Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I've enrolled in a class starting in May. The only expierience I've had is tooling around on dirtbikes in fields. Over the last 34 years that I've been on the planet, that ride time would equate to about 2 hours. So my question is:....are these courses designed for absolute begginers? Will I be wasting my time and money because I really have not much practical riding under my belt aside form a Tour de France style pedal bike.

Yes. Absolute beginners. Only requirement is that you know how to ride a bicycle. Taking this course is the best thing you can do. I had never ridden a motorcycle before, and just successfully completed the MSF today. There were people that had been riding for a while that were there, and even they were learning things they didnt know, and I didnt feel far behind the rest of the class.

yes like he said they are for totall beginners. if i were you though id spend more time just sitting on a bike. get used to how it feels how the controlls are laid out and such. in my class it took some people a long time to under stand Where the controlls were and how to put the kick stand down without being able to see it. small things like that if you already know will let you go through the class and learn the things you really need to. and also just the feeling of sitting on a bike might help with the comfort level so its not an entirely new experience in the class. and if you can wear a helmet as well as much as you can before hand.

Tried to take the class this last weekend. Only made it through day one before I got WAY too sick to get up for day two (this was a two-day course, 7am-5pm). We went from (1) sitting on the bikes looking at where the controls were to (2) power-walking the bikes in 1st to (3) controlling speed with the clutch only (1st gear friction zone) to (4) gear changing up to third (with down-shifts to 2nd for turning) to (5) weaving between cones.

Bear in mind this is all DAY 1! You go from total novice to feeling pretty comfortable. I wish to god I could have gone through Day 2, but I simply felt too bad.

As far as your concerns go, I would definitely recommend either bringing a helmet of your own or wearing a TON of sunscreen. I'm in Texas, and I simply assumed the provided helmets would be full-faced. 4 hours of direct sun on a face unprotected in a 3/4 helmet definitely put the zap on me.

Now I've got to pony up another $180 and find a class that meets in the Fall...

Good luck!

Call the MSF people, they should let you reschedule at a minimal charge (think it is 75 dollars) Just let them know your circumstances.