Passed my MSF course :)

[GooseRider]

A couple of weekends ago I passed my MSF course and just had MC added to my license a couple of days ago

I'd like to get a bike soon so what I learned doesn't fade away...been really looking hard at quite a few bikes lately. I think for my 1st bike I want to stay around 650-800cc..bikes that I have been thinking about have been the C50 and the Honda Shadow Aero....

Is the C50 a good bike for a beginner? I used a Suzuki GZR250 during the course.

From what I have been reading, 650-900 is a great size for a new rider.....suggestions?



Goose

PS Good to be here

[Rockhead]

I think the C would be a fine bike to start off on. However I don’t know how comfortable you are with ridding yet. If your uneasy maybe start off on a beater bike to get some miles under you. If you feel comfortable enough sure get the C, it has enough power too give you a smile.

[lil_lissa]

i'm sure everyone else will tell you that 600-800 will be too big too start on, but i'll let them do that. i started with a 500

congrats on passing the course!

[blackie1491]

For new riders, a GS500 or Ninja500 are good bikes.
Used is recommended to get you past those parking lot drops.

A C50 s a great bike, but has some weight to it.

Read thru the threads and you will see most of us have dropped our bike.

A lot of us spent time with older bikes before moving up.

Give it some thought.

[techgesture]

I got an M50 after passing my MSF class... had it almost a month now... havent dropped it once.


How were you in the MSF class? Did you pass the test well?


Thats why I took the MSF class at the Harley dealership... I liked learning on the 500cc Buels instead of small 250cc bikes... 500cc is closer to the weight of a "real" motorcycle.

[TechJD]

Congrads on the MSF Class
usally most do better learning on less than 600cc bikes, they weight less
and once you have a few thousand miles on one of them then the bigger cc and heaver bikes are much easier to handle

[maddog20/20]

Welcome to the board. Congrats on passing your MSF.

[Mavman]

Originally Posted by Rockhead

I think the C would be a fine bike to start off on. However I don’t know how comfortable you are with ridding yet. If your uneasy maybe start off on a beater bike to get some miles under you. If you feel comfortable enough sure get the C, it has enough power too give you a smile.

+1 to what Rockhead said.

And

welcome aboard

[robertc729]

Welcome and congrats on the MSF course

[87gsxrnut]

Good job!

- Nut

[Apertureguy]

Congrats on passing the course!!!

Now as for what to ride...well that all depends on you. I took my course using GZ250's...the place has like 10 or so of these...it was a great bike to take the test on. Light as a feather & still has enough to remind you it's a bike.

But after the class I had a similar problem...what to buy?

In my case, the last time I rode (before the course) was over 15 years ago. While I rode for a couple of years (back then)...I didn't own one (it was borrowed) and never got a license. So I had no "good" experience...and certaintly wasn't the safest rider on the road.

But I was young & thought myself indestructible. Now that I'm old and decrepid...I thought it best to start out a bit slower this time around.

One of the first goals I set, was to get my wife riding. To do this I had to find something she wouldn't feel intimidated by & could easily handle.

I bought her a Honda 250cc scooter (The Big Ruckus). It's perfect for her...and I used it for the first year...both to break it in...and to get me straight on riding again.

Well, it worked. I have never felt as skilled or as comfortable as I do now while riding. But yeah...a starter bike is pretty much a luxury. Not everyone can afford to get one.

But if you can...it's not a bad way to go. The entire time I rode it, I was evaluating what I knew I needed, what I would like to be able to do, etc..

When it came to buying time (this year) it didn't take that long. A 5-10 minute test ride was enough for me. I knew how I wanted to sit, how far I wanted my arms out in front of me (handlebar styles & sizes), how well my feet & legs fit, etc. Within a few days I was able to narrow the various selections down to the M50. It fit all my needs, and it had some extras.

While something not everyone can do...I would still highly recommend it.

[MrvanH]

I had never ridden a motorcycle before and decided I was wasn't going to let my fear get the best of me and keep me from doing something I felt everyone should do at least once in their lives. I bought a Suzuki S40, which used to be known as a Savage. It is a single cylinder, belt drive 650cc that is light and nimble. I realized after 1K miles or so, that I needed a bigger bike, so I didn't look like a Shriner in a parade on one of those tiny bikes (I'm a little heavier than most). It was a great bike to start with! The big Harley riders and Sport bike guys were sneering when I showed up to take my test, but I had no problems, and several of them dumped their bikes. If you are smaller in stature and plan on riding one up, it may be a good choice for you, but I will tell you that I love the M50 and it was an easy transition.

[BOSS750]

From this day forward no bike is too big and the only reason I'm saying this is because:

1. I started out with a 600cc
2. a coworker started out with a 900cc
3. another coworker went from a 250cc to a SV1000

It's up to the rider and how skilled they are getting the mechanics down and being able to handle the bike. I was just watching ESPN the other day and they had 12yr old kids driving 600 horse power racing cars. Now most people will say work your way up and get a few years under your belt, but how many years can these kids actually have at driving let alone that much horse power. The thing is they learned the mechanics of it and got skilled at controlling the vehicle and not the other way around and it's the same with a bike.

So maybe it's safer to get a smaller bike but yet still dangerous on any type of bike.
But remember this is just my opinion and not a fact

[iontrap]

Hey, I just went through the same process. The first bike I test rode was a Buell Blast and it made me realize that I didn't want a single cylinder bike and that I needed something bigger in size, both engine and physical. I found an 04 VL800 for a steal and think it is the perfect size for me.
You definitely need to take your physical size into consideration.

