University of Illinois Motorcycle Licensing Course Review and Recommendation

Last month I attended the University of Illinois Basic Rider Course at a Caterpillar plant in Montgomery, Illinois. I had always wanted to experience riding a motorcycle but never knew how to get started until a coworker brought up the Basic Rider Course offered by U of I. One of the greatest parts about the course is that it is funded by the State of Illinois so all you need to pay is a deposit of $20 which you get back at the end. The course lasts for three days and includes time in the classroom learning the basics behind motorcycle riding in order to take the test on the last day. The best part about the course was the seat time you get in an actual motorcycle. I ended up riding a Kawasaki XT225 and first was taught how to "ride the clutch" and keep the motorcycle moving without using your feet. This is probably the most useful teaching point as getting going was the hardest thing for me personally to grasp. Even after driving manual cars for 6+ years riding a motorcycle proved to be much, much different. Everything you've learned using your feet and hands is inverse on a bike with the throttle, clutch, and brake operated with your hands and the gear changes with your foot. Even with the steep learning curve, the structure of the course includes exercises that let you build your confidence. This, combined with the fact that the instructors are extremely patient and helpful, made this one of the most well laid-out classes I've ever been in. Without help from the instructors I would have surely failed the riding test that the DMV issues for licensing purposes. I ended up passing both the riding and written portions of the test, allowing me to waive any testing by the DMV and recently recieved "M" licensing certification on my driver's license. While I do not plan on purchasing a motorcycle in the near future, it is nice knowing that I now have the skills to be a safe rider. I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in motorcycles as it provides a low-stress environment for learning the skills you need. Trust me, if I can do it with my sense of balance, you can too.

-Course only gives you certification for Illinois but similar programs exist in most other states