It is the American male's most short-lived trait, the belief that ownership bestows wisdom, and that acquisition automatically includes mad skills. When it comes to a motorcycle, we think that everything we need to know we learned from a T-shirt that reads, "Ride it like you stole it."

That kind of attitude gets motorcycle riders killed. When you purchase a motorcycle you place yourself on a learning curve with big consequences. If you can't tolerate real danger, go play a video game. If you really want to know how to ride a motorcycle, you need to work at the skills. It's worth the effort. The curriculum, once mastered, opens up whole new kingdoms of adrenaline.

The American Motorcyclist Association website lists almost 40 schools for street, track-based, motocross, dirt track and off-road training. If you're a new rider, the courses listed below are too advanced. Visit the Motorcycle Safety Foundation website and find a beginner class near you, which will give you the necessary skills to be safe on the road. Once you have some riding under your belt, or if you're already an experienced rider who wants to take the next step, these four schools are the elite. Bikes and gear aren't mandatory; all four will provide if necessary. A sense of adventure, well, that is mandatory.

Video: Courtesy California Superbike School
Photo: Studio819, Brandon Bones Photography