Superbike motorbikes are not for the feint hearted. These best of machinery offer extreme power and that power can be dangerous to those who are not experienced drivers. It is for this reason that Dirk du Plooy joined the Motorcycle Risk Advancement Centre (MRAC) that is situated in Johannesburg. Dirk realised that this risks of riding a bike are higher than that of a person in a car.
What is more is that research has shown that training dramatically reduces the risks of accidents, repairs, and injury. This centre was founded in 1988 and Dirk du Plooy is the current chief instructor. He was trained by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation of America – the worlds foremost motorcycle safety and training authorities. Due to the increasing number of motorcycles on the road due to their economic fuel consumption in comparison to motorcars, there needs to be more than one instructor at the MRAC. These instructors have been trained locally to MSF standards and therefore you will be guaranteed a qualified instructor who will show the ropes and make the experience of owning a bike more pleasurable and less risky.
Each of the courses offered provide classroom instructions combined with audiovisual representations. This means that not only will you learn the theory but also you will bare witness to the practical before you partake in any activities. Each person who attends the course will receive a certificate once they have completed the course. Their goal is to save people’s lives by means of advanced training as well as a high speed practical.
This high speed practical is held at Kyalami GP racecourse and will offer you the following:
- Audio visual classroom presentations that cover defensive street riding strategies,
- Cornering techniques,
- Eye control,
- Throttle control,
- Body posture,
- Correct braking techniques,
- Gear shifting
- Swerving to avoid obstacles.
These superbike schools have taken off and Honda is even now offering their own personalised riding school. This course is free to owners of Honda motorcycles and offers riders the following:
The course includes:
Eyes open:
An intensive theory session discussing practical riding basics and the principles of defensive riding. This course will also provide you with helpful tips on pre-ride preparation and safety checks are also provided. This theory is essential before anyone starts trying to do tricks or doesn’t know exactly how their bike works and underestimates the power of the bike.
In Gear:
A series of practical on-road training exercises in which our qualified instructors will hone your riding skills.
Similar to that of the aforementioned course, this course offers both practical and theory course work. The only difference is that due to the fact that Honda built the bikes, they will have specialist knowledge that can help you enjoy your bike even more than you did before. The course only takes a day. At the end of the day you will receive a Honda Road Academy Certificate of Proficiency. Participants must use their own motorcycles and must bring helmet and gloves. Jeans, a long sleeved jacket and ankle protective boots must be worn. Additional refresher and experienced rider courses are also offered through Honda and therefore in order to find out more about this great deal, then you should contact Honda at hondaacademy@netactive.co.za or via 011 839 1660.
Owning a superbike motorcycle can be extremely exciting and many people get overzealous and therefore injure themselves and others in the process. It is therefore essential to take some form of training before getting behind the handlebars.