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This week on MCrider, I want to do something totally different.
I want to discourage some of you from riding a motorcycle.
“You Can Do Anything You Set Your Mind To…”
You’ve heard this phrase before. A well-meaning person will say it to encourage someone struggling through a challenge.
And I get it. I truly believe that with hard work and determination, most of us can do far more than we initially believe. But the idea that a person can do anything they set their mind to? That’s just not true.
I’ve never met anyone who’s grown wings and learned to fly—though I admit, flying would be pretty cool.
My Childhood Dream (That Didn’t Happen)
If you asked 8-year-old Kevin what I was going to do with my life, here’s what I’d have told you:
- Play tailback for the Blytheville Chickasaws.
- Get recruited to play for USC.
- Become an NFL star running back for the LA Rams.
- Retire after a long, successful career in the NFL.
I was determined. I played Nerf football in the front yard every day. I was the best football player on my block.
Then reality hit. As a high school freshman, I weighed 95 lbs, was about 5 feet tall, and I wasn’t particularly fast. Not only was scoring long touchdowns unlikely—I had to jump around in the shower just to get wet.
Not Every Rider Is Ready
Over the years teaching motorcycle safety courses, I’ve met riders who breezed through and earned their license. Others struggled but passed after a few tries.
And then there were some—rare, but unforgettable—who were a disaster waiting to happen on two wheels.
A Story That Still Sticks With Me
One weekend, I got a call from the owner of the training center.
“You’ve got a rider coming back. She failed the written test last week. She doesn’t speak much English but wants to try again—this time with an interpreter.”
The next day, she showed up with her interpreter—her boss, actually. The two ladies sat together in class.
The student had recently become a U.S. citizen and worked as a house cleaner. She walked two miles to and from work every day. When her employer found out, they surprised her with a scooter for her birthday.
She wanted to get her license so she could ride instead of walk. With the help of her interpreter, she passed the written test.
But Then Came the Riding Portion…
We put her on a scooter for the range exercises. Unfortunately, it was clear almost immediately that she was a danger to herself and others.
I had to pull the class aside, speak with her and her boss, and let them know I couldn’t allow her to continue. It was too risky.
They were disappointed—and so was I. I recommended one-on-one instruction or additional practice in an empty lot.
Round Two—And Still Not Ready
Two weeks later, she was back.
Same rider. Same boss. Same hope.
She had been practicing and believed she was ready. But this time, her riding performance was even worse.
I had to deliver the same tough message: riding wasn’t safe for her yet.
We talked again. I reminded them that while getting a motorcycle license is important, staying alive is far more important—especially when you plan to ride in a city like Dallas, TX.
In the end, they agreed she wasn’t ready for the street. I’m not sure what happened after that—if she tried again, or if they found a different instructor.
Instructors Don’t Fail Students—Standards Do
To my fellow MSF instructors: you’ve likely been in similar situations. We don’t fail students—the student either meets the state and MSF standard for motorcycle safety, or they don’t.
And sometimes, no matter how much you want someone to succeed, it just isn’t safe to put them on the road.
The Truth About Motorcycle Safety and Determination
I get messages from riders struggling to pass the MSF class. And most of the time, with enough effort, they eventually do.
- Some pass on the 2nd or 3rd try.
- I know one rider who passed on the 5th attempt.
But some riders, like me with my NFL dreams, are chasing the wrong goal—and that’s okay.
Motorcycle safety is serious. If you're not ready or capable, it's better to step away than to risk your life or someone else’s.
Till next week…
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