To MSF? Or not to MSF?

[P1NDLESK1N]

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I always wanted to get a motorcycle but never really made move to get one, until about a month ago.

Because I don't know anyone to ride with and help teach me, aside from my father in NC, I signed up for the MSF Basic Riders Course by me (costing me $350) so that I would be able to learn and practice legally and safely... but that all changed the day I picked up my '05 Ninja 250.

After picking the bike up, I went out the next day and got my helmet (and soon after a jacket and gloves). The following day I decided I would try and take it up and down the block maybe once or twice.

With no experience save for a whole lot reading online, I took it all over the neighborhood. In a matter of minutes I quickly got used to shifting, braking, leaning, all the basics.

Within the next few days of little illegal practice around the neighborhood, I took it to a parking lot with someone who had their license and practiced circles, figure 8s, and stopping short. And soon after that I felt comfortable enough to take it through town to work. Now I take it daily to work. And recently I took it on the highway (up to 90 a few times) to visit family, and show off the bike of course.


But with every passing day, I feel like there's no way that someone can teach me $350 of basic riding, that I can't read and do myself from a $40 book.

I admit I'm very confident of my skills, and I've always learned fast. This has in turn made me VERY cocky. But at the same time, I'm mature enough to know when I should and shouldn't do something. Common sense is oddly enough, not so common.

I've read almost every story and experience, in some form or another. And yet I still write this thread in search of something I or anyone else can learn from.

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I'm contemplating getting my money back for the MSF BRC course, but does anyone think I should stay in it?
Maybe I should use the money to sign up for an advanced class?
Or maybe just call me a squid and lol to yourself a few times?
Perhaps share a story or experience?

[FZR6Raven]

Your story is interesting. It's sounded like you've caught the basics VERY fast, with no close calls yet...impressive.

The point stands that while you CAN learn how to do figure 8s, right hand turns, slaloms, and avoidance maneuvers yourself...there's nothing like being TESTED on them, with an experienced instructor watching you. They are very good and can easily point out if you're doing something you *think* is right in an incorrect fashion

PLUS, the 10% discount on insurance is pretty nice.

I'd say it's a positive experience for pretty much anyone who goes into it, and if you can spare the money it's worth it.

*EDIT* BTW, how did you manage to save up the money for your ninja? I'm a starving student and finding it VERY hard to save money for a bike

[jim schmidt]

I suspect you'll learn what you don't know when you take the class. Operating the controls is a very small part of successful riding.

[wrillo]

Nothing beats experience, riding can't be learned by reading

[P1NDLESK1N]

Originally Posted by FZR6Raven

The point stands that while you CAN learn how to do figure 8s, right hand turns, slaloms, and avoidance maneuvers yourself...there's nothing like being TESTED on them, with an experienced instructor watching you. They are very good and can easily point out if you're doing something you *think* is right in an incorrect fashion

I agree, whether I take the BRC or not I definately plan to take SOME course in the future to help my riding skills.

Originally Posted by FZR6Raven

*EDIT* BTW, how did you manage to save up the money for your ninja? I'm a starving student and finding it VERY hard to save money for a bike

After graduating with my associates, I didn't continue on to get my bachelors. That gave me a good amount of time of straight working to save up the cash.
But I feel for ya, I'm still pretty broke.

Originally Posted by jim schmidt

I suspect you'll learn what you don't know when you take the class. Operating the controls is a very small part of successful riding.

I sure hope I'd learn what I don't know, but I don't know what I'd learn!

Originally Posted by wrillo

Nothing beats experience, riding can't be learned by reading

Experience is the best kind of experience.
But reading anything intelligently written by someone with more experience could only help, right?

I appreciate everyone's input so far.

[Justice06RR]

Riding is no joke. Practicing circles and figure 8's in a parking lot or riding around your neighborhood cannot fully prepare you for anything and everything that is out there in the real world. Its always beneficial to be taught by a certified professional than just a "friend" who has their license.

Altho I agree that $350 is kinda steep for MSF. I paid $250 for mine when i first started riding but the HD dealership by my house now offers it for $199. So in that sense maybe you should've looked around for a cheaper MSF class than what you paid for.

[jermtx]

i haven't taken it yet either. i think it's 200$ around here. i've been riding since i was a kid, street riding on and off since i was like 16, but i'm still gonna take it when i have the money, i'm sure there's always something else i can learn, and the insurance discount can't hurt either.

[edgary]

I'd like to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet (at least explicitly). The MSF course is also a very good opportunity for someone with no motorcycle experience whatsoever, to make a very small investment ($350, although I paid $285) to find out if riding a bike is something [s]he wants to do. It sure beats having to unload, say, ~$1000 for a decent used bike + ~$300 for basic riding gear, and finding out after a couple of rides that motorcycles are not for her/him.

In my personal experience, all I had ridden (as far as motorcycles go) was a semi-automatic quad on the beach (rental, vacation fun), which is, by no means, indicative of what riding a two-wheel bike (with clutch) is. It was very well worth the $285 I spent and I would recommend this not just to novices, but also to current drivers as well (they can always take the intermediate or advanced classes).

By the way, I finished the class yesterday and I still have a grin on my face, and the thought of practicing everything I was taught there.

[woodrow]

Also the course will teach you the right way to ride and show you how not to ride. I can't say how important that is and was thankful I took it back in 1996. It helped me transition from dirtbikes to motorcycles.