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Hi all. About a month ago I took the 2 day course and failed the riding test, but got my permit. There were 3 components to the test and I failed before I even got to the 3rd. Honestly, I wouldn't have wanted me on the road, that's how bad I was. It was the first time I had been on a motorcycle and I knew nothing about how it all worked. It didn't help that I was extremely nervous, and dumped the bike at the end of the first day.

Now that a month has gone by I've gotten a lot better at riding. I spent the first couple of weeks in parking lots, and now I ride around my neighborhood (no hills yet, and never over 30 MPH). I will have to take the road test at the DMV when I am ready; the permit is good for 2 years.

I'm from Maine, so I won't have many months to ride, but I know what the test is like. I'll be followed by someone - they honk once, twice, and three times to go right, left and stop. I know what I'll have to do, turn right and left, and stop and go on a steep hill. Sounds easy, right? Yet I keep thinking I'll fail!

I have a 250 Rebel. Now that I've gotten over my fear, I find riding relaxing and freeing. That's the good news.

Still I'm nervous because I know some people who failed the DMV test, mainly because they couldn't hear the horn behind them, or because they put their foot down. I want to become really good at riding, of course, and I don't want to have to take the course again ($350 - ouch). Does anyone have any words of advice? Sorry for the long post!

Thanks,
Lisa

To my knowledge, if you fail the MSF course, you are actually allowed to retake it 3 times before you have to pay again.

Maybe that does not apply to all MSF schools. Maybe only certain ones allow that. Or maybe it is for all MSF classes. I'm not sure. But, you should look into it. Do some research. You may be able to do it again and it won't cost you a thing.

Dragonhawk wrote:To my knowledge, if you fail the MSF course, you are actually allowed to retake it 3 times before you have to pay again.

Maybe that does not apply to all MSF schools. Maybe only certain ones allow that. Or maybe it is for all MSF classes. I'm not sure. But, you should look into it. Do some research. You may be able to do it again and it won't cost you a thing.

Not in Jersey last time I checked :\

Lisa22 wrote:and I don't want to have to take the course again ($350 - ouch). Does anyone have any words of advice? Sorry for the long post!

First...double check with your BRC provider; you may be able to retake the class at a seriously reduced rate, and it's worth doing again. If not, just keep in your head that if you take the DMV test and don't pass*, they can't take away your birthday and Santa won't flip you off in the mall. You can always re-take the test, and the second time around you'll be more relaxed because you'll have a much clearer idea of how it feels.

*It's not failing. It's simply not passing. You didn't fail the BRD, just just didn't pass. It's only a failure if you quit trying.

Not passing may have saved your life. Relax and practice riding slow. Lots of stops and low speed turns and remember feet up.

Thanks for the responses. I talked to my instructor after the class and was told that I couldn't retake the test with him unless I took the class again and paid. I'm not about to do that unless my permit expires.


Best advice ever - relax and keep practicing. I am determined not to give up because I know that I'll be a safe driver and once it all comes together a damn good one.

Thank you everyone!
L

I can't believe they honk the horn for instructions.

You could just make some random turns and tell them you thought they honked.

Seriously though.....they need a better system. With so much noise out there it would sometimes be difficult to differentiate their horn for other horns and unless it is super loud, hard to hear over your engine and other traffic.

It's not fair to fail you for not hearing a horn beep.

That is the most fuggin strange testing method I have heard of to date.




Another option would be to give up and take public transport ?

I failed my first riding test too, mostly to nerves.

Second time around, I was much better, due to realising that I can retake the test as many times as it takes to pass.

Just relax, and remember failing is not going to be the end of your world as you know it. If you muck it up, just do it again.

Good luck, and just try to enjoy it. If you screw up during your test, don't worry, just treat the rest of the test as valuable experience for the next.

if you took the MSF course they only require that you come to retake the parts you failed at least in mich they do it that way and they dont make you pay for it until the 3rd time.