Beginner not taking MSF

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celt · #11 Unread post by **celt** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:53 am

i've never ridden a scooter.

i always assumed that with the larger ones you basically have an automatic motorcycle.

perhaps i'm completely off base here, but i figured that riding a burghman or a silverwing would require the same skills as riding a motorcycle minus the manual transmission.

so what you're saying is that since a scooter is completely different than a motorcycle,

talking my wife into buying a touring scooter should be all the easier because she won't have to bother taking an MSF course?

and of course she won't have to get a special license or take a test for it, so that will help as well.

thanks for the info.

jonnythan · Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:59 am

celt wrote:i've never ridden a scooter.

i always assumed that with the larger ones you basically have an automatic motorcycle.

perhaps i'm completely off base here, but i figured that riding a burghman or a silverwing would require the same skills as riding a motorcycle minus the manual transmission.

so what you're saying is that since a scooter is completely different than a motorcycle,

talking my wife into buying a touring scooter should be all the easier because she won't have to bother taking an MSF course?

and of course she won't have to get a special license or take a test for it, so that will help as well.

thanks for the info.

The larger ones, sure. But when someone says "I've ridden a scooter," it doesn't mean that they're an experienced Silverwing rider.

Riding a small scooter around town is a *completely* different experience.

Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:26 am

Yeah- Rider's edge is essentially the BRC but for a longer period with a break to ride harleys and they include lunch and dinner. They are after all the largest sponsor of MSF. Pretty nice but insanely stupid in how long it goes.

nate1714 · #14 Unread post by **nate1714** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:33 am

ok i have never taken the MSF course...but i have taken the DOT course for my state that works with MSF and other agencys..and its only 20$ and i get that back or a tee shirt if they keep it... but a class is worth it...and if u going to learn to ride with out one ..find a good friend and a parking lot for a few weeks..then get ur permit...then start on small side streets..if u try to skip anything here u will get pegged and not in a good way...

Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:42 am

Not sure about your state, but you need your permit and another rider present to even practice in a parking lot in Va. Make sure to look into it.

jstark47 · #16 Unread post by **jstark47** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:19 am

celt wrote:the original poster didn't specify which kind of scooter...

i'll bet that the larger scooters (burghman, silverwing, etc..) are quite similar in power and weight to a motorcycle.

of course they're automatic, so that's a huge difference, but...

jonnythan wrote:He said he "has ridden a scooter." My mom has ridden a scooter and she wouldn't know wtf to do if she sat on a motorcycle. I've ridden a scooter, and I still didn't know a thing about bikes.

Riding a scooter doesn't teach you anything about motorcycling.

I gotta disagree with both you guys a little bit. (I rode a Honda Reflex for 9 months before I rode a street motorcycle, then continued to switch back and forth for a while.) The maxi-scooters have both strong similarities to and differences from motorcycles. Weight and horsepower are comparable to smaller motorcycles. The same principles of counter-steering and leaning apply, but the physical actions involved are somewhat different due to no straddling and no footpegs to weight. Auto trans., of course. Scooter lean angles can be pretty radical, but low-speed handling can be a pain 'cause of long wheelbase and no clutch to feather. Eye discipline (go where you look) is the same. And all the street positioning skills for surviving traffic are the same.

jstark47 · #17 Unread post by **jstark47** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:25 am

celt wrote:i've never ridden a scooter.

i always assumed that with the larger ones you basically have an automatic motorcycle.

perhaps i'm completely off base here, but i figured that riding a burghman or a silverwing would require the same skills as riding a motorcycle minus the manual transmission.

so what you're saying is that since a scooter is completely different than a motorcycle,

talking my wife into buying a touring scooter should be all the easier because she won't have to bother taking an MSF course?

and of course she won't have to get a special license or take a test for it, so that will help as well.

thanks for the info.

Unfortunately, there's no special rider course I've ever heard of specifically for auto-trans maxi-scoots. I would say that they have more things in common than different from motorcycles (see my previous post), therefore your wife should take the MSF course. Can't see that she would learn anything at MSF that would actually disadvantage her on a maxi-scooter.

#18 Unread post by **Koss** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:34 am

Without a doubt... take a motorcycle training course. There are usually multiple places in a city that offers the course. And neighboring cities, towns, etc. And there are other programs that offer something similar, like the Riders Edge course offered by most Harley Davidson dealerships (you even get a discount on apparel if I remember correctly).

Get your license, check out various bikes you might be interested that fit within the guidelines discussed on here, or at Dragonhawks website (But.. DO NOT BUY one yet). Then shop for insurance on the bikes you are interested in to see what you are looking at. Then buy a newbie friendly motorcycle... have the bike transported to your door by truck, or experienced motorcyclist. Make sure to read all the varying viewpoints on how to break in the engine with a brand new motorcycle if you don't buy used (which is highly suggested to buy used as a new rider).

At any point of time during all of this, if you wanna pick up some books on riding... be my guest! Here are two that are a must have if you are going to read on the subject of motorcycles.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence: Skills, Knowledge, and Strategies for Riding Right (2nd Edition)

After you study that... then go onto this next book:

Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well

If you have any more requests for books to read after these two... come on back here and ask... I could talk all day about great books on the subject

Rinse... repeat if desired

Flipper · #19 Unread post by **Flipper** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:57 am

Duster,

Since you're in a hurry, you should skip the MSF if you have good medical insurance. Life is short, right?
If you have a little mishap when you're "learning"and need to see a doctor, maybe you could find one with the same philosophy as you. One that was in a hurry to become a doctor and skipped medical school. Just read the books. That counts right? Maybe he took care of his dog when he was youing and "has a feel for doctoring".

Please don't "learn" in my neighborhood.

OK, I'll stop now. I just needed to get that out.

Duster, PLEASE wait and take the MSF.

Your friend, (even though you don't realize it)

Flipper

ANDS! · #20 Unread post by **ANDS!** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:06 am

I think some of you are being a bit EXTREME in your arguments. Theres a difference between practicing responsibly in a parking lot, and rolling out on the trafficked streets. If this guy wants to first gear it around a TARGET in full gear, let him. Certainly no one wants him to be a statistic, but COMMON SENSE can prevent that even if he doesn't take the course. I'm sure there are a healthy number of people riding safely on the streets who both have and haven't taken this course.