Riders Edge vs MSF course
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Houston
Riders Edge vs MSF course
What are the differences if any between taking a Riders Edge New Rider class and a MSF class? Here locally I can do a2 day MSF class put on at a local Harley dealer for $195 that is only 5 minutes away from the house. I can do a Riders Edge class for $295, but I'll be looking at least a 45 minute to an hour commute.
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Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Big ol Titties
I took the msf and thought it was a good class, I work at a navy base and it is was a requirement to take in order to ride on base. Because of that it was free so i didn't shop around for other classes. If i was in your place i would take the msf, it's cheaper and closer. They take you from learning how to start and mount a bike and go through all the basics, emergency manuvers, shifting, turning, figure 8's ect.
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
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From: Wisconsin
I took Rider's Edge and a buddy of mine took MSF at a local campus. The actual instruction for the course is all exactly the same. The reason I ended up going with Rider's Edge vs MSF was the fact that MSF required a 3/4 helmet, and Rider's Edge it required a DOT compliant helmet. I wear a half helmet so the extra cost was justified for me by not having to buy a second helmet that I was only going to wear for the course.
With the MSF course you had to supply your own lunch and water and what not. At the dealership that I took the class at the dealership supplied lunch, beverages, and snacks in the class room. There is also a bit of HD marketing that goes on during Rider's Edge as well. For example when they are talking about the difference types of riding gear they will of course show the HD stuff and feed you the propaganda about how the HD gear is better. Also at the dealership that I went through there was an after hours tour of the entire dealership. They gave you time to sit on all the different bikes. They also gave you time to go over to the clothing area and check out the gear. You could the employees questions.
The dealership I took Rider's Edge at also took an *** ton of pictures of all of the riders and put them up on their facebook page so you could go back and look at what you were doing right and wrong(not turning your head in turns). At the end of the class they gave us a small cake to share in the class congratulating everyone who passed, gave us some framed pictures on the puny little Buell Blasts we rode on.
One last thing that was different between the two was my buddy said that if anyone dumped the bike during any part of the MSF class that you were instantly failed out of the class. At Rider's Edge half the people dumped their bikes during practice but were able to continue on, if you dumped the bike during the final test you instantly failed.
With the MSF course you had to supply your own lunch and water and what not. At the dealership that I took the class at the dealership supplied lunch, beverages, and snacks in the class room. There is also a bit of HD marketing that goes on during Rider's Edge as well. For example when they are talking about the difference types of riding gear they will of course show the HD stuff and feed you the propaganda about how the HD gear is better. Also at the dealership that I went through there was an after hours tour of the entire dealership. They gave you time to sit on all the different bikes. They also gave you time to go over to the clothing area and check out the gear. You could the employees questions.
The dealership I took Rider's Edge at also took an *** ton of pictures of all of the riders and put them up on their facebook page so you could go back and look at what you were doing right and wrong(not turning your head in turns). At the end of the class they gave us a small cake to share in the class congratulating everyone who passed, gave us some framed pictures on the puny little Buell Blasts we rode on.
One last thing that was different between the two was my buddy said that if anyone dumped the bike during any part of the MSF class that you were instantly failed out of the class. At Rider's Edge half the people dumped their bikes during practice but were able to continue on, if you dumped the bike during the final test you instantly failed.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Houston
Thanks BigUgly. Hmmm, the only thing you said that might make a difference is the dumping the bike comment. I wonder if that is an automatic fail with all MSF classes. The free lunch etc would not be worth the extra $ vs the time involved to get tot he location. 5 minutes beats 40+ minutes in rush hour any day of the week.
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Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Big ol Titties
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,392
Likes: 184
From: Big ol Titties
Thanks BigUgly. Hmmm, the only thing you said that might make a difference is the dumping the bike comment. I wonder if that is an automatic fail with all MSF classes. The free lunch etc would not be worth the extra $ vs the time involved to get tot he location. 5 minutes beats 40+ minutes in rush hour any day of the week.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 625
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From: Greeley, CO
I took Rider's Edge and a buddy of mine took MSF at a local campus. The actual instruction for the course is all exactly the same. The reason I ended up going with Rider's Edge vs MSF was the fact that MSF required a 3/4 helmet, and Rider's Edge it required a DOT compliant helmet. I wear a half helmet so the extra cost was justified for me by not having to buy a second helmet that I was only going to wear for the course.
With the MSF course you had to supply your own lunch and water and what not. At the dealership that I took the class at the dealership supplied lunch, beverages, and snacks in the class room. There is also a bit of HD marketing that goes on during Rider's Edge as well. For example when they are talking about the difference types of riding gear they will of course show the HD stuff and feed you the propaganda about how the HD gear is better. Also at the dealership that I went through there was an after hours tour of the entire dealership. They gave you time to sit on all the different bikes. They also gave you time to go over to the clothing area and check out the gear. You could the employees questions.
The dealership I took Rider's Edge at also took an *** ton of pictures of all of the riders and put them up on their facebook page so you could go back and look at what you were doing right and wrong(not turning your head in turns). At the end of the class they gave us a small cake to share in the class congratulating everyone who passed, gave us some framed pictures on the puny little Buell Blasts we rode on.
One last thing that was different between the two was my buddy said that if anyone dumped the bike during any part of the MSF class that you were instantly failed out of the class. At Rider's Edge half the people dumped their bikes during practice but were able to continue on, if you dumped the bike during the final test you instantly failed.
With the MSF course you had to supply your own lunch and water and what not. At the dealership that I took the class at the dealership supplied lunch, beverages, and snacks in the class room. There is also a bit of HD marketing that goes on during Rider's Edge as well. For example when they are talking about the difference types of riding gear they will of course show the HD stuff and feed you the propaganda about how the HD gear is better. Also at the dealership that I went through there was an after hours tour of the entire dealership. They gave you time to sit on all the different bikes. They also gave you time to go over to the clothing area and check out the gear. You could the employees questions.
The dealership I took Rider's Edge at also took an *** ton of pictures of all of the riders and put them up on their facebook page so you could go back and look at what you were doing right and wrong(not turning your head in turns). At the end of the class they gave us a small cake to share in the class congratulating everyone who passed, gave us some framed pictures on the puny little Buell Blasts we rode on.
One last thing that was different between the two was my buddy said that if anyone dumped the bike during any part of the MSF class that you were instantly failed out of the class. At Rider's Edge half the people dumped their bikes during practice but were able to continue on, if you dumped the bike during the final test you instantly failed.
Last edited by 2012SuperGlider; May 2, 2013 at 09:24 PM.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,817
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From: Novi MI
The course itself is the same - they both use the MSF hand book to teach the basics. Here in Michigan, the class is subsidized by the state and only costs $25 at the community colleges. At the dealership it's $295.
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 9
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From: San Diego
You ever think about taking both courses? Ya know kinda like the 'two heads are better than one' theory. I mean we are talking about a hobby that's potentially fatal. Speaking of heads, the goal is not to lose your head in a wreck...which, unfortunately, has happened to some people. When it comes to something dangerous like motorcycling there's an advantage to buying books, DVD's, and taking multiple courses (most people don't talk about said advantage because they're not smart or their head is frozen.) Tools, safety, rider education all combine to help prevent brain-freeze.
Last edited by BornLoser; May 2, 2013 at 10:00 PM.