Only say it if you mean it

[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.

[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!

[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".

[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.