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Remember, its a basic class. The whole point is to get riders started. Most of my students have never been on a bike and do fine. Your not expected to know how to ride before the class.
If someone is having a hard time in the class sometimes private lessons are suggested.
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Total Control Instructor
MSF Street Rider Coach
MSF Dirt Rider Coach
I took my class in the Bronx from a group called MSS. I'm assuming you're taking it from the same people. They recommended me taking a private course seeing as I never rode a motorcycle prior to the class. I ended up not taking the private lessons and I passed the course easily. When I first got there I asked the guy what the pass/fail ratio was and he said something like 90% pass. He then asked if I rode before, and when I said no he said, "Good, the course is designed for new riders and it also means you don't have any bad habits yet." You'll be fine without the extra lessons.
Unless your MSF trainers are incompetent or you are very uncoordinated you should not need any prior instruction... today was the first riding day of my MSF class and I had never ridden before. It felt great, and I am ready to ride again tomorrow. They get you started slowly and as long as you pay attention you will pick it up in no time
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I have taken the course 4 times. Of all of those times 1 person failed. I can say though that based on the performance of the students during the final test that everyone else deserved to pass. You will be fine. When I took my first BRC at Rockland Community College in 2001 I had NEVER been on a motorcycle. Within hours was performing slow ride turns and zipping along the high speed turns and feeling good. You have to remmeber that the companies that run these courses are a business. They get a stipened from the state for your enrolment in the course, but if you take private lessons they make pure profit. I am not saying this as a negative as private lessons are great. If you are nervous about the class by all means spend an hour in a lesson to get used to the controls, learn a bit of balance, and lesson your nerves for the class.
Do you need to take lessons? I doubt it.
Will it hurt to take them? No way.
Is it worth the cost? Depends on your budget. But supporting these schools is not a bad thing.
In retrospect I am not certain if it was the actual BRC i took in '01. It may have just been lessons as I did not get any waiver from it. But I have since then taken the BRC course 4 times.
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Last edited by Borewyrm : 09-05-2008 at 12:46 PM.
Reason: Clarity
No, no need for a "private" lesson unless you just want the extra time on a bike..but its(MSF) is set up FOR someone thats never ridden before they go over everything from how to get on a Motorcycle right to how to start out to how to turn it on ..everything..they DONT assume you have ever ridden before. Not a single person in our class already had their license..some had their learner permit longer than others but they EXPECT you to be a noob and teach it as such. And nicely its absolutely $0.00 here in PA ..ABSOLUTELY FREE!
Travis64 --- I wouldn't waste time (or $75) on 45 minutes with someone you don't really know. I've done the MSF course and the guys were tremendous. There were many brand new riders, never been on a bike. Before that I took a private 4 hour lesson with an X MotoCop who teaches in my area and it was well worth it. In my opinion, you can never have enough training and coaching. You are worth the investment.
Take a private course before basic rider course?
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