Don't know if anyone remembers, but a few months ago I was on the verge of purchasing either a GS500 or SV650, but never got the chance to for various reasons. This past weekend, I found an ad for an '05 Ducati Monster 620 Dark and jumped all over it. I'm having a friend pick it up from the seller as soon as the check clears. I'm scheduled to take an MSF course the second weekend in November, but how should I take things in the mean time? I have to take the course on my bike because for some reason there are none provided, which involves a ~20 mile jaunt down the interstate. What can I be doing to prep myself for riding in traffic within a couple weeks?
Finally got first bike
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Have you ever ridden before? If not, i would suggest dropping out of that class and find one that provides a bike for you to learn on. Chances are, you will drop your new baby, and you will be very very disappointed.
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1,888 Posts
I will trade you my 250 for your Duc and then you wont be worried about adding a scratch to the existing ones.
Like above, get into a class that provides the bike. There are so many tiny unknown things to learn that will all cause you to drop your bike if you dont know them all.
Like above, get into a class that provides the bike. There are so many tiny unknown things to learn that will all cause you to drop your bike if you dont know them all.
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9,142 Posts
Those little Monsters make a great first bike!
Um, are you *sure* you are taking the MSF class that's required for licensing in your state? That's usually the BRC. The ERC is the class where you usually provide your own bike, and it generally *doesn't* qualify for state licensing requirements.
I second that it would be much better to take your first class on someone else's bike; you don't want to be focused on keeping the bike up instead of learning what you're supposed to be learning.
KeS
Um, are you *sure* you are taking the MSF class that's required for licensing in your state? That's usually the BRC. The ERC is the class where you usually provide your own bike, and it generally *doesn't* qualify for state licensing requirements.
I second that it would be much better to take your first class on someone else's bike; you don't want to be focused on keeping the bike up instead of learning what you're supposed to be learning.
KeS
Okay. I'm currently scheduled to take one at the Naval Weapons Station in Charleston on behalf of the American taxpayer, but I'm looking into just paying for the course myself and begging uncle sam for reimbursement at a nearby Technical College.
Pics will come later, when I can actually pick my new baby up...
Edit: Yeah, it's a basic rider course, not an ERC. They only have a limited number of bikes and I signed up late.
Pics will come later, when I can actually pick my new baby up...
Edit: Yeah, it's a basic rider course, not an ERC. They only have a limited number of bikes and I signed up late.
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948 Posts
Are you sure that is not the Military Sportbike Rider Course? You are better taking a course that provides the 250 cc bikes to use.
I finally got out for my first ride, I'll post pictures of it tomorrow when it's light out. There are no good parking lots or backroads around Charleston that I know of, so I took a ride around downtown for about an hour. After my MSF course this past weekend I knew I was going to have lots of trouble with shifting (never used a manual transmission before), but only ended up stalling out a couple times. Unfortunately, one of them was at a stoplight and I ended up dropping it- no damage, just scratched the frame slider and the right handlebar (ended up laying it down gently). A guy on a bicycle helped me get it onto the sidewalk and I got it started again. Just got a couple of scratches on the right silencer that I can buff out.
I've got a lot of practice to do before I start taking it on real roads, but other than clutch troubles it rides like an absolute dream. I'm glad I bought the Monster, though. Power delivery on the throttle is incredibly linear, nothing sneaks up on me at all.
I ended up paying for the MSF course myself, and they had CB250s for us to use. Fun little bike, definitely glad I didn't take the course up at NWS Charleston, because I think I definitely would've dropped the monster on the figure 8.
I've got a lot of practice to do before I start taking it on real roads, but other than clutch troubles it rides like an absolute dream. I'm glad I bought the Monster, though. Power delivery on the throttle is incredibly linear, nothing sneaks up on me at all.
I ended up paying for the MSF course myself, and they had CB250s for us to use. Fun little bike, definitely glad I didn't take the course up at NWS Charleston, because I think I definitely would've dropped the monster on the figure 8.
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9,142 Posts
Because you're a riding god and we know that no one else can match up to your mad skillz. :bowdown
KeS
KeS
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5,625 Posts
Oooohhh ha .. ha ... ha :twofinger
But seriously, I want legitimate statistical charts as proof.
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9,142 Posts
Then go get them. Preferably posted in your own thread instead of jacking this one.
KeS
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5,625 Posts
Uh oh, tough guy alert!
chillax hombre.
No but seriosuly, you provide the statistics, I don't feel like it, while you're at it open a thread to post those statistics within. kthxbai
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