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Motorcycle safety? Most riders seem to find the subject supremely dull. Maybe thinking about riding defensively spoils whatever romantic imagery we associate with scooters. Perhaps it’s that scooters seem so less threatening than motorcycles that we assume they’re also that much safer. It’s an aversion that’s probably a little different for everyone, but the fact is, knowing how to ride well – alone and among other vehicles - is supremely important.

Riding safety comes to mind today for a couple of reasons, each at nearly opposite ends of the spectrum: Kalaisha Watrous ’ horrific crash in Portland a few weeks back, and a very minor fender-bender my brother Rob called me about just yesterday. On one hand, a young woman lies in the hospital, badly broken and slowly healing; without insurance, her debts may last years beyond whatever time it takes for her body to recover. On the other, one brand-new scooter (thankfully, no damage to its rider) gets well-bent and scratched due to inexperience and a little gravel.

Our group requires what the law requires – a helmet, license and motorcycle endorsement for anything over 50 cc’s. Not that having the endorsement makes you a good rider though, since in Washington, an endorsement can be had with a written exam and a simple riding test. It’s a lot like getting a car license, even though riding and driving are vastly different things.

Fortunately, the State offers a far better option in the form of the Motorcycle Safety Program. Most cities in Washington offer the course, usually set up as private sector, sanctioned training classes held on weekends. Some courses are subsidized and are fairly inexpensive; some aren’t, and cost more. They even provide motorcycles to train on, though we’ve heard of classes allowing students to use their own Vespas.

Take and pass the course, and you get your motorcycle endorsement automatically. Insurance companies often will even lower their premiums for graduates. But far more importantly, the class gives riders better skills, greater confidence, and improved odds riding in traffic.

Two tons of sheet metal protects unskilled drivers; riders have maybe a jacket and a fiberglass hat between them and the hospital. Safety a dull subject? Not if self-preservation matters. A link to the Spokane-area class is included below. Highly recommended.

Motorcycle Safety Course
Westside Motorsports - Safety Training
Kalaisha Watrous Fund