Only say it if you mean it

[fredintoon]

I have replied to several posts from new list members who have said they just got an XS/XJ1100 as their first bike.
After telling them "take a riders course before you fall off and die" most reply saying they have been riding for years but this is the first bike they've actually owned.
Which is not what they said.

[CatatonicBug]

I dunno.. Semantically speaking, that IS what they said. If they have ridden before, but never owned a bike, then they never had a bike they could call "theirs". If the XS is the first bike they actually owned, then it would technically be their "first bike".

[geobiker]

Correct

Semantically you are correct, however, I would argue how much riding experience do you actually have if all your riding time has been on somebody elses bike? Still might not be a bad idea to take a safety course. I have been riding for about 25 of the last 35 years and sometimes wonder if it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a course just to make sure I haven't developed any bad habits!

[DGXSER]

Not sure how it works in other areas, but here in Cincinnati, we have a career college that offers the MSF basic rider course for $25. You use their motorcycles, and by passing the course you do not have to take the riding portion of the endorsement test. At that rate, how could you NOT take the course? So I would recommend it to any one.

I also agree that if you have only ridden some one elses bike, you have not had years of experience. If you rode some one elses bike enough to count as your years of experience, you owe some one some payments.

As to Fred's point, I agree with Fred, not that I feel it necessary to chastize anyone over it. Now if the original writer became upset that it was suggested they should take such a course, well, that to would seem undeserved. But still, say what you mean and mean what you say. Disecting statements into the semantics at that level should never be needed outside a courtroom or my living room with my 15 yo son.

[tcoop]

If it was $25 I would take it every spring! Here the riding course is about $250 more than I can afford on a yearly basis but still recommended for beginner riders or someone who has not ridden in several years.

[natemoen]

Dang! $25 bucks! Here in Milwaukee they are somewhere around $300. I payed $130 for it when I took it in MN a few years back.

[DGXSER]

$25 Really!

Guess we are very lucky. Of course, they register online for the spring and early summer course in March I think, and they fill up in about 15 minutes. Same thing for the later sessions in July. Only way I got in for mine was to show up and they had three openings where people were no shows. They gave the twenty people who walked in raffle tickets, luckily they pulled my number.

[Poprock]

MSF will save your life, especially if you have limited experience. If you've learned on your own or from a friend, you have a bad habit somewhere. That said, it's time for me to save up for Team Oregon's Advanced Rider course. I'd like to be one when I grow up.

[Elevener]

Well to each their own, we are adults. I wouldnt mind taking an advanced rider course if it didnt cost so much. Hell I was a certified motorcycle mechanic at 17, but never used it, wouldnt call myself one now for sure.

Just out of curiosity fred, have you taken a refresher course? Do they even have one for sidecars?

[fredintoon]

- - - Just out of curiosity fred, have you taken a refresher course? Do they even have one for sidecars?

Hi Elevener,
no, I never have. After 55 years riding experience my bad habits are so ingrained I doubt a course could fix them. The closest sidecar course is somewhere in the western USA, more than 1,000 miles from here and although it's well worth the money it's appallingly expensive.
BTW, I bought both my sons the Saskatchewan Rider's course for their 16th birthdays. Their riding skills are far better than mine ever were.

[ecoviper9]

i just bought my first bike and havent been riding for years and taking a riders course is on the top of my list after i get her running and gone thru.. im glad that you guys look out for us noobies..

[b.walker5]

Nah, just do what most people do. Jump on, fire it up, crank the throttle wide open and HANG ON. If your not dead in the first 15 minutes you'll be fine.....

Hmmmmm.. I think we need a "tounge in cheek" smiley.

Disclaimer. Take no notice of the old Kiwi in the corner. He's not suffering from insanity, He's thoroughly enjoying every minute of his teenager induced madness and should NOT be taken seriously on anything other than Electrical matters.

[DGXSER]

should NOT be taken seriously on anything other than Electrical matters.

Come on Brian...even that could be debatable....

[Joab]

+1 for the riders course. I smashed up my first bike twice before I took the course. I had no excuse not to take it, it is free to Military. Then I learned just what the hell counter steering is, and have been enjoying riding ever since! Sadly the Slider nickname never went away...

[DAVINCI]

Ya know Fred, ya can't fix stupid

I meet guys like that often, they go around proving Darwin's theories. Eventually they'll all go the way of the Dodo bird while the rest of us watch and wonder.