Hello WRN,
Is there anyone out there who hasnt ridden a motorcycle before taking the MSF course? I am hesitant because I have no experience ever on a motorcycle. It seems that most of the stories Ive read the women already know how to ride, that they just took the class for more experience and confidence. Any advice or input is appreciated.
P.S. I am kind of timid in front of people, classes, etc., but I have no problems riding my own 700 snowmobile or ATV.
Thanks,
Karen Cudzilo
Voluntown, CT
Please help us answer Karens question. Put your comment below. And if you have a question, email it to Editor Genevieve Schmitt at gschmitt@womenridersnow.com.
I would highly recommend the class. They teach you so much about safety and how to be safe. Why would it be a bad idea to have that under your belt before getting on the road? Get right out there after you finish the class!
I had never ridden a motorcycle before I took the class either. Been a passenger for many years. I really enjoyed the class and I feel as though it taught me things that I never would have learned by just getting on and going.
I took the class before knowing how to ride. I was nervous about being the only women in the class and tried to get someone to take it with me. It turns out there were two other women in the class. They start you out very slowly with just starting and stopping and work up from there. Of the entire class only three did not pass and all of them were men. All the women passed!
I would highly recommend the MSF. They drill you on great techniques for riding. I think it is a must for a new rider.
I had never ridden before and took a class to learn. I knew absolutely nothing except it was a dream I always had to learn. I am also a shy person and I was 51 years old. So needless to say I was the oldest and the only women in my class. I had an awesome time. The guys were all encouraging and the instructors were great. There was also men in the class who had never rode. I highly recommend it.
It helped me to know the basics and practice in a parking lot first. Otherwise I don’t think I would have passed the course on the first try! Don’t give up ever! Riding is awesome to say the least.
I had never ridden a motorcycle before taking the class, nor even been a passenger on one. I do, however, drive a manual transmission car so the concept of a clutch, shifting, gears, etc wasn’t foreign to me. The class I took was really worth it though and I didn’t even think twice about whether I needed any experience – the bikes were very small (I had a Honda Rebel), easy to plant your feet if something was going wrong, and it was in a rather small parking lot, so in the beginning, the speed was very slow and very manageable. And of a class of about 15, all but three had no experience with riding, so just about everyone was stalling, or wobbly at one time or another.
I did exactly what you’re asking about a month ago. And then had so many feelings about it that I started a blog. My recommendation? Yes, learn to ride a little before taking the MSF course. And good luck!
Love this article because I can relate to these experiences. My husband rode years before we married. I rode as a passenger only four times in the 14 years we were married when he asked me if I wanted to learn. I thought yeah sure. I wasn’t serious. I thought he was joking. He found me a bike. I thought great now I have to really learn to ride. He taught me some basics in first gear. I took the rider course and I failed. My husband took me out right away even after I failed the class. I stalled the bike over and over. I was frustrated. He wouldn’t let me give up when I lost my patience. I went back and took the rider course again and passed. I rode my own motorcycle to the River Run in Laughlin the next weekend. That was five years ago. I LOVE riding.
I had never ridden a motorcycle; always been a passenger for four years on my now fiancés bike. One day decided I had looked at the back of his helmet enough and wanted to learn. He found the perfect bike for me (Honda Shadow Aero 750) and he rode it home. I could only stare at it and dream. I took the course and didn’t pass it; everything was so new. I was OK with that, as I’d never ridden. I immediately signed up to take it again. (I will be taking it in two weeks.) Since then, I have been riding that bike. First it was in the parking lot after he rode it there and I followed in the car. After two Saturdays of riding in that lot, he had had enough of watching me and said it was time to hit the roads. Talk about butterflies! It’s been three Saturdays now and I’m learning so much from him. I know I will be confident enough this time to pass that test. Last Saturday I put almost 300 miles on that bike. Things are starting to become “natural” to me now. Practice, practice, practice!
I had no experience with a bike. I was’t a passenger. We did not own one. But my three adult sons did, and I was very interested in them. So I signed up for the course and wow I became a rider. Been riding seven years. The course will make a rider out of you or find out it’s not for you. Good luck.
