DETAILED PLANS

1. Find a nearby convenient parking lot. Churches work well during the week and schools are good locations on weekends, but keep an eye out for local traffic. Be wary and be prepared with a backup location or two if other events pop up. Scout this out ahead of time and ask for permission if needed.

2. Get the new rider and motorcycle to the practice location. The mentor may consider riding the new rider's mc to the location and then meeting them there, depending on the distance, the rider's comfort and experience level, and the compexity of the ride to the location. Work this out ahead of time. 

3.  The mentor can be on foot at this location. All future steps will need the mentor in/on a vehicle for maximun safety and control. 

4. Limit riding time to 10-15 minutes, taking frequent breaks for discussion. Get off of the motorcycles at each break to limit fatigue. Limit each parking lot session to about an hour or two. The goal is to get both riders comfortable with the new rider's skill level on their own motorcycle.

5. Make sure the new rider is comfortable and good at each basic ability on their motorcycle: starting, stopping, shifting, cornering, swerving and controlling the motorcycle during slow speeds.  Do one maneuver before moving on to the next. Watch for boredom and fatigue.

6. After getting comfortable in the parking lot, find QUIET neighborhood streets to practice on; close to home is best. Avoid heavier traffic times, such as commute times and after school. Scout these areas ahead of time.

7. Next, the riders should follow each other around the block to the left, no stops. It doesn't matter who leads, wherever the NEW rider is comfortable. Work on smoothness and control. Limit riding time to 20-30 minute stretches, taking more breaks if needed.

8. Now around the block to the right, no stops. Check comfort levels and watch closely for traffic.

9. Now left hand turns, with stops at corners. Be sure the new rider is comfortable doing this before the next step. 

10. Finish this stage by going around to the right, with stops. Be sure they can stay in their lane and smoothly turn those sharper right corners from a stop before going further.

11. Find a four way stop and then mix up the turns on the route. Be sure both riders know the route, with no surprises. 

1. Find a route and destination with heavy city traffic. 

2. Go onto and travel on an interstate freeway, getting speeds up to 60-70 mph. 

3. If city and freeway travel is wanted and/or needed, spend one or more rides getting on and off of a variety of freeway on- and off-ramps. 

4. Find a route with uncomfortable road conditions; such as bridges, a short stretch of fresh chipseal or a good gravel road.

5. Choose a day to ride with poor weather conditions, such as rain or wind.

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1. Find flat routes with light traffic and easy traffic controls; first, four-way stops, then traffic lights, then yielding and merging lanes, and then stops with no stops for oncoming traffic. Now find a roundabout.

2. Add in a stop to gas up the motorcycles. Many new riders are unfamiliar with this.

3. Incorporate straight stretches of road with speeds up to 40-50 mph.

4. Then find a route with light traffic, then railroad crossings and a route with flat, mellow curves. 

5. Now find a hill and practice stopping and starting on a hill. This may be the only thing practiced on that day. Be sure to practice and get good at the technique on flat ground BEFORE going to the hill to practice!

6. Go to the carwash and wash the motorcycles.

        Limit time in the saddle to less than an hour, and take more breaks if needed. Limit new stuff to a maximum of 3-6 new things a day. Each day, begin the ride with 3-6 of the previous day's new moves, then move on to 3-6 new ones.This can take from 1-2 days to as long as needed for comfort and safety. 

1. Find routes with light, then heavier traffic. Be sure to slowly increase traffic complexity and speeds.

2. Find a construction zone or two and successfully navigate them. 

3. Incorporate commuting to work on the mc, if possible. Do this by first having the new rider follow the mentor on a pre-arranged route to that work destination. When they are comfortable with that ride, urge them to take it on their own. Remind the newbie to give themselves extra time for the commute at first.

4. Arrange and take short destination rides, adding in speeds up to 60 mph and highway travel. Include curvier roads with elevation changes and sharp or hairpin turns. Limit saddle time to around an hour one way.

1. Travel in small groups to destinations. Start with a group of 3 or 4, then work up to a maximum of 8. Be sure to have pre-ride discussions to coordinate signals, etiquette and the route.

2. Travel in larger groups IF DESIRED or needed.

3. Travel with loads on the back of the motorcycle, increasing weight and variety of items to be transported. Going grocery shopping and doing laundry are good excuses... and suddenly become fun!

4. Try taking on a passenger, preferably one with some riding experience. Start with short distances, working up to longer distances and times. 

5. Saddle time should be up to about 2 hours, and daily travel time should be up to 4-6 hours.

1. Take an overnight destination trip on the motorcycle. Pack and travel with camping gear and/or luggage. 

2. Make multiple planned rest and gas stops on the way to and from the destination.

3. Be sure to pay attention to weather, traffic, construction and time constraints before and during the ride.

4. Consider taking a CPR and/or Emergency First Aid class.