Don't want to freak you out or anything, but session 2 is a bit of a leap from session #1.

Be prepared.

I'm sure you will do fine

Remember to look where you want to go....head on a swivel.

 

Thanks for the heads up It doesn't scare me, there's a lot I need to practice and that's the only way I'll instill those best practices into my head. It's unfortunate that it's only a 2 night riding course.

 

yes...figure 8 in the box...

 

I just looked up that bike, it is a very nice looking bike! And the price isn't too bad either.

Added to the list of possible starter bikes.

 

You will have learned quite a bit in 2 sessions.

Session 2 has tighter turns at different speeds. Cones are spaced tighter for swerving, etc.

 

I'm up for the challenge!

 

A friend of mine just showed me this bike:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/C...#/model/xl883n

I'm in

 

Pics of bike linked to in previous post:

 

Not bad at all...the blacked out engine is

That's a bike you can ride all day...not get tired....and have an ear to ear grin.

 

I've always wanted to learn how to ride a motorbike but never got around to it...hopefully this summer.

 

I can't stop thinking about that Harley now! damnit!

 

Your experience thus far sounds exactly like mine (imagine that from a course administered by the same organization! xD). The low-speed/slow-and-go maneuvers are annoying on those bikes (obviously also because of inexperience, but still). Comparing my 250R vs. the Suzuki 250(?) they gave me for the training is a joke, the engine is so much smoother. Also, your difficulty with getting the bike in neutral is most likely more the bike's fault than yours, from my experience.

By the way, I highly recommend 2nd gear in the figure-8 box. 1st is punchy and hard to control. Good luck with your test

 

You'd hope the experience would be the same since they go by their handy dandy MSF training guidebook. Then again, the instructors are the ones that make the experience enjoyable and valuable as a learning experience. our instructors have a good time with it all.

Thanks for the tip about keeping it in 2nd gear. 1st gear is definitely more punchy than 2nd. Getting going and throwing it into 2nd fast is still slightly troublesome but I should get it down tonight.

 

Update?

 

My brother-in-law and I both passed the riding test! Now all we need to do is wait for our certificate, take the written test and then it's time.

I have a meeting at 12pm and need to take care of some stuff for it. I'll write up an update as to what happened last night a little later.

 

congrats!!!!

 

 

I know I know, gotta post the update. This week has been so tiring! here goes...

So Wednesday night was the last practice session with our riding test closing the night. The items we covered that evening were quick stops, lane changes, swerving+quick stop, turn+quick-stop, tighter turning with press and roll, and of course the killer item for the night - u turns (figure 8).

The u-turn in a small box was the most challenging item for the evening. Our track is on a slight hill which made it even more challenging. heading into the box you're going downhill, so when you start your turn you need to give it a little gas otherwise you'll slow and be forced to put a foot down which is a no-no. the 2nd u-turn in the box wasn't as difficult because you start to go downhill. I had the most problems with this maneuver. I've been having problems with the throttle on my bike since Tuesday which only make practice this maneuver more challenging.

I had the most fun with the tighter maneuvers using press and roll. I'm not as scared anymore to lean into a turn, but I still don't feel I'm successfully using the press and roll technique. It's probably because we aren't going that fast to be able to really feel that we're "pressing" to initiate the turn.

Quick stops were easy, or so I thought, more on that later. Swerving wasn't a problem, or so I thought as well.

The Test.

The test consisted of three parts.

1) perform two u-turns, move on to a swerve and quick stop
2) perform a quick stop in 2nd gear
3) using adequate braking, ensure proper entry speed for a tight turn

The way you pass the test is by NOT earning too many points. If you earn more than 20 points, you fail. I missed a total of 7 points on my test. I had problems with the u-turn (of course). I couldn't stay in the box for the first u-turn (going downhill). They also said I wasn't going fast enough for the tight turn even though I was on the throttle for the entire turn. And my quick stop wasn't fast enough although it was a smooth stop.

As far as I know nobody failed, but I was very surprised at the fact that people don't know how to follow directions even after they're told what to do, and watching others do it as well.

Overall, I'm very happy with the experience. I wish we had more time to practice before we took the test. I think taking this course before you get on a bike is a great way to learn before you develop your own bad habits that you'll have to unlearn later. And it's a great way to set yourself up for taking the written test which is the next step for my brother-in-law and I. We should receive our DMV cert in a few weeks after which we can make an appt at DMV to take our written test.

Now the question is, how long I'll need to save up to get a bike and what I'm going to get. I can't decide for the life of me what I want to get:

A 250 to practice on that I'd have to replace later anyway

Or

Get a nicer, stronger bike that I can learn on and slowly grow into.

I will say this, I can't get that Harley Iron 883 out of my head. At least now after I get my license I can go out and hopefully test drive some bikes to see what I like.

 

Sounds like it all worked out great.

Keep in mind not all dealers will let you test ride all the bikes.
It depends on the market conditions.....some will even ask you how long you have had a license when you ask to test ride a certain bike.

Be aware the last thing you wanna do is drop a bike on a test ride....oof!

 

Hey, now you're at the exciting part of choosing a bike. What kind of bikes do you like anyhow? Cruisers, sport, duals, nakeds, supermoto...etc?