[Lukor]

I've been looking at the local DOL (washington) skill test and it includes doing a U-turn within a 20' square. I've gone to a parking lot and tried to do this with my 600 Gixxer. I don't think it's possible. Even walking the bike (leaned over) in a circle with the steering on the stop, the smallest circle possible is about 24'.

Has anyone else run across this problem?

[BOSS750]

Originally Posted by Lukor

I've been looking at the local DOL (washington) skill test and it includes doing a U-turn within a 20' square. I've gone to a parking lot and tried to do this with my 600 Gixxer. I don't think it's possible. Even walking the bike (leaned over) in a circle with the steering on the stop, the smallest circle possible is about 24'.

Has anyone else run across this problem?

Oh believe me it's possible, when I took the MSF course alot of the guys on sport bikes were having trouble making the figure 8 inside the box, but all of the cruisers were making it look easy. So we challenged one of the instructors to get on one of the sport bikes and see if he could prove that it was possible. After one lap around the track to get a good feel of the friction zone he did two perfect figure 8s. So yes it can be done you just have to lean wit it and rock wit it, no just kidding but you have to look and counter steer to be able to do it right.

[Lukor]

So I finally took the test. I found the course the day before and practiced for about an hour. The only thing I couldn't hit every time was the U-turn. The only way I could make it was to fudge a little by approaching at an angle to the start. Having heard they allow some mistakes, decided to go for it.

Showed up early and there were already two other riders there. By the time the DOL person showed up there was about 6 of us. The testing person was a big black woman, young with an almost punk blond haircut, seemingly in a good mood. So the first guy goes out, an older guy with a 1000 Sportster. He bombs right away, can't make the slalom, doesn't even get to finish. We talk and apparently it's his second try. So the second guy goes out on a 650 Kawa naked bike and he bombs out also, puts his feet down, hits the lines and cones, doesn't even get to finish. So the rest of us are getting nervous, it's not that hard but when your under pressure it makes it harder.

So now it's the Gold Wing guys turn, an older bike in so-so shape. He looks totally nervous and has been very quiet, never took his helmet off. He seems hesitant and the tester woman appears to be new at the job also. She's having difficulty explaining the course. She's reading and then telling us what to do. Sometimes she stops and starts over. So the Wing rider gets to the quick stop part of the test and has to do it over because he's not going fast enough. So he does it over and passes, and then he has to do the swerve test on the same marker lines. The tester lady's explanation borders on being vague and the Wing guy misunderstands and thinks your supposed to swerve and stop at the same time... and he lays is down. He's done. At least he's not hurt and the bike just scuffs the crash bar.

A collective groan goes up from the remaining riders. There was 8 of us at the start, and no one has passed yet. So now the lone dirt bike guy goes out. He aces it up to the U-turn, but apparently the tester woman is asking what size of bike and the U-turn is sized accordingly. 18' for smaller bikes, 20' for medium, and 22' for larger ones. He has to do the 18' turn and touches the line, but it's only his second mistake so he passes. Well at least one of us passed. So you can make 2 small mistakes and still pass, that makes it seem doable. Just give up on the U-turn but ace everything else.

So then one of the guys starts acting stupid. He gets upset because he thinks he should have been called up earlier, he was the first one to get there that morning but the last on the list. So he gets mad, and then she gets mad and tells him he's at the back of the line. While this is going on the next guy up decides to practice on the course before she starts his test. The tester lady gets even madder, gives the guy a verbal beat down and sends him to the back of the line also.

So that leaves me, thanks guys, this isn't already hard enough. So I pull up and try to act as nice as possible, yes mam, no mam. Thankfully she seems to respond. I ace it up to the U-turn and then bomb that totally, stick my foot down and touch the line. So I've got 2 points, any other mistakes and I'm done. Then the quick stop. She's already made about 1/2 the guys do this one over for going too slow so I really rip on it. She's a rookie and doesn't hit her stop watch right. Please do it over, why? Do you want me to go faster? No it just didn't "turn out right". So I do it over and then the swerve test. I PASSED, arms raised in a V. Didn't wait to see the carnage of the back of line guys, straight off to the DOL to get the full license.

Synopsis. This is a pretty difficult low speed test. Don't know how much it really applies to real world biking. It's pretty hard on a sport bike, your on the steering stop in the U'turn. The easiest way is power-braking with the rear brake, sort of hard when going right because the bikes leaned over to make the radius. The only way your going to pass is to practice on the course. It's complex and each problem has to be figured out as to what has to be done, much less actually do it. And with an inexperienced instructor it makes it even more problematic. After she told me I passed she then warned me about how dangerous it's been lately for motorcycles. She had passed someone recently who had gone out that same week and had a bad accident. Well if the DOL wouldn't give everybody who can walk and breath a cager license, like make them hard to get like in Germany, and if they would ban cell phones while driving.... maybe then we would have a better chance.

[RelicRider]

When I would practice before I was able to take the safety course I was lucky to have a parking lot with hills and basic intersections. So along with the speed stops and starting out on a hill, I was also able to practice some of those slow control routines that reflexes. I'm still not there but I'm working on it. Having a bike the right size help.
Also the practice continues everytime you're out. Because as you'll hear around here, " They seem to be out to Kill You."
Congrats on passing the test .... Definately entering a new experience.