Riding School
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,352
Likes: 648
From: Vegas, baby!
I would advise not going too deep in dept or too big a scooter for initial experience on the street, it might be best to let a new rider get some 'real world'
experience before understanding their ability or interest in riding a motorcycle. Not everyone is ready for, or enjoys, the experience.
After my desert racing accident, which happened after 7 years of daily year around riding on the street, it took me 3 years of recovery before I was
able to ride again. Even then I worked my way up size wise on different scooters. My father got me a used 100cc Yamaha at first.
Over the next few years. I moved to a KX400, then a few midsize metrics,
I didn't get a Harley until they decided to rubber mount engines.
Unlike a fender bender in a cage, a seemingly insignificant event on a motorcycle can be life ending or changing.
I mention this because my physicality, added to my lack of size, made this method of returning to riding easier and safer. Sort of like a girl
attempting to become a motorcycle rider? I am not a sexist but understand that girls are sometimes smaller and not as strong physically.
Last edited by rjg883c; Nov 18, 2024 at 12:41 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 522
Likes: 305
From: Alexandria, VA
I don't mean to throw water on anyone's parade, but a class is not the same as actually riding on the street.
I would advise not going too deep in dept or too big a scooter for initial experience on the street, it might be best to let a new rider get some 'real world'
experience before understanding their ability or interest in riding a motorcycle. Not everyone is ready for, or enjoys, the experience.
After my desert racing accident, which happened after 7 years of daily year around riding on the street, it took me 3 years of recovery before I was
able to ride again. Even then I worked my way up size wise on different scooters. My father got me a used 100cc Yamaha at first.
Over the next few years. I moved to a KX400, then a few midsize metrics,
I didn't get a Harley until they decided to rubber mount engines.
Unlike a fender bender in a cage, a seemingly insignificant event on a motorcycle can be life ending or changing.
I mention this because my physicality, added to my lack of size, made this method of returning to riding easier and safer. Sort of like a girl
attempting to become a motorcycle rider?
I would advise not going too deep in dept or too big a scooter for initial experience on the street, it might be best to let a new rider get some 'real world'
experience before understanding their ability or interest in riding a motorcycle. Not everyone is ready for, or enjoys, the experience.
After my desert racing accident, which happened after 7 years of daily year around riding on the street, it took me 3 years of recovery before I was
able to ride again. Even then I worked my way up size wise on different scooters. My father got me a used 100cc Yamaha at first.
Over the next few years. I moved to a KX400, then a few midsize metrics,
I didn't get a Harley until they decided to rubber mount engines.
Unlike a fender bender in a cage, a seemingly insignificant event on a motorcycle can be life ending or changing.
I mention this because my physicality, added to my lack of size, made this method of returning to riding easier and safer. Sort of like a girl
attempting to become a motorcycle rider?
OMG, next thing you know they will try to run for president.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 406
From: Hurdle Mills NC
Any MSF classes are pretty much identical.
But have them
1. Read Proficient Motorcycling by Hough .. free pdf out there
2. Get the Ride like a Pro training.
3. Seek out the Britany Morrow story to inform rather than frighten.
But have them
1. Read Proficient Motorcycling by Hough .. free pdf out there
2. Get the Ride like a Pro training.
3. Seek out the Britany Morrow story to inform rather than frighten.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,352
Likes: 648
From: Vegas, baby!
Fortunately, for her. Kamala didn't die or suffer a serious physical injury. Those results can easily happen to someone
that thinks passing a class makes them fully qualified to ride a motorcycle,.
Last edited by rjg883c; Nov 19, 2024 at 06:04 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 165
Likes: 70
From: Northhern Mississippi
All H-D riding courses are the same and are based on the MSF. There could be some exceptions based on the state (calif. may be one of them). The variance will be price. I was a HD MSF riding coach for 10 years.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 661
From: Eastpointe, MI
So will this course teach me low speed maneuvering? Or safety and road rules and where the brake and throttle are?
I just signed up for an "intermediate" one day riding course at my local Harley-Davidson dealership - Wolverine in Clinton Township, Michigan.
They have a new to motorcycles course, a beginner course and this one.
I've been riding motorcycles for 50 years now, I've always had a motorcycle. Never had a course.
Never even got my Michigan endorsement until this year.
