General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Just joined

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 03:38 PM
  #1  
Arkman61's Avatar
Arkman61
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Default Just joined

Hey Im arkman61 I own a 2008 softail heritage classic just got it 2 weeks ago. Im a new rider!!

Im taking the Basic rider class provided by MSF. Can anyone tell me what I have to do or accomplish to pass this course. I really want to get my license and definitely be a safe driver!!
Thanks
 
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 03:45 PM
  #2  
nytryder's Avatar
nytryder
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,012
Likes: 298
From: Central Fl
Default

Welcome to the club. Those courses are fairly simple and easily understood. Pay attention and you should do fine.
 
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 03:52 PM
  #3  
XKnight's Avatar
XKnight
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,225
Likes: 9
From: 3rd Stone From The Sun
Default

There should be written test and a road test at the end of the course, but you'll get to practice all the test maneuvers beforehand. As stated above, just pay attention and do what the instructor tells you to do and you'll be fine. A couple people usually fail, but they shouldn't really be riding anyway.
 
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 03:58 PM
  #4  
Arkman61's Avatar
Arkman61
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Default

Thanks guys thats good information. Ive been practicing all along anyways!!
 
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 04:11 PM
  #5  
oldgeezer's Avatar
oldgeezer
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
Likes: 4
From: Midland, TX
Default

Welcome. Good luck on the course and be safe riding.
 
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 05:11 PM
  #6  
98XL1200C's Avatar
98XL1200C
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: Warren, Ohio
Default

Welcome..and good luck on the test. Stay safe out there.
 
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 05:37 PM
  #7  
piasspj's Avatar
piasspj
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 372
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
Default

Pretty much all slow speed exercises, U-turns, braking, swerving, shifting up and down.
 
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 06:04 PM
  #8  
Dixie Dreg's Avatar
Dixie Dreg
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 6
From: Gray's Creek NC
Default

Anyone can run down the road at eighty, that doesn't take any skill. Where people get into trouble is the slow stuff. Be sure they teach you about countersteering if they haven't already. With your attitude you will do fine, welcome to the forum!
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 06:09 PM
  #9  
JW1200's Avatar
JW1200
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Army
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 46,845
Likes: 22,534
From: Land of the Free, Home of Jack Daniel's
Default

Originally Posted by Arkman61
Hey Im arkman61 I own a 2008 softail heritage classic just got it 2 weeks ago. Im a new rider!!

Im taking the Basic rider class provided by MSF. Can anyone tell me what I have to do or accomplish to pass this course. I really want to get my license and definitely be a safe driver!!
Thanks
Welcome to the forum. When your on the heritage, your not a driver, your a rider. Take the class and do the work and you'll pass.
 
Old Sep 19, 2012 | 06:19 PM
  #10  
OV-10's Avatar
OV-10
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 98
Likes: 1
Default

I've got the same year and model bike, you'll love it!
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
chiarapetrachi
General Harley Davidson Chat
17
May 25, 2017 03:40 PM
Focker RN
General Harley Davidson Chat
37
Feb 2, 2017 07:18 AM
dcmassena
Sportster Models
8
Oct 14, 2008 08:41 AM
BoneyardBill
Pacific
11
Jul 26, 2008 12:55 AM
ecvjohn
General Harley Davidson Chat
21
Oct 3, 2005 05:42 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:00 AM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE