Total Motorcycle Community Forums

So, I'm about to take my first step into the motorcycle world. In a little over a month I'll be taking my Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center Basic Rider Course. I have absolutely no idea what to expect. I already have my permit, and my plan is to get my license now and save up for a bike over the winter. Then in the spring I can go have fun. I've looked through various places online but I still have some stupid noob questions.

How hard is the course? Can I go into it without ever driving a motorcycle, or should I try and find someone to show me the basics?
Is the driving test itself difficult?
What helmets are good?
How about gloves? Boots? Jackets/other things?
What are some good basic motorcycles to look into? I keep hearing Ninja 250. How much do they cost approximately? Is there a more mechanically simple bike that is similar in beginner friendliness? I want to be able to do most of the work on it myself.
How much do you spend on upkeep a driving month? Any special tools I would be needing?
Do motorcycles get stolen a lot? It looks like it would be so easy just to drag them onto the back of a truck.
And anyone that lives in MN, how many months out of the year are you able to use your motorcycle?
And anything else that could possibly help me out, thanks!

Here's some to get you started.....

First of all.....

Second, Have you checked out the Beginner's Guide? There are also stickies and the Learn To Ride A Motorcycle page which is downloadable in PDF format (Created and maintained by Dragonhawk).

Third, Reviewing your state’s (province’s/territory’s) DMV or DOT website for licensing information, guidelines and FAQ is an excellent place to get some answers.

Fourth, Go to a variety of dealers and sit on all kinds of different motorcycles. Even if you don’t think you’d like the ride when you look at it. I was dead set on one riding style when I started and ended up buying a different type. You may surprise yourself as well.

Fifth, I haven't encountered any situations with my bike that required a specialized tool (as long as you don't count metric wrenches/sockets and allen wrenches).

Sixth, The possibility of your bike being stollen depends on your area, the type of bike, what measures you take to protect it, etc, etc.

Seventh, Good Luck, Have Fun and Stay Safe Out There! I hope you enjoy this site!

Thanks!

I've already looked through most of the beginner's guide. In MN anyway, all I need to do is take a written test, then pass my driving test, which is at the end of the course thing.

Is a Ninja 500 too much for a beginner? I'm a rather avid bike rider, can drive a stick and have been barrel racing/pole bending for years now.

The Ninja 250, and Ninja 500 are two of the most popular and reasonable bikes for beginners. You don't say how old you are, or how long you have been driving a car. I say this as a way to determine which one you decide to start on. If you have been driving for a long time, and can judge traffic well, then a Ninja 500 is a GREAT bike to start on. HOWEVER, I'd recommend some time on smaller bikes, just to get the feel for weight, braking and power. Does your BRC supply bikes? I've heard some do. It's helpful to start on a small bike, really small, just to get over the jitters.

In short, the Ninja 500 is around a 60hp parallel twin, standard seating (feet below hips, below head) fully faired "grey area" beginner bike. Some will own it for years, and never feel the needn for anthing faster. I've not ridden one, but comparing the specs to two Honda's I have, the CBF500 (parallel twin, 50 hp) and CBR600 (inline 4, 108hp), the Ninja 500 has a nice mix of the best of both bikes. The fairing will make it easier to live with than a naked bike, with a seating position that will put less strain on the lower back and neck. People with experience on the Ninja can confirm the degree of these statements.

As far as your first post, I'll reply in the order you asked (keep in mind I've not trained using the BRC, I did DAS in England):
1. Training is easier if you come with no bad habits. If they supply the bikes, show up, be humble, and listen a lot. If you get shown the wrong things by a well-meaning friend, you'll have to un-learn, then re-learn.
2. Driving tests are meant to be fair. The training MUST prepare your for the test, or else there would be no point to the training. Some people fail, for various reasons, but most people do pass. You will be one of them.
3.All helmets with a nationally accepted certification are good. In the US, those are DOT and SNELL. Full face helmets protect better than any other kind, no exceptions.
4. Gloves, jackets, boots: The only kind of gloves and jackets worth paying for are SPECIFICALLY designed for motorcycling. Look for CE approved armour, Draggin jeans are kevlar re-inforced jeans that look good and protect better than regular jeans. You can choose from leather, textile for jackets, and jeans. There are benefits to both. You can get away with work boots for riding, but laces should be secured inside the boot. Some instructors don't like steel toed boots, for safety reasons, but others realize that it adds more protection. Steel toes interfere with feeling the shift lever. (a bit)
5. See top
6. Special tools: not sure
7. Theft: Disc locks, Motorcycle chains with integral locks, alarms. Some people use them, some people get their bikes stolen.
8. Minnesota: Is Gaborik still with the Wild? I don't know about Minnesota.
9.Good luck!

The answers you need are wide-ranging. Check the stickies at the top of the forums for comprehensive info.

