Teaching newbies to ride.

[Avatard]

Sounds like a great business move.

[Rangerscott]

Sounds like a great "we can stick it to the customer" move.


I think every girl should know how to ride stick.....I mean drive stick. But some have to pay extra.

[wildchild]

i think if it's state mandated then it should be provided at minimal cost by said state. hmmm safety would then seem more important then profit.

[RACER X]

Originally Posted by Trip

How much do you know about riding a sportbike though?

I mean I wouldn't go teach a dirt class when I am a noob when it comes to dirt.

This is why I feel the course is worthless. There are very few instructors I would feel comfortable in letting teach my wife if she chose to learn.

are sportbikes somehow diff. then reg bikes? do the controls work diff.?

a bike is a bike, its a basic class. students come not knowing a damm thing about bikes and thats fine......the very first exercise is walking around the bike and pointing out all the controls, are sportbikes diff. ?

sportbikes stop the same way, turn the same way, launch the same way as any other bike (currently).

and me, i recommend taking the class, ride a while 5-6000mi then attend a trackday, i'm sure you guys don't want people LEARNING to ride doing trackdays.

just curious how many nay sayers actually have taken the class.

cuz i've had students who've been riding along time and if they want they get something out of the class, if you already know everything what else is there to learn, right?



where i used to teach (haven't taught in over a yr) it's still $165, has been that way for 2-3 yrs and the law passed last sept as azoom pointed out, and the price hasn't risen, so schools charge more, but it's like any product, some places sell it high some low. some states its free, depends on state funding.

[Trip]

The class is very geared toward riding a cruiser. You even learn mostly on cruisers or a dual sport if you are lucky. Body position, handling, braking, and you know the basic performance qualities of the bike vary completely. It would be nice to learn on someething similar to what you will be riding.

I took the class and if I were to teach someone, I would use some of the basic lessons I picked up to teach someone, but I would also add a lot that isn't cover that should be essential for street riding.

I think some people get a false sense of being ready for the street after the class when that is far from the truth.

[RACER X]

Originally Posted by Trip

It would be nice to learn on someething similar to what you will be riding.


I think some people get a false sense of being ready for the street after the class when that is far from the truth.

so MSF should put people on 600SS bikes to learn on? lol, i've had students wheelie the 125s, IN A BRAKING EXERCISE........

true. but many also learn on their own figuring as they go along and hit the streets , so which is a better option?

and i and many inst. tell students that now "they're parking lot certified"

[Trip]

I unlike msf would just refuse to teach someone that couldn't handle basic control.

I would probably give the first lesson on controls with my fiddy. Its more responsive at low speed than a sportbike.

Msf isn't the end all be all of moto training. Sorry it just isn't worth the money if you have someone who can train you just as easily unless you can recoup the costs.

[Rangerscott]

I'd rather learn on a ninja 250 than a cruiser. They may stop/start the same but they do not handle the same.

[skiergirl]

I took the MSF course many many years ago at the Harley Davidson plant in York PA, and we rode 250's....Not Harley's or anything remotely Cruiser-like...

[Cutty72]

We were on Kawasaki 125 Eliminators, and there was one 250 Kymco something. Looked like a mini Vrod.

OH, and yes, the Eliminator WILL wheelie, but damn do you have to try!