Karen, I just took the MSF class Aug 8-10 at Harley-Davidson in Maryville. I have only been a passenger on a bike, and never as the rider. I passed. I took the course on a Harley Street 500. I highly suggest taking this course. It was well worth the money to get the instruction, the practice, and learning the safety end of it all. I promise you, if they feel you aren’t safe, they won’t let you go on in that course. Two other females in my class left within the first hour. My coaches made it fun, and were very encouraging. I will say that I will be practicing for awhile in a parking lot before I hit the streets. My bike that I have is more than 200 pounds heavier than what I took the course with, and I feel I need some bonding time, and practice some of the maneuvers learned before I add traffic in the mix. Take the course, then take everything else at your pace, and enjoy the journey!
I had been a passenger on my husband’s bike but hated not being in control of my own destiny. If he made a mistake, I was going to suffer the consequences too! I needed to be in control of myself. I took the course and loved the freedom of riding myself. Just understand that the motorcycles you use in the course are small and you can get a false sense of security. I passed the class with flying colors and then I bought a bike (Honda Shadow 750). Great bike to learn on, but much heavier than what I used in the class. The best advice I have is to ride within your own capability and comfort zone. Don’t go too far too soon! Stay in the neighborhood until you get the feel of the clutch. NEVER use the front brake in a turn! Enjoy and have fun!
I just successfully finished the motorcycle safety class on August 10. It was my second time around. The first time was more than two years ago and I had zero experience operating a motorcycle and I basically panicked once I realized I had to get my feet on the pegs. Before this time, I had actually bought a Rebel to practice on and have been riding around my neighborhood. It was still hard and I had my doubts. But, I realized it is very much a mental game. Overcoming fear is the biggest challenge.
Karen, I just took the motorcycle safety class with just two rides as a new bike driver. In a class of 15 participants, only four were seasoned riders, the others had never been on an motorcycle as a driver, two never had even been on a motorcycle. You will be fine. You get so absorbed learning in the class and it really is so much fun. Just go and enjoy it!
I had been a passenger on the back of a motorcycle for years, but had never “ridden” even a dirt bike. I did drive straight gear cars and even drove a school bus with six gears for a couple of years. I recommend that even passengers take a basic course. Knowing what to do on a motorcycle might just keep both the driver and passenger in a safer zone while riding. That being said I got my motorcycle license at the age of 56 after taking a basic class. No sense in buying a motorcycle if I couldn’t get the nerve to ride one by myself. Now it’s six years down the road and 55,000+ thousand safe miles.PS I’ve take the ERC course a few times since and it always helps to have an instructor critique your riding style and skills. Learn to ride the right way and nip unsafe riding habits in the bud. Even talked hubby into taking the ERC class; he bragged he learned how to lean and counterbalance the bike in curves. Said he felt more “in control” when riding mountain twisting roads. Please note practicing helps the rider have quicker response times in swerving and/or panic stops. “S.E.E” Search, evaluate, execute!
I had been riding two years before I took the course. Most of the other students didn’t have any experience whatsoever ever, some had ridden ATVs. I was top of the class for the female rider but everybody learned from the beginning and everyone did real well and passed. You should just go with it because not everyone will have experience in riding.
I was terrified when I took the MSF course. I knew the basics of how a motorcycle operated and had wanted to learn to ride for years, but had zero experience operating one. (My ex had talked me out of learning and put the fear of God in me over it.) I noticed a few people commenting that the course they took required they know how to ride first. That does NOT sound like the standardized MSF BRC course to me (or they had really crappy instructors). That course literally baby steps you into it. You start off sitting on the bike, then pedaling it forward with your feet working the clutch, then progressing until you are tooling along in first gear. They do not let you progress to a next step until you are comfortable with what you are doing. I took it with a friend who had some riding experience and knew how scared I was. She looked over at me at one point and shouted “Deri! You’re riding a motorcycle!” I yelled back “I KNOW!” No greater feeling in the world. That was a little over two months ago. I’ve ridden almost 1500 miles on my bike since then and cannot get enough. When I am faced with something tricky, my mind always goes back to the course and what I learned. Best thing I’ve done in recent memory. Good luck!
I had no experience on a motorcycle prior to taking the MSF class. I was not the only newbie in the class. The instructors had us start out with sitting on the bike and having someone push us just to get the feel of the bike with our feet off of the ground. The instructors made us feel very comfortable. I was on a dual sport, and my feet barely touched the ground. In hindsight, it was probably a good thing. I had to concentrate on staying upright and not worry about putting my feet down. Anyways, I passed the class in 2002, and it was another six years before I started riding more than just once or twice every few months.
