two bits

The big day has finally arrived. Are you ready to ride?

4. Bring the required gear.
Required: driver’s license, motorcycle permit, over-the-ankle boots (most people use hiking boots), long pants, long sleeved shirt or jacket (this may be obvious, but if it’s hot, don’t wear a heavy shirt or jacket; use a light long-sleeved T-shirt instead).

Bring or buy/borrow there: full-fingered gloves, bandana, helmet, protective eye wear (most sunglasses count).

Good to have: pen, water or Gatorade, rain gear if the weather is bad, class confirmation.

5. Get to the training site.
See the map below to figure out where to go. The purple arrow is the entrance to the lot, the green square is the parking lot, the blue rectangle is the trailer for the inside portion of the class, the red oval is where you’ll ride. The pink rectangles highlight the subway stops. The yellow square is McDonald’s if you need some coffee.

Subway: Take the 5 train to 138th Street or the 6 train to 3rd Ave/138th Street.
Bus: Catch the Bx15 bus on 125th Street.
Car: Use Google Maps to get directions to 1 Alexander Ave in the Bronx.

Go inside the trailer.

Get there on time. Leave extra time because if you’re at all late, they are legally required to turn you away. You can’t miss any portion of the class.

6. Buy or borrow any gear that you didn’t bring.
Borrow a helmet if you don’t own one. You’ll need to give your license as collateral and bring or buy a bandana.

Buy gloves, bandana, water, eye protection, if necessary.

7. Sign-in
Sign in at the beginning and end of every day so you’re sure to get credit.

Next up: class is in session

Previous: Part 1

A way to avoid the hassle of taking the motorcycle road test is to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) basic rider course. Completing the course will help you ride safely, anticipate and react to hazards, and be confident on a bike. You’ll reduce the price of insurance and the road test will be waived. And if that wasn’t enough, it’s a lot of fun!

1. Get your motorcycle permit at the DMV.

If you’re like me, you’ll be tempted to pick up the motorcycle booklet, read the whole thing, and then head back to the DMV to take the written test. What I found out is that you don’t need to study the booklet if you have common sense and basic test-taking skills. The test is 20 multiple choice questions. The first ten are variations on “should you drink and drive?”. The rest have to do with road signs and other general driving information. If you can identify a stop sign, you’ll be fine. So, one stop at the DMV and you’re good to go.

You can print and fill out the application form ahead of time or wait until you get there.

Bring your NY driver’s license, a pen, and $21.

2. Choose a riding school.

The Motorcycle Association of New York State (MANYS) has a list of the training sites available in NY state.

I went with Motorcyle Safety School (MSS) in the Bronx because the location is accessible by subway and they accept online payment. Some of the other places require you to fax forms and mail a check.

My experience there was very good. The instructors are really great (I had Antonio, Van, and Alex). They genuinely care that you pass the tests and that you’re going to be safe on the road. Plus, they’re funny. The class size (10-12) is small enough that everyone gets personal attention but large enough to provide a good mix of people.

3. Sign up for the class.

Click on “Registration” and step through the process. You’ll need your motorcycle license permit number and a sense of what dates work best for you. The class costs $350.

Weekend availability is limited in the summer, so plan to sign up a month or two in advance.

There are two choices for the basic rider course. You can take it in 2.5 days (one evening, a full day, and a half day) or 2 full days.

I recommend the 2.5 day course if you’re doing it in the summer. This way you’ll ride in the cooler morning hours and study inside in the air conditioning in the hot afternoon. Also, learning to ride takes concentration and by the end of the day, your mind starts to shut down a bit. It would be better to take the riding test earlier in the day. I will explain the course layout more in the next post. For now, just know that if it works for you, try to schedule the 2.5 day course.

Next up: Part 2 – getting to class

Later: Part 3 – class is in session