My M.S.F class was a joke...

[blues2cruise]

Up here in Canada, there are no government sponsored MSF classes. we have to pay. The cost is usually $600. - $800.
Your course sounds like the one I had. The instuctor was so bad, I did not finish the whole course. I complained to the licensing authority here and managed to get some of my money back.
I then hired a different instructor to get me back on track.

It would be in your best interest and the best interest of future learner's to report this fellow. He needs to be inspected by the authorities who oversee these kind things. If they don't know what he's like, it won't change.
When you are paying him to teach you, his attention should be 100% on the class.

[Lion_Lady]

Interesting that priotan posted up his rant and hasn't been back since.

I smell a troll.

Before enrolling in any class, ask about 'retakes.' That is, if you fail to pass/get your certification, do they CHARGE you to retake the test at a later date, or do you get a chance to come back and try again without paying for the whole class again?

The Rider's Edge allows 30 days to come and retest. I think that (in MD at least) its the same.

Some PRIVATE companies charge for retakes and even insist you sign up again and pay tuition again... DO NOT get sucked in by those. Think about it, WHY would they even pass ANYONE if they could get you to take the class twice?

P

[Zaax]

wow.

I am from Israel and here, for an up to 500cc manual transmission licence (soon to be changed to an up to 33hp bike) u need to do 15 mandatory lessons.

then, a year later, u can need to do another 8 lessons to be able to ride an over 500cc (soon to be over 33hp) bike.

only a 50cc (soon to be up to 14hp, 125cc) licence is easy - pass a contol test only, and that if you have a car licence!!!

today i finished my 7th lesson!

[VermilionX]

wow.

I am from Israel and here, for an up to 500cc manual transmission licence (soon to be changed to an up to 33hp bike) u need to do 15 mandatory lessons.

then, a year later, u can need to do another 8 lessons to be able to ride an over 500cc (soon to be over 33hp) bike.

only a 50cc (soon to be up to 14hp, 125cc) licence is easy - pass a contol test only, and that if you have a car licence!!!

today i finished my 7th lesson!

congrats!

but i love the freedom here in the U.S.

im so glad we moved here.

[Zaax]

um i got an offtopic question.

you dont need an spechial l motorcycle licence at all in the US? I have had a driving licence for about 17 years. is this enough?

there is a chance ill be coming to the US for a year or two, before i actualy finish my lessons and get my motorcycle licence here.

would i be able to drive one in the US?

[VermilionX]

um i got an offtopic question.

you dont need an spechiel motorcycle licence at all? I have had a driving licence for about 17 years.

there is a chance ill be coming to the US for a year or two, before i actualy finish my lessons and ge my licence here.
would i be able to drive in the US?

there are 2 kinds of bike license.

M1 is the common one and it will let you ride anything from a humble scooter to a top speed monster like a ZX-14.

[t_bonee]

You still need a motorcycle license in the US. Most states do what is called an endorsement, which is adding a M to your current drivers license to indicate you are licensed to ride a motorcycle as well.

What Verm meant was in the US, we don't have all thoes restrictions on what size bike you can ride nor do we have any required course to take to get a motorcycle license/endorsement. You can show up at the DMV, take a written test to get your learners permit. I think it is 2 weeks after that, you can show up at the DMV with a motorcycle and if you pass the riding test, you have your endorsement.

What most folks do though, is take the Motorcycle Safety Foundations (MSF) Basic Riders Course. It teaches you the basics you need to know to get started riding a motorcycle over a 4 hour classroom session and 2 days (mine were 8 hourse each) on a course riding. Upon successful completion of said MSF course, you usually have your DMV riding test waived and can just get the endorsement. Then you are legal to ride.

[Reflex439]

I must tell you: I think it is insane for a rider course to give anyone a license after only two days of riding a 250cc bike.

In MA, I took a 20 question test, and I walked out of there with a permit that allowed me to ride any size bike on the roads. I'm only limited to daytime riding, and no passenger, but thats it. No riding course, to practice, I didn't even have to prove I could start it, hold it up standing still, shifting, etc. Nothing! Now thats insane!

Unlike yours, the MSF course I took was very well done. We studied the book, did a lot of Q&A and discussions on various situations and tactics to use. During the riding, we got to do all the usual skills practice, such as braking on a corner, cornering, emergency stopping, counter steering, emergency swerving, and so on. I rode a lot for about 4 years back in the late 70's early 80's, then took 18 years off. All the basic skills came right back to me when I jumped on the MSF bike, but the skills practice allowed me to regain some of the confidence I was lacking as the hiatus. It was definitely worth it for me, even after having 5 years riding under my belt, I can't see how it wouldn't benefit a beginning rider.

On another note, there were two people in the class that passed, that in my opinion, have no business being on the road at all, let alone on a motorcycle. They managed to barely pass the evaluation, but I fear for their safety if they don't practice often before venturing out on the streets. Brealy the basic skills, and in an emergency situation they will just freeze and let it all unfold before them

Its unfortunate that in your course the instructors seemed distracted (to put it mildly). I would contact the MSF and make sure they are aware of it. You might be allowed to take it again with a different set of instructors at no cost, or a hefty discount. Its worth a shot, as its well worth it with the right instructors.

I would not go so far as to suggest the MSF course is a "joke," but I would say it is nothing more than a reasonable introduction. You must do your own independent practicing.

This is exactly what the instructor told us after we finished the course and passed. He told us we were not ready to go out and practice, practice, and practice.

[maggy]

I have taken some god awful msf classes. I have to say, you can learn by reading and doing on your own or with an experienced rider just fine.
I either got glorified instructors and please don't ask a question. You get yelled at.
Not all msf courses are good. Sorry you also had a bad one. They passed you that is ok but you know you need more practice. I know this is a old post by the way.
I would rather take the riding test at dmv. 20 minutes or less it is over
Maggy

[ofblong]

From what I've read, MSF courses seem to vary somewhat in content. And for what a person pays for the course, it shouldn't.

I for one will not be taking the MSF course. Frankly, I don't believe I need it. What could it teach me that would be worth my 200+ dollars? Nothing, in my mind. No, I don't think I know all there is to know about riding, but I just don't think the MSF would give me any skills that I can't learn through practice. And the waiver of my road test is no incentive, considering I'm forking out the 200+ buck MSF fee so I don't have to take the road test...

I see a lot of people preach on and on about the MSF course, like it's some sort of holy grail. As if a person will never be a truly skilled biker if they dare not take it. Mabye for some, it is very helpful and can teach new skills. But there are plenty of people out there who will do just fine without taking the course.

Ok fine but there was a guy in my MSF course that has been riding for 25 years and decided to take it and he said he learned a hell of a lot in that course. He said he didnt learn anything new when it came to the basics but he learned the why when it came to those basics and the why is more important sometimes than the just do it. Also for someone like me who only paid $25 it was $75 cheaper than taking the road test and I learned how to properly ride a motorcycle when I had never riden one before.