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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
As you can read in my AVatar I have a new 2007 SV, I'm taking the MSF course soon and want to know if I should take the course using my bike or use one of the smaller bikes provided. As it stands inow I'm taking the course thru a local MSF program (cost like 140 bux or so). However, I might be able to take the course for free on base(I'm in the AF). The pro to taking the course off base is I think I can use either bike however I have to pay. But if I take it on base it'll be free provided I have to use my own bike. I see pros and cons on each side of this coin what should I do...try to get more familiar with my bike and save some cash or use a MSF bike and pay money for the class and practice drills and what not on my baby after class?
If your new to riding, id say take their bike. They will be showing you, and teaching you things you probably have never done before, and why risk doing a few hundred worth of damage to your own bike. I personally took mine on base using my bike, but i had been riding for years before, and just took it to get my base stickers. I still learned alot, but i seen one guy drop his cbr 929, and another sv 650 i think almost drop. You can be more agressive on a rental bike and probably learn a lil more cause you wont be panicking about your own bike being damaged. like someone else above said, 140 is alot cheaper than 500 or more
I know I took my Experienced rider course last sunday, I was the ONLY one their with a sportbike, all the other people there were on Goldwings, and I do mean ALL of them, even the instructors. Talk about feeling out of place. good thing though...I kicked their asses in all of it.
You should easily be able to negotiate a simple riding course on a great starter bike.
You really are a dick huh. You can ban me if you want (I'm sure you'll love the power trip). I was just asking a simple question that didn't warrent your smart ass remark. Hey I know what I should do buy some beat up ol' 250 something and "learn the hard way". Well I still stand by my purchase and opinions, I just wanted some input from more experienced riders. So do with this post what you will but I meant no malice/ill-will... you started this pissing contest buddy
You really are a dick huh. You can ban me if you want (I'm sure you'll love the power trip). I was just asking a simple question that didn't warrent your smart ass remark. Hey I know what I should do buy some beat up ol' 250 something and "learn the hard way". Well I still stand by my purchase and opinions, I just wanted some input from more experienced riders. So do with this post what you will but I meant no malice/ill-will... you started this pissing contest buddy
You have to admit you opened yourself up for it. You were pretty insistent that the bike you bought was exactly right for you to learn on, so turning around and asking this question seems a little pointless. But you got some good, honest answers.
I think you should use their bikes. No sense in risking dropping your own if you don't have to. After you get some time and miles under your belt you can go back and take the ERC with your own bike, since I think you have to use your own for that one.
Posts: 14,694
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sigmanugary
You really are a dick huh. You can ban me if you want (I'm sure you'll love the power trip). I was just asking a simple question that didn't warrent your smart ass remark. Hey I know what I should do buy some beat up ol' 250 something and "learn the hard way". Well I still stand by my purchase and opinions, I just wanted some input from more experienced riders. So do with this post what you will but I meant no malice/ill-will... you started this pissing contest buddy
I'm having fun laughing at this. Why would you get banned? I'll just use you to point out the faults in your logic on starter bike recommendations.
I was able to ride a simple course on my first bike. A good first bike will allow a new rider to complete the course. What you are saying is that the bike you had such glowing reviews on as a starter bike, scares you to ride around a simple course.
In short, you're afraid to ride your great starter bike.
You really are a dick huh. You can ban me if you want (I'm sure you'll love the power trip). I was just asking a simple question that didn't warrent your smart ass remark. Hey I know what I should do buy some beat up ol' 250 something and "learn the hard way". Well I still stand by my purchase and opinions, I just wanted some input from more experienced riders. So do with this post what you will but I meant no malice/ill-will... you started this pissing contest buddy
Why does this remind me of a simple statistics/cost-benefit analysis problem:
1.) Calculate your insurance deductable, or figure out the value of your bike.
2.) Have someone who knows you and is familiar with motorcycles estimate the probability that you'll drop the bike. Preferably an MSF instructor
If:
($140)/(Deductable or cost of bike)>(Probability of dropping the bike)
Then it's more expensive to take the on-base course if you're risk-neutral. Otherwise, it's more expensive to take the off-base course.
My experience was that when I took the BRC, all of us rode on 250 cc bikes, and nobody dropped theirs. Naturally, if your SV 650 is heavier or has a higher inseam than a Nighthawk, your issues might be different. Based on Chi-squared, if your class was like mine, I can say pretty confidently that the odds you actually drop a 250 cc Nighthawk are less than 1 in 3, and I haven't seen anything to indicate they aren't as low as 1 in 12. However, you're using a different bike and your class may be different. Assume your odds are higher. You'll also learn better on a smaller bike.
Sorry if I'm being Captain Stastically-Obvious, but a lot of people don't think of doing statistical cost-benefits.
How should I take the MSF..my bike or theirs?
