I am looking for a licensed instructor that offers private rider training lessons. My specific need is for my wife, who never learned to work a clutch and I am hoping to get her some preparation time before she takes the M1 to M2 course at Humber. Ideally this instructor would have a 250 cc cruiser style bike for her to learn on, as she is 5'4" and struggles with some bikes. She will end up riding a 400cc Suzuki Burgmann, but none of the M1-to-M2 courses allow the course to be taken on a scooter. Any suggestions welcome and appreciated.
New Rider Training - Private Lessons
- Thread starter shredder
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invictus43
Well-known member
Most of the courses are designed to be started from the very beginning. For example, last time I was involved with the Humber course, you literally pushed the bike around for an hour..then you did clutch fans for 30 mins. It's really aimed at the absolute beginner and I think your wife would be fine there. The bikes are also very small.
Just to echo everyone else, any course will teach her. The first night is usually classroom, then (for me) the first half of the day was just pushing bikes around and waddling on them, didn't even turn the bikes on until the afternoon. A lot of time was spent on clutch control/friction point. I did the course in Hamilton at the Stoney Creek Mohawk campus.
i didn't have any practise at all when i took the m2 course- they go through it very slowly, but there's no harm in having some extra one on one practise for sure- i have to say- i had trouble with learning gear shifting during the course butttt you don't really need to for the exit test either
skitta
Well-known member
OP, like others have said, the M1 to M2 course really does teach you what you need to know. I personally had never been on a motorcycle before taking the CMA course in August, 2009. Your wife will be just fine. You'd be surprised at the amount of people who have never actually been on a motorcycle before. We all have to start somewhere 
wonderings
Well-known member
+1 to everyone else. The course teaches you like you know absolutely zero about motorcycles.
Green Machine
Well-known member
try learning curves- they were great
ldrider
Active member
Some courses offer private lessons which includes testing to graduate from M1 - M2 .. For more info please PM me .. Cost is about twice as much as a regular course, but may be worth it if one on one training is required.
Agreed most courses are designed to start off from a point where you never need to have even seen a motorcycle to learn. And all schools follow ministry guidelines and the pushing the bikes are a required lesson. Everyone should know how to move their bike around. My suggestion would be, do the course and then if she needs further lessons, then approach someone. Who knows maybe she'll kick *** in the class and not need them. Plus you paid for the class, see how well it works before you start dropping more money.
If you and or her really feel that it would benefit her to have private lessons either before the course or after then I know a lot of learning curves instructors do private lessons at an hourly fee. I know myself and Elektra both coach. She has a wider availability with being available during week days and I do evenings and some weekends. We have a 250 rebel that can be used. But really the skills are the same regardless of what bike she is on, so I suggest neither of you get caught up in that. PM me if you want further info.
Thank you Green
I wasn't aware that private lessons could also involve the testing. I thought it had to be more formal than that?!?
I think some might be making assumptions here... My wife would also would have liked private lesson(s) to at least get the basics before the formal course. She is very shy in public and won't ask questions in a group. Also she has a pathalogical fear of standing out in a crowd (ie, stalling).
She's a great rider and took the course and passed the test, but it takes a while and some careful coaching.
She's a great rider and took the course and passed the test, but it takes a while and some careful coaching.
Ram
Member
I'm confused. She is taking the course or she already took the course? Ride ,ride, ride, thats how she will learn. Stay on the side streets in your area and she will be a pro rider before you know it. Just be patient and don't push her. Sometime we want our wives to ride so bad we talk them into it so we will have someone to ride with.
My wife rides and for the first year or two I hated riding with her, not that she is not a good rider but was so worried about her I was not enjoying my ride. Careful what you wish for. BTW she is also a great ride and never drove standard shift until she started riding
My wife rides and for the first year or two I hated riding with her, not that she is not a good rider but was so worried about her I was not enjoying my ride. Careful what you wish for. BTW she is also a great ride and never drove standard shift until she started riding
Humber offers a private M2 exit course but i am not sure if they offer the M1-M2.
The basic course should be good enough, but ocassionally a weaker student can get left behind in a group of 20 other students.
If Cat and Elektra are offering private lessons I think that's something worthwhile considering.
The basic course should be good enough, but ocassionally a weaker student can get left behind in a group of 20 other students.
If Cat and Elektra are offering private lessons I think that's something worthwhile considering.
Perhaps she should not be riding motorcycles. Based on what you wrote, she seems to be a bundle of scared and nervousness.
Actually not. She's a great rider. Excellent control of the bike and we've ridden several times to Niagara Falls and once to Montreal and this is in her first full year of riding. This includes back roads, 401 and QEW. She just doesn't like large groups.
