On the 26th of last month, at the Honda Education Center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, more than 60 vehicles, including small scooters commonly seen in urban areas and large motorcycles reaching 1800cc, were parked. Outside the building, there was a 4000㎡ (about 1200 pyeong) track available for driving practice.
Instructor Kim Seon-su, affiliated with Honda Korea, said, "This place provides education for everyone from individuals new to motorcycles to those with a license who find it difficult to ride on the road, as well as skilled riders."
The Honda Education Center is a specialized training institution for motorcycles, opened by Honda Korea in March of this year. Competing companies such as BMW and Yamaha also operate similar facilities, but Honda's is the largest in scale. It is equipped not only with an outdoor training track but also spaces for repairing and inspecting bikes, fitting and locker rooms for protective gear, and classrooms for theoretical instruction.
I attended the "beginner course," which is an introductory program for motorcycles. This theory and practical training is aimed at novice riders or those who have a license but find it difficult to ride on the road. It teaches the basic skills needed for riding, including checking the motorcycle's condition, operating techniques, riding posture, starting and stopping, shifting gears, and turning.
The training was conducted using the 125cc MSX Grom motorcycle, well-known as an introductory bike for Honda motorcycles. Its compact size and relatively low seat made it easy to mount and dismount without hassle. We also practiced lifting the bike in case it fell over; following the instructor's direction to use both hands to leverage the handlebars made it clearer despite the bike weighing over 100 kg.
However, once I started riding, I began to feel confused about the operation methods learned while stationary. I had to gently pull the clutch with my left hand and the throttle with my right, which I didn’t get used to easily. The gear, operated by my left foot, posed a challenge in subtly adjusting forces between 1st and neutral (N), and shifting to 2nd and 3rd gears while increasing speed caused the engine to stall occasionally.
Instructor Kim noted, "While it may seem simple at first glance, precise and delicate operation is essential to ride a motorcycle safely. Many do not have systematic training when starting with a motorcycle, which can make the structured education feel challenging. Even skilled riders who usually enjoy biking often struggle when they receive training."
I also received training on how to manage my gaze when turning. Unlike cars, which only require steering the wheel, a motorcycle turns based on the direction of the rider's gaze, needing to turn the head and shoulders sufficiently in this process. Achieving precise angle adjustments is not as easy as expected; in fact, the bending course is regarded as the most challenging segment in the Class 2 small vehicle practical exam.
The training courses provided by the Honda Education Center are divided according to the rider’s experience and skill level into beginner scooter/manual courses, town rider (beginner and intermediate), tour rider (intermediate), and technical rider (advanced).
Since its opening in March, over 500 individuals have received training, with a goal of increasing this to 1500 annually. A representative from Honda Korea said, "We will contribute to preventing motorcycle accidents and expanding a mature safety culture."