MSF President Tim Buche discusses rider training

Beginning Rider Course (Photo: Ken Bingenheimer)

It was "just another day at the office," said Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) President Tim Buche, about last week's simultaneous announcements involving motorcycle rider training and safety research. These initiatives, he said, were in line with similar projects that are the MSF's purpose for being.

In those announcements, the MSF said it would participate in a "naturalistic" study of motorcyclists and also expand its rider training curriculum to go beyond closed course, parking lot training.

Buche responded first to a question posed by a reader, who asked, "will they (the MSF) continue licensing riders before they get any experience on the street, or will beginner riders who only rode in a parking lot continue to get a license to ride unrestricted on the street?"

In clarification, Buche pointed out that the MSF only offers the courses, while "the states will make those determinations regarding licensing." He pointed out that as it is, approximately 25 percent of motorcyclists ride now without the proper license, and half have never taken any formal training.

He also noted that it is up to riders to determine when they are ready for traffic, and if they're not, and they feel they need more training, "it is the MSF's job to be sure that training is available."

As the MSF announced, new street-riding courses have been developed and will be rolled out as trainers earn their own certifications to teach the courses.

"We're pretty excited about the street rider course," said Buche. "Usually it is the student who asks what's next, and we believe that next opportunity should be available the very next day."

About the new Basic Bike-Bonding course, Buche explained that it will focus on improving the rider's skills on his or her own motorcycle such as balance, weight and positioning on the bike, and throttle control.

In the release announcing these new courses, Buche was quoted saying, "We're presenting a new, and much improved, way forward for all riders and raising what is generally perceived as the minimum threshold of motorcycle riding competence. We want better-prepared riders capable of higher levels of thinking out on the streets."

Asked if he is aware of any states that are working to increase requirements for motorcycle rider licensing, Buche noted only that where it is used, "graduated licensing has proven helpful and positive."

Graduated licensing, common in Europe, requires a rider to demonstrate higher-level skills and experience before being licensed to ride larger, heavier, faster motorcycles.