MSF Course... Have You Taken It?

I would if they had it available here on Guam but they don't. I'm told either the Air Force base or Navy base has the course available, but only for military personnel.

[Gorilla25]

i did take the MSF course. my feedback: 10/10
-the instructors were really patient with those who had some difficulty.
- i learned things i never knew
-glad i took the MSF because i use those skills daily (slow maneuvering, turning techniques etc...)
-can't wait to take the advanced course next May

[GetBusyLiving]

Took the MSF course through TEAM Arizona. I had zero experience on a motorcycle so it def helped and gave me enough confidence once I got my own bike. The class was a lot fun and the instructors were awesome

Ill more than likely take another class through in the future as they have many to choose from. Knowledge is Power!

[greatwhiteninja]

i never took one because i started out when i was probably 10yrs old on my first dirt bike.. had them from 10 to around 23.. dirtbikes, atv's, atc's.. and rode them all the time, not just a little bit. at around 24 i got my first motorcycle and i guess just from the experience riding the dirtbikes and atvs i felt like i never needed a class, just went to the DMV and took the test and got my license. im sure i could learn something from the class .. funny story when i got the 250 a month or so ago i didnt realize when i renewed my license last year i didnt renew the motorcycle endorsement, havent owned a bike in probably 3yrs.. so i had to take the road test again.. well the instructor owned a new goldwing, as he is telling me what to do for the test and there was one part that you had to ride through these cones doing like 2-3mph without putting your feet down, well i was joking with him theres no way you can run that goldwing through these little narrow cones.. he just looked at me and laughed saying yes i can! so after the test was over he says hold on a minute, jumps on this massive goldwing and runs through the cones like it was nothing.. had that thing leaning over like it was a sportbike.. i just sat there and was like WOW! he is the instructor of the saftey course also.. had me thinking man i should join this class and see what he is teaching..loL! he was telling me he actually does a advanced class specifically for sportbikes also.

[kkim]

Ed,

you should take the course.

It's not only a skills class, but a safety awareness mindset that points you in the right direction on how to survive when street riding. I've ridden dirt and street bikes for over 40 years and riding on the street is way more dangerous than doing it in the dirt. Gaining knowledge from a course that has been already distilled down to the essentials saves you from having to learn them the hard way.

[greatwhiteninja]

yeah im considering it.. guy at the DMV seems pretty cool.

[PsychoNinja]

I took and passed my MSF class March of this year. Definitely worth while! It taught me the skills necessary to pass the driving test and those skills have saved my butt at least once so far!

[gatito]

i took it last month and it was fun and i learn so much every one should take it... i felt sorry for a girl she did almost everything but she was so nervous the she drop the bike " she never rode before the msf" anyways she got up and left. other than that it was fun and the instructor are good.

[gfloyd2002]

I took it, even though I'd already been riding for many years, mostly overseas and on dirt. While I felt like I was a more advanced rider that didn't need to practice learning where the clutch sweet spot was or reviewing how to get on a motorcycle, I found it very useful.

While some of it was too basic, it was a nice tool to refocus me on safety and shore up my foundations. I learned I wasn't really as advanced as I thought, despite my years of experience, and that I'd been thinking about a few things incorrectly. I'd recommend the course to anyone as a must, even if your state does not require it for your license.

[YORCHI]

I had never ridden or even sat on a bike before I took the course...

Unfortunately for me it rained both days we had to actually ride and that really made me more nervous about riding. The instructors were able to show us all the drills with ease and make it look easy but I was very hesitant about turning and leaning with the bike. The bike I used was pretty bad as well. I was having a very hard time shifting and they kept telling me there was nothing wrong with the bike until one of the instructors took mine out to demonstrate something and had the same problems I did.

For the actual skills test I think I barely passed. I got 19 points and was told that 21 was failing. I'm glad I passed though because I don't think I would have gone back if I hadn't. After it was all over I really felt like I needed much more practice, on a nice sunny dry day. I loved the course for teaching me everything and doing it in a way that is very friendly and encouraging. The instructors were awesome and very patient with us.

My only recommendation would be to make a dedicated course for new riders to take before the BRC (Basic Rider Course). Myself and the other new riders all felt like we needed more practice time. It seems we only did each drill for about 5-10 minutes before we moved on to the next. At that pace we never felt comfortable on any one drill before we moved on to the next one. Because of that, the first things I'm doing with my bike are practicing all the low speed drills I didn't feel right about in an empty parking lot.

Bottom line, the course is amazing. I want my wife to take it just so she can learn how to ride a bike. I'm in the military so it was free but I would be more than willing to pay the money to take it if I wasn't.

[GeorgiaHooligan]

The last time I posted my views on the MSF I found myself banned from this forum. kind of ironic....

[Alex]

No, you were given a break because you were calling other board members nazis when they didn't agree with your, well, non-mainstream views on the MSF.

