Is there an alternative to the MSF two day motorcycle course other than Harley Davidson's Riders Edge?

Question

The MSF course was too quick for me and most of my class. The people that came out were not profienct riders.

Answer 1

I can't really say. except for the fact that i used to teach the MSF course and it was 2.5 days. Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. I can't believe they've trimmed it down that much.

Answer 2

For one thing, Harleys are so expensive that you wouldn't have one unless it was important to you just to have a Harley. The Motor Company has worked hard to build this image over the last 50-60 years (since Harley has been the only American motorcycle). They have been so conscious of their image that every new motorcycle they make has to look like a 1930 bike. Someone who rides a Honda might buy a Yamaha or a Suzuki next time, but a Harley rider didn't want a -motorcycle-, he wanted a -Harley-. It's all about identity. In fact they've painted themselves into a corner. They know they won't be able to make big air-cooled V-twins forever. But if they came out with, say a water-cooled, shaft-drive V-4, their fans wouldn't buy it. They already tried to modify their image with the V-Rod, and you can see they really tried hard to give it that classic look. But I get the idea it wasn't accepted very well by the market. And maybe another factor is that cruisers are so much easier to ride. I read somewhere that more than half of all buyers of Harley Davidsons were either total newbies or else coming back to motorcycling after more than 2 decades (raising a family no doubt). And I wondered why a total noob would want such a dauntingly big and heavy bike. Then I rented one for a day, a Heritage Softail, maybe the biggest bike Harley has ever made. And I was just amazed at how easy it was to manage, because of the low seat and low center of gravity. Not an especially good-handling bike, but EASY to handle. And the thing was covered with real honest-to-God chrome. You never see chrome anymore. (Still, if I was going to spend $24,000 on a motorcycle, I'd have three or four motorcycles!) Metric (Japanese) cruisers only go back to about the mid 80s. But notice that as long as Japan has been making cruisers, they have looked more and more like Harleys. These days you really have to look closely to tell a Yamaha Star from a Harley! So it's not just about configuration--low seat, V-twin, footboards, etc. It's a very specific 'look and feel'. And though the metrics might not have quite the polish on them, they're probably better bikes all around, more reliable, better engineered, better build quality, etc., not to mention about half the price.

Answer 3

this course will not turn u into a peg scrapper immediately. if this is what u had planned, i suggest u get out of this mentality before u wind up being scrapped off the road. rider's edge wont 'train' u any more different than msf. its a beginner's course designed to show a noob the bare basics, and to make it basically too easy to get endorsed.
it WILL NOT (in the begginers) train u in the arts of emergency braking while committed to a turn. that is in the advanced, and u have to have the endorsement for at least 6 months before taking it, and this time, u ride ur own. that means if ur normal mount is a gold wing, that's the bike u will ride in the course.

cars and bikes are NO WHERE NEAR THE SAME. get out of this mentality quick before this bike kills u. like noj said, if u foot plant on the back brake, u are gonna be asphalt surfing in very short order. there is no substitute for saddle time. more u ride the more u will learn. remember this: respect the machine, it WONT respect u. a bike will not forgive a mistake a car will. u wont survive a slide into a typical guard rail at freeway speed....u will get battered into a bloody mass.

now there is a video that will show u more advanced manuvers, but u have to set up the courses and ride em on ur own bike. go to http://www.ridelikeapro.com

Answer 4

The MSF course WILL NOT INSTANTLY MAKE YOU A GOOD RIDER!!!!! It is meant to get you started by showing you HOW to ride and to hammer good habits into your head before you go out and do something stupid.

Motorcycles are not cars, and the MSF course is designed to get you thinking like a RIDER, not a driver. The differences may seem minor, but they could still kill you. For example, if you get into a corner too fast in a car, you mash your right foot on the brakes to slow down.

On a motorcycle, a newbie will go into a corner too fast and instinctively mash their right foot on the brake to slow down. the problem is that on a motorcycle that will lock up the rear wheel, and in a corner the bike is either going down (at best) or the rear whel will suddenly regain traction when the rider is sideways, catapulting him/her into the air before impacting the pavement.

The MSF course is there to get you started, not make you a good rider. That takes practice and time, and that's up to the rider. For more drills and information, try two books: Proficient Motorcycling and Sportbike Riding Techniques. They have loads of information that can save your bacon.

Answer 5

The MSF course is not intended to make you a PROFICIENT rider. It is intended to teach you the basics of motorcycle operation, so you don't go out on the highway and get yourself killed while you are learning the finer points of motorcycle riding. Get a few thousand miles of basic motorcycle riding under your belt, and come back for the advanced rider's course...

Answer 6

As said above, it teaches the basics. Bettering yourself through practice is up to you. There are also advanced classes available. These are for those who have pased the basic class or have ridden for at least one year. Notice the OR. Get a few miles behind you and take an advanced class.

Answer 7

Search on Google for "ABATE" and find the link for your state. I found a great link to an experienced motorcyclist class and one for novices. The novice class is spread out over 4 days - at least in Pennsylvania it was.
Hope this helps

Answer 8

I don't know where you live but, in FL the course is offered through the Motorcycle Training Institute (mtii.com) check with the DMV or your state website. (think www.myflorida.com) Good luck and be safe!

Answer 9

I am not very clear about that. Maybe u can have a try on a site called bikerkiss. There are many motorcyclists there. I think they can give u some good advices.

Answer 10

You can go to the MSF advance course, there they will teach you more.