Total Motorcycle Community Forums

After hours of nervousness before the test, I passed the intimidating NJ road test and lost 20 pounds of sweat. For some bizzare reason, my sequence of events was/is

Lessons from a friend of my father's (Check)
Road test (Check)
MSF: BRC (3 weeks from now)

I'm not sure if I want to go out and ride excessively until I take the BRC. I read the book they sent me, a lot of the stuff was covered in the lessons, but I'm not sure how integral the course is to learning to ride correctly and other such things.

I know a lot of people here have taken the MSF and swear by it. Is it an absolute necessity before riding or an extremely valueable asset alongside riding?

One possible negative is that you may acquire bad habits before you take the MSF class.

Also, you may not be on the lookout for common hazards they explain in the course, like road surface hazards (tar snakes, gravel, plastic lane/turn markings, edge traps, etc) and what cars are likely to do.

The Hurt report said that a person was more likely to get into an accident if they were taught by friends/family than learning on their own. It also said your best chances for survival are to take the MSF class.

Food for thought.....

Take the course! Really, what's the worse thing, you can be out a little bit of money and a few days? I enjoyed it. I took it in May and passed. I've ridden about 3500 since then and am taking it again next week now that my husband is ready to give it a shot. He wanted the company, and I figured I can use all the extra practice I can get. (besides, you get to play on someone elses bikes for a few days)

Congrats on passing the test.

Take the course first, I paid $400 canadian for it, and haven't regretted it for a second... well after hour 16 in 30 degree celsuis weather with full leathers... I remember wishing I was dead. But I'm still glad I took the course.

Sevulturus wrote:Take the course, I paid $400 canadian for it, and haven't regretted it for a second... well after hour 16 in 30 degree celsuis weather with full leathers... I remember wishing I was dead. But I'm still glad I took the course.

guys, he IS taking the course. he is just wondering if he should start riding on streets before taking the course.

in the BRC range, they teach how to brake suddenly and swerve to avoid obstacles, how to take corners properly and how to take twisties well. very valuable for a newbie. If you can swerve, turn and brake suddenly really well and are very confident that you have the skills to overcome cagers' mistakes and stupidity, maybe you can go ahead and hit the streets.
if you have even the smallest doubt or hesitation, be pateient until you finish the course. I have heard of people having to use the braking and swerving techniques on the streets within 2 weeks of finishing the course and they are so glad they took the course.
I had enough of driving experience before taking the course, but still learnt a lot from it. I realized I will be taking a huge chance on the streets without those skills.
To answer your question, unless you have enough experience, it is BOTH an abolute necessity and an extremely valuable asset alongside riding (if you wish to manage risks well)