Texas Motorcycle Training Jim (James) Slaughter and Shannon Harden Motorcycle Training Class Rip Off Plano, Texas

It’s apparent that the class and i where extremely fortunate that we had Ricky as an instructor and not Jim, Ricky was an awesome teacher/instructor. He is an extremely skilled rider and takes the time to identify your downfalls "without screaming", pull you aside and either tell you what you’re doing incorrectly and tell or "hop on a bike" and show you the correct way. As stated I have 10 yeas sportbike experience and after the class i felt more confidant in the saddle then every besides after track days school.

The second day Jim "the owner/instructor" was a complete "JERK" for the 10 minutes he was on site, very offensive, Rude, and just plain mean! After he dropped the trailer and thankfully left everyone in my class said they would of quit the first day because this guy was so mean. If you plan on attending this class I would without a doubt call and request Ricky’s class and if he is full and you can wait or there are ton of other places to take the class...If you attend Ricky’s class you will need to bring a bag of M & M's with peanuts. guy loves those things..

Jim is a old military guy and very firm with what he thinks is a good way to get into people heads, in a way he is correct and his methods work but this is everyday life/a basic motorcycle class and not the military! I am unsure how his family "if he has one" and no disrespect intended puts up with him? He is alot like my father "that was navy vet" and alot like Jim. I have typed more here in this review then the amount of words spoken to my father from when i was 16 to 30 years old "when he died" because he was so mean and firm "stuck in his military ways”. My family loved him but it was only because we had to, it kills me to say that but it's true.

Good luck any future riders and as Ricky said a million freakin times to the class “look where you’re going and not the ground"!

My 15 year old son a beginner rider just took this course and passed without any problems. Jim and the other members of his team are patient and professional. I did see him yell a few times to be heard over the motorcycles but not in an offensive way.

My son stated Jim was hard on him but only because he wants people to listen and be safe. My son stated he appreciates the firm professional instruction he received in this safety class.

Thank you Mr. Slaughter for teaching my son to be a safe motorcyclist.

Took the course around October 27-30 2011

First of all if it has taken you 4 hours to balance your bike and operate the controls you are a danger to others and wasting other class members time. Go learn to ride a bicycle first. The first sign of not signing up to the class is if you cannot ride a bicycle. Not only is this a selfish thing taking others time, but you are also endangering others. Sign up for private lessons is my advice. I am amazed he had the patience to wait 4 hours. Jim is not yelling at you to be mean. It is loud out there and the only way to be heard is to be loud.

Second person talking trash about this course, I am not trying to bash you  but there were adequate breaks and if you are late it is by the rule book you are ejected. IF HE OFFERED YOU $150 credit towards PRIVATE lessons you just got one heck of a deal. NO BODY WILL DO THAT IF YOU GET EJECTED. And I highly doubt you got ejected for "confronting". And food? What are you a princess? Bring a lunch the second day if you find out you have to stuff your face. I GOT 7 P's for you. "Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance". I asked multiple questions during my class and I didn't get a snide remark. You remind me of the kid in class that calls the Professor an a*****e when you don't even raise your hand to get your question answered.

Bottom line is it has been over half a year I believe I got my certificate around 10-30-2011. 

My advice to those who are skeptical. 

1. Make sure you know how to ride a bicycle.
2. Read everything on the website before you sign up
3. BEING LATE AND NOT ADMITTED IS A RULE SET BY THE MSF (In my class we waited like 5 minutes which is plenty more than 0 minutes)
4. Raise your hand and ask questions.
5. HAVE FUN AND BRING WATER & LUNCH! (I personally didn't eat I just drank water and it kept me fine.)

On March 6 - 7, 2012, I attended a Motorcycle Safety Course taught by Texas Motorcycle Training of Plano, TX.

I strongly believed that when I signed up for this course, it would be taught by a professional that had teaching skills, and respected the rights of others.  I was very disappointed to find out the instructor (Jim Slaughter) intended to teach using intimidation and yelling to get his point across.

On multiple occasions the instructor would yell at the class in general, or an individual, if an infraction had occurred.  Many times the instructor would not explain himself adequately as what he was expecting, and subsequently an infraction would occur, which brought the yelling or a snide remark.  One student other than myself named him the Cycle n**i.

The instructor also made a point of telling the class about how many students he had dismissed from previous classes. This was obviously an attempt to get the class in line!

Jim Slaughter remarked that he was a former Marine and his style reminded me of a drill instructor.  I did not enlist in the Marines, nor did I expect to attend a Marine Boot Camp, just a motorcycle safety course.

Yelling and intimidation is not an effective teaching technique for anyone over the age of 2, and probably not at that age either.  If the instructor would have just pointed out the problem, and a solution, the adults in the class would have responded accordingly.

