WEBVTT 00:05.329 --> 00:07.630 The basic rider course level one which 00:07.639 --> 00:09.806 qualifies motorcycle riders to take to 00:09.806 --> 00:11.710 the roads in Japan was revived at 00:11.720 --> 00:13.664 Yokohama North Dock with its first 00:13.664 --> 00:15.664 class in July following a year long 00:15.664 --> 00:17.609 hiatus . The course is designed to 00:17.609 --> 00:19.776 teach riders how to safely operate and 00:19.776 --> 00:21.831 control their motorcycle on Japanese 00:21.831 --> 00:23.664 roadways , which can differ from 00:23.664 --> 00:25.887 driving in the USA group of riders from 00:25.887 --> 00:28.109 new to experienced , attended the first 00:28.109 --> 00:30.276 offering of the revived course . Basic 00:30.276 --> 00:32.331 riders course . One is the intro for 00:32.331 --> 00:35.270 all riders . We have a , a handful of 00:35.279 --> 00:37.501 different exercises and a little bit of 00:37.501 --> 00:39.501 classroom instruction as well as an 00:39.501 --> 00:41.723 online course . Basic riders course two 00:41.723 --> 00:43.612 adds on to it where you're on the 00:43.612 --> 00:45.668 motorcycle the entire time . It is a 00:45.668 --> 00:47.723 Familiarization test essentially for 00:47.723 --> 00:49.835 your own personal motorcycle . During 00:49.835 --> 00:52.001 the two day course , attendees learned 00:52.001 --> 00:53.890 about the mechanics of motorcycle 00:53.890 --> 00:56.001 riding and then moved to the hands on 00:56.001 --> 00:58.112 portion where they practice turning , 00:58.112 --> 01:00.279 taking tight curves and proper leaning 01:00.279 --> 01:02.390 and techniques . The riders were then 01:02.390 --> 01:04.557 required to take an exam . By the time 01:04.557 --> 01:06.668 the test comes around , we've already 01:06.668 --> 01:08.835 taught them the basic functions of the 01:08.835 --> 01:11.168 clutch as well as the throttle controls . 01:11.168 --> 01:13.223 That is the main fundamental is that 01:13.223 --> 01:15.335 using that the physics of turning the 01:15.335 --> 01:17.279 motorcycle twisting the handlebars 01:17.279 --> 01:19.279 looking where they're going so that 01:19.279 --> 01:21.501 they know where to go correctly , using 01:21.501 --> 01:23.612 the brakes . Those are all the skills 01:23.612 --> 01:23.523 that they learned during that time . 01:23.532 --> 01:25.643 And then during the test is when they 01:25.643 --> 01:28.166 get actually tested and evaluated on 01:28.176 --> 01:30.466 that , we put everything all wrapped up 01:30.475 --> 01:33.536 into five exercises . After passing the 01:33.545 --> 01:35.767 level one course , riders are qualified 01:35.767 --> 01:37.601 to ride their motorcycle on us . 01:37.601 --> 01:40.195 Installations after 60 days of riding 01:40.206 --> 01:42.405 in which they need to log at least 150 01:42.416 --> 01:44.346 kilometers on the road . They are 01:44.356 --> 01:46.467 eligible to take the level two course 01:46.467 --> 01:48.412 passing . That means they can ride 01:48.412 --> 01:50.839 anywhere in Japan . Uh Honestly , it's 01:50.849 --> 01:53.071 been awesome . Uh I didn't have a whole 01:53.071 --> 01:55.293 lot of confidence coming in , but after 01:55.293 --> 01:57.627 the instruction that our riders coaches , 01:57.627 --> 01:57.620 uh , Dylan Austin gave us and I have 01:57.629 --> 01:59.851 all the confidence I'm ready to get out 01:59.851 --> 02:01.796 there and ride . So it , it's been 02:01.796 --> 02:04.018 awesome . Uh I've always wanted to ride 02:04.018 --> 02:03.680 a bike . Um I always had an interest in 02:03.690 --> 02:05.912 getting on a motorcycle and just having 02:05.912 --> 02:08.134 that , you know , adrenaline riding out 02:08.134 --> 02:10.357 on the road and just the freedom . I'll 02:10.357 --> 02:12.412 say the heat has been a little hot , 02:12.412 --> 02:14.579 but , um I say that the U turn portion 02:14.579 --> 02:16.579 is a little bit tricky . You have a 02:16.579 --> 02:18.746 small area you have to work within and 02:18.746 --> 02:20.968 it's a little hard doing that one , but 02:20.968 --> 02:20.520 practice makes perfect . So we keep 02:20.570 --> 02:23.839 trying . I sold my bike back in 2012 . 02:23.850 --> 02:26.017 So it's been a while since I've ridden 02:26.017 --> 02:28.128 and even though I've had experience , 02:28.128 --> 02:30.239 this is a good refresher for me and I 02:30.239 --> 02:32.350 do definitely need it . Definitely in 02:32.350 --> 02:34.985 Japan , a lot more pedestrians , riding 02:34.994 --> 02:37.735 bikes coming out of streets . So that's 02:37.744 --> 02:39.855 definitely something you have to look 02:39.855 --> 02:42.077 out for , especially even while driving 02:42.077 --> 02:44.022 cars . So it's something that I've 02:44.022 --> 02:45.966 noticed going to work just driving 02:45.966 --> 02:48.022 around town . So it's just something 02:48.022 --> 02:50.077 even that much more to be more alert 02:50.077 --> 02:52.188 for when you're on a motorcycle . The 02:52.188 --> 02:54.411 level one and level two courses will be 02:54.411 --> 02:56.577 held monthly with level one being held 02:56.577 --> 02:58.522 at the beginning of each month and 02:58.522 --> 02:58.220 level two being held in the middle of 02:58.229 --> 03:00.396 each month for more information on the 03:00.396 --> 03:02.340 course , call the US army garrison 03:02.340 --> 03:04.800 Japan safety office at 263 03:04.809 --> 03:08.009 3768 . I hope that they're able to take 03:08.020 --> 03:09.798 away a good experience , a good 03:09.798 --> 03:12.610 learning experience , safety procedures , 03:13.910 --> 03:16.210 some basic ideas of maintenance and how 03:16.220 --> 03:18.276 motorcycles work as well as how they 03:18.276 --> 03:20.539 affect daily life . Uh Overall , though 03:20.550 --> 03:23.009 I really want them to take away a sense 03:23.020 --> 03:26.289 of fun and freedom . Uh That is kind of 03:26.300 --> 03:29.029 the way that motorcycle life is for us . 03:29.039 --> 03:31.150 Army garrison Japan . This is Captain 03:31.150 --> 03:32.059 Richard Lapinski .