good habit.

FZ6Rider

Any opinion on what bike I should use for my class? Should I use my bike or take one of Team Oregon's bikes to be tested on?

dogger1044