Class...

 

"Yes, you are a classy guy, Jim."  Aw, shucks, you're making me blush.  Oh, that's not what you were thinking?  Yeah, me, too.

Last night was the first of 3 sessions for the Team Arizona Motorcycle Training Center class for Can Am 3-wheelers...

"That's doesn't look like a typical motorcycle."  That's an understatement.  These are made by BRP, the company that makes SeaDoo, SkiDoo, and Rotax engines.  That makes sense, as (to me) it kinda looks like a snowmobile or jetski on wheels.  These are also not a typical "trike," as those generally have one front wheel and two rear wheels... and aren't as stable as these "reverse trikes."

"Are you going to get one of these?"  Thanks for asking - no plan to, but I am curious about them.  Years ago, I thought scooters were for people who couldn't handle a real motorcycle... I quickly learned that isn't the case, after we got those first scooters 11 years ago.  11 years ago?  Time flies when you don't know what you're doing.  But, I digress.  I've read about and watched videos regarding these Can Ams, and they are a different ride from a 2-wheel motorcycle.  I've also read that people going from 2 wheels to 3 can have problems with the transition... thus, the reason for taking this class: it will give me some hands-on with the bike, along with instruction by a knowledgeable trained instructor.

This class is being run by a guy named Jim - I like him already.  He is close to my age and experience, and has been good on giving the class good info on how to ride these, as well as pointing out the differences between these and motorcycles, and how to deal with those differences.

Last night was 4 hours of in-class instruction and discussion.  There are 8 people in the class, and it is a varied group.  There is one guy in the group about my age, with some motorcycle experience, and recently bought a Can Am... and ran it off the road.  Yeah, he should have taken the class first.  With him is his younger girlfriend, who thought this class would be a good idea.  A young couple who bought a 600cc Ryker (the smallest Can Am) two months ago and have been practicing with it in their neighborhood (without having a license for it).  A woman in her 60s who also recently bought a Spyder (the bigger 1300cc Can Am) and is here to get the license for it.  A guy in his 30s who wants to eventually get a motorcycle and thinks this would be a good step in that direction.  A 17 year old high school guy whose Dad rides a Harley and said, "My Dad will buy me one of these 'Pan Ams' if I pass the class."  His Dad is going to buy him an airline??  I kept my mouth shut.  And me.  So 5 of the people in this class already have a Can Am; two of us who are reverse-trike curious, and the youngster.

Today, there will be a bit more class time, a written "sample test," then time on the Rykers on a closed course on their property.  The facility seems to be set up for this, and the 3 instructors I met (I was there early) all seem friendly, enthusiastic, and well-trained.

Last night, we went through about 40 pages of written instruction, mostly "intro to motorcycling" adapted for reverse trikes.  The instructor, Jim, has a conversational way of teaching, asking questions to get the class involved.  It is clear that I have the most experience of those in the class, and Jim would often call on me to give an answer if no one else volunteered.

Arizona has a "3-wheel license" - it does not qualify you for riding a 2-wheel motorcycle.  But, a motorcycle license does qualify you for a 3-wheeler.  From my perspective, regardless of your experience, getting training specific for these vehicles is worthwhile.  In some states, your regular drivers license is good for these 3-wheelers... most states require a motorcycle license or, as in Arizona, a "restricted" motorcycle license for trikes.

So far, so good.