man, this course really drained me...physically and psychologically. while the exercises are fairly trivial, they're all done at low speed and each riding session is six hours long. basically, you use the clutch about as much as you would driving for six hours in stop and go traffic. also, for the range test each student takes the test in front of the other students. so, if you're the type of person who gets excited or nervous under pressure or in front of a group, beware. anyhow, the course is definitely worthwhile because you get your license without risking dropping your bike and supposedly you get an insurance break. for any of you guys who are thinking about taking this course and buying a sportbike, you might want to think twice: nothing is done above 20 miles an hour so you don't get to experience countersteering or braking at any type of speed. on the other hand, you learn low speed maneuvers and parking lots seem to be a common place where people drop their bikes. if you live in the dc metro area, i highly recommend taking the course at montgomery college. the instructors, dave and barry, were very cool and laid back.

 

Hahaha you're a *****. Yeah it has nothing to do with riding a sportbike, it's about learning the basic controls of a motorcycle.

Who cares how much you use the clutch? Yeah my hand started hurting too but you've got to get used to it, sportbike clutches are a lot stiff and hurt your hand very quicky..

 

Was there a wait list?

 

On the part of the test where you have to take a corner with steady throttle, well, I couldn't see the cones and missed the whole thing entirely.

 

i signed up for the course several months ago: registration began at 9:00 on a mon. morning and the first people in line got there at 7:00 p.m. the night before. i think there was a waitlist but everybody who signed up came to my class. i think the courses have gotten so popular that chances of getting picked of the waitlist are slim-to-none. pwnd, the fact that sportbike clutches are stiff is irrelevant because you won't spend four hours in a parking lot constantly using the clutch on a sportbike. the msf is like being on a bike all morning in stop and go traffic; its a bitch whether you're riding a p.o.s. nighthawk or a sportbike.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by btdewitt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i signed up for the course several months ago: registration began at 9:00 on a mon. morning and the first people in line got there at 7:00 p.m. the night before. i think there was a waitlist but everybody who signed up came to my class. i think the courses have gotten so popular that chances of getting picked of the waitlist are slim-to-none. pwnd, the fact that sportbike clutches are stiff is irrelevant because you won't spend four hours in a parking lot constantly using the clutch on a sportbike. the msf is like being on a bike all morning in stop and go traffic; its a bitch whether you're riding a p.o.s. nighthawk or a sportbike.</TD></TR></TABLE>

A nighthawk isnt a piece of ****!

 

Dude, after my first day of the riding course, I was so drained that I didn't want to come back the next day. Hang in there, it'll get better. I became a lot more comfortable the next day and now I have a F2. I thinks that's a huge upgrade from a 125cc bike. Good luck with everything

 

scraping pegs on the nighthawk was one of the best times I had on a streetbike. It never gets as good as the first couple of times you ride. Plus it's always nice to rag on someone elses bike. Rememeber, they dont expect you to pay for damage done to the bike.

 

I took the course about a month ago. I had already had my Zx-6R for about 2 weeks before I took it and that little experience helped alot. I thought the course was fun. Just try and learn something out of it. Those Nighhawks are pretty fun

 

montgomery village represent !!! by the time i figured out where and when to sign up for the course, slots were already filled up. its cool that you stuck it out though.

 

i thought it was pretty easy and a great course i would recommend it for everyone

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by btdewitt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> for any of you guys who are thinking about taking this course and buying a sportbike, you might want to think twice: nothing is done above 20 miles an hour so you don't get to experience countersteering or braking at any type of speed. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I disagree, I recommend this to sportbike riders over anyone else since they seem to be the ones that drive like maniacs. There was priceless information and fundamentals taught at the class.... i hope you picked up on as much as you could.

 

i didn't mean that sportbike riders shouldn't take the course; they definitely should. its just that some beginning riders pass the course and think that they're ready for a sportbike. i tend to disagree because passing the course isn't particularly difficulty (its long but not hard) and you don't have any high speed skills. i guess people pass the course and let their confidence trick them into thinking they're good riders when they're not.

 

up here in maryland registration doesnt start till may 12 (just looked it up & took off work). its $30 tuition + $70 fee = $100.

 

New York has it for a steal of a price $380

 

wow! r u serious??? did you pay that much?

 

I thought the course was pretty easy.

btw - its $250 here in CA for 21+

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EGlovr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wow! r u serious??? did you pay that much?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No I pulled out my shank a stabbed the ************.

 

Wow, those prices are insane. I thought Massachusetts was high (around $150 I think).

In Rhode Island, the class is mandatory and costs a measely $25. Lucky us.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by big pete &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought the course was pretty easy.

btw - its $250 here in CA for 21+ </TD></TR></TABLE>

for under 21 isnt it like 75 bucks???

 

Yeah its very cheap for people under 21 because the class is mandatory. Anyhow, the class isnt to teach you how to be a racer on a sportbike. Its to teach you the basics of how to ride a motorcycle and how to stay alive.

 

mass its 240 for under 21 and 280 for over 21 my father made me take the course but thanks to mt father he made it maditory for me to take it and he said that he pay for it.... I was really happy i took the course its a great course u learn stuff that u wouldn't exspect to hear.... alot of the guys in my class have been ridin on there permit for years and they learnt alot of stuff.... some people think its a stupid course and so did i before i took it... now i'm happy that i took the course and tell everyone about it and they should spend the money cause it really does make u a better rider... i'm thinkin about goin back this year and takin the advanced course... you get a 10% insurance break and if u take both courses i'm pretty sure u get a 20% break its worth it not only for the insurance break but the exspirense

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ReBornGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

No I pulled out my shank a stabbed the ************. </TD></TR></TABLE>
roflmao.

 

Wow, expensive for some of you guys....

I paid 175. Money well spent too. Had a lot of fun on the course, and my instructors were very cool people.

Also scored 100 on the road test

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MickeeAgain &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

for under 21 isnt it like 75 bucks???</TD></TR></TABLE>

in southern cali it is now $150 for under 21 and $198 for 21+. i would expect northern cali to be a smidge more expensive