Absolutely no experience needed! The MSF course is the best way for a non-rider to find out if they even like to ride, before spending thousands of dollars on a bike and finding out after the fact. I didn’t even know where the key went on a bike, and had only been on the back once, years before. I just took the course for shits and giggles, because my friend had always wanted to learn to ride. She never fell in love with it, but I did. One woman wanted to take the class so she could say, “I told you so” to her husband while she rode on the bike – never intended on riding her own!
I would encourage you to take the class no matter how anxious you are about it. I was so nervous the few weeks leading up to the class that I came very close to dropping out. I learned that the school that gave my course – MSS (I took it at Ulster Community College), also gave private lessons. I called them and the woman I spoke to encouraged me to take a private lesson the week prior to my two-day course. I did and it make a tremendous difference. It allowed me to spend and hour on the bike that I ultimately used during the two-day course. Additionally, the instructor gave me about three or four tips that made a tremendous difference. I was still nervous on the morning of the first day, but far more confident than I would have been had I not taken the private lesson. I also had the same instructor, which gave me another level of comfort. I passed the course and got my waiver. Since then (late May) I have clocked more than 500 miles. Taking the course is well worth the time and money, as was the private lesson. Don’t give up!
No, you do not need any prior riding experience to take a MSF Basic RiderCourse. The course was designed for a complete novice to be able to learn the basic riding skills. You start with the most basic of learning where all the parts and controls are, what they are for, and how to use them. Each exercise is a building block, so you will feel confident with each new skill learned before moving on to the next skill.In many cases it is actually better to wait to learn to ride in class than trying to “get some experience first.” Your first experience will be positive if you wait till class. Your first experience might not be positive if you try to learn on your own.If you already know how to ride a bicycle and a snowmobile and ATV, you will have no problem in a Basic RiderCourse. Sign up as soon as possible.
Omgosh everyone! Thank you so much for all the comments…your experiences, and advice are awesome and I take them all to heart. You all have made me feel more confident. I appreciate every single one of you. Thank you I’m going to take the class..
I took the class at age 51 never having been on a motorcycle in my life. I think it served me well as I didn’t have any bad habits to unlearn. Nine years later I’ve ridden more than 50,000 miles. I’ve made two solo trips to Yellowstone and one to Canada and am on my second Harley. I say go for it! The MSF course will teach you the correct way to ride & emphasize safety. Good luck!
I could count on one hand how many times I had been on a bike in my life before deciding to ride myself. I was a passenger each time and did not even know how to drive a manual transmission car! I did not know a thing about a throttle or clutch. I took the motorcycle safety course with no experience whatsoever. I had a wonderfully patient group of students and I had my dad and aunt taking the course with me. The instructors did a decent job explaining and with encouragement from the rest, I was riding circles in less than a day. I’ve been riding over two years now!
I took the MFS course with a tiny bit of riding experience. There were several women in the class with no experience. The instructors go through all the basics in the classroom portion of the training which is held before you get on the bikes. They have years of experience teaching those who have never ridden. In fact, my instructor said he preferred it because he didn’t have to undo bad habits. Take the course. It will be a little scary, but when it’s over and you have passed, it is the greatest feeling. Then you can start shopping for a motorcycle! Good luck!
Dear Karen,In this case, and from experience, I feel that ignorance is bliss! The less you know, almost the better. I took the course in 2007, being only a passenger and never having ridden my own bike. I started fresh, with no bad habits as others who had been riding a bit on their own. The first day on the course we were all riding. Just follow the instruction and you will do fine. Don’t worry about riding in front of people because everyone is just concerned about their learning progress and their bike, but they support each other. You will have fun. Just relax and enjoy!
