I honestly can believe how all of the opinions here differ regarding the MSF....
I am taking mine because apparently my M class wasnt transferred when I moved to NH then back to NY... I however have not been on a motorcycle in almost 10 years.. Bought a scooter in the end of March and by the 2nd week of April wanted a motorcycle again.... I picked up a Nighthawk 750 on ebay a couple of weeks back after the 1st day I put almost 100 miles on it... Unfortunately after a day of hard riding realized that the fork seals were leaking and had to bring it into Honda.... So this past weekend I picked up a Shadow Spirit 750 and rode it right out of the dealer....
Most people I have talked to come out of MSF with a little higher of a comfort level....
Bringing the bike home..
The MSF is fine, great, wonderful, everyone should take it....
...but, at least around here, the entire "street riding" part of the course consisted of some video presentations and one "lane change" exercise where you were supposed to pretend to do a lane change by pretending to check your mirrors (bike didn't have them), signal, do a head-check, move to the side, and turn off your turn signal. Everything else was bike control.
And it was all bike control on flat level ground. The first thing you've got to do to leave the parking lot of the dealership is traverse a sidewalk/driveway/rain gutter which is definitely *not* level ground.
It is nothing against the MSF.
...but, at least around here, the entire "street riding" part of the course consisted of some video presentations and one "lane change" exercise where you were supposed to pretend to do a lane change by pretending to check your mirrors (bike didn't have them), signal, do a head-check, move to the side, and turn off your turn signal. Everything else was bike control.
And it was all bike control on flat level ground. The first thing you've got to do to leave the parking lot of the dealership is traverse a sidewalk/driveway/rain gutter which is definitely *not* level ground.
It is nothing against the MSF.
Ride it like you think owning it matters.
i found the msf gave me the basic skills to ride my bike home. I did fine but i have heard stories of people crashing dropping there bikes right outta the parking lot. Its the same with new drivers the accident rate is just higher because of experience.
Either you feel comfortable enough after the msf to take it or you dont. I did others might not.
Either you feel comfortable enough after the msf to take it or you dont. I did others might not.
Like Bob the MSF guy said "Smile your on a bike" :)
Member of DWPOMD
owner of a pretty red SV650S
Member of DWPOMD
owner of a pretty red SV650S
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scan
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- Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:43 am
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 8
- My Motorcycle: 2003 Kawasaki ZRX1200R
- Location: Yellow Springs, OH
MSF works on your slow moving and maneuvering skills. Going faster and moving through traffic is for you to practice after you can control the bike a slow speed. MSF starts you like you never rode a bike in your life and that you need all the basics. MSF is the foundation to a good future as a rider. IMHO.
You learn in the parking lot (the range) so when you are on the street you can control your bike from a stop and stop your bike without falling down (basically).
What do people have against it? I don't know. I think some people learn on the street, slowly by themselves, or have learned by falling a lot and view that is important to skill building. For some folks it's hard to say something is good that they didn't do, so that may be part. AND if you learned on you own before the MSF class you may feel certain parts are too easy, and you may not agree with what they are teaching you, since you have pre-determined what you needed to do to ride. I've heard it is harder to un-learn bad habits than teach a fresh brain.
You learn in the parking lot (the range) so when you are on the street you can control your bike from a stop and stop your bike without falling down (basically).
What do people have against it? I don't know. I think some people learn on the street, slowly by themselves, or have learned by falling a lot and view that is important to skill building. For some folks it's hard to say something is good that they didn't do, so that may be part. AND if you learned on you own before the MSF class you may feel certain parts are too easy, and you may not agree with what they are teaching you, since you have pre-determined what you needed to do to ride. I've heard it is harder to un-learn bad habits than teach a fresh brain.
* 2003 Kawasaki ZRX1200R *
"What good fortune for those of us in power that people do not think. " Hitler - think about that one for a minute.
"What good fortune for those of us in power that people do not think. " Hitler - think about that one for a minute.
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bok
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- Location: Cowtown (Calgary Alberta)
the course i took had an actual road ride that lasted about 2 or 3 hours and did in city and on highway riding.
the reason i dropped my bike when i picked it up was i didn't know where the friction point was on this new bike and gave it too much gas. combined with the excitement of a new bike and nerves from people watching me take my new ride out for the first time, it becomes really easy to drop your bike at the dealership.
the MSF prepares you as best they can to ride but you still have to get used to a new bike, and that is probably best done on slower streets or a parking lot instead of right into rush hour traffic to get the bike home.
the reason i dropped my bike when i picked it up was i didn't know where the friction point was on this new bike and gave it too much gas. combined with the excitement of a new bike and nerves from people watching me take my new ride out for the first time, it becomes really easy to drop your bike at the dealership.
the MSF prepares you as best they can to ride but you still have to get used to a new bike, and that is probably best done on slower streets or a parking lot instead of right into rush hour traffic to get the bike home.
