Step 1: Learn how to ride a motorcycle.

Everybody will claim that you can learn to ride a dirt bike in a couple of minutes in a parking lot. I believe them- I think you can learn the basics this way but I'm the type of person who feels more confident when the instruction is a little more structured. Don't get me wrong- my moto buddies are skilled motorcycle operators and they know what they're talking about but for me, I need the extra instruction. So I went to dirt bike school. Specifically, I went to the Honda Rider Education Center in Colton Ca., and signed up for the beginning dirt bike course.

Dirt Bike School: See that red awning? That's going to be your classroom for a whole day of dirt bike instruction. Pay attention- you will be quizzed at the end of class!

I learned about the school from a video posted on the Honda motorcycle site (click here to check it out). As soon as I saw it I knew it was for me. I liked that there was a big, safe, flat area to start on and that the course seemed to be well thought out rather than a hodge-podge lesson thrown together by a fly-by-night "instructor". The lesson includes the use of basically brand new Honda dirt bikes and they set you up with all the gear you need from head to toe. Best of all, we lucked out and were able to get Mercedes Natvig (the star of the Honda video) as our instructor... she's a 9 time national champion! I asked Mercedes if she would hit a little bermed turn at 50 mph before we left and she obliged me by nailing it, throwing dirt everywhere and then wheeling across some whoops and launching off a little jump... dang.

Liza getting set up on a CRF 150, that's Mercedes checking out the sizing.

12 year old Mateo was put on a 100. If you can ride a bike, you can take the class- the center has bikes for little guys and gals as well. 

I got sized up for a CRF 230... watch out!

We started by getting all the proper safety equipment. I was impressed- most of the gear is brand new and it's all clean and ready to go. They've got properly sized equipment for people of all shapes and sizes. I'm 210, 5'9- visualize that: I'm basically a walking square (or a super sized Oompa Loompa) and they even had gear for me. Mercede's stressed that you should wear all the gear, all the time... I love that because if you know me, you know that I'm all about safety.

Lesson 1: Stupid Hurts... so wear all your gear dummy!

Chest protectors (and more) for everybody!!!!

Even kid sized gear.

All geared up and ready to go... I even have my roost protector on the correct way (no, I will not totally humiliate myself by showing you the photos of me with the protector worn backwards... Mercedes was very tactful when she told me it was on wrong, "Hey, you're wearing that backwards").

The class follows a very rigid outline designed by... well, sorry I forgot which national motorcycle safety organization created it- but the class was composed of a prescribed series of skills that had to be accomplished before you could move on to the next exercise. We had a couple of riders who had never ridden a motorcycle or operated a clutch in their lives- Mercedes assured them that they'd pick it up in no time and learn to safely and confidently operate their moto by the end of the class. She was right- it was amazing to see the confidence build in those riders and to see them cruising around the track, upshifting, downshifting, breaking and cornering by the end of the class.

Mateo cruising the training track.

Who could that be? Part of the course was learning about standing on the bike while operating the controls. You had to be able to stop, shift, accelerate and decelerate from the standing position.

Mother and daughter, no motorcycle experience, cruising the track together... how cool is that?

We learned how to approach an obstacle and use throttle and body positioning to bump over... look at this treacherous "log"- less skilled riders would have undoubtedly turned around in fear!

The best part of the course is the final exam (I told you there was a quiz at the end!). The center has a killer little track system that they built to mimic the off road trails of California. There's little windy single track, short uphills, sand sections, stream crossings, a big bowl section with an offcamber trail and rocky paths. If Mercedes thinks you can control and operate your bike safely, she'll take you for a little winding ride through the compound. By the time you reach the end of the day-long course you're excited to test your skills- this is the perfect place to do it.

Riding the trails at the Honda Rider Education Center, Colton Ca.

Cruising the bowl... don't get sucked down into the mud puddle!

Dakotah handling the trails on her CRF150.

Mateo and Mario following Mercedes. This a great family event especially if you've never ridden a dirt bike before.

Our graduating class.

At the end of the class we were given a sweet little certificate for completing the Basic Dirt Bike course (I actually got a break on my motorcycle insurance because I mentioned I had taken the ourse and could prove it with the certificate). Like all good things, the day went by way too fast. I learned a ton and best of all gained confidence operating the dirt bike. After finishing the class I was excited to get home and practice on my bike- that confidence was what I was looking for!

This is an excellent course to take if you are new to motorcycles and dirt bike riding. If you are experienced, it's not the course for you. I highly recommend the course to anybody looking to get their family together and do something different and unexpected. I think this would make a great surprise Christmas gift. The cost of the lesson for five people was $500. At a hundred dollars a person (as long as you set it up as a group lesson- if you sign up individually, the cost is $175) this is a fantastic deal for a full day of fun and learning. We were fortunate to have Mercedes as our instructor. I am a high school teacher with 16 years of teaching experience (as a matter of fact, all the adults in our group were professional educators with over four decades of combined teaching experience), I know exceptional teachers when I see them and, without a doubt, Mercedes is a great one.

The Honda Rider Education Center is a rare bird- no other manufacturer sponsors a facility like it and I feel very fortunate to have it here in Southern California (the other Honda facility is in Georgia). If you get a chance, and can wrangle up some friends or family, definitely book a group lesson- you'll learn a lot and have a heap of fun doing it.