Karen – when I met my late husband in 2002, I had never even been on a bike and he had me ride with him. He rode a ’91 Harley Ultra Classic. By that fall he wanted me to take the safety class just in case I ever needed to ride his bike in an emergency. I signed up for the MSF course with no previous knowledge of what to do (I didn’t even know how to drive a stick shift – so the clutch thing was all new to me). The instructor thought I would be a challenge to master the course but out of five women, I was the only one that passed. The others didn’t pass mostly because they were scared of some of the obstacles in the course. I thought of it as a challenge that I really wanted to master and I was so thrilled when I passed the course with a higher score than my husband. (He took the course to polish up his skills from riding for about 45 years.)You will learn everything you will ever need to know from the course as far as what to do. Other skills you will learn with practice such as riding in inclement weather, wind, gravel, etc.
Hello Karen,I am a certified Rider Coach in California. I can tell you with complete confidence that the MSF Basic Rider Course (BRC) is designed for someone who has never been on a motorcycle. It is a complete beginner class. It is helpful if you ride a bicycle for a bit prior to taking the course as this helps to renew your balance and coordination on two-wheels. You should contact your local training provider and chat with them, they will be able to give you all the necessary information and address any doubts you may have about the course. Good luck and have fun on your adventures!Corinna OwensLearn To Ride VCwww.learntoridevc.com
No. I am an MSF instructor, and we like having someone who has never ridden before, this way you have no bad habits! The whole reason for the class is to teach you to safely ride a motorcycle. It is such a joy to watch you as you progress from power walking, to riding your bike, to completing the course. Good luck with the class and have fun!
Karen – Don’t worry at all that you haven’t ridden before. I took the MSF class three years ago with no experience except a couple months of riding on the back of my husband’s motorcycle.The course is designed to teach you how to ride from absolute no experience. It’s a little stressful because you are learning so many skills all at once. However, it’s a great way to learn and is usually taught by great folks. And, if you don’t pass the test on your first round, you can always go back and try again or simply practice on your own bike and then go take your test at motor vehicle office. Best of luck to you and enjoy!
Hi Karen! I started riding back in late 2008 and took MSF in January 2009. I rode a tiny bit before taking the class because at mine, they would not teach you “from scratch”; you were expected to know how to use the clutch and brakes. I believe if you can at least get on a small bike and have someone just teach you the controls and maybe ride it around al little on a quiet street or (if a dirt bike) in a flat field or something, it will take away a lot of anxiety and nerves the first day out on the range at the MSF class. I, too, and timid and shy in groups like that and it helped me tremendously. If your area has a women’s only course that teaches from scratch, that might work for you too. You already riding a snowmobile should make throwing a leg over a motorcycle not all that strange/new and you will adapt easily in my opinion! Good luck and welcome to riding. It’s a fantastic sport!
I’ve coached many who’ve never ridden before taking the BRC. They, for the most part, do well. The course is structured for success. Each objective builds on the previous exercise. I am often amazed at the progress people make, especially those who’ve never ridden prior to taking the class. Once the course is completed, it’s practice, practice, practice! Build on the basic skills.
I had never ridden by myself prior to taking the class. It was great, exciting and a little scary but I loved it. They took it one step at a time and before I knew it I was riding a motorcycle…basics you understand….it is the FIRST tool in learning to ride. You don’t come out a pro! Practice, practice, practice. I had no pre-conceived ideas or bad habits to break so it made it easier for me but some did have some experience. I was in a mixed class so don’t let anyone make you feel like you can’t do it. The instructors will help you! Take the class. You will be glad you did!
Not everyone has access to a bike. This is what the class is for!
I rode my brother’s Honda 90 back in the late 60s / early 7’s. That was 40 years before I attended a MSF class. My then fiancé rode a Harley. I loved being his passenger, but I wanted to be a better passenger so I signed up for the basic class. I admit to being nervous when the morning of classroom training ended and we headed to the learning course. I was 40 years older, 100-plus pounds heavier. By the end of the first day I knew I wanted to pass the test and get my license, even if I never owned a bike of my own, even if I were to be a passenger forever. I didn’t plan it, but so glad I followed through. Within a week of the class I had a license and a shiny new Harley-Davidson 883. I love being a rider, and I am a better passenger.
I did not know how to ride prior to taking the MSF class. I thought the class was to teach beginners how to ride. It is not. I would strongly suggest you practice on your own in an empty parking lot prior to taking the class so you will at least know some basics. I thought I actually did pretty good for not knowing anything but I failed the course. I practiced in a parking lot for six months after that and then took the test through the DMV. I passed with nearly 100 percent. I wish I had known prior to taking the class that I would need to know how to ride first.
