What I am going to attempt is to maybe provide beginner riders who commence motorcycle lessons with some form of survival guide so that they are prepared for the first motorcycle lesson. We’ll start at the basics, protective clothing.

The best motorbike lesson I can give you is to wear the appropriate riding gear. One hears comments like dress for the slide and not the ride or ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time). In Perth and Western Australian climate, ATGATT may just be a little OTT (Over The Top), so I advise you to dress for the ride and the possibility of a slide. What I mean for this is wear the appropriate clothing for both the weather and the ride.

Helmets

The crash helmet – or simply helmet – is the most important piece of protective gear when riding a motorcycle.

Choosing a helmet
Helmets come in various brands, shapes, sizes and functionality. When choosing, choose a helmet to meet the intended function. Here are a few of my thoughts:

If you are going to do a lot of country riding, a full-face helmet is going to be the best as it allows for the best protection, from both the elements and in the event of an accident.

A full face helmet provides maximum protection from the elements and possible injury

It is important that your helmet fits you correctly. It should be snug and comfortable. There should be no pressure on your forehead. The helmet should not squeeze your cheeks too tightly. The helmet must not bee too loose as there will be some settling with use. Comfort should not be sacrificed for cost. I had a friend who once told me, if you have a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet.

Compliance
In some Australian states and territories the AS/NZ1698 certification has been waived, provided the helmet meets DOT and/or SNELL certification, however, here in Western Australia the compliance remains. You should ensure that your helmet is AS/NZ1698 compliant and DO NOT REMOVE the sticker as this will render the helmet non compliant. Use of a non-compliant helmet may result in a fine or a “yellow sticker” for your motorcycle.

During our motorcycle lessons we teach you the correct way of securing your helmet. By securing I do not mean lock it away, I mean ensure that your helmet is not going to get damaged. Your motorcycle instructor will show and explain the best way and the reasons for it. While doing motorbike lessons, you should be comfortable with no painful pressure areas to distract you or cause discomfort.

Motorcycle Lessons Perth

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I usually make a point of supporting local stores, so mounted my trusty steed and did the rounds. After looking around at the local hardware and specialist tool stores, I was unable to find what I needed. I know that Snap On has one, but as with all Snap On tools and accessories they are not cheap. KTM supply one but all the KTM dealers in town had to source “from over east”, same with most of the tool stores and this would take about 2 to 3 weeks to ship.

Going online I found a number of items but none were quite what I was looking for – I have very specific requirements – until I stumbled upon this one, from a mob in Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast Queensland. Exactly what I needed. Price – about a quarter of the price of the equivalent Snap On. Motion Pro T-Handle 1/4 inch drive from MXStore.

MXStore is the largest Australian online retailer of protective gear for motocross enthusiasts. They specialise in dirtbike gear, motocross gear, pasts and accessories. My dealings with them as small as they have been have been excellent. The team at MXStore are helpful and knowledgeable, exactly what is needed if you are on a quest for some dirtbike fun and require the appropriate safety gear.

Whilst BikeSAFE does not provide dirtbike or motocross training or instruction, we do find that many suppliers out there provide a product that may be essential in our arsenal of tools and technologies.

Here at BikeSafe we spend time with our students during their motorcycle lessons to show them some basics of motorcycle maintenance. No motorbike lessons are complete without showing riders the very basics. It is important when doing motorcycle training that your motorcycle instructor shows you what to check for as far as basic maintenance is concerned.

Motion Pro T-Handle 1/4″ Drive

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Following on my previous article regarding the rear brake, I have had some comments about the use of brakes. As stated, most motorcycle “racers” will use the front brake predominantly to the extent that some will remove the rear brake to shed a few grams of weight. Others state that they hardly ever use the back brake.

So here is my take on the matter. Here at BikeSAFE Motorcycle Training we make a point of teaching riders to use the back brake appropriately, where and when required.

Motorcycle riding is a skill and a discipline. It relies on quick and accurate judgement. Making the incorrect call can potentially cause you physical harm if not completely stuff up your day. So here at BikeSAFE, when learning to ride a motorcycle I teach learners to associate braking with two words:

Slow & Fast or any other synonym for these words.

Slow = Rear/Back brake. That’s the one on your right foot. That’s the one that when you run into trouble you are going to slam you foot onto. So it makes sense that at high speed you want to really avoid using this brake too quickly and firmly. It is because they are going too fast to effectively apply the back brake that “racers” tend not to use it.

Fast = Front brake. That’s the one on your right hand control cluster. That’s the one that in a panic you are going to grab. That’s the one that you should ensure the front wheel is facing forward and that you are upright. This is the one that will in all likelihood make you fall when you “lock it up”.

