Motorcycling has steadily become more and more "mainstream" in recent years as the stigmas associated with riding have been shed through good press as well as a general increase in understanding. Movies like "On Any Sunday" and "Why We Ride" have helped to spread awareness for riders and various ad campaigns from around the world have pushed to try and make the general public aware that motorcycle riders are still people. Although many still think of images from "The Wild One" and "Sons of Anarchy" when thinking of "bikers", one can see that the general consensus about motorcycles is changing every season. For many of those who have discovered riding, motorcycling has becomes less to do with criminal association and more about all the positive aspects. Where once there was only danger and mischief is now an association with freedom and a proper code of conduct. Students, professionals and intellectuals alike are coming around to motorcycling and it's very possible that we are coming into a golden age of motorcycling.
The easiest way to get on a motorcycle is to take a written exam at your motor vehicle office, ride around for a bit with your permit and then pass the road test to obtain your license. The problem with this route is that people often take motorcycling for granted in the same way they do driving. This is exactly why the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Rider Course is so relevant. Not only does the MSF BRC teach you from the ground up on how to operate a motorcycle, but they also teach you how to think, look and be aware as a motorcyclist.
As you would expect, most Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses will require a certain level of safety gear and clothing in order to take the course. Realizing that many people use the course as a "feeler" to see whether they want to actually dive in or not, many MSF sites will usually provide motorcycle specific protective gear upon request. You can refer to the
national MSF website for more general information, but if you are in New Jersey it would be best to check out the
Rider Education of New Jersey website.
Besides the gear, the most important thing to bring with you when taking the course is the right attitude. I took the Basic RiderCourse after riding for two years and still had plenty to learn from the instructors. The MSF courses not only teach you how to ride, but more importantly the curriculum is designed to teach you how to ride safely. Plenty of riders think just because they know how to get the bike into first gear that they can ride. Even Professional ex-MotoGP rider will tell you that after all his years of riding that he will still learn something new every time he rides a bike. Riding is a lifelong journey and if there was ever a "proper" trailhead to get started on this adventure, it would be the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic RiderCourse.
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