A lot of motorcycle riders hate talking about safety and neglect to admit that it isn’t the safest activity around. However, I am a realist and go out of my way to ride safely. In fact, I feel it necessary to set an example for other riders on how to ride safely and wisely. With that being said, I have been riding a long time, and I feel the need to re-learn some things and make sure I am not forming bad habits. Of course, I get more out of a motorcycle safety class.

First and foremost, when I attended my motorcycle safety class, I was able to get a pretty sizable discount on my insurance premiums. The reality is, in six months, provided I don’t get in an accident or get a ticket, the classes will pay for themselves and continue to pay dividends in the future. While true, I would recommend that anyone who is looking to take safety courses to call his or her insurance company and verify if they get a discount. Of course, it’s not the only reason to attend classes.

I have had plenty of riding partners over the years. As people get married, move and sell their motorcycles, I have lost a lot of riding buddies. Sadly, as I get older, I know fewer and fewer people who have bikes and go out on weekends. So, in a safety class, I was able to meet some beginners and intermediate riders who wanted to go out with me and show me some new places. This is a great benefit, as I was able to find a few riders who want to ride safely.

As we ride more and more, many motorcycle riders, inevitably, don’t remember the basics of safety. This can lead to serious problems if you are too relaxed while on a ride, especially as times have changed, and people are often distracted by phones and other technology. For this reason, I felt great in my class as the instructor, who has been riding for a long time, talked about the dangers of distracted motorists, and I was glad that I set in on that class as it’s always good to avoid bad habits, which this class helped me do.

Finally, as a rider, it’s easy to get flustered, especially if you have a close call. Most seasoned riders have had a car come in their lane or pull out in front of them. Others have hurried up a mountain and slid out. This isn’t fun for any rider, and it can hurt your confidence. However, when in the class and chatting and learning more, I gained confidence, which helps me become a safer and smarter rider in the real world.

If you ride a motorcycle, you need to stay safe. Even if you are a veteran, you always need to remain vigilant and consider taking safety classes. Not only can you save some cash in the long run, but you can meet other like-minded riders and gain confidence when you hit the road.