Today was my first riding day at the MSF course, and first day on a motorcycle! It was sweet! I really enjoyed it. Shifting takes some getting used to, and I think some of the drills are difficult, because controlling the bike at slower speeds (see, under 5mph) seems harder, but it was great. Didn't fall over! Hopefully I can improve enough next week to pass the evaluation.

I started on a 2004 250 Honda Rebel, but the bars were hitting my knees on a weaving exercise, so I switched to a 1990 Honda 125, and that was alot better. The throttle was horribly jumpy in 1st, but I was getting the hang of it at the end. The class ended 90 minutes late because one girl dropped her bike, and this other dude had 2 low speed crashes, and they have to fill out a bunch of paperwork (for the 2nd one in perticular, where he ended up on the ground with the bike on his leg). The dude is alright, but I don't know if he's gonna finish. Anyway, riding was fun, I had a great time, I learned alot, can't wait for next week. Maybe they will teach us the proper way to wave to other riders at the end.

Just wanted to share. Over and out, honda tech buddies.

 

glad you're taking the course wrecks are common. He should be able to finish the course but you're not allowed to drop the bike on the riding test. that's auto disqualification. So is doing wheelies now maybe it was just me but I didn't think any of the 1st day riding stuff was difficult. Toughest was the figure 8 and that took 2-3 attempts to get down...

 

Don't worry about the low-speed stuff. Even more experienced riders aren't smooth for low-speed turns. Good luck! Have fun.

 

the weave was the hardest for me on the first day. I am having a hard time shifting my weight so quickly. If I drop the bike on the 2nd day after a whole first day of drop free riding....i deserve to fail.

Thanks fellas! Can't wait for next week!!

 

i hate riding at slow speeds. the superchicken doesn't really like idle speeds and well I'd much rather be at a speed of at least 30 mph or higher...

 

Yeah, going slow is rough. Although, at my level, going fast would be rough too. I can't wait to get a bike so I can practice and get moderately proficient quickly (or quicker)....

How long you guys been riding?? Maybe I should start a thread...or maybe i should search for one....

Anybody in Southern California know anybody selling a bike:
500-650cc
>2500$
1995-2005 (year)
>30k miles
well maintained

It's been a slow search thus far...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PECO &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, going slow is rough. Although, at my level, going fast would be rough too. I can't wait to get a bike so I can practice and get moderately proficient quickly (or quicker)....

How long you guys been riding?? Maybe I should start a thread...or maybe i should search for one....

Anybody in Southern California know anybody selling a bike:
500-650cc
&gt;2500$
1995-2005 (year)
&gt;30k miles
well maintained

It's been a slow search thus far...</TD></TR></TABLE>
Just be patient. Something will come along your way.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just be patient. Something will come along your way.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah..I am, and I have been looking almost daily for 2 months.

I would be fine, if the @(#$&!@#( North County Bus Lines didn't screw me over (see:WASTE at least 30-90 minutes of my time DAILY by being late, ripping past a stop 10 minutes early as I am walking to it, etc) all the damn time. I'm cool with the bus having a schedule, and having to follow that, but it is beyond ******* ridiculous. Riding the bus (rather, waiting for the bus) is making me want to kill myself.

On the other hand, this is a forum with alot of people with motorcycles, who know alot of people with motorcycles, and maybe one of them might have a good bike I wouldn't ever hear about unless I asked....

Regardless, I'm hangin in there for a good bike (for the money i have). *dreams of suzuki sv*

 

should be something around. don't settle for something you don't want. though saying you want a busa doesn't work. Be happy with what you get though. I'd suggest the sv650 as a first bike. fun around town, comfortable, relatively cheap, light, and a heavenly v-twin sound once you get a good pipe on there. I personally like the devil slip on. Guy next door has one and it sounds so bad ***. Everyone has different tastes though

*edit* looks like you already are looking at them. goto svrider.com and look in the classifieds. Was a lot of good deals and only reason I never jumped on them is they were too far away from me

 

hah! man, I sat on an SV in a stealership and I was SOLD. Such a comfortable riding position!! It just felt right. I'd def spring for one if I find one in my price range... THANKS for the link!!

 

Quick question: What do you wear to take the MSF course? Particularly gear wise, I want to take the MSF course well before I get a bike, so I didn't plan on having any gear by the time I take the course.

 

don't need anything other then long pants - long sleeve shirt, some type of closed finger glove, over the ankle boots, and they'll provide helmets. I just had on jeans, hiking boots, some like batting gloves, a t-shirt with wind breaker over top and brought sunglasses to wear under the helmet. worked fine

 

they provide gloves too, but crappy pos ones. better bring your own. they provide helmets too, just be sure to wear boots or something
"over the ankle." As for jacket wise, I just wore a beefy sweater. You're not going to lay down the bike unless you panic.

you're going to love doing the figure 8. that's the worst excerise (it was difficult for me on the pratice excerises; nailed it on the test)

have fun.

 

Since your in Socal and your looling for a SV, check out http://www.socalsvriders.org

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">don't need anything other then long pants - long sleeve shirt, some type of closed finger glove, over the ankle boots, and they'll provide helmets. I just had on jeans, hiking boots, some like batting gloves, a t-shirt with wind breaker over top and brought sunglasses to wear under the helmet. worked fine</TD></TR></TABLE>

quoted for truth.

also, sign up for it about 6 weeks before you want to finish. there was a big waiting list here for mine, and it takes a few weeks to finish and then get the certificate...

thanks for the link backlash

 

you should pass no problem. The staggered weave is hard to get used to. But if you do fine on breaking, turning (at speed) and only mess up once on the figure 8 you'll pass. Everyone in my class that failed either botched the figure 8 completely (one guy failed the course his 4th time in a row) or they messed up something in each thing.

my MSF course said to bring a helmet and boots. Later they revealed that they have some helmets. Technically you just need over the ankle shoe, long sleeves, pants, some kind of glove, and a helmet (they could provide you with one).
I was the only guy taking the course in full fledged boots, dianese jacket, and joe rocket full cuff gloves.

 

i dunno how people fail... We had some people who weren't good at all early on and most passed with 2-3 mistakes. little stuff like not looking through the turn or a slow emergency stop.

 

Its an excellent class. I took my 8 years ago now.

Slow speed riding gets easier the more you do it. Goto a big parking lot and practice. I practice doing sharp slow turns in my parking garage at work for the hell of it and it helps for sure. Try dragging the rear brake and slipping the clutch doing slow speed stuff, it will help you out a ton. Dragging the rear brake smooths out any jerks as does slipping the clutch. Also instead of leaning with the bike, just lean the bike over keeping your body upright - another big help.

liam

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by liam821 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Try dragging the rear brake and slipping the clutch doing slow speed stuff, it will help you out a ton. Dragging the rear brake smooths out any jerks as does slipping the clutch. Also instead of leaning with the bike, just lean the bike over keeping your body upright - another big help.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

yup. And look completely over your shoulder to where you want to go when making u-turns.

 

That is great man, in terms of your first bike just take things slow. Purchasing a motorcycle is not something that you want to rush.