Has anyone failed Motorcycle Safety Course?
 

Hey Guys,

I just signed up for My Motorcycle Safety course on June 9th and 10th. I am kinda nervous on taking this class. Has anyone taken this course? Has anyone failed? Or know someone that has? Also if you fail do you know if they let you retake the course again for free or is there another fee? It was $195 for the course. I had a 1995 Kawaski Ninja 600 3 years ago and only rode around the neighborhood for a couple months before it started to had problems and I sold it. So at least I have a idea kind of. Any help or suggestions?

Also I'm planning on getting a Suzuki Gsx-R600 soon. Dont want another carburetor bike.
http://trendsmotorcycle.com/wp-conte...R600-white.jpg

Thanks guys:tup:!
Jason

Did the course back in Ontario in 2004. It was straight forward and a lot of fun really. All very basic stuff but useful. One lady failed off the course, but she had no reason to be there... no clue how to handle a bike.
If you drove before, you should be fine. Just don't pull any crap on the instructor or stunt....
I am not sure if they retest without the course fee again or not... might vary by country/state...

Thanks for the info! Were you nervous at all? I remember when I rode I let the clutch out to where it catches and then give it gas..hopefully I can get that timing right again

Don't be nervous, like wheee! said, it was actually easy and a lot of fun. If you've had previous riding experience the first hour or so on the bike will be kinda boring. They actually teach you how to walk with the bike first then will teach you how to properly get on the bike.

Once you've moved past that, they will teach you how to feather the clutch and learn the engaging point. The fun part begins when they take you through the paces of learning how to do figure eight within the boundaries (if they make you do this, 2nd gear is your friend and feather the clutch and the accelerator). They'll also teach you how to properly take on turns and reaction/stop time. Don't be surprised if you don't go above 3rd gear in class.

Best advice I give is for you to never ride beyond your comfort level. Start small like in your neighborhood then gradually move up to street then highway.

I took my first motorcycle safety course in 1999 and got my license but never bought a bike. I bought my bike in 2005 so I took another class just a refresher which was just for fun because I took it with my brother and sister in law.

The people that taught my class, had a policy that in the event that you failed the riding part, they will either have you stay or have you come back the following weekend to practice and re-take the test. They didn't charge another fee for this. So, I guess it depends on the company you're taking it with.

Stunting at a MSC? Now that would be a true stunter! Do a stoppie and say it was an accident to see what they say....

Thanks bud. When i had my bike I never went on the highway.. was trying to take it easy on streets with less traffic.. one time tho i picked up my bike from the shop.. as i was heading to my mother in law house.. the bike just shut off while i was going 40.. I had to coast into a parking lot.. luckily there was no car behind me.. found out that the shop didn't tighten the battery connector and the screw came off. But anyways. Hopefully this nervousness will go away.

The MSC should alleviate some of the nervousness. It's good to be nervous but not so much so that you're too nervous to ride because I think that might cause you to have an accident by not making the right decision. I saw that in my sister-in-law, they got too cocky and rode with a group (of experienced riders) with only having maybe 12hrs *** time on the bike. She was so nervous that she lost focus, hit a guard rail went down an embankment and had to be airlifted to the trauma center. She was fine but her confidence was shot. After that accident she was not able to ride in the highway anymore. They ended up selling their bikes.

The more you're on the bike the more comfortable you'll be.

If you fail the msf course, you really have no motorfunction coordination and its a wonder you're able to walk upright without falling over or down :)

You get points for various exercises. There's a minimum number of points you need to achieve to pass the class. Most people make some mistakes and still pass. It's fine.

I read this phrase elsewhere, but its appropriate for here.

"At the end of the course, you become a qualified parking lot rider"

Note, get yourself a used bike a few years old, and something with less power/agility than the bike in the OP. Those things are super responsive, turn on a dime, and are likely to get a new rider into trouble.

So should I start off in a used 250? I found a couple on craiglist for a good deal!

250 Would be ideal, but maybe something like a ninja 650R. It's got that sporty appearance, but is more forgiving.

http://www.brp650forum.com/Ninja_650R_1.jpg

I took the msf course, super easy. If you can ride a bicycle and can drive stick in a car you should have zero problem passing this course.

As for a starter bike, as long as you respect the bike starting with a 600 should not be an issue. I rode a 1985 honda nighthawk to learn for only a month before i went and got my 600. And that was before i even took the MSF course.

You will be fine, just practice self control lol

as long as you listen to what you are told you should be fine. people that fail are scared of the bike and shouldn't be there.