So, how do I apply this logic?

1 We are travelling slowly, doing a low speed manoeuvre, performing a U turn, turning a corner or going around a round-about (as a novice) we make use of the rear brake.
2 We are travelling down the road at 80kmph and we need to slow down, we make use of the rear brake. If we are intending to stop or possibly power away again we can downshift, using engine braking as well.
3 We are travelling down the road at high speed (no, not exceeding the speed limit) and we need to slow down fast/quickly – note, we are not going to stop. Here we are using both words, so logically we are going to apply both front and rear brakes. Gently and softly on the rear to prevent a lock up – we only want to wash some speed off and assist the front brake and gently but firmly on the front, to prevent a lockup. If you need to stop in this situation, we can now downshift to first gear and it’s acceptable to do this with the clutch in while coasting to a stop.
4 We are travelling at high speed and we are confronted with a situation where we need to stop quickly, such as an emergency. Here we use the front brake primarily. The rear brake can assist, but, we are stopping and applying the rear brake to firmly will result in a rear wheel lockup. If you have time to downshift then you can, but, don’t let the downshift detract from the need to stop.

So, why not drop us a line or send use an email. The details are on the panel at the bottom of this page or if you have any comments that you may wish to add to this, why not include them in a general enquiry on out Contact Us page?

Stay safe, be BikeSAFE.

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Every rider applies and uses the rear brake differently. Some find it easy to control the brake pedal, whereas others may avoid using the rear brakes altogether. Neither rider is wrong, as there are instances when the rear brake is essentially useless or can be of extremely useful assistance to the rider. Most riders who start off and have only been driving motor cars, will invariably apply the rear brake too suddenly and/or to firmly, resulting in the rear wheel locking up when braking. It is in many cases for this reason that some riders are of the opinion that the rear brake lever is just a useless appendage, used when executing low speed manoeuvres. Some will, especially when riding on tracks, remove the rear braking system altogether, in order to reduce the weight of the motorcycle. I frequently come across riders who have specifically been instructed to not use the rear brake.

When hitting the twisties, many opportunities arise for applying the rear brakes, although speeds and reasons may vary considerably. If you find yourself approaching and entering a turn too fast or in the incorrect gear, holding the throttle steady and applying a little rear brake, will scrub some speed and tighten your line, whereas decelerating (reducing throttle) and applying front brakes will transfer too much weight to the front wheel, causing the motorcycle to dive down, possibly loose traction and sometimes result in an accident. Use of the rear brake will flatten the bike out and slow down steering. The added stability achieved easily compensates for any loss in performance. When riding in the streets, the rear brake can be used more efficiently as less braking force is required, leaving more weight on the rear wheel to facilitate braking traction.

It is important to understand the benefits of using the rear brakes in different situations. Practice using your brakes and familiarise yourself with their performance. Practice in a controlled environment and then apply what you have learnt when next out on the road.

Here at BikeSAFE Motorcycle Training Joondalup during our motorcycle lessons, we teach you, when learning to ride a motorcycle to associate your brakes with two words; slow and fast.

Slow – use your rear brakes to slow down or when riding slowly. We use the rear brakes to provide additional stability to the motorcycle.

Fast – use your front brakes to slow down fast or stop quickly. Ensure that your wheels are facing forward and that the motorcycle is in the upright position when using the front brakes. Any sudden application of the front brakes with the handle bars turned, regardless of speed, will almost always result in a low side fall-over.

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Q: Is a learner rider permitted to ride unaccompanied?
A: No, in Western Australia, regulation has it that a learner rider must be supervised by a qualified supervisor

Q: Who is a qualified supervisor?
A: In, Western Australia, a qualified supervisor is a person who has held the class of license that is being supervised for a minimum period of 4 years.

For a motorcycle, this is as follows:

Moped – the supervisor must hold a minimum of C class license for a minimum period of 2 (two years)
RE Class – the supervisor must hold a RE class license for a period no less than 4 years OR hold an R class license for a period of no less than 2 years.

Q: How many learners can a supervisor supervise?
A: A supervisor can supervise any number of learners. It must be noted that the supervisor must at all times be in visual contact with the learner/s. It is therefore my personal recommendation that no more than 2 (two) learners are supervised at any one time and that the supervisor ride ahead of the learners in order to set the pace, and maintain visual contact with the learners behind. This will allow the supervisor to pull over in the event of losing contact with the learner behind. If the supervisor and learners have intercom communication then more learners may be supervised with the supervisor trailing behind and advising learners ahead.

