Patrick Beeson

I've gone to the dark side of two-wheeled transportation. Or at least that's what my non-motor-powered brethren will say when they find out that I now hold a Tennessee motorcycle license, obtained by taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course at Pellissippi State Community College.

But more important than any legal designation on an ID card is the fact that I now know how to operate a motorcycle safely. And with that in mind, I highly recommend taking the MSF course, rookie or not.

I rode a Suzuki GS250 in the MSF Basic Rider Course, which is smaller, and less powerful, than the bike I have now. But good riding practices remain the same.

Credit: Lindsay Durango

Where to sign up

The MSF Basic Rider Course is offered at a number of locations around Knoxville, and other cities around the country. I signed up for the course via Pellissippi State's Web site -- you'll need to fax them the forms after filling them out unfortunately -- and elected to take the course at the Pellissippi location. Other locations include Karns High School, McMinn County High School and Walters State Community College.

My course was held Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. with most of the time spent on the bike as opposed to the classroom.

It will cost you $225 to take the course, which includes a knowledge booklet and use of a motorcycle, helmet and gloves (if needed).

Make sure you bring the following to both days of class:

• DOT approved helmet (one can be provided if needed)
• Eye protection (face shield or safety glasses)
• Over-the-ankle leather footwear with low heels
• Thick, long pants
• Long-sleeved shirt and/or jacket
• Full-fingered gloves

I wore jeans, hiking boots, a long-sleeved shirt, mountain bike gloves and borrowed a helmet.

The motorcycles provided are all 250cc or less. I rode a Suzuki GZ250 that while small, was perfect for learning. Scooters were also available.

What you'll learn

I had initially expected the course to feature one day in the classroom, and one day on the course. So when the instructors had us leave the classroom for the parking lot after a brief introduction, I was surprised.

The MSF Basic Rider Course is definitely immersion based. And I think this is a good thing because you can talk about how to ride as much as you want, but it's very different when you are sitting on the bike.

Class began with the basic FINE-C start-up procedure, which stands for Fuel, Ignition, Neutral, Engine and Choke. We practiced this several times, and got used to the weight of the bikes.

The next exercise consisted of feeling the clutch engagement for first gear, and the "friction zone." This is the time between when your clutch is engaged and disengaged. It allows for precise speed adjustments needed in tight cornering.

Our exercises then progressed to riding in a straight line across the parking lot, basic turns, braking and a slalom-like practice. And that was just before lunch!

We also learned the "box," or how to make two slow-speed turns inside a small area, and a quick stop using both brakes.

By the end of day one, nearly everyone was competent in the basics of riding despite one high-school aged girl having dropped her bike three times!

Day two brought more exercises to the table, but with more speed. We practiced the outside-inside-outside cornering technique, as well as the swerve maneuver to avoid sudden obstacles. We also rode over obstacles (2x4s), in fact.

The techniques were practiced repeatedly until the rider coaches were comfortable with our skills. They would often provide tips and encouragement when needed.

Water breaks were frequent, as the temperature for both days was a little overbearing, especially when you're sitting on a hot motorcycle on blacktop all day.

Classroom time came near the end of the day both days of the course. We divided into groups to review the chapters outlined in the MSF booklet.

It is expected that you have read, and know, this booklet cover to cover! You will do poorly on the written test if you don't give it some attention.

The evaluations

The MSF Basic Rider Course is a blast. That said you still need to treat it like a class, tests and all.

The course evaluations are divided into a riding skills test, and a multiple-choice written test. Neither are difficult if you've studied the booklet, and listen to the rider coaches during practice.

The riding evaluation tests your competence in the following:

• Ability to stop quickly
• Ability to negotiate turning in a tight space (the box)
• Ability to swerve to avoid an obstacle
• Ability to corner with speed using the proper technique

For each exercise, there are deductions that will be made if you fail to execute. For example, if you cross outside of the box or put a foot down during the tight turning exercise.

You will pass the test if you have less than 20 deductions. I had 3 deductions from failing to stop within the proper distance for my speed. This was the second best in the class (another rider had a perfect score).

I'm confident my cycling ability helped out in this area.

The written test was very easy. As a class, we went through the entire booklet, discussing each section in detail. We also had a nice crossword puzzle exercise that featured answers to most of the questions.

The test itself was approximately 75 questions, and took a little more than 10 minutes to complete since I had a good grasp of the material.

Several members of the class and I got a perfect score on the written test.

What you get when completing the course

The biggest prize you receive when completing the course is the the knowledge of how to operate a motorcycle safely, and with confidence. Oh, and you can also get your license with having to take any additional tests.

The packet I received also included several coupons for discounts at local shops, and an insurance discount (10 percent).

Again, I highly recommend taking the MSF Basic Rider Course if you're interested in riding a motorcycle. It's also just a fun thing to do for a weekend.

Before taking this course, I had never ridden a motorcycle. Now I can't wait to sell my car, and reduce my transportation by two wheels.