As much as i hate to admit it, i failed my first test on my course. Basically how it goes is if you make to many mistakes, you fail. If you drop the bike, you fail. If you hit something, out fail.

I was on the last part of the test and all we had to do is do a light turn (with pylons) at 40kmh. I was going abit to fast and used to much front brake and the wheel turned 90* sideways and i high sided and went flying through the air. So since i did that i failed but the instructor told me there was another course starting that weekend (i was doing my course weekday nights) and i would have to pay the $60 to redo the test.

The weekend came, the course was done and they broke for lunch before their testing. The head instructor asked what i did wrong and if i knew why it happend, i told him everything and he wanted to see me go around the track for a few mins. I did all the things he asked then did the test and got 100%. He gave me my licence and told me not to bother paying the $60. He said **** happends and i learned what i did wrong. That was in 2006 and that has been the only time i dropped a bike. I've owned my 08 ZX6R since April 2009 and i've never dropped it.

Thanks everyone for the help!

The msf course is super straight forward. I had never been on a bike until the day of the on bike portion of the course. I was a little nervous initially but after we got on the bikes it all went away and the rest of the day was a blast. There was one guy that did fail in the class I was in, he lowsided on the same part of the test as snakes709 messed up.

Also this nonsense that a 600cc sportbike is a terrible starter bike is just ridiculous. As long as you respect the bike, a 600 will be just fine to begin with. fwiw I started on a 600 and am still here to tell the story.

I did the course in several states (military) and they are lots of fun and very informative. Relax, enjoy and learn. You'll be just fine.

This. My ZX6R is my first bike. I never riden a motorbike (besides being a passenger) before my course. Then it was just over 2 years after my course that i bought my bike. I took alot of time learning it and respecting it, knowing that it could get me into trouble. Never dumped it, never got into a situation that i couldnt handle.

+1 to everything above.

I would look for a used 600 rather than buying new. The CBR600RR has been fuel injected since 2003, and a clean one with low miles can be found for 4k easily. Pretty much same story with the other 600s, plus or minus a few years. All of the japanese 600 supersports are solid, just find one that doesn't have too many miles and hasn't been laid down.

As for 600s being bad starter bikes, as long as you have the self control to avoid the upper half of the rpm range while you learn, it should be fine. You can still move pretty quick without going over 8k rpm.

I don't think the problem is lack of self control, but more so what happens in a panic situation.

A 600cc superbike engine has vastly different characteristics than a 600cc in a cruiser.

Honda CBR600 or Suzuki gsx-r600 I was debating back n forth on these 2.

Sure, the engines are different, but not necessarily in a more dangerous way. Supersports have lower torque at normal cruising rpms, so if your "panic situation" involves twisting the throttle, you wouldn't be any worse off than you would be on a cruiser.

The more dangerous (and more likely) aspect of a panic situation would be grabbing the front brake, as sport bikes have much more powerful front brakes than cruisers. A more user-friendly bike would give you more room for doing something stupid like grabbing the brake in the middle of a turn. But in truth, any bike will put you on the ground for doing that.

i passed mine 1 point off the written test... 0 on the riding

These days they are so similar you're better off getting what looks/feels better to you (and what you can get a good deal on). But if you're into magazine comparisons and whatnot, the gsxr has been winning that comparison for the past couple years, but the cbr was winning year after year before that. Also, the gsxr's ergonomics make for a slightly better track bike (adjustable rearsets, for example) while the cbr is a little more comfortable (after the 2007 redesign anyway). Go get on some forums and start searching!

Can't wait to join another forum! I really like the white gsx-r600 but they stop makin them I heard? If no white is available I hope they have one in black!

I took the msc almost 8 years before I bought a bike.
On getting your first bike I'd def look into a used 600cc bike. Just take it easy till you get comfortable
Or you could buy my Buell xb9r....lol
It's a 984 v-twin but rides like a sport bike and is about as fast as a 600. But they make power much lower down so I think it's easier to ride than the Japanese bikes...
Even though I'm really looking to go to a cbr1000 or a zx10r.....lol
But yea the msc is a great course. My buddy teaches them over here in IL
But I think the bikes you use are 250s. You won't ever see 3rd gear....