Ed

sackett wrote:How hard is the course? Can I go into it without ever driving a motorcycle, or should I try and find someone to show me the basics?
Is the driving test itself difficult?

sackett, I'm assuming that your Minnesota course implements the standard Basic Rider Course curriculum of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The course is brisk paced, but it is designed for the non-rider, and breaks the skills down into very small, easily-mastered bits. It's probably best IMO to come into it cold, rather than with bad riding habits that have to be unlearned. So unless the person showing you the basics is a trained and certified instructor (not just someone who's been riding a long time), wait until the course.

In NJ and many other states I've heard of, the driving test at the end of the course is scored on a points-loss system. You start with 100 points and are deducted points for faults; you must have 80 points to pass. Many folks say the figure-8 in the box is the hardest test, yet it's only worth 8 points. You can totally blow that part, do everything else right and still pass the test.

How hard it is depends on how coordinated you are and how well you acquire new physical skills. Some people take to it like a fish to water. Some people (me, for example) have to work at it for a while. It's important to know that many folks who are not "naturals" from the beginning do eventually become accomplished and skilled motorcyclists with practice.

sackett wrote:How hard is the course? Can I go into it without ever driving a motorcycle, or should I try and find someone to show me the basics? Its designed for teaching you from the ground up, you should need no knowledge or experience at all
Is the driving test itself difficult?Some people fail it, but most pass. But you will have to pay attention to the training to pass
What helmets are good? Whatever has a D.O.T sticker and fits correctly is best. some people like Snell stickers on them too, and some don't. Theres a sticky somewhere with fitting guidelines, I'll look for it when I have more time
How about gloves? Boots? Jackets/other things? yes... you want em... preferably something with decent armor over the joints, but also won't let you freeze or over heat in them (I like textiles personally for the vents you can open, others prefer leather for a touch more protection
What are some good basic motorcycles to look into? I keep hearing Ninja 250. How much do they cost approximately? Is there a more mechanically simple bike that is similar in beginner friendliness? I want to be able to do most of the work on it myself. Can't really answer this being in a different country and never owning that bike
How much do you spend on upkeep a driving month? Any special tools I would be needing? depends on the bike, most just take fuel, with the odd oil and filter change + tyres...
Do motorcycles get stolen a lot? It looks like it would be so easy just to drag them onto the back of a truck. Yes, they can be, depends a lot on the model and area though. As a rule of thumb always lock them up better than any other motorcycle parked next to it, thieves like the easy option
And anyone that lives in MN, how many months out of the year are you able to use your motorcycle?
And anything else that could possibly help me out, thanks!Ask any question you're unsure of. On every forum, theres someone who makes an "O Ring" out of themselves in reply, but theres also usually someone helpful who will give good advice.... Just ignore the idiots, the good advice is worth getting

Hope the comments in blue help,
Andy

Nibblet99 wrote:

sackett wrote:How hard is the course? Can I go into it without ever driving a motorcycle, or should I try and find someone to show me the basics? Its designed for teaching you from the ground up, you should need no knowledge or experience at all
Is the driving test itself difficult?

That actually really depends on the experience of the other riders in the class and on the specific instructors. my fiance tried to take the class with me, and had no experience either on a bike or even driving a standard transmission. When she was trying to learn how to shift gears on the first day and couldn't get it right away, the instructor was in her face yelling "NEUTRAL! NEUTRAL! What part of neutral don't you understand!?" until she freaked and dropped the bike. Needless to say, that wasn't a real effective "teaching" method. She just went a took a private 2 hour lesson a week later, then went back to BRC afterward and got her endorsement. But the MSF will tell you that it's NOT a instruction course for rank beginners, as was proven by that crazy instructor we had.

tropicalhotdog wrote:But the MSF will tell you that it's NOT a instruction course for rank beginners, as was proven by that crazy instructor we had.

From the MSF's website: "Basic RiderCourse- For beginners and re-entry riders of all ages. No experience necessary." and "The Basic RiderCourse is aimed at beginning riders of all ages."

tropicalhotdog wrote:But the MSF will tell you that it's NOT a instruction course for rank beginners, as was proven by that crazy instructor we had.

The MSF says the exact 100% opposite of that.

Maybe you actually should find out what the MSF says about their class before you start to speak for them.

You had a bad instructor. I'm sorry. It sucks. That doesn't give you the obligation to go making up stuff about the course on the internet.

jstark47 wrote:

tropicalhotdog wrote:But the MSF will tell you that it's NOT a instruction course for rank beginners, as was proven by that crazy instructor we had.

From the MSF's website: "Basic RiderCourse- For beginners and re-entry riders of all ages. No experience necessary." and "The Basic RiderCourse is aimed at beginning riders of all ages."

Yeah, but that's not what they tell you on the phone. Nor is it true in practice.