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I just bought a Yamaha V-Star 1100 Custom and the seller delivered the bike to me personally. After the MSF course, I did not feel I was road ready. I have been on a motorcycle twice in my life. Once was for the two day MSF course and that was on a 250cc. The second time was in a school parking lot near my girlfriend's house. Tonight will be the third time ever on a motorcycle.
My point is: I am in no rush to get it out on the street. The MSF course gives you the basics, but by no means qualifies you for the street. Luckily, the guy I bought the bike from is a teaching me how to ride. How fortunate I am to have a Vietnam veteran with 39 years of riding experience willing to teach me to be a good rider. I am privileged. Further, I think every newbie should be mentored by a veteran rider.
Have a friend ride it to your house or have the seller deliver. If you are not road ready, don't be a fool and try to be. Practice starting on a hill, lay out bricks or cones and practice turns, practice starting from a dead stop as if to simulate stop signs and red lights. This is the hard stuff. Do a lot of low speed manuevering. Remember: under speed the bike will pretty much do what you want it to do, but at lower speeds the bike wants to do what it wants to do. If you can control it at slow speeds and in tight settings, you are, in my view, road ready.
My point is: I am in no rush to get it out on the street. The MSF course gives you the basics, but by no means qualifies you for the street. Luckily, the guy I bought the bike from is a teaching me how to ride. How fortunate I am to have a Vietnam veteran with 39 years of riding experience willing to teach me to be a good rider. I am privileged. Further, I think every newbie should be mentored by a veteran rider.
Have a friend ride it to your house or have the seller deliver. If you are not road ready, don't be a fool and try to be. Practice starting on a hill, lay out bricks or cones and practice turns, practice starting from a dead stop as if to simulate stop signs and red lights. This is the hard stuff. Do a lot of low speed manuevering. Remember: under speed the bike will pretty much do what you want it to do, but at lower speeds the bike wants to do what it wants to do. If you can control it at slow speeds and in tight settings, you are, in my view, road ready.
[img]http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i139/Npeart_2006/DSCN0153.jpg[/img]
Coiled for the spring or caught like a creature in the headlights of a desperate panic or a tempest of blind fury
Coiled for the spring or caught like a creature in the headlights of a desperate panic or a tempest of blind fury
As stated by many others, if you put down a large down payment or pay in full, the dealers will often throw in a few freebies. I did not ask for a whole lot, but when I brought my first bike, I did ask for free delivery which they agreed to. In hindsite, I am glad I had it delivered.
In regard to MSF, I had a good class with good weather and good instructors. I took it mainly because it was the quickest and most convenient way to go about getting my motorcycle endorsement.
In regard to MSF, I had a good class with good weather and good instructors. I took it mainly because it was the quickest and most convenient way to go about getting my motorcycle endorsement.
I would say do everything you can to have the bike trailered home.
Do you have a vehicle that can tow? If so you can rent a uhaul motorcycle trailer for 25 bucks.
Totally worth it if you think about the risk if you dumping it. Or having the owner ride the bike .... would he be insured?
If he does something stupid with a bike in your name...could people come after you?
James
Do you have a vehicle that can tow? If so you can rent a uhaul motorcycle trailer for 25 bucks.
Totally worth it if you think about the risk if you dumping it. Or having the owner ride the bike .... would he be insured?
If he does something stupid with a bike in your name...could people come after you?
James
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The Grinch
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The answer to your question really depends on whether you feel confident enough to handle an unfamiliar bike with only the MSF class for experience. If you do, go for it. If not, then have it delivered or ask a trusted friend to ride it home for you.
I rode both of my bikes home from the dealer. My first bike was an EX500 and I rode it home 12 miles with no experience other than the MSF class. I rode my second bike, a Honda F4i, home after not having ridden anything for almost a year. No problems with either of them.
I rode both of my bikes home from the dealer. My first bike was an EX500 and I rode it home 12 miles with no experience other than the MSF class. I rode my second bike, a Honda F4i, home after not having ridden anything for almost a year. No problems with either of them.