well i just got home from failing my road test :mad: i guess i was expecting it to be super easy and under estimated it lol.
well, not really. it was mostly because i didnt listen to the directions very well. the instructor lady said "make a U turn between the blue lines....no wait, the blue and yellow dotted line. or wait, the blue i think." then she checked her clip board and said "or wait, you have a 500 so yellow line". well i thought it was the blue so i drove right over the yellow line :dunno_white: so i got 5 points
and then the emergrency stop is where i finally failed. i didnt realize that it was a distance thing. more distnace = more points. and more points = fail. i didnt slam on the brakes like i was suppose to and i got 5 points. and you need like less than 10 to pass so i failed. oh well, ill try again next week. atleast then ill know what to do lol!
Why did you not just take the MSF and avoid the road test entirely?
Quote from: HPI_Freak on April 15, 2009, 10:59:25 AM
I'll try again next week. At least then ill know what to do, lol!
Good way to look at the experience...
If you get a chance, go practice the course when the DMV is closed. I'm not saying you need it, but it will make the experience less nervy for you next time...
- Bob!
Quote from: fred on April 15, 2009, 11:08:51 AM
Why did you not just take the MSF and avoid the road test entirely?
huh? the what?
Motorcycle Safety Foundation course. Its a course that teaches you all the basics of motorcycling in a friendly and useful way and at the end you get a waiver for the DMV tests because you take what is basically an equivalent during the course. I highly recommend it.
yeah, MSF is the way to go. it's about $250 where I live but worth it IMO. if you're lucky, you might even get a hottie in the course with you like I did.
+1 for the MSF.
Many people including myself, were pretty familiar with motorcycle riding before taking the MSF, and still recommend it. It reinforces, and perhaps teaches for the first time, many useful things for riding on the road.
Check with your state DMV regulations but in many states, taking the MSF course and passing means you get a license without another road test.
The MSF in Illinois has a $20 deposit to reserve your spot in the class and that can be refunded or left for a donation at the end of the course...
Also, if the classes are filled which they usually are, you can go to the location 15 minutes or so ahead of time and try to get in as a walk on...
If someone registered doesn't show, your money...
And that beats waiting until September for your course, lol :thumb:
- Bob!
pennsylvania plays it smart and offers the course to its residents for free. i took my first 2 courses, the basic and experienced course last year and plan on taking the experienced every year. you just sign up and PA pays the tab! :thumb:
+3 on MSF courses! Was no where near as stressful as DMV test and since you are constantly doing the test drills there is no misunderstanding unless it takes you 30 times to get something down!
We had a girl that couldn't even handle the honda rebel she was given a scooter dropped it three times but was still able to do the test at the end!
I had no experience riding before MSF and passed with 98% and was interstate riding within a week or so. couple of weeks before the skiddishness wore off now it is second nature and will be two years in August!
Mary
I didn't take the MSF course until I was 35. Before then had not even sat on a motorcycle before. :)
Learned two things from the course that have already kept me out of an accident...avoid target fixation and assume you're invisible to everyone else on the road.
Also learned from the MSF that motorcycle riding isn't for everyone. :icon_lol: Two ladies dropped out on the second day. One guy managed to pass who shouldn't be let loose in a car much less on a motorcycle...for the safety of others.
there was one old guy in my class that was at least 65, but probably older than that. he was taking the course on a scooter and was constantly going the opposite way the rest of us were while we were all riding. I can't count the number of times the instructors had to pull him off the course because he was going to kill someone.
I just passed the MSF last week and I highly recommend it. Statistically you are much less likley to get into an accident if you take it, and its an insurance break to boot!
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on April 15, 2009, 01:19:08 PM
We had a girl that couldn't even handle the honda rebel she was given a scooter dropped it three times but was still able to do the test at the end!
And now she's out somewhere on a 'busa. :cry:
That said, do you have to pay again for to take the driving test, or is it a second try without repaying? I would +(N+1) the MSF if you can, and you're a motorcycle n00b. It sounds like you've got the riding basics down, and getting into an MSF course this time of year may not happen. You might want to try and check out Proficient Motorcycling from your library because it is supposed to cover the mental parts of riding safely which is a big part of the benefit of the MSF course.
