[Anonymous]

Hi all,

Is the MSF class for complete beginners? My boyfriend took the class and said that there were only two beginners in the class, so I am a little worried that the pace will be too fast for me. I have been tooling around on his SV650 and finding myself overwhelmed and unable to do simple things such as slowly releasing the clutch, “walking” the bike (in first gear), and braking without feeling terrified/on the verge of losing control.

Alternatives to taking the MSF class straightaway are practicing more on the SV650 or buying a ninja 250 (which I may ultimately want anyway because I don’t think I can handle a huge bike with my short legs) and practicing on that. I plan to eventually take the MSF class either way, but I would like to go into the class adequately prepared.

Thanks for any advice!!
Alicia

[megaspaz]

The MSF course caters to beginners. That doesn’t mean people with some riding experience won’t be there, but people with no riding experience should be there.

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

[shaggles]

The msf beginners course is just that. The only time I’d ever ridden a motorcycle in my life was once on my cousins Honda 50 about 30 years ago. Although I hear the SV650 is pretty beginner friendly I think you’ll have a lot easier time with the bikes they provide for the msf course. I think most places use 250cc cruisers like the Rebel, Nighthawk and Virago which besides being lower powered also have lower seats and are lighter than the SV.

[Marshy]

I just took the MSF BRC course just a couple weeks ago with NO experience at all with bikes or manual transmission. I diddnt even know what a clutch was let alone how to use one. I was also a little intimidated the first day since the other people were not beginners and knew thier way around a bike. The instructors will take it real slow and if you dont understand something ask a question, they want you to ask and you paid for the right to do so.

I took the class it was a blast and you should have no problem passing the test. Everyone did in my class. One guy even failed and they let him take it again because of a new rule. Just relax and have fun.

[AzN LogiK]

it helps if you know how to ride a bike though. i think that’s a requirement when i did it.

[megaspaz]

That wasn’t actually a requirement here. The MSF instructors were proud of the fact they had students pass with not even a wisp of bicycle riding experience. So riding a bicycle’s not a prereq for the MSF beginner course.

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

[shaggles]

I read somewhere that the ability to ride a bike was a prerequisite for the class I took but they never asked anyone if they could ride a bike.

[megaspaz]

The only thing the instructers said about that was that it helped if you’ve ridden at least a bicycle, but they said you don’t need to have that experience and that they’ve had such people pass the course. Maybe it’s just one of those things that depends on the instructor… dunno. But my instructors definately made it seem like it wasn’t a prereq.

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

[Ben]

The MSF is targetted at people with little or no motorcycle experience. When I went to my course I actually already had a motorcycle and I road it there. I left it in the parking lot and used their bikes for the course though, they were a blast! They definitely start it off slow, at first they have you just duck walking the motorcycle while you slowly release the clutch so you can understand the friction point. They had us doing that bunch before we got to use the throttle.

In my opinion you would be best served by taking the course.

Ben
~Best Beginner Motorcycles Admin

[sunshinernnr]

Hey everybody,

Thanks for all the input. Now I’m just trying to sign up for the MSF course as soon as possible! I love this website by the way!

-Alicia

[Anonymous]

I took the class with no prior experience, then purchased an SV650. The class is easy with gentle bikes. 50% of the students had never riden before. Riding experience is not required. The bikes in the class are way easier than the SV650. I have been riding everyday since 2005, and there are still things i can’t do on the SV650, that i did in the class.

[Rupmisc]

Horses-jumped ’em. Bicycles, sure. But I was one of 2 people in my MSF course (MA) that had never ridden a motorcycle. They really do a good job of making you comfortable. Mine even let me (I am the conservative type) book a couple of hours privately to work one on one with an instructor. That was great. I suspect that whether it is a mentor, or an instructor, getting advice from experienced riders is incredibly helpful.

[megaspaz]

My class there were 3 people that rode before. Everyone else has never ridden a motorized 2 wheeler-anything before taking the class.

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

[acidpope]

Bring plenty to drink. Brother just finished his MSF and had trouble with over-heating.

[Rab]

Maybe not a pre-requisite, but if you haven’t been on a bicycle for years, it would do no harm to re-aqaint yourself with that mode of transport for balance.

[Author]

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