The beginner course is designed for someone who has never sat on a bike... there is plenty of practice...

My advise would be to sit tight and wait for the class... it's much harder to unlearn something than it is to learn the right the first time...

I would also reccomend the book "proficient motorcycling" by David Hough...

Melissa

 

The beginner course is designed for someone who has never sat on a bike... there is plenty of practice...

My advise would be to sit tight and wait for the class... it's much harder to unlearn something than it is to learn the right the first time...

+1

 

Well the MSF course will tell you what they want you to do. If you already have habits and what not, it is harder to break things if you are already set. But it all depends on how you feel you will do with the class.

 

Having taken the course 4 times in 16 years, and having seen utter strangers to bikes, experienced riders, and newb riders in the course, I would recommend that you not touch the bike until you get done with the course.

Practice on the street means you're riding without experience or understanding. Your riding of a bicycle will do nothing to help you on a self powered bike.

Maybe I'm old at 31, but I've been hit a few times and have seen a few miles on bikes over the years.

 

Practice on the street means you're riding without experience or understanding. Your riding of a bicycle will do nothing to help you on a self powered bike.
Maybe I'm old at 31, but I've been hit a few times and have seen a few miles on bikes over the years.

Agreed that there is no need to further practice before the MSF but _strongly_ disagree that bicycle/ scooter riding in the city is not good practice for motorcycling. I bicycled in NYC before I rode the sv (and the previous mc was eons ago) and still do. Bicycling is still WAY more harrying then getting on the motorcycle. Really, in the city speeds on a pedal bike or motor bike aren't so different. In fact, the slower pedal bike makes it harder to get out of people's way and if you think people ignore your right of way or "don't see you" on a motorbike...
Edit: And, I learned to drive in Boston and it's twice as bad as NYC.

 

Before I did my MSF, I bought a bike and did about 200 miles in a local parking lot, and I think it worked out just great. I would put my bike (Ninja 250) in the back of my dad's truck, bring it to the local middle school parking lot (big!), unload and ride around for a few hours.

I think it gave me a really good feel for the bike so I wasn't nervous and the MSF course was just easy and more going through the motions and picking up anything I'd missed learning on my own than anything else. By the time I was on the road, I already had about 400 miles of riding in, I could concentrate on traffic, not on remembering how the bike worked.

If I had to do it again, I would find someone who had already taken the MSF course and have them come out to a parking lot with me and run me through all of the MSF drills they remember doing. The big things mine focused on were:
- Eye's *UP* at all times (don't look at the road right in front of your tire, look where you're going)
- Quick stops
- Rolling throttle on in corner
- Walking the bike
- Starts and stops
- Throttle control and balance (go as slow as you can possibly go, then speed up)
- Countersteering

 

I rode my SV 2000 miles before my MSF and I still learned stuff. I have learned more from following riders with good form than anything else.

 

riding a bicycle doesnt help you at all with riding a motorcycle. I rode bmx for years and thought it would help me with the motorcycle. i was wrong. I'd suggest waiting for the class so you can learn the correct habits like others already said.

 

I'd say it's too late to ask the question, as all that seat time on a scooter probably counts as practice. I wouldn't worry about it too much, though.

In my experience, the biggest challenge scooter riders face when taking the course is shifting and using the clutch.

The course is designed to accomodate a variety of skill/experience levels and the instructors can shape the direction/feedback to the riders. Be prepared, however, to change things, and to break habits you may have developed.

 

I think your experience on a scooter and whatever experience you can get on a bike prior to the MSF course will help you get that much more out of the course.

Just my 2 cents,
Greg

 

I'm a fairly big proponent of pre-MSF practice as well; I rode on the street for probably 150-200 miles before taking the MSF class, and I did pretty well in the class its self.

Of course, I had done a *little* bit of riding on friends' bikes before, so I was already familiar with countersteering, etc...

 

They will fix you if you have problems, and teach you if you know nothing !!!

dont worry too much if you look retarded on a bike then, they already seen alot of people like that. And if you look good, thy dont care much either.

They just want you to do exactly what they tell you so it doesnt really matter what you DO or DON'T know already.

I have to take this course every year for work, iv done the basic and advanced in several states. Just dont be "stubborn" with any instructors and you will learn alot no matter how much you know...

Good Luck,
-Eddie

 

They will fix you if you have problems, and teach you if you know nothing !!!
Just dont be "stubborn" with any instructors and you will learn alot no matter how much you know...
-Eddie

Good advice there! Be honest with yourself. If you're the type of person who takes constructive criticism well, and has no problem abandoning bad habits, then a little advance practice won't hurt. It might even help you get the most out of the class by eliminating any early insecurities. On the other hand, if you're the type who's easily set in his ways, wait until the class to learn it right the first time.

 

As a RiderCoach (one of the guys that will be leading the class) I would advise that if you are comfy practicing and have someone to get ya started, then by all means do it!!!
If you are uncomfortable or afraid to be practicing on your own, then wait for the class.. As my Wife (Sassy) said, the BRC is designed for those who have never sat on a motorcycle and we assume only that you can balance and ride a bicycle!!! Keep loose, get enough sleep the night before and do some reading of your state license manual and "Proficient Motorcycling".. Don't be afraid to voice your concerns and ask questions!!

 

i learned from a few of my buddies that had taken the class before me and taught me a lot (not all) of the things i learned in the class, take some one with you that knows more about riding to help you out and get some practice in. :thumbsup:

i wasnt completly new to motorcycles just new to the street bikes (about 5 years of dirt bike riding) so that might have been a factor too. :dontknow: