A certified rider course will put you on the road to your motorcycle license.

There are few people who don't feel a little surge of adrenaline at the thought of driving a motorcycle. Be it a low-slung chopper or a souped-up racing bike, there's just something about a motorcycle that gets our hearts racing a little faster. Even classic icons of cool like Steve McQueen and Marlon Brando somehow looked even cooler when they were sitting on a bike.

Bill Bartels, the owner of Bartels Harley Davidson knows all about the allure of fine motorcycles. But Bartels also knows that riding a motorcycle requires skill, practice, and perhaps most importantly, a license. If you think you want to learn to ride a motorcycle, let Bartels fill you in on what you can expect:

• Find a rider training course. You'll have to pass a state approved driving test to get your motorcycle license, which means you'll need some instruction first. Certified motorcycle schools and training programs are your best bet, and chances are there's one near you. Bartels recommends the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), which has more than 1,000 locations across the US and can take you from absolute beginner to license holder.

• Bring protective gear. You won't need your own motorcycle just yet. The most you'll need for a program like the ones run by the MSF is your own helmet, boots and jacket. The instructor will put you on a motorcycle and start you on the path to your license.

• Classroom and practical training. According to Bartels, you should expect a day of classroom instructions followed by a day of riding. Don't expect your very first practical lesson to be too intense, though. Bartels knows at least one instructor who puts students on a bike with the engine off, letting them get used to balancing by pushing themselves along with their feet.

• Find your comfort level. The idea is to get used to the basics before you go zooming down the highway with the throttle open. Professional instruction programs like those offered by the MSF are designed to let you find your comfort level first, then gradually build your skills from there. And once you really know how to ride, you can get to the really cool part: hitting the open road and riding to your heart's content.

For more information on learning to ride a motorcycle, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles or check out the following organizations and websites:

Motorcycle Safety Foundation
www.msf-usa.org

National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators (SMSA)
www.smsa.org

The American Motorcyclist Association
www.ama-cycle.org/index.asp