Motorcycle Safety Course

 

Ever since I was little, the idea of riding a motorcycle was fascinating. My favorite super hero, Kamen Rider, is probably the most influential. My dad also rode motorcycles when he was my age and traveled around Japan.

I'll be interning in Chicago this summer. I will be living back home for the summer and I know of my schedule early this year. I was finally able to sign up for this motorcycle safety course! What is this motorcycle safety course and how does it make it special?

The MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) is a government sponsored motorcycle course that holds classes for beginners and more advanced riders. The class I will be taking is for beginners, obviously, but this class will be over 4 days (2 weekends) and will include a classroom session then 3 days of hands-on motorcycle training. After the final test on the last day, you will receive a certification in the mail that will waive the motorcycle test at the DMV so you can get your motorcycle license just by going to the DMV.

It's sponsored by the US Government, so the fee for the basic course is a generous refundable $20. Yes, refundable. I hear most people just donate this to the class, but it is refundable if you want it to be.

Sounds pretty perfect, right? Well, it is a pretty damn good program. The only catch is that classes fill up very, very fast. The class I signed up for was filled up about 3 hours after registration opened. But I was lucky enough to be able to sign up!

So yes, if all goes well, I will be riding around with a motorcycle this summer. This will also make my commute to my workplace much better, as I have to go through Downtown Chicago on the Kennedy. Not fun.