After I got my license I ended up buying a used 2005 Ducati Monster S2R 800. I'd been researching potential bikes for a long time and figured the Monster would be a bike that was newb friendly with room for me to grow. That and I think Ducati's are some of the sexiest bikes on the planet, naked or with fairing. Anyways, even though the Monster was considered an 800cc bike, I knew the main thing to look for was the power to weight ratio, and the Duc makes about 77hp which is far less than any 600cc litre bike. But of course, it's still plenty to get anyone in trouble, of which I've had several close calls (e.g. hitting my first decreasing radius turn coming off the FWY).

In hindsight, if I were to do it again, I'd probably start off with a Supermoto like the Yamaha WR250x. It's lightweight, handles well, and most importantly, inspires confidence. Plus, I probably wouldn't have felt as bad dropping a Yammie vs. dropping the Ducati (which happened at 0 mph in my garage). Remember, the bike you drop is the bike you must be able to pick up. So if it's a 500lb cruiser, well, be sure to use your legs and not your back.

Anyhow, sorry to be long winded, but the best teacher is experience and the only way to get it is to keep riding. Good luck and have fun

 

^^ Post pics of yer duc!!!!

 

Always pick up a dropped bike "backwards".
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I loved my MSF course. Learned a ton and glad I took it.



Luckily I have a friend who has been riding for years and used to race bikes (at VIR) who has been able to help me tremendously.

I have sold my beginner bike (Ninja 250cc) and I am currently looking for a new bike. I am also planning to get in on some track days soon which is really the best way to become a better rider...

 

+1 on the track days. You learn and get to do so many things that you simply can't on the street. Not only that, but there's tons of people on hand to give pointers and experts available to get the bike dialed in. I've done 2 since I got my license 3 years ago and would love to do it again, but track days can get pretty pricey...

Maybe by this weekend or so. It's been hibernating since winter, but spring's here and it's time I get her out and clean her up a bit. Pics probably in a different thread to come

 

You live in CA....there is no "off season" for riding.

 

lol...maybe in SoCal. But in Sac it can get pretty cold, windy, or rainy. I guess I'm a fair weather rider, but I can't argue against the heated seats in my car

 

For anyone that reads this thread and doesn't see my comments in the other motorcycle thread, when you go to the DMV to take the written test, be prepared to take the renewal version of the automobile written test in addition to the full version of the motorcycle written test.

Needless to say, when I read information about the tests online, I don't ever recall it stating that you take the auto test with the motorcycle test so when she handed me the two tests I was surprised.

 

Wow, great thread. I just finished my MSF course and in AZ there is no MVD test, it is all included in the MSF test (written and riding).

Sly, did you end up buying a bike? I am looking now...

 

^ Awesome... congrats!!

I definitely recommend starting out smaller, then upgrading down the road. Not only is it safer, but you'll end up being a better rider. Plus, if you decide motorcycling is not for you, you're not stuck with a big expensive bike.

Good luck and keep us updated. Be sure to check out The Official Motorcycle/Scooter Thread as well!!

 

Congrats on taking the course. What are your plans on getting a bike?

I don't have a bike yet. With the house now and my many other hobbies, it'll be some time before I can get a bike. My brother-in-law and I have been talking about chipping in and getting a bike that we can both practice with. If we do go forward with that, it'll probably end up being a Ninja 250. As for new(er) bike, that'll be some time. But I can tell you now, I'm still in love with the Harley Iron 883.

 

Once you get the bike bug....it never really leaves you.

 

See "the official MC/scooter" thread. I am looking to dive in head first.

 

Ahhh memories of this thread. So fun to finally have a bike.

 

Some good info in here!

 

That Harley is unbelievably sexy.

 

Signed up for the MSF course again a couple weeks ago. Classroom portion was last Wednesday, scored 98% on the test. Missed the question about "what is the no-zone?" Today and tomorrow are the riding classes. 5 hours of riding in the sun/heat, but it'll be fun.

Thought this would be a good refresher since it's been three years since I took it last. One of my buddies is taking it with me because his learners permit expired, so this would be a good way to for him to be taught correctly and get the riding portion out of the way.

 

So finished the motorcycle class on Sunday. It was pretty much the same as it was the first time I took the course over three years ago now. The only difference this time was on the 2nd day. I rode my bike to the course and used it during the training. That in itself was an awesome experience, taking direction on what I should be doing based on the bike I own. I've always known that my low speed turning was my greatest weekness and during the class I learned why that is. I couldn't nail the figure 8's on my bike. I wasn't shifting my weight enough to counterbalance and go nearly full lock into the turns. Most of that was because of confidence issues. During each practice run on a 24' wide box I kept messing up on the 2nd U-Turn (was slightly uphill). The test consisted of a 20' box that you must nail the U-Turn within. Talk about clutch, I nailed it during the test, as did everyone else. We were all excited for everyone as I wasn't the only one struggling a little bit with it.

Ending the course with a perfect score, no faults. Even on my ride home, my low speed turning felt better because I've realized where my shortcoming was so slowly I'll be building up the confidence and trusting my bike more and trusting myself as I put on more miles.

My buddy also did great, can't wait for him to get his license, and then take some cruises along PCH.