Anyway, good luck and keep the rubber side down.
Right ... right ... that means you now need to buy a hayabusa ... wait a couple months ... the 10 will be on ... its much more powerful and has much more bling.
I'd never be caught dead on no old busa ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Guess I should have finished the story LOL! When we started the course our instructor asked us what we were going to ride or plan on riding. Well, of course we all know what is said my boy Flick, a few Harleys, a gixxer, then we get to her. Now, I consider a busa too big physcially for me and I'm 5'8" and 171 lbs. Now, picture her 4'11" with her spiked heel riding "boot", maybe a hundred lbs soaking wet, and Puerto Rican (nothing agains ricans just giving the pic). Well, 'mam what do you wanna ride? I want a Hayabusa as my first bike my husband has already picked it out for me it will match my boots and my nails! I 'bout fainted when she said that so did "paco" our instructor.
So, we have the little Honda Rebels (cool little bike in my opinion) and she couldn't figure out that you have to pull the clutch in to go. Took about a quarter of the day to get that concept then as soon as she did she wound that little guy up! It went flying out she let it go fell on her butt and off it went about 100ft. Paco was like you can still get your endorsement on a scooter so he pulled out this mangled up thing good thing too cause she dropped it three times. Once, forgetting to put her feet down!
She barely passed the test at the end of the day. But, I know for sure if she had been on a moto where you had to shift and such she would have fallen flat on her face!
Mary
+5 on the MSF. It didn't exist when I got my license, but one of the guys at work who never rode before took it last year and they walked him right through it. At first I was a little worried about a 43-year-old taking to a Vulcan 750 without even minibike experience, but luckily he's got a lot of respect for power, speed, and the road, so he's still in one piece and getting better all the time. Last year I got a call from him and went out to a Tim Horton's where I needed to show him how to push start a bike when his old battery was too low for the starter to work. (the MSF doesn't cover that apparently) Now he's starting to look like he knows what he's doing! :thumb:
My class had eight students, 5 women and 3 men. I was by far the youngest at 35. All of the women had the same story...tired of riding on the back of their husbands Harley. Like I said before, two dropped out on the second day. On the third day one rode up on her new Harley that she had just bought the night before. Of course that lady dropped her Honda Rebel during the test. :icon_rolleyes: Guess that proves skirts should stay in the kitchen... ;) :icon_lol:...just kidding, wife is reading over my shoulder... :icon_twisted:
Why...why..why would anyone spend $13,000 on a motorcycle they can barely ride?
"Why...why..why would anyone spend $13,000 on a motorcycle they can barely ride?"
Because they have credit! :icon_mrgreen: I stopped off at the harley dealership to check out the 1200 XR and the salesman was pitching a 1200 for a Nuby / back seat rider. Then she sat on the V-Rod, I said to her "that's alot of bike" and that she may consider purchasing a bike after she finished the MSF, because some people don't make it and some people find out that they would rather stay in the back seat, then be up front. And if that were the case and she had alreadt bought the bike that she would lose money if she tried to sell it or that it might end up in the car house as an expensive dust collector. She decided to wait until she took the course,; I inform,ed her that H.D. wasn't going to run out of bikes before she completed the course in 1.5 months, and that she might actually get a better deal on one as the economy continues to drop. Jim :)
+6 (7 or 8? I forget?) on MSF. Militry is required to take the basic, then after 6 months the expert, and now, if we ride a "sport bike" (GS included) we have to take the Sport Bike Riders class, lots of good info in that one thar. Fortunately, the Army provides it free of charge as well, and the basics class is given once every 2 months. ANd piss on the road test. Most the people that give those don't even ride a boke ('roun here neway). ANd the cops that do ride a bike here were leather stripper boots up to their fricken thighs. I laugh my ace off everytime I see them. Okay, Im done. ANad yes, I;ve been drinkin... :cheers: Id go back and correct my typing errors, but it takess entirely to much effort... :cheers:
I failed my MC driver's course the first time too on the panic stop. I was on a new GL1800 Gold Wing. The SOB officer said; "Accellerate hard out of the box, get into second holding your speed; when I signal to you stop, stop as short as you safely can". Up to that point I had it all perfect and the emergency stop was my last station. When I blasted out of the box the rear tire spun-up pretty good and I was boogie'n when I hit second. I still remember his face - like a 'poosum in the headlamps. He signaled and I got 'er stopped about two feet in front of the line where penalty starts. "You won't pass my course today! That was totally uncalled for and unsafe!." WTF? I did exactly as he said. Not my fault he soiled his britches!
