I dont wanna take the MSF...(rant)

[sixpack577]

Its required in FL. but insurance is not.

Now there's some serious BS. I guess if you take their course you'll never have an accident, so no need for insurance. Politicians, gotta love em.

In VA you take a written/computer test and get a learners permit that is good for 1 year, and you must have it 30 days before you can go back to the DMV and take the riding test in the parking lot.
Or, you can take the 2 day riding course(with or without learners permit)and go to the DMV and get your license after.

 

[x-d-x]

Now there's some serious BS. I guess if you take their course you'll never have an accident, so no need for insurance. Politicians, gotta love em.

That doesnt even sound smart. I dont know how they passed that law.

 

[zukracer]

I took it a few years ago, it was a good refresher and I did actually break a bad habit of 2 finger braking. I took the Harley Riders Edge course so we got 500cc Buel Blasts for our rides and they were fun. I got yelled at for among other things: dragging the pegs, doing burn outs and doing a small stopie during the emergency braking test

Most everyone in the class was new to riding, including my buddy that I insisted take the class (he'd never been on a bike and wanted a busa ??? ). One little old lady 4'10" if that and soaking wet 85lbs said she always wanted to learn to ride. She wound up quitting on the first day of the road part, just couldn't hold the bike up and it kept falling over on her....but she lived the dream and managed to get the bike around the course once . You'll meet all types of interesting people and hopefully either break a bad habit or two or just re-enforce your already good habits.

 

[afterhours]

When I took the MSF there were about 20-30 others...

5 had never ridden before....

yet the only ones that crashed were the guys that "knew everything".

 

[sixpack577]

I took it a few years ago, it was a good refresher and I did actually break a bad habit of 2 finger braking. I took the Harley Riders Edge course so we got 500cc Buel Blasts for our rides and they were fun. I got yelled at for among other things: dragging the pegs, doing burn outs and doing a small stopie during the emergency braking test

Most everyone in the class was new to riding, including my buddy that I insisted take the class (he'd never been on a bike and wanted a busa ??? ). One little old lady 4'10" if that and soaking wet 85lbs said she always wanted to learn to ride. She wound up quitting on the first day of the road part, just couldn't hold the bike up and it kept falling over on her....but she lived the dream and managed to get the bike around the course once . You'll meet all types of interesting people and hopefully either break a bad habit or two or just re-enforce your already good habits.

Why do they/you consider 2 finger braking a bad habit???? Works for me and I won't stop.

 

[brpo]

In Virginia, you can take a skills test and get your M. Which is how I got my License - never taken the course. The skills test is a pretty easy but is intimadating for newbs. Also, you only get two chances to pass or you are then required to take the MSF. I think my first M was prior to MSF creation! Never heard of MSF until mid 80's or so.

http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/dmv34.pdf

 

[zukracer]

Why do they/you consider 2 finger braking a bad habit???? Works for me and I won't stop.

it works and worked for me for a long time. The bad habit part is that in an emergency using all 4 fingers does 2 things 1) provides full ability to grab a handful of brake and 2) forces you to disengage the throttle. Keeping 2 fingers on the throttle while using the 2 fingers can at times cause issues in a stopping situation, particularly a quick stop.

I'm not saying it doesn't work while riding and I still do it from time to time to control speed but when stopping I always use 4 fingers now. Personal preference but suspect if you try both ways you'll see what I'm sayin

 

[xchief1320]

They changed the law here in Florida in 08 (I think it was). Before that you could go take the written test and get a permit to ride, Just no passengers. It was good for 90 days and you could get 5 extensions. So you could ride 15 months before you had to take the riding test. I rode 13 years on and off with that permit. I knew someone that worked at the DL place and when I got to # 5 they zero'd it out and it would start over with #1.
I got lazy and just didn't want to take the riding test. I sold my last bike in 07 and didn't get the busa till 09 so I was shocked when i went down there to renew it and she told me they couldn't do it anymore and everyone had to take the MSF.

Luckily I know the people that do the MSF course here and I got a discount and it was super easy. But you do learn stuff and it's kinda fun. But you'll be glad when it's over and you're riding legal. The 250 cruisers we used were hard to get used too though, But you get used to it pretty quick..

My only advise is go before it gets hot. I took mine in 100 degree weather in August..

Good luck..

 

[Busa1166]

gezers like me ...there was no msf when i took my license

+1 A written then the skills then out the door, way I did it

 

[riccoh]

I sit through BRC ERC and MSRC every month and advance track days with Keith Cole superbike school every 3 moths and love it (part of the job). Its funny watching folks not able to do figure eights on a 1k whie talking about busas/and 14's cant turn while:
1. we do the demos flying/cunterstering the big mammoths around with spare room on either side.
2. locking the brakes and sliding the bikes in avoidance tech

I can never get tired of this job, makes life a lot more enjoyable playing with our toys while getting paid...