I agree, Having to take lessons, in order to take lessons???? That makes no sense at all. Unless, the lessons are advertised for intermediate riders only. Beginner lessons, usually start by introducing a rider to a bike like they have never seen one before. They should start at the beginning and work their way up to actually riding it. That's ususally why a person would take a course. What a waste of money if you fail because you weren't prepared. That doesn't make sense at all.

 

I rode on my own for a number of years. Then I was away from it for quite a few. No courses back then just the tried and true, ride, fall down, get back on, ride, fall down .. etc. BUT, even people who have ridden most of their lives and never taken the course, decide to take it and will tell you without a question of a doubt ...... the course is difficult. Kev took it with me and he has been riding a while. Its riding that you don't do every day!! It also depends on WHO is teaching the course, how many students are in the course, how you as a person learn. Some one on one with an impartial party is a good thing.

The weather is nice now....... most courses are booked beyond their means! So a little preknowledge is a good thing. I got my permit before I took the course. Before the written I got online and went through MSF website. Good stuff there. Getting the permit allows you to ride a little on your own and be a bit more prepared for the Basic course.

I think getting her some private lessons was a good thing to do!! [sm=smiley20.gif]

 

I wasn't saying it's not a good thing to do... I was commenting on Blueroses comment about people failing because they were not prepared (insinuating that they needed or wanted lessons before the course). I totally agree with someone being as prepared as they can be, but the course is supposedly aimed at a person that's never even touched a motorcycle before.

The course is not part of the test... The test is part of the course. And if someone fails, it should be obvious before the test that they are failing, and up to the Coaches to help them learn what they are doing incorrectly... regardless of how booked in advance the course is. They're supposed to be professional instructors. And the person taking the course is not a customer, but a student.

I think...

Aren't they?

 

I can see someone taking some private lessons before the MSF in some cases. Take my wife for example. She would like to ride, but doesn't even know how to drive a standard transimssion, or use a clutch. I know when I took the MSF course, they almost assumed that everyone knew how a clutch and shifter worked. That being said, to save a marriage (I don't have near the required patience) I will seek out some private lessons before signing her up for the course. If I'm not mistaken, if you fail out of the course you do not get a refund on your investment. You just have to sign up and take it again. So I guess taking lessons to prepare for your lessons isn't always a bad idea. Just my opinion.

 

Right on about the clutch issue. She had a real bad experience with a manual transmission in car and that was causing her to psych herself out of being able to deal with a bike. Sure, she's rational enough to know that a bike is different but, she just couldn't get the bad car thing out of her head. The worst part of this process is that we saw the Ridley automatics in Laconia. She kept saying that if she couldn't deal with the shifting that an automatic would do. To me, the Ridley was an "out" and had the potential for her to not even want to try. Ridley's a nice bike - but it doesn't have all the options that a Harley (or even the clone) bikes have. I guess the fee just saved me from investing in an $18k Ridley.

She thought that if she could get some private time to see if she could make it "click" she would then use the time in the MSF course to pay attention to the critical things and not the rhythm of shifting (not to mention the potential embarassment of failure in a crowd - she's very competitive). I also realized that we'd probably be choking each other if I was the one to give the lesson.

Found out about an hour ago that she's signed up the the beginner's course the week after next.

True that this is all a slippery slope. The sporty isn't 24 hours old and I got 3 ebay listings from her today that pointed to potential upgrades. But I'll gladly take this slope. Not too many hobbies we can share. She doesn't seem interested in hunting, belching, farting or other guy stuff. Oh, and it gets her a$$ off the back of my bike.

-DO

 

congrat's dave! to you and the wife's new sporty! What you riding?

 

I know you think it's nuts to have to take a lesson to take a lesson, but ......

In the MSF course I took we had 24 people and 8 to 10 hours total in the saddle (with about 2 hours of test time included). I had to wait over 2 months to even get a spot and if I missed it I was out the money and had to reschedule...no refunds. The class was split in two and there were 4 girls in my session including me.

--One girl left right after just walking the bike...funny she was the "Bad girl goth" of the group.
--The other two tried very hard the first day and the instructors helped a blond more then anyone in the class.
--The second day we got to uturns and the blonde bowed out....she looked scared to death.
--The last girl was shaky but tried very hard. Failed when she didn't get her feet down fast enough on the short stop during the test. ( it was really a shame after how hard she tried)

There was not a lot of "learning time". It was obvious that the instuctors assumed you had been on a bike and had a clue about shifting. Basically they just took you through what was going to be on the test and gave you a few pointers. 2 guys had 12 people to get through in a short period of time. If you had a need for a few minutes of one on one you were out of luck.

I got my permit and took the time to go to the local school parking lot with my hubby. I practiced turning both directions, basic shifting, and stopping. Then I hit the neighborhood for practice on some actual streets. But I think that is what a permit is for..isn't it? I also had some previous experiance many years ago so I knew about shifting. I'm not sure I would have passed without getting on a bike first (especially if I had no idea about shifting)....

BTW...I only missed 4 of the 21 points they allow on my test. Only a couple of guys that have been riding several years did better then me. One of the guys failed missing 22...

Even if you don't get private lessons...getting on a bike before you get to the class is a really good idea.

 

Having a clue is the first step. Our class was small comparatively! It was in early February, and we were the first class in our area. These folks came recomended as they were more female oriented.

One couple other than us, a mom and daughter team, and some single folks. We had GREAT coaches!! I had spoken with the instructor on two occasions prior to the classes.

Day one in class. Everyone did fairly well, the other couple it seemed the husband was an A$$, and said some very derogatory things about his wife and her riding two up with him. She couldn't grasp the material in the films or the book. Took test passed with 100%!!

Day two: less one member of the group. getting comfy on the bike. Same woman can't get shifting down. I'm behind her as we were weaving and bobbing ...... lord knows ya can't pass a student on the training course[:@], I was ready to fly she kept the speed WAAAY down. They kept yelling Go FASTER to no avail........ she dumped the bike.

Day three: She's ready (we think) ...... start learning the new stuff!! I have some problems, but overcome them. She almost runs into BF with bike, he's thinking about an escape route, luckily she pulled the front wheel up scared herself and came back down landing on her ars. It was a close call for the BF cuz all he saw was wheels and bike coming his direction and coaches running to stop her! I screwed up and went down, broke my foot .... bike landed right on top of it! Sat, collected myself, told I could redo it, I said NO! Get up and we're off again. She dumps it again, third time ... they finally told her to sit it out! Practicing figure eights, I dump it again ..... told again I can come back and am I sure I want to do this that day.......I CAME TO PASS THIS COURSE, give me a moment to regroup and I'll be at it again. The test followed ..... it began raining I did everything correctly except two things which I backed up with safety in the rain!! I passed!! Hubby of other lady was ticked as I got to finish the course and she didn't! He was a terrible rider .... after all his boasting and putting his wife down, who was 60 I might add, he passed but he sure got a lot of grief about his riding habits!

I think you REALLY have to be ready ......... and or be able to understand the fundamentals of a motorcycle. DH tells me I go to slow for his taste, I think he goes too fast! But then, I'd rather do it at my own speed until I feel like I'm ready to tempt fate!

 

I have that prob with hubby...I just take my time....luckily he lets me but I know he gets frustrated.