Q: Do I need to display L plates?
A: Yes. A learner must always display L plates when riding a motorcycle. L plates must meet the requirements, which is as follows:

A square yellow background measuring 145mm wide and 145mm high
A black capital letter L 105mm high and 145mm wide with the black letter measuring 20mm in thickness.

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So, you have made a decision to learn to ride a motorcycle, so where to now? Most of you would be thinking that it can’t possibly be so hard to do, right? You figure that you have been riding a bicycle since you were knee-high to a grasshopper, the only difference is that the motorcycle has an engine between the wheels, right? Wrong!

It’s not about how well you can ride a motorcycle, or whether you can pop a wheelie or turn out a donut. It’s not about having been riding dirt-bikes since you were a little kid. It’s not about being able to race dirt-bikes. It’s not about, having had your bike license for years and teaching your kid to ride and claiming that he can ride well.

As a motorcycle instructor in Perth, I’ve heard it all. I’ve heard the guys saying that they have been riding Harleys for years without a license and now they want to become legal. I’ve heard the dads boasting about their own prowess and that they have taught their kid to ride. I’ve heard the guys say that they have been racing dirt-bikes for years and now need a valid license so that they can participate in some enduro that entails crossing a gazetted road. I’ve also heard the cursing, swearing, insults and abuse as a result of their failing to show their competence on the road.

It’s about discipline. It’s about riding to the conditions and your abilities, while not losing sight of other motorists’ ineptitudes or lack of concentration. It’s about being visible and observant. It’s about split second decision making and responses. It’s about demonstrating that you are able to meet the minimum requirements for riding a motorcycle on a public road. But, before we even get to that stage, you need to actually learn how to ride a motorcycle – on the road.

To start with, you need to be legally entitled to ride or learn to ride a motorcycle. In Western Australia, there are some conditions that are required to be met before you may ride a motorcycle. You need to be of the appropriate age before you are permitted to learn to ride a motorcycle. If you meet the age criteria, you need to hold a valid motorcycle learners permit for the class of motorcycle for which you are taking motorcycle lessons.

The motorcycle learner’s permit test is a computer based, multiple choice test consisting of 35 questions specific to motorcycle riding and compliance. You may view sample tests at the following links : Quiz A, Quiz B, Quiz C

The following is the appropriate age and requirements for learning to ride:

1. A Moped – the learner must be of age 15 years and 6 months .
2. For a RE class motorcycle – the learner must be 16 years of age.
3. For a R class motorcycle – the rider must hold a RE class license. The rider does NOT need to hold a learner’s permit.

Secondly, you must display L plates – rearward and forward facing) and carry your learners permit with you.
In Western Australia you may not ride a motorcycle on a public road, unless you are accompanied by a qualified supervisor.

The following criteria are the requirements for a supervisor while you are learning to ride a motorcycle:

1. The supervisor must be riding a motorcycle, they can be the pillion passenger on your motorcycle
2. The supervisor must have held the class or license that they are supervising (or higher) for a minimum of 4 years.
   1. If you are learning to ride a moped, then a supervisor holding a C (motorcar) class license for a minimum of 2 years may supervise you.
   2. If you are learning to ride a LAMS approved motorcycle, then the supervisor must have held a RE class license for a minimum of 4 years or more or a R (Unrestricted) class license for 2 years or more.
   3. If you are learning to ride a R (Unrestricted) class motorcycle, then the supervisor must have held an R class license for a period of no less than 4 years.
   4. A motorcycle instructor qualified by Certification or certified by the Department of Transport, provided that they are certified to teach the class of motorcycle you are learning to ride.
3. A supervisor may supervise any number of learner riders provided that he/she is in visual contact with all the learners at all times. The supervisor takes responsibility for the learners on the road.

You must pass a practical driving assessment and show that you meet the minimum requirements for riding a motorcycle in Western Australia. This is in the way of a ride with the assessor following behind giving directions and during the ride, additions skills or competencies are tested separately.

These are:

Low Speed Manoeuvres – O Turns and a simulated emergency stop – Quick Stop.

Failure to satisfactorily achieve these competencies will result in a failure of the practical driving assessment, as will any traffic violation or significant failure in safety.

For more information about our Motorcycle Training in Perth, be sure to contact us.

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Live in Perth and you have been contemplating enrolling for Motorbike riding lessons? If yes, then you have a good reason to read this post.

Firstly, you need to ensure that you have a Western Australian Motorcycle Learners Permit. Once you have this, it is important that you enrol at a motorcycle training school that has the appropriate equipment, qualifications and competent instructors, who have the required skills, knowledge and experience, to assist you to learn to ride a motorcycle safely and in accordance with the competency requirements set out for riding a motorcycle in Western Australia.