After a day and a half I could not take Jim Slaughters abuse any longer and confronted him.  I was then kicked out of the class.

In my opinion the instructor, Jim Slaughter, should either take some courses in proper teaching techniques, or retire as a Motorcycle Safety Course instructor.

There are many other Motorcycle Safety Courses out there that are taught by people that know how to instruct in a positive manner.  Dont let a cheaper price sway you into this course.

Additional comments: Repeated comments by Jim Slaughter that if anyone falls behind they will be removed from class and they can take private lessons for $680, but he would give them a $150 credit.  Is this a way of trying to sell private lessons?

Hardly any breaks during class.  The class was taught in a shopping mall parking lot which did not have restroom facilities.  There were no set breaks and the couple of breaks that were offered; we only had ten minutes to get from the parking lot to the mall, find a restroom, and return.  Only 30 minutes for lunch on both days and again we had to run for a fast food restaurant, stuff down a sandwich, and run back to the class.  We were told repeatedly that if we did not get back to class on time that we would be removed. All this and the class got out early on both days.

On March 6 - 7, 2012, I attended a Motorcycle Safety Course taught by Texas Motorcycle Training of Plano, TX.

I strongly believed that when I signed up for this course, it would be taught by a professional that had teaching skills, and respected the rights of others.  I was very disappointed to find out the instructor (Jim Slaughter) intended to teach using intimidation and yelling to get his point across.

On multiple occasions the instructor would yell at the class in general, or an individual, if an infraction had occurred.  Many times the instructor would not explain himself adequately as what he was expecting, and subsequently an infraction would occur, which brought the yelling or a snide remark.  One student other than myself named him the Cycle n**i.

The instructor also made a point of telling the class about how many students he had dismissed from previous classes. This was obviously an attempt to get the class in line! Jim Slaughter remarked that he was a former Marine and his style reminded me of a drill instructor.  I did not enlist in the Marines, nor did I expect to attend a Marine Boot Camp, just a motorcycle safety course.

Yelling and intimidation is not an effective teaching technique for anyone over the age of 2, and probably not at that age either.  If the instructor would have just pointed out the problem, and a solution, the adults in the class would have responded accordingly.

After a day and a half I could not take Jim Slaughters abuse any longer and confronted him.  I was then kicked out of the class.

In my opinion the instructor, Jim Slaughter, should either take some courses in proper teaching techniques, or retire as a Motorcycle Safety Course instructor.

There are many other Motorcycle Safety Courses out there that are taught by people that know how to instruct in a positive manner.  Dont let a cheaper price sway you into this course.

Additional comments: Repeated comments by Jim Slaughter that if anyone falls behind they will be removed from class and they can take private lessons for $680, but he would give them a $150 credit.  Is this a way of trying to sell private lessons?

Hardly any breaks during class.  The class was taught in a shopping mall parking lot which did not have restroom facilities.  There were no set breaks and the couple of breaks that were offered; we only had ten minutes to get from the parking lot to the mall, find a restroom, and return.  Only 30 minutes for lunch on both days and again we had to run for a fast food restaurant, stuff down a sandwich, and run back to the class.  We were told repeatedly that if we did not get back to class on time that we would be removed. All this and the class got out early on both days.

At a very early age my mother repeatedly
told me, Jim, only a Fool argues with a Fool.

So therefore I will not argue with John Tran. 
He is entitled to his opinion. 

What I will do is quote a few of the students that were in John Trans Basic Rider Course Class of seven students (the Basic Rider Course is a requirement in order to get a motorcycle license in the State of Texas).  These quotes came from the
Texas Department of Public Safety Motorcycle Operator Training Program Student
Evaluation Form filled out by each student at the end of the BRC class.
    1.  
One Rider in Training (John Tran) had a very difficult time understanding and following Instructions.  Our Instructor was very patient and offered
lots of help but he (John Tran) was just too dangerous to have out there.
     2. 
There was an issue on the first day for which Jim had to immediately address and did so Professionally.
     3.
I would like to thank Jim Slaughter for great coaching to keep us safe, including the removal of a student, John Tran.
     4.
John Tran was treated fairly and respectfully.  He was dangerous for the
other students and instructor.  The decision to remove him from the class was the right one.

Every Rider Coach is entrusted with the safety of each of his students as an
individual, the safety of his class as whole and his safety. Safety is the
paramount concern throughout the class.

John Tran was not safe riding the training motorcycle assigned to him.  He was a danger to himself and the other students in his class.

Ironically, I believe, I may have saved John Trans life by not allowing him to get a Texas
Motorcycle License.

Jim
Slaughter

How many others were dismissed from class for being too slow?

If you were the only one perhaps he was right.  After all if you haven't figured out how to do the basics such as balance the bike, use the brakes and shift gears in 4 hours you may have been holding up everyone else.