- This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 3 months ago by CBBaron.
Rider in Training
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January 26, 2010 at 12:59 am #3669KawaLizzy125Participant
Hello all —
Found this website and thought that I would sign up. I have a 2001 Kawasaki Eliminator 125 that I got in December from my husband as a Christmas gift because since June of last year I have wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. My husband has been riding for a long time and I got into riding motorcycles becasue of him. They were scary for me until I got on the back of one. Next thing you know I want one of my own!
I got to ride it yesterday for the first time in an abandoned parking lot and it was so much fun!!! I stayed mostly in first gear and started shifting into second gear a little bit just to start getting the hang of it. Right now I am working on coordination and just getting the feel for the bike. My husband also wanted to make sure that I wasn’t going to change my mind about riding. I plan on taking a MSF riders course and getting my permit before I get on the road so that I can improve my skills beyond the parking lot.
I do have a question about the MSF riders course. I wanted to know what, if any, the difference is between the regular MSF course and the rider’s edge course at the Harley Dealership. Where I live both are offered. I found the regular MSF course at a community college in the area and also two Harley Dealerships that offer the rider’s edge course. I can get a discount at the Harley place because my husband bought a Harley Sportser 1200 (He went from a 2002 Kawasaki ZRX1200R to the Harley) there recently and they gave him a discount on the course. He has the option of using it on the basic course or on thier advanced course, he was saving it so that I could use it for the basic course. But I was concerned becasue they use the 500cc blast and I sat on one I could touch the ground but it was so heavy compared to the 125. Plus the difference in the power of the 500 compared to the 125. The MSF class at the community college uses the bike that I have. There is a course in both available in April so I won’t be taking one until then. But what do you all think? Should I take the class with at the Harley place or the class at the community college.
Thanks!!
January 26, 2010 at 1:29 am #24215SantaCruzRiderParticipantFirst off, congrats on the new bike — it sounds like you’re already having fun.
As to your class choice, I’m going to make an assumption that you’ll continue to have at least a few parking lot practice sessions over the next couple of months. If that’s the case, I’m willing to bet that you will have little trouble handling the Blast. It will be more challenging than the 125, but I doubt if it will cause you trouble.
Ultimately, your choice will be:
— Ride the comfortable and relatively familiar 125 and be better able to focus on some of the nuances of control
0r
— Ride the Blast and have the opportunity to spend some quality time on a different type/size bike. This could be both good and badI’m assuming the discount is pretty much a wash as your husband can use it for himself later. — That’s my 2 cents.
January 26, 2010 at 2:22 am #24217MunchParticipantThe difference between the two courses are only the bikes and the price tag. The Riders Edge uses the same lessons both riding and classroom as the Community Colleges do. HD charges more for there’s , however, the perks to it is smaller class room sizes and some discounts here and there for their (overpriced-sorry Elwood) gear.
The differences between the 125 and Buell Blast should not be a concern as in both cases you will not get out of second gear. And as with any trainer courses the bikes you get will not be of top line quality. They all have likely been dropped on more then one occasion and repaired back to a safe riding condition, though not necessarily street ready.
Either way in both you will not be thrown on the bike and have the “Ok show me what you got” scenario. You will go out there…. get your bike, go through the start up process a time or two. Then do a basic clutch and slow release so you can get comfortable with friction zone a little….then duck walk across the course and back. Then eventually feet up and rolling.
The biggest challenge you might would find would be remembering where your feet go after wards. LOL…. I was riding a Kawi 500 cruiser and training on the Blast. Went from feet forward to a standard placement….. will mess with your head the first couple of start and stops.January 26, 2010 at 4:05 am #24220IxecapadeParticipantMeh- I payed for the offical MSF course through Camden County and paid exactly 5 dollars less. 295 vs 300 I believe was the difference. I hear there is a lot more ‘marketing’ that goes on instead of just straight learning. And the bikes you learn on are all harelys/buells vs whatever little 125/250 they can get their hands on for the MSF. (I rode a Suzuki dual sport for mine- awesome factor!!!)
January 26, 2010 at 3:12 pm #24234JackTradeParticipantThe community college course is about 1/2 the cost of the Rider’s Edge. Downside is that you usually have to wait months to take it, as they fill up FAST.
As for bike choice, you’ll be fine with either I’m sure. Only thing to know with the Blast is that the clutch is Harley-grade…it’s fairly heavy, and the friction zone is tiny. But…the poor bikes at the community colleges are much more abused than the Blasts at an HD dealership, so it’s probably a toss-up.
January 27, 2010 at 1:19 am #24246KawaLizzy125ParticipantFor all the comments. I still have a little while before I can take the course. And I will be practicing in the parking lot many, many times before then. So I will give it a little before I make a decision for sure. I will let you all know which course I take and how it all goes.
Thanks again for the help!!
January 27, 2010 at 3:38 pm #24252CBBaronParticipantI think the price of the MSF course varies based on state assistance. In Ohio the state run BRC and ERC is just a minor fee of $25, some states are even free. The Rider’s Edge course is a consistent price and probably still a good deal. Ofcourse because the course is basically free in Ohio it fills up quick and you have to register for the course 6 months or more in advance. The Harley course is much easier to get into.
Craig
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