For you to safely operate a motorbike, you need to acquire practical as well as theoretical skills essential for riding a motorbike.

Some of the key courses you need to enrol for include:

Rider enhancement

This is a program tailored at providing practical and enjoyable training when learning how to ride a bike. It equips the rider with the skills that will enable them to effectively control the motorbike while on the road. The course is suitable for people who are already riding and who want to acquire more practical skills while on the road.

Among the details you will learn include:

• Pre-ride check
• Protective clothing
• Riding posture
• Braking techniques
• Slow speed control
• Mounting and dismounting
• Riding on a public road

To qualify for this course you must have the following:

• Full license for Classes R-E
• A road worthy motorcycle
• Protective gear including a riding jacket, glovesand Kevlar pants (recommended)

Motorcycle Riding Tuning Sessions

This session allows riders to receive tuition from experienced riding instructors who gladly share tips and the correct techniques of riding.  The course is meant for a wide range of riders regardless of the skill one has. The course is tailored at making the learners improve their riding techniques.

Among the things you will learn from this session include:

• Advanced bike control skills
• Cornering techniques
• Counter steering
• Counter balancing
• Correct lines
• Entry and exit

The requirements for this course are:

• A license for R class
• Completion of an advanced ride day course
• Protective clothing such reinforced leather.

What to Consider Before Enrolling

Before you enroll for any course it is important that you check the reputation of the training institution. Choosing an institution with a high overall test pass rate is almost a guarantee that you will pass the test in the shortest time possible.  The training should also help you stay safely on the road, increase your level of confidence and make you a responsible driver on the road.  A facility that is fully equipped with changing areas, classroom and other facilities provides a better learning environment for the riders.

Generally. people who seek motorbike learning classes are novice riders. They need regular instructions to assist them to master the basics of riding.  Before the students are allowed on the road, they must be accompanied by a competent supervisor who should gauge their ability and skills before allowing them to venture on the road on their own. There are plenty of motorcycle riding schools that offer motorbike rental and training in Perth. It is possible to find one that offers lessons at competitive rates and which you can benefit from. Many of the motorcycle riding schools offer training ranging from 2 to 6 hours depending on your needs and abilities. However, we offer personalised courses as well.

Our facilities include motorbikes for the students ranging from small bikes to big bikes. It is important that you choose a bike that is appropriate for you.

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Learning to ride a motorcycle can be a major challenge. Thats why its important to find a trainer who can do more than get you a license. Youll need to get someone who can give you the skills you need when youre out there driving on the road.

There are a lot of options for motorcycle training in Perth. Youll want to do your research and find the right person for the job. Look for a school thats been in business a long time and has helped train a number of different riders.

Its also a smart idea to try to find more about the instructors at the school. See what kind of training and experience they have. If possible, you should try to work with the most experienced instructor that the school has.

As long as you do your research, you should have no problem finding the training that you need. There are a lot of motorcycle schools out there, and there are a lot of instructors who know how to teach students how to ride, but here at BikeSAFE motorcycle training, we take training to a whole new level, offering a unique approach and a more personal experience.

For more details regarding our motorcycle training in Perth, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Until about 8 months ago, I had been using “el cheapo” Bluetooth Headsets for my instruction. Whilst they worked adequately, they were just basically, well, sub-standard, but, I guess you pays your money and you takes your chances. After much agonising about Interfone, Scala or Sena, I decided that since our assessors use Sena, thats what Id go for and started doing my research.

eBay, Gumtree and a myriad of local vendors were visited. Finally, I stumbled across a site in the US, Revzilla.com

I was pretty impressed with the range of products they have and their presentation so decided to enquire about the Sena SMH10 headset. Well, I was let down, gently. “Sorry, due to pre-existing arrangements with agents in Australia, we are unable to ship this item to you.” OK, fair enough. I got about the same response from Amazon.

After much more searching, I came across JC Motors, also located in the US of A. 16591 Noyes Avenue, Irvine, California 92606 to be precise. I simply ordered the item, paid by PayPal and within a week, I had my goodies, with UPS tracking. Now heres the kicker, landed, these cost me $100 less than the cheapest local price I could find.

Not only that, they will honour the warranty. Ok, so I have to send it back to them, big deal! I could get it to them in 4 days and get a replacement in less than two weeks, FASTER than a local agent! I decided to buy a backup pair, so that I am not inconvenienced, still economically viable as far as I am concerned.

JC Motors has a vast selection of motorcycle accessories and parts. I know where Im doing my future shopping.

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