The only guy I know that failed the motorcycle safety test is Jeremy Clarkson....repeatedly........in North Vietnam.........on a Vespa :)

Dont know how tall you are in looking for a bike, but the GSXR also has the lowest seat height out of all the 600 sport bikes. For me that was a huge factor since im only 5'7 and a high seat makes flat footing while sitting on the bike almost impossible without lowering the bike. Which by the way do not do on a sport bike as it ruins the cornering performance of the suspension

I am 5'9. I'll join the Gsx-r forum and do some research. But first hopefully I'll pass my test :)

Good luck on the course.

One thing not mentioned is invest in worthwhile gear. Ask yourself, what your head is worth. Then do that for the rest of your body. I've seen folks ride with mechanics gloves and after a nice low side the result is hamburger for a hand.

Good point! Also, realize that jeans will do absolutely nothing for you in a crash. If you go down at 35 mph for example, your jeans will last for about 5 feet of your slide. Gear up!

If you pay attention and do what you are told you will not fail. Honestly, if you fail the class you are probably not ready to ride a bike on the street. So, if that happens take it as a warning.

I started out on an R6 and never had an issue, the key is to take your time and try not to ride over your head.

yeah at 5'9 you should have no problem sitting on any of the bikes. And you need the gear to take the course. Long sleeve shirt or jacket, gloves, helmet, boots that cover the ankle, helmet and jeans.

Motorcycle gloves will only cost you 40 bucks for a decent leather pair to protect your palms and fingers. As for jeans, pretty much everyone rides on the street in them not leather pants unless racing around on an early morning. Just dont be that squid in shorts and sandals lol But definately get a leather jacket, worth it even in the heat... dont skimp on the helmet, your head is worth $600 for a good brand.

I got all my gears Last weekend. Craigslist had a lot of motorcycle jackets.. I bought a Suzuki gsxr jacket for a good price.. same with these cortech gloves. I bought my helmet and boots at the motorcycle shop brand New...hjc helmet for $150.. hope this one is OK?


I joined the gsxr forum.. they have a thread for beginners and they advise not to start off with a gsx-r600 instead go with a 250 and learn it that way before upgrading to a 600 or so hmmm.

You'll have just as much fun on a 250, honestly. Unless you plan on doing a lot of highway riding, where the 250 will be totally wound out and revving like crazy at cruising speed. It'll be a lot cheaper too.

But even on the track, a skilled rider can hand bigger bikes their asses: Ninja 250 vs. the big bikes at Laguna Seca - YouTube

I was quoted $4,300 today.. out the door for a Honda CBR250R and its fuel injected. Its a tough decision tho if i end up getting a 250.. Kawasaki ninja 250r carburetor or Honda cbr250r

250cc is a good starting point. That's probably what you're going to be riding in the class. In my experience, most of my friends that started out with a 250 or less, ended up trading/selling their 250cc's after 6 months so they can move up. Most moved up to 600's but a lot of them went to 1000cc's or more. Almost all of them thought they wasted money on their 250's.

There's nothing wrong with starting out in a 250 but if you do, try to buy a cheap used one.

I agree with markez that you should try to find a used one. Get one with a few thousand miles on it and save a grand or two. I bet you can find someone who bought it new as a starter bike and is ready to upgrade. Craigslist is a good place to start looking.

As far as choosing between the honda and the kawasaki, that's a tough one! From what I've seen/heard, the honda has more midrange power and the kawi has more top end power. So if you plan on doing trackdays or just generally bombing around town at or near the redline all day, the kawasaki would be the way to go. If you just plan on casually cruising around with the occasional "sprited" riding (like most people do), I'd say go for the honda. The fuel injection is a nice touch too.

Personally, I would look for a clean, slightly used bike and take whichever one I could find a better deal on. If both were available for a good price, I'd take the honda. But that's just me.

I found a lot of used gsx-r600 and gsx-r750 on craigslist for a price of a 250 lol but yeah Honda sounds like the better choice as for the 250. Ill keep you guys posted what I end up getting.. most likely ill get a used gsx-r600 tho..


I got my permit last week but I'ma wait till I take the course first before buying a bike.

When the time comes.. Is there Anything I need to look for or watch out for when buying a used gsxr? I found some that's 15-25k miles on them.. how many miles on a bike are they good for before having problems?

pretty much sums up my experience

When you are ready to buy after the course let me know... if buying new or used i can help a bit with what to look for or how not to get screwed if you buy from a dealer. One of my best friends is a sales rep for a bike dealer and has ran their finance dept lol Def buy a used 250 though if you are going to get a 250. Youll last tops a year on it before trading up. As far as honda or kawi goes in a 250, you wont notice a huge difference between the one with a stronger midrange and one with a stronger top end since both are not made for huge acceleration anyway.