It is absolutely not necessary to have any motorcycle experience at all, before taking a beginners riding course. I was an instructor for 10 years, first the old MSF program, then with the new Team Oregon program, and then with the new MSF program. It’s certainly a big help if one knows how to drive a stick shift, manual transmission, and if one knows how to ride a bicycle. And the better at biking and shifting one is, the easier the motorcycle class will be. Other athletic skills are helpful, especially those involving balance and speed, such as skiing/snowboarding, skateboarding, skating, surfing. Many riders don’t pass the course the first time. Most of those pass it the second time. It’s no big deal.
When I took the MSF class I was 18 and did not know how to drive a stick shift vehicle. I rode a Vespa scooter for two years and then decided to upgrade to a motorcycle because I wanted to learn a new skill (shifting gears). I stalled the bike out seven times during the class, but eventually caught on. The instructors were patient with me, and the class was ahead of me and I caught up. When I left the class, I felt comfortable to ride around residential streets. I worked my way up at my own pace, and I’m now 33 and have been riding my Honda Shadow for 13 years. I love seeing other women on the road, and I encourage you to take the class without experience and go at your own pace. Even if you stall out or feel uneasy, take it slow and do it for yourself. We all start somewhere, and the class is there to learn safety at all levels.
Hi Karen,I also had never ridden a motorcycle before taking the course and I had no trouble at all. I’m also shy in front of people, but during the class, by following the instructions I learned a lot and started to build confidence and relax. What also helped was to ride my bicycle more frequently before the course, just to remind my body about balance on two wheels. And the most important thing was that the motorcycle school I went to is amazing: the guys are very patient and know how to talk to students in a way that motivates us. I didn’t even drop the bike during the classes — which is sort of expected, I guess — and I’ve got my license on the second try. I’ve just bought my sportbike and I’m very happy with it!You’re going to do just fine!
My sister and I took the MSF class together. She had never been on a motorcycle and I had very limited experience. It was a great experience and we both passed! So, go for it. Everybody feels nervous and anxious, but don’t let that stop you.
Karen, I took the course in 2008. I had absolutely no experience riding a motorcycle. I think having been taught to drive a manual transmission car was helpful in terms of using a clutch and throttle to change gears. I passed the class and never looked back. I was 55 when I took the class; my only regret was not taking the class sooner. Just take the course and have fun!
Hi Karen! The requirements for taking the MSF course is that you at the very least know how to ride a bicycle. Since you have experience with snowmobiles and ATVs, you’re ahead of the game. The course takes you step by step from getting to know the controls to learning to ride. Take the course, you won’t regret it. When I took my course there was a guy in the class who had been riding for 20 years without a M endorsement on his license and decided he should try and get it. Well he failed the class because he had acquired a lot of bad habits and couldn’t control his bike at slow speeds without putting his foot down. He was pretty mad and said the course was a lot of BS. Truth is he was embarrassed and rightfully so. There were a few women including myself who had never been on a motorcycle and we passed. Take the course, you’ll love it. I believe everyone who rides should take the MSF, no matter how many hours or miles you have in the saddle.
Karen,Back in 2005 I believe, I took the BRC1 course as a person who never even balanced a motorcycle under her own weight. The course is designed for newbies like me at that time and it’s still true. I am so glad that I learned through the course. There were no bad habits to break since I was truly new and innocent. I have since taken multiple MSF courses including taking the BRC1 again. That sharpens my skills, all under a controlled environment. Speaking from experience, it’s usually the true newbies who rock the course and grow the most. I’ve strengthened my ties with MSF over the years and have seen a lot of students go through the course. Do yourself a favor and take the course as you are today, a true newbie. Once you “graduate,” you will realize what a low stress, safe environment you just learned how to ride. The street can’t provide that.Stay safe and welcome to the club!
I had never ridden a motorcycle before I took the MSF class. I think it’s better that way, then you don’t already have some bad habits that need breaking. I will say that I already knew how to drive a manual transmission car, could balance on a bicycle and knew the rules of the road. If you know how to do those things you will be one step up already. Don’t be timid, the instructor and the other students all want you to succeed. Our group of 12 sort of bonded for the weekend and we encouraged each other. They take you from such basic things as supporting the weight at a standstill, and just leaning it a little to riding. Each step builds confidence. Let me tell you the first time I leaned it over to feel the weight at a standstill I said to myself “I can’t do this.” It was a Honda Rebel. Well, I did do it and have been riding almost two years! I’m glad I learned and today I bought my third bike – a Yamaha FZ07. Best of luck to you!