[2011Ninja250R]

Took it in Ohio. It (1) taught me valuable skills, (2) increased my confidence, (3) lowered my insurance a little bit, and (4) finally gave me my MC endorsement that I'd been riding without for over 10 years!

[GeorgiaHooligan]

The nazi comment was due to the bashing. And I meant it in a sarcastic manner. I was also told I was being too negative. Everyone has their own opinions with entitlement .

[JarJarBinx19]

With zero bike experience and no bike and someone to teach me, the MSF course was the way to go and I don't regret it one bit. I took out here in cali in hayward/newark and I have to say the instructors were awesome! They were totally laid back, pulled jokes, talked about their own riding experiences and they were really helpful if I had trouble with something. I got that paper, turned it into the dmv, and got my M1 license

[quis41990]

I thought I knew how to ride a bike before I took the MSF course early this month, man I was wrong. The course is required here in Florida if you want your endorsement. The stuff they teach is very valuable. I learned alot from taking the course. My only gripe was we took the course on cruisers and not sport bikes. I messed alot on my first day trying to get used to the cruiser style bikes.
But by all means take the course. Not only do you save on your insurance. It could also save your life as well.

[GeorgiaHooligan]

msf = waste of money. If you can read, buy a book and learn.

[ally99]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHooligan

msf = waste of money. If you can read, buy a book and learn.

I would certainly venture to say you are quite in the minority here. Most new riders (or even veteran riders with open minds) get some kind of crucial safety skill out of the class. Msf does NOT equal waste of money IMHO.

[seis gunnar]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHooligan

msf = waste of money. If you can read, buy a book and learn.

Everyone has different learning styles. If you can read a book and learn the required skills, good for you. But as someone who learns best by doing, I thought the MSF was very useful.

Another plus, in passing the course I didn't have to go take the skills exam for my endorsement.

[ally99]

Originally Posted by seis gunnar

Another plus, in passing the course I didn't have to go take the skills exam for my endorsement.

Yep! LOVED this! It was much less pressure to take the "test" with your instructors you'd been working with for days than it would have been to go to a DMV and do it, for me anyway.

[EsrTek]

I did not take it because my local site is not very well thought of.
They are more a $400 way to guarantee you get a motorcycle endorsement on your license. If you pay you pass, drops don't count during test, you just start over till you get it right 1 time.

I took my lic test the old fashion way.. I studied, watched videos, read books and practiced only to be disappointed by the actual road test.
Which consisted of me stopping at the top of an incline out of the DL parking lot (I guess most stop on the incline and stall bike trying to take off slow), I then went about 150ft to a left turn followed by an immediate left right back into the DL station... test passed but I'll take it

[JLinde1339]

In NY, if you have your motorcycle permit, you have to have a fully licensed motorcycle driver within a quarter mile of you at all times. This also applies to the skills test at the DMV. Therefore, you have to bring that person with you to the test site, with a fully legal vehicle for them and the license examiner to ride behind you and grade you. That way, if you don't pass, you can still ride the bike home legally. For me, who doesn't know someone to be my supervising rider, and the fact that it seems there is a lot of information to be gleaned from the MSF, plus a waiver of the skills test, that is the most beneficial way to go. Hopefully, I can take the course this summer before the season ends.
Posted via Mobile Device

[bdavison]

Never took it, and never will. If you're a complete newb, i dont think its a bad idea, but if you've already been riding for years...save the bucks and go for a track day instead.

[jamesio]

Just completed the MSF through the Navy today, 3 months after getting the bike. We got done around 1pm so I went to the DMV in Alexandria and also knocked out my license test and got my endorsement On thursday I am taking the MSRC (military sportbike rider course)

[Pete22x]

I had never ridden a motorcycle before and I just took the MSF BRC last month. It was extremely intimidating at first.. but I toughed it out and I'm glad I took it. I definitely recommend it to all the new riders out there, but if you've already ridden.. than the BRC 1 is probably too slow paced for you. Maybe it was just my instructor, but it seemed like we didn't learn too much more than basic maneuvers.

[Pete22x]

Originally Posted by bdavison

Never took it, and never will. If you're a complete newb, i dont think its a bad idea, but if you've already been riding for years...save the bucks and go for a track day instead.

Agree, there's only so much you can learn in a parking lot. Of course.. I am a total noob and the course taught me a lot, but I walked away feeling like I was ripped off.. I wanted to learn so much more.

[GeorgiaHooligan]

I would certainly venture to say you are quite in the minority here. Most new riders (or even veteran riders with open minds) get some kind of crucial safety skill out of the class. Msf does NOT equal waste of money IMHO.

Everyone has their opinions. The class I took was a joke. I wonder how many msf classes Rossi and Ben spies took. Is drivers ed. really requierd to drive a car properly? nope.

[GeorgiaHooligan]

Agree, there's only so much you can learn in a parking lot. Of course.. I am a total noob and the course taught me a lot, but I walked away feeling like I was ripped off.. I wanted to learn so much more.

