First motorcycle safety course of 2016 @ Honda Markham

[JP0160]

Forum Sponsor

I've preregistered for the Learning Curves course on the April 1st weekend in Markham. I wanted the first available course so I can get my M2 and certificate ASAP. When registering, I thought to myself "what better place to learn to ride my Honda... than the Honda plant!". And that got me thinking, is there any way to find out where my CBR300 was manufactured?

Anyone else going to the same course?

Any tips for a noob? I've ridden dirt bikes for years and I'm comfortable on a motorcycle, but I know there is much to be learned still. Any reviews on the Learning Curves course, or a breakdown of exactly what I can expect? Thanks!

 

[mudmojo]

VIN characters/numbers 1, 2, 11 tell the story you are looking for.

Interpreting the data is easy for numbers 1 and 2 with some online searches. I haven't been able to find any free services that will help one to deobfuscate character #11


All the resources seem to be car-centric


This might work or it might be totally wrong

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Vehicle_Identification_Numbers_(VIN_codes)/Honda/VIN_Codes



Actually just found this.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/VIN/hondacycle.html

Honda Motorcycle and All-Terrain Vehicle VIN Equipment Codes

[SIZE=-1]Last updated January 16th, 2003[/SIZE]

1st-3rd digits - manufacturer ID motorcycles JH2 Honda Japan VTM Honda Spain YC1 Honda Belgium ZDC Honda Italy 1HF Honda U.S.A. 3H1 Honda Mexico 9C2 Honda Brazil all-terrain vehicles JH3 Honda Japan 478 Honda U.S.A.

4th-8th digits - model NC030 CB400T RC040 CB750F

11th digit - assembly plant A Ohio, U.S.A. B Aalst, Belgium C Saitama, Japan D Guadalajara, Mexico E Montesa, Spain F Atessa, Italy K Kumamoto, Japan M Hamamatsu, Japan S Suzuka, Japan 1 Manuas, Brazil 4 South Carolina, U.S.A.

 

[Blackfin]

Pretty sure all CBR300s are built in Thailand.

Hints? Read the MTO motorcycle handbook front to back and you'll be pretty good to go. Generally, these courses start pretty slowly (e.g. "this is the side stand, this is how you use it") but progress quickly and by the end of the second day you're doing panic stops and evasive maneuvers. You'll see lots of focus on things that really matter (like low-speed control, precision steering etc). As a guy that's got experience with bikes before you might be tempted to slough off the seemingly-simple stuff like learning the friction point of a clutch or whatever; resist the temptation. Go into this as if you're as new to bikes as the noobiest noob there. Learn stuff. Get better at what you already know.

 

[PrivatePilot]

Any tips for a noob? I've ridden dirt bikes for years and I'm comfortable on a motorcycle, but I know there is much to be learned still. Any reviews on the Learning Curves course, or a breakdown of exactly what I can expect? Thanks!

Kinda agree with Blackfin. At the beginning your eyes will be rolling into the back of your head a lot, but it progresses reasonably quickly, particularly day 2 where you actually learn a lot of street skills that probably never came into play (in the same way, at least) with dirt bikes. Just go with the flow, you have to do it all anyways so you might as well enjoy it. You'll also find out that you probably have a few bad habits from your current riding experience that you'll have to break.

Very worth it, even for an experienced rider.

 

[Baggsy]

Some of the stuff that they teach is meant more for that situation in the parking lot, than on the road in traffic. An example is gear. They have a minimum standard for in the parking lot i.e. low speed no other traffic area, to keep you reasonably safe. The street has a different minimum, and you get to decide how much gear you're going to wear there. They will want four fingers on the brakes, and hands off while you're not using them. The bikes they use aren't using expensive stainless steel designs, and have been dropped numerous times, so some of the levers might be slightly bent. Plus try seeing if someone's hands are using the brakes from a long distance, if you allow two finger braking. Also, if someone grabs the brakes at slow speed in a corner . . . So listen to the instructions. There are reasons, for the way they do things.

Eyes up. The controls on the bike will not move. Look where you want to go. Lead corners with your eyes and then chin.
There is a friction zone, not just a friction point.
Watch the speed that the demo rider does the exercises. That's what you're expected to do, once you become proficient. Same thing with the demo rider on the test. They aren't supposed to show off. Time counts on the test, so continue and finish the exercise, even if you go out of bounds.

Don't get cocky. It usually happens sometime on the second day. But might be earlier, if you have experience.

Take rain gear, sunscreen, some snacks and water. Spare gloves and socks, or even a change of clothes, if you can.

Don't be afraid if it rains, the exercises and test were meant to be able to be completed successfully in the rain, and you'll gain some rain experience.

 

[conundrum]

Pretty sure all CBR300s are built in Thailand.

This. As far as I know, the CBR250R/A, CBR300R/A, CBR500R/A/F/X, and CBR650FA are all made in Honda's Thailand plant. The only exception are the bikes made for the Indian market, which are made in India itself.

Forum Sponsor