Rider Education FAQ's
Q – If I Take Your Course
Do I Get My Motorcycle Operator License?
A
– Yes!
Successful completion of either the Basic or Experienced Rider
Courses will get you a Course Completion Card which the State of
Q – What if I'm late for class?
A – What if you're late
for a cruise? The ship sails without you. Your slot will be given
away to a standby person at 5:30PM, no ifs, ands or buts. If
you are late for ANY scheduled session, you will not be
allowed to continue the course.
You will also be charged an additional $25 change fee to be
rescheduled.
Q – Is there a "standby list" if a class is
full?
A –
No, however you may show up at the classroom the first night of
class at 5:15PM. You must be pre-registered with homework in hand.
We will choose standby names (randomly) at 5:30PM if
there are slots available.
Q – How much does it cost?
A – The Basic Rider Course costs $250.00
The Experienced Rider Course costs $120.00($100
for
current JuneauABATE members)
Q – When do I pay?
A –
When you sign up. Paying for the course when you sign up is
your commitment to us that you will show up on time and prepared for
the class.
Q – Do I need a motorcycle permit?
A –
No. You do not need a motorcycle permit for either the Basic
Rider Course or the Experienced Rider Course.
Q – Do I need a bike for the class?
A – If you are taking
the Basic Rider Course
you will not
need a motorcycle. Juneau
ABATE provides a variety of motorcycles under 500cc's for you to
learn to ride on.
If you are taking the Experienced Rider Course
you will need to bring your
own motorcycle. For this course we recommend that you
be somewhat familiar with your motorcycle
Q – How long is the Basic Rider Course?
A – The Basic Rider
Course begins with a classroom session on Friday night starting
at 5:30 PM and lasting until approximately 9:00 PM. The following
morning class begins on the range at 8:00 AM sharp and goes until
approximately 5:00 PM, with an hour break for lunch mid-day.
Sunday class begins at 9:00 AM sharp and goes until
approximately 1:00 PM.
Q – How long is the Experienced Rider
Course?
A – The Experienced
Rider Course takes approximately 5-6 hours and it goes from 8:00
AM to approximately 2:00 PM. There is no classroom session for the
Experienced Rider Course; it's all done on the range.
Q – Are their tests?
A – The
Basic Rider Course has both a written and a skills test.
The written test is administered on Friday night at the
conclusion of the classroom session.
This test covers the information presented in the classroom
and provided in the Student Handbook.
Students must successfully pass the written test in order to
proceed to the range sessions.
Upon conclusion of the range sessions on Sunday a skills test
is administered. This
test evaluates the skills learned during the previous two days and
must be successfully completed before a course completion card is
awarded.
The Experienced Rider Course has only a skills test. Upon conclusion of the range sessions a skills test is administered. This test evaluates the skills learned during that day and must be successfully completed before a course completion card is awarded.
Q – What if I don't pass?
A – We have an extremely
high passing rate. Take it easy and have some fun. In the
event that you do not successfully complete the riding evaluation
you are allowed one re-test within 30 days. We recommend spending a
week or two at home, studying your course handbook and resting,
returning refreshed to re-test on one of the following weekends.
Any retests will need to be scheduled in advance.
Q – What if it rains?
A – What if it rains. Do
you stay at home from work/school when it rains? Do you leave your
bike in the garage if it rains? Will you ever get caught in the
rain? Rain is something you will face as a rider, especially
living here in Southeast, and we still teach in the rain. Riding in
the rain is more fun that you might think, so don't worry about it.
Q
– What do I need to bring?
A – From head
to toe:
-
helmet. We have loaner helmets if you don't have your own.
-
Eye protection. Prescription glasses, safety glasses, or motorcycle goggles. Sunglasses are permitted if prescription or safety glasses are not available. We like to see your eyes.
-
Long sleeves in the form of a jacket, sweatshirt or a long sleeve t-shirt. Think layers. If it is hot you will want to take your jacket or sweatshirt off, but you will still be required to have a long sleeve shirt on.
-
Gloves. Full-finger leather or riding gloves. Absolutely NO fingerless gloves allowed.
-
Pants that aren't loose around the ankles. Leave your bell bottoms at home, and no Capris.
-
Over the ankle footwear. You need ankle support when you are riding. Sturdy boots, over the ankles and lace-ups are acceptable. Open toed sandals are expressly PROHIBITED.
-
Raingear, just in case. We call it rain insurance.
-
Water, granola bars, etc. There is a portable toilet on the range, but no other facilities. You will be able to leave for a one hour lunch break.