Huge congratulations for your hard work, and for completing the BRC! These are just some personal thoughts for those who just finished the class. This is not from MSF or any organization I coach for.
I hope you take this as not just a success that you can celebrate, which it totally is, but also understand that you've just taken on a lot of responsibility. Riding a motorcycle is a truly incredible experience, but it's not often enjoyed by those who aren't very, very good at it. At least not for very long. We can be mediocre car drivers and make it through life just fine. That's not the case on a motorcycle. On a motorcycle, you have to be an expert to stay alive. Please understand how important it is to be good at this.
Learn more. Get better. Practice. Practice. Practice.
This is just the beginning. The better you are at this, the safer you are, and the more fun you'll have. We covered a lot in the course. I'd encourage you to download the handbook, review it from time to time until you know it really well, and to go to a parking lot and practice the skills we covered regularly. This course is legit - it's the real stuff. Those skills are a great foundation. Practice them! You can buy inexpensive cones or sidewalk chalk on Amazon, or through the MSF site. I can get you some measurements for drills, or you can use something like the MotoJitsu books (info on my website), which include measurements and diagrams. Get some chalk or cones, find a parking lot, and practice. Get a bike that you won't be scared to drop and put some crash bars or frame sliders on it, and...you guessed it... PRACTICE!!!
In class, we did quick stops and swerves at 15mph. Are you going to ride at 50mph? Can you do a quick stop and a swerve at 50mph? We practiced curves at less than 15mph. Are you going to go around a curve while riding faster than that? Can you adjust your line, tighten your radius, or even stop in that curve if you have to? Please take more courses and practice. Ride within your skill level.
If you can't execute these things perfectly 10 times in a row in a parking lot, you shouldn't put yourself in the position of having to do them on the street. On the street, you only get one shot, and it has to be perfect.
Wear the gear that you want to crash in. It’s that simple. There’s a chance you’ll crash every time you ride. Are you going to ride at 70+ mph on the interstate? What gear do you want to have on when you crash that day? Do you want to have an injury that stays with you for the rest of your life? Isn’t it easier just to wear gear that keeps that from happening?
Hearing loss is permanent, and can happen within even a few minutes of riding a motorcycle at speed. Wear earplugs. It protects your hearing and blocks out the noise that you don’t want to hear, and allows you to hear the important stuff. If you don’t wear them, just know that you’re doing permanent damage to your hearing. I wear them literally every time I ride.
You're responsible for your motorcycle! Please T-CLOCs your bike! No one else if you don't! Check your air pressure before every ride. Clean and lube your chain every 600 miles. Change your oil every 2-3k miles (check your owner's manual for specifics).
You can find the book for the BRC, along with a lot of other great resources, on the MSF website here: https://www.msf-usa.org/library.aspx
I also want to mention the Yamaha Champions Riding School, which has a great online course that's on sale right now for $49. I've taken the course in person and it's incredible. This is pretty much the same thing but online. Check it out!
Below is a link to the DMV's site, which gives all the information about what you need to bring to get your endorsement, as well as locations of DMVs, and a link to download the TN Motorcycle Operator Manual:
https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services/classm.html
(If you have a current TN Driver License you only need to bring your license and the certificate you get after successfully completing the BRC. Sign that certificate in blue ink. The DMV will probably keep the certificate, so make a photo or scan it before you go if you want to keep a copy for your records or scrapbook. You will also have to pay a small fee, which varies by county.)
Be sure and check out Mid Tenn Motorcycle's website and socials for info about events, other courses, and other cool content: https://www.midtennmotorcycle.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midtennmotorcycle
Instagram: @mid_tenn_motorcycle
Welcome to the club. It's a great community, and you should be proud to be a part of it. I'd also challenge you to feel some responsibility to improve that community, educate that community, contribute, and raise the bar. You have been trained well. Ride like it. Set a good example for others in all you do while you're on the bike.
Ride safe, and hope to see ya out there!