I took the MSF Beginner's class with my son when he was 16 and my daughter last year when she decided to ride (thus the GS500F is "hers", she thinks ;-). With her, I was assigned a brand spank'n new Suzuki dual purpose bike. It was a sweet ride, but had realy compliant suspension and great brakes. I kept doing stoppies on the emergency braking exercises -- the first stoppies I have ever done. Cool. The advanced classes are very hard to get into around here.
prs
here in NY MSF will ONLY get you moto license if you already have an auto license, if you don't then you have to take DMV road test
(but the DMV road test seems to be easier here than where you guys live - I just had to make 3 circles to the left, 3 to the right, 3 figures eight and then ride in front of the dmv officer for 2-5 minutes on local streets, no panic stops or anything like that - thankfully cause when I took the test it was raining like crazy...)
cheers
+whatever, the MSF foundation course should be mandatory. Had my SV, no training, got in a crash (wasn't my fault). Couldn't afford the MSF course at the time..used part of the settlement from the crash to do the MSF course. Learned a TON. There were guys that had been riding for years, but still got in the training and learned more about the bike. Day 1, had a hard time with the offset cones, but by day 2 I had figured out the whole push-lean-turn thing and was zipping through the cones. Can't recommend the course enough.
Here, the beginning course is on the school's bike, the advanced course is on your bike, so I'm looking forward to taking my GS though the advanced course.
since like june/july of last year here in Fl it actually IS mandatory to take the MSF course before you get your moto endorsement. i took my in january after previous dirt bike experience and riding the GS around the neighborhood for about a month before the class and learned a lot from it. i'm glad its manadory here and think it should be elsewhere as well!
Quote from: Canonball on April 16, 2009, 04:58:42 AM
.... i'm glad its manadory here and think it should be elsewhere as well!
If everyone in America pooled together and managed to pass every law they thought should be "manadory" then we would live under the most tyrannical system of government in history. I'm not saying that the MSF isn't a good idea (I refused to ride before taking it) but sometimes people get too wrapped up in deciding what everyone else should/should not do.
PS...just paid taxes yesterday, might be a little biased right now... ;)
I agree with XealotX. The MSF course is a good idea, but our society seems to believe if you tax and regulate everything, then everything will turn-out OK, and I think it's quite the opposite. Liberty, anyone?
well, only reason i didnt do the MSF is because (im being really honoest here) i already know everything they teach. im a very safe motorcycle driver. i pretend that i am invisible, i never weave traffic, i drive my motorcycle like a car, ect...
and when it comes to motorcycle opperation, ive been racing motocross since i was like 12 years old.
did anyone do the motorcycle road test with their GS500? i wasnt sure if the GS would be able to make the test where you have to weave the cones because i heard croch rockets cant do it because you have to lean to turn them. i know the GS isnt a croch rocket, but i had a little troube with it. i made it through, but the farther i got through it, the harder it got and i ended up stalling at the very end because i was trying to go so slow. so i only got 1 point, which put me up to 11, 1 point over passing lmao.
the cone section im talking about looks like this:
start
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Quote from: HPI_Freak on April 16, 2009, 08:31:27 AM
well, only reason i didnt do the MSF is because (im being really honoest here) i already know everything they teach. im a very safe motorcycle driver. i pretend that i am invisible, i never weave traffic, i drive my motorcycle like a car, ect...
and when it comes to motorcycle opperation, ive been racing motocross since i was like 12 years old.
did anyone do the motorcycle road test with their GS500? i wasnt sure if the GS would be able to make the test where you have to weave the cones because i heard croch rockets cant do it because you have to lean to turn them. i know the GS isnt a croch rocket, but i had a little troube with it. i made it through, but the farther i got through it, the harder it got and i ended up stalling at the very end because i was trying to go so slow. so i only got 1 point, which put me up to 11, 1 point over passing lmao.
the cone section im talking about looks like this:
start
l
\/
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You have just demonstrated that you DON'T know everything the MSF teaches. Bzzzt! Take the class and learn how to turn and stop properly, rather than thinking you know it all. Years of experience still leaves you with misconceptions about turning, at the very least. You're not alone, by any means - most folks don't know how turning actually works, even if they have done it for years - the problem is that when they get into a panic situation, they sometimes go the wrong way because they do what they *think* is right rather than what actually is right.
