In Search Of M

Two Wheel Tales

In Search Of M

I’m assuming most people reading RideOn Magazine know a little about getting a motorcycle license. For the older crowd, who didn’t have graduated licensing, I’ll start with a brief review.

Newer riders start out by getting an M1 license. The M1 consists of two written tests at the Ministry Of Transportation (MOT). Believe it or not, one of the tests is the same test you take when getting your car license. This allows us to ride any motorcycle with restrictions. Not before Sunrise or after sunset, No 400 series highways, No passengers, and most importantly a Zero Tolerance policy for alcohol. The M1 is good for a period of 60 days minimum and 90 days maximum. I attained this on February 16th of 2001.

Next comes the M2 classification, which can be attained through the MOT or an approved course at many colleges in Ontario. My M2 course was done through Humber College the last weekend of April in the spring of 2001, which I passed. If you pass this course all restrictions are lifted from your license, except for the Zero Tolerance policy on alcohol. Passing this course does not mean you are ready to tackle the mean streets of Ontario, as the instructors will inform you. Practice makes perfect, so they recommend you start out with shorter trips getting used to your motorcycle and not to take any passengers until you have mastered the bike on your own. Your time with the M2 will vary depending on whether you have taken an approved safety course. With the aforementioned approved course the waiting period for the full M is reduced from 24 months to 18 months.

Before I go any further, I should mention that if you wish to take an approved course to attain the M classification you should book early as the classes fill up early. I booked my course at the January Motorcycle Supershow and if I’m not mistaken, it was pretty well booked for the season by the time Sunday night at the show’s end.

Friday April 25th 2003 saw me again at Humber College along with 14 other hopefuls preparing for the M license. Just about everyone showed up on his or her motorcycle too! Friday night consisted of a 3 hour classroom session reviewing motorcycling basics and filling out the forms that will be needed for the successful participants. One thing mentioned by the instructor Thomas, was “if you are constantly being cut off while riding, you are not paying enough attention.” Home to bed and try to get some sleep because it’s an early start on Saturday at 8:00am.

Saturday morning dawns bright, sunny and cold, which isn’t exactly the way I hoped to head out for what could be the biggest weekend in my short riding career. As everyone starts arriving, our six instructors are checking drivers’ licenses, insurance, brakes, lights and signal operation. A street legal motorcycle of 250cc or greater is required, as is proper riding gear. Make sure that you have an approved helmet, boots that cover your ankle, denim, leather or a textile riding jacket as well as proper riding gloves, not the half finger type favoured by many cruiser riders, myself included. If you show up on Saturday or Sunday morning without any of the above you will not be able to take either the course or the test!

Right off the mark we have to re-take the same test we did to qualify for our M2 classification. Everyone gets a few tries at the eight different maneuvers that comprise the M2 license. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief when all passed, as the instructors chastise us a bit for rusty skills, brought on by a long winter layoff.

With passing we are now ready to be trained for the M test. The instructors gather us all around and explain our next lesson. Shoulder and mirror checks are stressed, as the aware rider is a safer rider. Everyone saddles up and we get to ride around and around the parking lot while waiting for an opportunity to do an emergency roadside stop. Practice makes perfect and the instructors are looking for proper signaling and blind spot checks to make sure we won’t be run over by the person behind us. Once stopped we have to put the bike in neutral with the signals or four way flashers on and place the bike on the side stand. By now its mid morning and the coffee truck has arrived for a scheduled break. As we leave our training area at least one guy runs all the stop signs within the Humber College complex!

After break we head back to our parking lot and get a chance to practice riding curves, which the instructors had painted. I decided to head out in the faster group and was very surprised at just how far my 1400 Intruder could get leaned over. Now that everyone is proficient in riding curves and roadside stops we head out to the roads within the Humber complex to practice with the regular traffic that uses these roads. Safe lane changes, left turns, right turns, stops, blocking positions and correct lane positioning are what the instructors are looking for. As the instructors notice mistakes we are flagged down and told of our various mistakes. Being one of the lucky ones I was never pulled over.
Lunchtime arrives and we head off to various local eateries for a quick bite and then back to school.

These Pictures are Included In The RideOn Magazine Article

By now we are ready for the mean streets of Toronto. A local street with a large sweeping curve is the next area in which to practice our rapidly improving skills. Once everyone has taken the curve ten times, we are again pulled off the road and told about any mistakes we may have made, including excessive speed!

At this point everyone is hooked up with a radio to hear the instructors who will be following us in cars. Each car, with two instructors, will be in charge of five riders each.

Once everyone is ready we are directed through the streets for a short run down the highway and into various residential and industrial areas. The idea here is to be looking for the various hazards we will encounter while riding. Intersections, schools, malls, parks and children playing in their driveway are just some of the potential hazards while riding, as most everyone knows. Stop for a quick break mid afternoon and it’s time to book our test for Sunday morning, and then back out to the streets for more practice. All five riders, in the group are given the opportunity to both be lead and tail rider while traveling on the roads. Another short trip back up the highway and into the parking lot at Humber to return the radios we are using. Time to call it a day and head home in nervous anticipation of the test on Sunday morning at 9:45am.

Sunday morning dawns bright and sunny again if not a tad cool at just above freezing temperatures. Head to the local Tim Hortons where I’m meeting my friend Scott before we take the test. We arrive early, before the previous riders have returned and now the nervousness has a chance to set in. It’s only a test and since we have all been riding for at least eighteen months you would think that we have nothing to worry about. Twenty-four points, is the magic number. Any more than that and I’ll be rescheduling a road test in the future.

Kim is the driver while George is my tester, in the car that will be following me. Suit up with an orange safety vest and the radio earpiece inside my helmet and I’m told to start. Almost immediately I get my first check against, as I cross over a line while exiting the parking lot. Luckily, I didn’t know this fact until after the test or it might have contributed to making me even more nervous. Onto the streets we go and George is giving me clear and concise instructions on the maneuvers he wants me to perform. I’ll note here that the instructors will not tell you to make an unsafe maneuver and repeat all instructions twice. Always remember that, you have the sole responsibility for the safe operation of your motorcycle while carrying out the various maneuvers. Through the city streets we ride with a couple short trips on the highway. My first roadside stop is blown when my trusty motorcycle won’t go into neutral and I stall the bike. Oh well try not to let it bother me, but I can’t, as I’m hoping it doesn’t cost me too many points. Upon completion back in the confines of Humber’s parking lot I await my results. Nine points against me! I passed and George patiently explains where I lost those points. Retrieving my now sealed envelope, with my papers to head to the MOT on Monday morning, I anxiously wait for my friend Scott. Upon his arrival I wait, and there it is, a smile from ear to ear telling me that he too had passed.



Successful M Candidates
These Were Taken By A Friend Using My Fuji Digital Camera

Monday morning I head to the MOT to submit my papers for the M designation on my license. Upon being issued my temporary permit, I’m informed that I’ll have to renew it if my new card isn’t in my hands within ninety days. Thirty-Five days later and there it is, one shiny piece of plastic with the new designation GM.

In closing I would highly recommend that everyone take an approved course, such as the one offered by Humber College when planning on attaining the M qualification. The instructors are friendly, knowledgeable, and just happen to love riding as much as you do.

Type @ ya’ll later
Night_Wolf aka Craig H.

This Article Appeared In The Summer Issue Of

RideOn Magazine

This is the unedited version with a couple of extra pictures

Photos Accompanying The Article Were Taken By Me With
A Canon EOS using 200 Speed Film

Type @ Ya'll Later
Night_Wolf

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