A little late to the party, but here's my thoughts.
From the get-go, as a kid, I was interested in bikes and going as fast as possible on them. I learned very quickly that the "school of hard knocks" REALLY hurt. I sought out more experienced riders, guys who were winning, and got as much help from the ones that would as I could.
When I transitioned to track, and eventually street, I learned that many of the dirt skills didn't translate like I thought. So, I did the same thing. And very shortly, the "elders" of the time were pointing me towards different track instructions being offered. I took the first one, and got hooked. I needed to know MORE! I needed to be better, faster, more of a weapon on the track than I already thought I was.
I also transitioned to street very early, getting my M class just 1 week after my regular license. I took what was offered from MSF in the mid-90's, and found my slow speed skills were very lacking. I passed, and did well, but I knew I needed more practice and more instruction. They were testing out a military rider course aimed towards sport bikes on Ft Bragg at the time (I was a dependent child of an active duty soldier). I took it. Then more track school. Then I started what would be my journey into "sport touring". Myself and some friends were making regular road trips with our bikes. At the time, I was on my then new CBR1100XX. This was the graduated step from my first actual street bike, a Katana 750. Let me tell you, it was more of a cliff than a step! My race bike was a GSXR600 at the time, and I was NOT ready for what that big Blackbird could do! However, as much as I thought I needed work, riding with friends who had done the basic course or "had someone teach them", I could see the difference right in front of me.
I survived 50k miles on the Blackbird, and loved it immensely. But, Suzuki was dropping their "new" bad boy, the 1999 Hayabusa. I HAD to have one! At 18, no less.... But before I would let myself get put on the order list, I shipped my tail off across the US to do some training at some of the schools in California. Luckily, dad had friends stationed over there. Now, before you ask, no, my parents didn't do much in motorcycling for me aside from that. My mom was very against it. I actually didn't live at home at the time, having moved out at 16. But, I did keep close to my dad, who secretly always had my back. He loved to ride, then met my mom.... I had a great paying gig for a family friend, thankfully. He also sponsored some of my track endeavors.
So, training done, Hayabusa delivered, and an opportunity to do something NUTS!! I picked the bike up on a Friday, wacked the 500 mile break in on it, and had it back at the dealer for the 500 mile service Saturday morning. Loaded to the HILT, btw. Me and the friend on my old Blackbird spent 2 months that summer riding all 48 states on these 2 missiles! 26k miles!
That trip was where I realized just how important all that training I took was, and how much more I really should get. So many situations were only avoided because I HAD that training, and some were close enough I felt like a little more would be beneficial. I needed more STREET training. Real world, save my bacon sorts of things.
I never stopped, aside from a brief hiatus in riding all together several years ago. I took advanced rider courses, street skills courses, you name it. I also learned that I needed to keep PRACTICING the skills, make the second nature. I found my young, indestructible self in group rides, and watching people have crashes going "how did you manage that?" This lead me to crash analyzation. All the skills in the world won't help if you don't know WHAT skill was missing to cause a crash.
Fast forward many years, and the "indestructible" cycle of life is a long way behind me. I've been a track instructor, and I'm currently an MSF instructor. I constantly seek improvement still. Last season, a fellow RC got me doing some of the police training drills. I thought I was pretty good, but those guys take it up a few notches!
There is always more to learn. As much training and seat time as I have, there is still more to learn. A LOT more. My next endeavor is to certify for the MSF ADV cert. I'm an on and off ADV rider already, but I'm far removed from my childhood self ripping dirt bikes through the woods and on tracks. There are so many people far better at it than I am, and I fully intend on absorbing as much of their knowledge as I can. At almost 43 years of age, with a hopefully long and adventurous riding career ahead of me, I hope to never stop learning.