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on April 15, 2009, 03:11:46 PM
Guess I should have finished the story LOL! When we started the course our instructor asked us what we were going to ride or plan on riding. Well, of course we all know what is said my boy Flick, a few Harleys, a gixxer, then we get to her. Now, I consider a busa too big physcially for me and I'm 5'8" and 171 lbs. Now, picture her 4'11" with her spiked heel riding "boot", maybe a hundred lbs soaking wet, and Puerto Rican (nothing agains ricans just giving the pic). Well, 'mam what do you wanna ride? I want a Hayabusa as my first bike my husband has already picked it out for me it will match my boots and my nails! I 'bout fainted when she said that so did "paco" our instructor.
Mary
As we all know ... you cannot get any other boots or paint your nails to any other color ... say the horror of horrors ... you buy a GS500 ... and gasp ... its lets say purple and pink ... or red and white ... You know its impossible to get nail color and boots in those colors ya know ...
And better yet, anywhere you go ... anywhere ... you'd be dragging this hayabusa with you ... just so people can see that you match ... that is the most important ... I went to a nice restaurant last week (OK fine its was crappyo chineese buffet ... but still) there was this chick sitting there with a busa next to her ... and it all matched ... was so super cool ... I mean ... it was super super super duper cool ...
And y'all wonder why I never get laid ...
I'll bet her husband can get her to put out any time ... just the line of reasoning ... its just so romantic ... he wants to buy her a $15,000 hayabusa ... in that exact color and pay whatever it takes ... just so it will match her boots and nail color ... woweee ... how can anythign top that. Me, I'm trying to get my wife and son to sit on this rusty sheite savage to get them used to a bike ... Guess what ... its blue ... nothign matches that ... I could dye my hair blue ... that is it.
Cool.
Buddha.
The NIU safety course is the best thing one can do for bike riding. I hadn't ridden a bike since the mid 70's. Tried the DMV test and failed that. 50/50 on the blame thing for failing. Did a walk on at Elgin Community College and spent a great three days in training. Instructors were firm about how things should be done but very understanding and between the two of them nailed everything done right and wrong and corrected it. Passed the Sunday road course/written test with no problem and full confidence. Went to DMV, passed over the cert and got the license. Personally, I think everyone should have to take this course before they get a license. And it is really a lot of fun because they ride no what the weather. Bring the gear for everything condition.
"well, only reason i didnt do the MSF is because (im being really honoest here) i already know everything they teach. im a very safe motorcycle driver. i pretend that i am invisible, i never weave traffic, i drive my motorcycle like a car, ect..."
Well,
Obviously, ya don't! Not trying to be harsh but that is one of the things they concentrate on. Also, according to drive and stay alive 90% of drivers believe they are good drivers. Yet, 90% of accident's are due to driver error. I know this is related to driving but I'd say to guess these percentages probably (pluse or minus a few percentage points) transfer!
"so i only got 1 point, which put me up to 11, 1 point over passing lmao."
Apparently there was ten points of other things that you did not know as well. What were they? I'd have to say that the GS is more of a standard bike than a crotch rocket. I have an "F" and it rides almost exactly like the Rebels we trained on just a lot faster and the "friction zone" is different as in all bikes. Our instructor moved the cones to half of what we had to do it in and did it in his GOLDWING! He could even do a U-turn in the yellow lines which all of us could barely do on the rebel!
You never ever know everything! If you do you may as well not live cause there is nothing to learn! I have practiced in the lot where we did the test and could do the cones just as easily as the rebel. I admit even though I have taken the course I don't think I know "everything" that was presented to me those few days. Why, because we can't possibly retain all of the information that was given to us during those two days. You gotta practice, practice, and do more advanced training. One can never learn too much!
Buddha, I want pics of that combo in the chineese restaraunt! I have a blue bike are you insinuating something? Oh, darn my jacket, pants, and helmet do match. My arm sling does too KRAP! And no I aint' puttin out!
