Training wheels it's not

Wind whipping them around, the students kept going, undeterred. The quest: passing one of the new required motorcycle safety classes in the state of Texas.

Legacy Harley-Davidson is one of the sites offering the class, which was optional until the fall of 2009 for those seeking a license to ride a motorcycle in Texas.

The freedom of the open road called to Vonna Johnson, the lone female in the class.

"It’s just the fun of it, and my husband and I love the outdoors. This just lets us get outside and have fun," she said.

She said the hardest part of the class — which includes both a classroom "book work" component and a later experience of actually getting on the cycles — was just adjusting to the feel of a motorcycle.

"You don’t feel quite as in control as with a regular bicycle. It’s completely different," Johnson said.

Several of the people in the class had ridden before, but they still had to take the class as part of the new requirements.

"There are a lot of procedures involved with riding a motorcycle," Jim Hollis said. "It’s very important to remember the proper safety procedures."

Steve Cooper said he enjoys the freedom of riding.

"It’s great whether it’s 100 degrees or raining or whatever the weather," he said.

Hollis said it’s hard to explain the appeal of the bike.

"There’s no way to explain it until you get out there on a scenic road somewhere seeing it all," he said.

Cayla Baumgarten said he is ready to get out and ride more cycles. He has only ridden once before when his stepfather showed him how to do figure 8s in a parking lot.

As soon as they hit the track out behind the classroom, instructor Jim Tenison had students perform a progressive series of movements with the cycle, including walking with it around the track and riding from cone to cone.

Tenison told students it’s best to keep riding at a relatively fast pace with something as powerful as a motorcycle.

"The hardest thing to do on a motorcycle is go 3 miles per hour. I suggest at least 10 because you’ll feel the bike stabilize," he said.

Teaching on and off for 31 years, Tenison said he first got into motorcycles when he was 27 years old. He particularly enjoys riding around the country.

"People ride for different reasons, but for me I spend most of my time touring cross country. I’ve been to Vegas seven times," he said.

He said he sees many riders on the road who don’t know how to operate a motorcycle safely and believes the course helps prepare people for the dangers involved with riding.

"We stress the proper mental attention to safe riding. Just doing dumb things can get people hurt," Tenison said.

Texas is one of the last states to adopt a mandatory motorcycle training class, which Tenison is largely due to the number of people who go through the course.

"We already were doing our best to keep up with the demand even before it was mandatory," he said.

One change in the class is an increase in female students over the years. Tenison said when he started he only saw maybe 5 percent of the class as women, but now classes typically are more even.

"We now have over 40 percent women, and I don’t know why it increased so much. Maybe the stigma attached to cycles is different now, but the exact cause is unsure," he said.

Once a person passes a training class, they can take the certificate to the Department of Motor Vehicles and pass the written test comprised of material largely taught in the safety class in order to receive the endorsement. Tenison said the number of unlicensed cyclists is a real problem in Texas and across the country.

"It’s estimated that half of all people on the road aren’t licensed properly. That makes this class so important. Just become legal by taking the class," he said.

IF YOU GO

>> What: Motorcycle training class.

>> Who: Those needing motorcycle endorsements by the state or who want to refresh their skills.

>> When: Two-day courses on Saturday and Sunday every couple weeks.

>> Where: Legacy Harley-Davidson, 12100 W. Highway 80 East.

>> Program: Features book work and actual riding time on a track with course-provided bikes.

>> Cost: $195.

>> Call: Gretchen at 934-7703 for more information.