No one ever asked about it or cared about that before. I've even gotten a few tickets and the police didn't even care about that. You could pass this test without ever having seen a motorcycle before though.
I've always had Japanese bikes mostly Hondas.
I just bought my first Harley-Davidson a 2008 Electra Glide Ultra Classic. Love it.
You can't throw this bike around like you can my current Honda Magna 1100.
It really deserves more respect.
I'm not as good at low speed maneuvering as I should be. Coming to a Michigan turnaround with this big bike stopping I'd like to not have to put my foot down before continuing - even in another direction.
I see the videos of police officers low speed maneuvering between cones in a parking lot - amazing really I can't do that. I was at the dealer recently and the mechanic was test riding a bike he had the handlebars all the way over with one hand looking down at what he had just repaired doing about 1 mile an hour then reversing the handlebars all the way to the other direction without even looking or thinking about it. I can't do that.
I hope that's what this course is about and not road rules and safety and where the throttle and Brake are.
Anyone take this course?
They have a new to motorcycles course, a beginner course and this one.
I've been riding motorcycles for 50 years now, I've always had a motorcycle. Never had a course.
Never even got my Michigan endorsement until this year.
No one ever asked about it or cared about that before. I've even gotten a few tickets and the police didn't even care about that. You could pass this test without ever having seen a motorcycle before though.
I've always had Japanese bikes mostly Hondas.
I just bought my first Harley-Davidson a 2008 Electra Glide Ultra Classic. Love it.
You can't throw this bike around like you can my current Honda Magna 1100.
It really deserves more respect.
I'm not as good at low speed maneuvering as I should be. Coming to a Michigan turnaround with this big bike stopping I'd like to not have to put my foot down before continuing - even in another direction.
I see the videos of police officers low speed maneuvering between cones in a parking lot - amazing really I can't do that. I was at the dealer recently and the mechanic was test riding a bike he had the handlebars all the way over with one hand looking down at what he had just repaired doing about 1 mile an hour then reversing the handlebars all the way to the other direction without even looking or thinking about it. I can't do that.
I hope that's what this course is about and not road rules and safety and where the throttle and Brake are.
Anyone take this course?
Last edited by Robertbc3141; Jun 24, 2025 at 07:42 PM. Reason: spelin and gramer
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 969
Likes: 850
From: Hudson, CO
Update. Both girls passed the class and now have motorcycle licenses! My wife is doing really well on her Heritage and I think she will be ready to leave the parking lot soon. I think she's ready now, but it only matters what she thinks, and she wants more practice. My daughter doesn't like the Heritage. I think it scares her. So we are looking for a smaller bike she feels comfortable learning on. Maybe a Rebel 300 or 500?
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 661
From: Eastpointe, MI
Update. Both girls passed the class and now have motorcycle licenses! My wife is doing really well on her Heritage and I think she will be ready to leave the parking lot soon. I think she's ready now, but it only matters what she thinks, and she wants more practice. My daughter doesn't like the Heritage. I think it scares her. So we are looking for a smaller bike she feels comfortable learning on. Maybe a Rebel 300 or 500?
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 661
From: Eastpointe, MI
[QUOTE=Robertbc3141;22053453]So did you all take the very beginner course or the intermediate one? Just wondering if the beginner course would be to basic. I want to learn low speed maneuvering rather than rules of the road and safety./QUOTE]
Road Master
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 780
Likes: 934
From: North Carolina
@Robertbc3141 I took the beginner MSF course at a local Harley dealer. Yes, it was basic and designed for new riders to get their motorcycle endorsement on their drivers license.
You do learn slow speed skills (clutch and throttle control along with rear brake). You must be able to do U-turns here in NC to get your endorsement.
Slow speed skills require practice. There are several folks on YouTube that teach these skills. Ride Like a Pro and Be the Boss of your Motorcycle are retired police officers that teach these skills. Watch their videos then go practice and/or take theirs or similar courses.
You do learn slow speed skills (clutch and throttle control along with rear brake). You must be able to do U-turns here in NC to get your endorsement.
Slow speed skills require practice. There are several folks on YouTube that teach these skills. Ride Like a Pro and Be the Boss of your Motorcycle are retired police officers that teach these skills. Watch their videos then go practice and/or take theirs or similar courses.
Last edited by mseawell1022; Jun 25, 2025 at 07:31 AM.