I was completely inexperienced when I took the course. It was challenging but I also hadn’t developed any bad habits to get in the way of learning. I kept everything in mind that I learned and have made it safely into my third riding season in NJ. My confidence grows the more I ride. I highly recommend the course.
Karen, I remember when I took the course that there were several others there who had never ridden a motorcycle at all. One had never even sat on a motorcycle, even as a passenger! They both did great and passed the course with flying colors! I highly encourage you to go for it…you will learn properly from the get go! I so enjoyed the course and I too am a bit timid and self conscious. Best of luck to you!
I didn’t ride before I took the class and I found that I picked up on things quicker then people that were riding before the class. No bad habits to break. Good for you taking a class instead if just trying to figure it on your own. I found that taking the class made me a confident rider and at ease on a large bike. Good luck
I took the BRC with zero motorcycle experience. It was tough for me, and I dropped the bike a couple of times, but I did pass.
I took the MSF course in October 2013 having had no experience whatsoever. I wasn’t even a good passenger on the back of my husband’s bike. Out of 16 students in the class (four of whom were female), I was by far the worst! It was an incredibly challenging experience for me and I did not walk out with a license (nor did I want to because I knew how far I needed to go to earn a license). Nevertheless, I would not change the experience for the world. It gave me a great foundation, a vocabulary for this endeavor, goals to aim for, and…strangely, confidence, though, again, I was just not good at all in the class. I have come so far in the last few months and plan to take the class again. I just know that the process has unfolded in the way that it should for me.
I’m a motorcycle instructor and the beginner class is designed for someone who has never operated a motorcycle. Having said that, it does move along pretty reasonably so don’t be too disappointed if you need to take it more than once to get comfortable with the basic skills. As an instructor it’s more important to me that you can walk and chew gum at the same time rather than have ridden before.
I never rode before taking the class. I was always the passenger. The class teaches you about bikes and how to ride. My father and brother as well as my mother told me not to worry about not knowing anything because they will teach it to you. You will be surprised at how fast you pick things up.
Don’t sweat it! When I took the MSf course 10 years ago, I had never ridden my own motorcycle and I didn’t even know how to drive a stick shift. The MSF course will give you all the info you need to practice after the course. You will need to do a lot of “around the neighborhood” trips before your ready to go on a main road. It’s a fun and rewarding journey!
I never road a motorcycle before I took the MSF course in CT. That was in September, 2004. Now I’m an MSF instructor. It’s three years this summer. You can do it, girl. The instructors are understanding. Just go to ConREp’s Ride4ever.org website. Find the ConRep logo on the right, link to a class there…there’s sites in Norwich, Cochester, Groton in your neck of the woods. If you want to talk, email me at fmayko@aol.com with your cell.
Hi Karen, I hadn’t any experience riding a motorcycle when I took my MSF Class. After the class I didn’t feel ready for the streets though I was able to learn what I needed to set me on this path.I rode a 250 for a year. I started out practicing in the school parking lot by my home, then my neighborhood and eventually longer rides. I took the intermediate course at the one year mark and bought my big girl bike a month later.There has been no stopping me since. I encourage you to take the course then proceed at your own pace and comfort level toward mastery.All the best to you.
Take the class! I didn’t have a any experience and the class is designed with you in mind. It assumes no experience whatsoever. Yes, some of the people there will have experience but it is the best and safest way to learn and get started. After the class is over, you’ll want to find a mentor to go riding with who can help you learn how to navigate your first public rides.
I had always been a passenger. And before the class, I too had ridden three and four wheelers but never a bike. You already have some great experience driving and using controls. The classes start you at the very beginning. Most of us had never been on a bike ourselves before! You will feel like it is just you and your bike during the class because you have to focus on the directions from the instructors. We were never singled out in front of anyone. The Ohio MSF class was incredible. (Only two did not pass the course as they were “experienced” riders with some bad habits.)I got my endorsement that day, five years ago just a week after my 54th birthday! Enjoy and have fun!