April 2020

by Gary Klinker

Since I’m writing this over a month from when you will read it, it may be part wishful thinking and part predictions. I was gone the first half of March, but all the Safe Rider projects were caught up to date before I left. I am hoping by the time you see this that we will have gotten some riding in and that all your bikes are ready for a long riding season. Registrations for classes are coming in at a very good rate. It looks like we will have a good season.

What I can report as fact is that we have upgraded the Safe Rider computer system and are working with an accountant so we can continue to operate a sound business model. We also purchased a new bike to add to the fleet of training bikes. Our goal is to continually upgrade so that the students can try different styles and brands of bikes. By getting newer bikes we can save money on repairs and mechanical problems. Our job is to train riders, not keep bikes running with the limited time we have on the range. The use of mostly fuel injected bikes and using quality gas with no alcohol has been a great step in eliminating problems with the bikes.

In addition to the advertising we do at the ABATE Officer Training weekend, we have gotten business cards for all the Rider Coaches. They give contacts and registration information and look really cool to boot. We are also going to put the Safe Rider logo on the sides of the trailer that Shawn and I bought last year. It is used for all the class bike hauling. Depending on the weather, I should have a picture of it for the May issue.

Our Safe Rider training day and Board meeting went well. I want to thank everyone for taking time to attend. The Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program Spring Kick-off was a productive day. There are new procedures we will have to adopt to report completions for the classes along with other new policies. The same day John Reblin chaired another good MOSAC meeting. Both events are good venues for information and networking with committed people in the motorcycle training industry.

If you get out on the road, be careful. Watch out for ice and sand. Remember that motorists are not in the habit of seeing bikes after a long winter. If we don’t watch out for ourselves no one else will.

Ride Safe,

Gary