MSF Course Beginner/ Intermediate

[My Name Is Dave]

I have decided to take the MSF course in order to get some good instruction soon. The debatable issue for me now is between the beginner and intermediate courses. I was planning on taking the beginner until I read this:

"Riders returning to motorcycling or those who have limited riding experience are encouraged to enroll in the 8-hour IRT."

That made me think. I have limited experience. I learned on a Honda 125 and have put 150 miles on my GS500 in the past 5 days. I have been through side streets, main roads and expressways. I have hit speeds of 60 MPH (can't go past 5K RPM yet), have gone with a passenger, and have done a fair amount of parking lot practicing. I feel like I would do well in the IRC course. But I want to make the right choice for my riding and not just for my wallet. I feel really comfortable on the bike and the only time I get nervous was when I went for my first ride the day it was delivered and I gave it too much gas and almost pulled the front tire up. I learned the responsiveness really quickly  

What do you think? I am taking one for sure, but which one???

Thanks,

Dave

[TheGoodGuy]

take the beginner if you feel like. The intermediate one requires you to use your own bike. I wouldnt suggest it until your comfy with your own bike. If you are comfy then go for it.

[JetSwing]

hey, do you have a license yet? can you still take the intermediate course even if you don't (and still get your license afterward)?

[BUZZIN]

You may very well be a candidate for the Intermediate course.  Find out what differences there are in the class room cirriculum.  There's a lot of basic class room stuff that is very valuable.  If there is no difference, take the Intermediate.  If there is no class room study with the Intermediate, then take the Basic.

[My Name Is Dave]

I am getting really comfortable on my bike. I think in a month I would be ready to take a class and pass without too much problem. I got the MSF little book that comes with new bikes and has some drills to practice like weaving through cones, stopping in a turn, stopping quickly, etc. I'm assuming that these are the drills I will be tested on at the end of the course. So if I am confident that I have practiced enough and am ready to take my bike to the course, will I get an equal benefit from the IRC?

I imagine the beginner course teaches with the assumption that you know nothing about riding a motorcycle, which is not true for me.

[My Name Is Dave]

The main differences I see are the prices and lengths. The intermediate class is $40 less and 8 hours rather than 15 for beginner.
And you only need a motorcycle permit and a helmet to take the intermediate course and the DMV gives you your endorsement upon completion. You can use the bikes provided by Team Oregon also, so I wouldn't need to bring mine.

[JetSwing]

I imagine the beginner course teaches with the assumption that you know nothing about riding a motorcycle, which is not true for me.

that may be true but they teach the proper way to do everything. and some basic riding knowledge that you probably don't know about. it's not just about riding techniques. again i don't know exactly what they teach you in the intermediate course. i would think it's more of advance riding techniques than anything so you might be missing out on alot of basic knowledge stuff.

[RVertigo]

I had some riding experience when I took the BRC, but it was totally worth it...

I wouldn't take the IRC until you've been riding your current bike for a while.

In the BRC, you use their bikes and they make sure you're doing everything correctly...  You may be bored for about half of it, but you'll probably learn a few new things.

[Larry]

I came back to riding after 25 years off.  I took the beginner course as a refresher.  I was bored the first day, but went into learning mode for days 2-4.  The fundamentals they teach are important skills.  I would consider doing both courses if you can afford it.

[Jazzzzz]

Just FYI on items covered in the BRC:

You'll spend 4 hours in a classroom watching videos discussing things like proper riding gear, checklist and maintenance procedures, keeping your focus 12 seconds ahead on the road, etc. etc.

Riding day one will cover managing the friction zone on the clutch, basic turning, etc.  You'll do some basic cone weaves and ride in a circle most of the day.

The second day will cover stopping in a turn, swerving, emergency stops, more advanced use of the friction zone, signaling and changing lanes, etc.  You will also do the dreaded figure-8 U-turns inside a box.  

You will be tested on the U-turns, swerving, emergency stop in a set distance, and riding through a 130-degree turn after slowing before entry -- you have to get through the turn in a certain amount of time without slowing mid-turn.  These items are in addition to the open-book written test.

[drvmystck]

I had 400 miles on my GS prior to the MSF class, and a wee little bit of dirt experience.  I felt like I knew what I was doing on the street, rode to work a few times in rush hour traffice, etc.

My first ride after the BRC was a total revelation.  I was on the right track before, but the BRC gave me the ability to be proactive on the road, more exact in turns, and more aware of my impact on the bike's direction and behavior.

As a sidenote, doing a two U-turns in a 10x20 box was much easier on a CB125 than it would have been on my GS.

My $0.02: Take the BRC. At the end of this season or as a refresher next spring (assuming you can't/won't ride in the winter), take the IRC.