Thats because you were ripped off.

[ally99]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHooligan

Is drivers ed. really requierd to drive a car properly? nope.

Look at all the idiots on the road these days. The answer, IT SHOULD BE!

[Live2ride]

When I took my msf course I had never ridden a motorcycle before. I signed up for the class after realizing that, after loving motorcycles all my life, I was ready to begin my motorcycling adventure. The first day was in-class instruction for 2-3 hours in which we were taught that we are invisible on the road and basic classes of motorcycles, etc. Then when we actually began on the bikes it was one of the best feelings in my life. I can honestly say that even though the entire class cost me $125 it was worth every penny. I feel sorry for those that feel like the class wasn't worth it. If I never took the course then I don't feel like I would be able to say I've never crashed and considering a crash generally costs over $125 the class has already paid for itself; not to mention a discount on insurance. If a moderate rider were to take the class then I feel as though they would find it much less useful than a first-timer. I was asked by my instructor to come back after a few thousand miles and teach a class myself; I've been considering it. Maybe if I do I could convince some new riders to join our great forum with a ninjette as their first bike.

[LoD575]

I did not take one back in '98 when I first started riding but stopped riding in '99 when I joined the USAF.
Took one in '03 due to military requirement and was looking to get another bike. Did not get a bike and never filed for motorcycle endorsement.
Obtained motorcycle endorsement earlier this year and will take another MSF course as a good refresher.

[wtf]

I took the MSF twice actually in back-to-back weeks (in '08). I failed the skills course (error in the box) by a couple of points. The instructors were nice enough to let me take the practice and skills test again and easily passed. More seat time did it.

[CharlieBucket]

I took the class three years ago. I was flat broke from college and moving and job searching and all that, and the nearly $300 was a LOT of money for me at the time, but I'd do it again in a heart-beat. I had never ridden before, but the class was made up of a variety of skill levels, so we all learned from each other as well as the instructors.

Basically, it comes down to this: You might know how to operate a motorcycle, but the class teaches you to ride.

I highly recommend reading the MSF Motorcycling Excellence book in addition to taking the class - the same material is covered, but the book has more room for detailed explanation. The book is not a substitute for the class, though. There is simply no better way to learn than by getting on a bike under the supervision of a qualified coach.

[ninjagaiden09]

I took the course and I can say that it's well worth it. I highly recommend it to any people that's riding or thinking of getting a motorcyle.

[GreenNinja]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHooligan

msf = waste of money. If you can read, buy a book and learn.

Believe it or not, I learned how to ride from spending hours upon hours of reading faq.ninja250.org. That also made me pick a ninja 250 for my first bike too The only reason I didn't take a MSF course was because it was full for the rest of the season. Even though I added myself to the waiting list, I never got a call even though I annoyed the company with my phone calls every 2 weeks for an opening. I am proud to say I never dropped my bike while learning and to this day I have yet to drop it. Personally, I would rather have taken the MSF course because teaching myself was extremely difficult, especially downshifting and leaning in a turn. I think the only reason I am one of the few that hasn't wrecked(from lack of an instructor on how to ride) is because I don't seek the thrills of 'racing' from red light to red light like other motorcycles.

[Scattcatt]

I thought my MSF class was excellent. I had an amazing group of riders even though for many it was only their first time ever on a bike. We had no one drop their bike, kill their bike, drop the clutch, crash, or anything! It went very smooth! I loved my instructors as well, they were hilarious and very down to Earth which made putting up with the boring parts of the class much more enjoyable (not saying that I didn't fall asleep a time or two though... Or three haha...) Even now after the class I still ride with one of my MSF instructors and his buddies which always turn out to be WICKED rides!! Totally different experience for my younger brother though, he hated it, his classmates sucked (some dude who had never ridden before went out and bought a Busa before taking this course, and attended class wearing full racing leathers in 110 degree heat, he quit the first day of riding lol) they also rather enjoyed playing bumper cars with their bikes. This is all through the same school and instructors lol... He just got stuck in a class of suck! sorry bro!

[Skippii]

No. I would have, but I could wait 6 months without riding so I got my license instead.

[n4mwd]

Wow, this is an old thread. We're necroposting for sure.

In my case, the MSF is required by law here in FL. The instructors pity passed me, but I still came away from it learning a few things. We rode for about 8 hours total I guess. That's just not really enough IMHO. About twice as much riding time would be better.

[KawiKid860]

Here in WA if you're a minor you must take the msf course to get an endorsement, which is part of why I took it. I also took it because its probably the smartest thing for a beginner rider to do and I definitely learned a lot from it, some of which I already knew from spending countless hours on this great forum :P Now I'm racking up the miles on my bike and learning more and more every day!

[Heed]

Yes I have. Yay

so glad I did.

+ cheaper insurance

go us!