Why Attending a Safe or Sporty Driving Course

Until a few years ago, driving courses were rare, but today they are widely available, and it's a great idea to attend one that suits your level. Especially for absolute beginners, it's crucial to grasp how the motorcycle functions and start off on the right foot. Those who begin riding a motorcycle without proper guidance undoubtedly feel the absence of proper instruction, experiencing all sorts of uncertainties and issues—not to mention the lack of confidence.

Motorcycle riding is a physical activity, and one might wonder if it's beneficial to listen to an instructor discussing it and showing practical examples. Essentially, the question we ask is this: Is taking a course useful? Certainly, yes. Some techniques can be learned and applied immediately, while others are better understood and practiced during the course and then gradually become valuable automatic actions. In any case, the difference between before and after the course is always significantly important.

The riding technique between asphalt and off-road is entirely different. In this article, we focus on road riding; the concepts, however, remain the same.

Returning to asphalt, there are four main types of courses:

1) Introduction to riding, for absolute beginners;

2) Advanced road technique, for experienced motorcyclists;

3) Approach to the track, for those who want to enter the track without anxiety;

4) Sporty track riding, for those who want to improve lap times.

Each of these levels has a wide range of nuances, and it's the instructor's responsibility to adapt to the student's experience; naturally, not the other way around.

In these courses, we begin by explaining the controls. Of course, they're straightforward—there are just 5: throttle, clutch, front brake, rear brake, gearshift. The difficulty lies in knowing how to handle them and how to "combine" them while riding. The approach should always be smooth and gradual; abrupt actions can cause imbalances and, consequently, falls. The instructor will demonstrate how to modulate the controls to make starts and low-speed maneuvers easy and safe, guiding students through marked routes with the classic road cones. Another important topic covered in these courses is the seating position, which must be correct to ensure maximum control of the motorcycle, a habit that will prove useful in subsequent stages, especially mixed terrain riding.

Mixed terrain riding is one of the most enjoyable activities that a motorcycle can offer. In this situation, there are three things to learn very well: the use of vision, the racing lines, and the riding position, as the mistakes generally made by a good portion of motorcyclists concern precisely these three aspects.

Even though it seems obvious, it's worth reiterating that to correctly set up a curve, you must look in the direction you want to go; where the gaze goes, the motorcycle follows. Then you need to know how to trace a racing line; it's not a complex matter—with a few graphical examples and some practice, you can understand which line is correct, allowing you to stay in your lane with a good safety margin to exploit in case of danger, such as avoiding a pothole on the asphalt or a sudden obstacle. Finally, you must assume the correct riding position, which allows for maximum motorcycle control; it's important that it's not static—your body must move to accompany the motorcycle in the turn and to reduce the lean angle: if the torso, and to some extent the hips, move correctly towards the inside of the curve, the motorcycle's lean angle reduces (at the same speed).

Track riding is one of the most exciting things that a motorcycle can offer. Only on the track can you truly exploit the exceptional performance that today's models offer, especially the sporty ones. You traverse the same curves multiple times, the asphalt is excellent, the traffic flows in one direction, and congestion is limited. And, importantly, safety is at its maximum. However, the first time you peer from the pit wall with the intention of entering the track, you immediately realize that the matter is more serious than anticipated. Making those initial laps "blindly," trying to figure out the layout of the track while faster riders pass on either side at stratospheric speeds, is far from a pleasant experience. Plus, there are significant difficulties in understanding where to brake, how much, and, above all, how to approach the racing lines.

On the road, obstacles like trees, walls, curbs, and others, even though sources of serious danger, give a clear idea of how the curve turns; on the track, the first time is all about discovery. Following an instructor who sets the right pace, shows how to brake, and where to position the wheels, is essential and guarantees safety and full enjoyment.

If you already have experience with sporty track riding, these courses allow you to improve your lap times. If you're an amateur, your objective shouldn't necessarily be that; instead, it would be good to refine your riding skills and establish an even more direct, secure, and enjoyable connection with the motorcycle. However, as we know, the stopwatch always holds great allure. And even in this case, despite being fast, you can lower your personal record: a good instructor knows how to do it since they are typically highly experienced riders who can immediately identify the student's errors and know how to correct them. The course options range from group lessons, in which the instructor first demonstrates braking points, racing lines, where to accelerate, and then it's up to the student to show what they've learned, to one-on-one lessons where the instructor follows a single student for the entire duration of the course.

The price of a basic course and a road course depends on the school, but it's affordable, and it's recommended to make this investment by choosing qualified instructors: as we often emphasize, safety shouldn't be compromised. Prices go up for all track activities, as the costs of the facilities are high, making it quite an exclusive endeavor. In this case, the recommended course is the introductory one since throwing yourself onto the track without guidance isn't always a pleasant experience. As mentioned, advanced courses "work," meaning there's improvement, so these are also recommended.

Today, motorcycles are increasingly safe, especially high-end models. It's true that they are heavier and more powerful, but the chassis, frames, and suspensions are of high quality, and electronics have made great strides. Among various controls like traction control, wheelie control, yaw control, and the more advanced ABS systems, safety features that take into consideration the motorcycle's lean angle, riding has become much safer. Finally, there's the fundamental aspect of balance—the point of contact with the asphalt: the tyres. Even in this area, there's been significant development. Today, they not only offer excellent grip in all road conditions, including wet surfaces, but they also allow you to feel grip loss and provide time to rectify. So, for maximum safety and the ultimate riding pleasure, there's just one piece left: the rider. It's up to us to make it work at its best.