Mary
"I already know everything they teach..."
I can't wait to read the new Darwin Awards this year.
MSF..shouldn't have to be a law but it really should be mandatory . I also think we should have compulsory power/cc limitations like other countries. I mean a Gs500 will get you too 110 mph...and run with a lot of cars in the quarter...more than enough to get a new rider in trouble quickly (not as quickly as a liter bike but quick enough..).
Riding and driving is a privilege not a right. You're riding/driving something that can kill you and or others if it's mishandled (either by ignorance or planned stupidity ).
Busa for a new midget rider....great...
Quote from: Toogoofy317 on April 16, 2009, 10:49:25 PM
And no I aint' puttin out!
Mary
I rest my case ... :D
Cool.
Buddha.
i also think there should be limits on the size of bike a person should be able to ride. A new rider doesnt need a 600 gixer or a r1 i think they should have to start on a 250 or smaller street bike. they should have a graduated lic. on bikes as they do in cars. I also think in order for kids to get a car drivers licence they should have to ride on a motorcycle and in a semi before getting there lic. to see what happens when you pull out in front of someone on a bike or in a semi just once i would like to see them crap there pants while having to not hit a stupid person messing with there radio or talking to there 5 other friends in the car.
Yea I agree, but can you imagine how many clueless soccer moms are going to start "Mothers against Riding bikes" MARB ...
And if they were to ever get hurt ... god forbid the lawsuits ...
The clueless amongst us, use their vehicle's safety features to protect themsleves.
The drunk driver has the right of way - By Ethan Cohen - read that one and you'd know ...
I'd add ... the drunkest driver, with the biggest car has the right of way ...
Cool.
Buddha.
there is no graduated license as you are describing it for cars, josh. sure, kids may not be able to drive at night, with no more than 1 other kid without an adult, etc, but they can drive a veyron if they have the cash to own one.
I agree with you that some noobs are biting off more than they can chew with the bigger bikes, to their detriment and other peoples as well, but you can't tell people they can buy a bike and than dictate what kind they can buy.
Im michigan there are i think 3 levels of graduated lic before they get a full lic. to drive a car.
i actually think the us is one of the only places kids can go buy a liter bike if they can afford it. Ive heard alot about places restricting the motors output capabilitys. I do think one reason for this is that other then kaw. no body makes a good looking little bike.
so i just got home from retaking the test today. i am now motorcycle endorsed! it was actually pretty easy, especially since i already knew what to do and what to expect. i guess my nervs just got the best of me the first time.
however i did get 10 points (max amount of points allowed lol). i had a different instructor and he was a prick. for the safty stop you have to stop with your front tire IN a small box, and i stopped with my front tire on the line of the box :icon_rolleyes: and that was 5 points
and the last test was obsticle swerve. there are two lines, you accelerate to the first one, and start swerving at the second line. well i accelerated to the first line and grabbed the clutch. the second line is only like 10ft away and when i got there i swerved perfectly. then he tells me i was suppose to maintain my speed after the first line.
i think he just wanted to give me points because at the very beginning of the test he told the class NO BODY get a perfect score, and i pretty much should have lol.
good job congrats
Good job! :thumb:
Now practice, practice, practice.
Quote from: HPI_Freak on April 22, 2009, 11:41:23 AM
well i accelerated to the first line and grabbed the clutch. the second line is only like 10ft away and when i got there i swerved perfectly.
i think he just wanted to give me points because at the very beginning of the test he told the class NO BODY get a perfect score, and i pretty much should have lol.
Good job on passing, but you still have much to learn. Are you saying you coasted through a swerve? That would warrant a loss of points. If you have power on in a turn, you can turn much faster. Pulling the power right before or even during a swerve is about the worst thing you can do short of hitting the brakes. You really should go take the MSF...
Quote from: fred on April 22, 2009, 07:47:32 PM
Quote from: HPI_Freak on April 22, 2009, 11:41:23 AM
well i accelerated to the first line and grabbed the clutch. the second line is only like 10ft away and when i got there i swerved perfectly.
i think he just wanted to give me points because at the very beginning of the test he told the class NO BODY get a perfect score, and i pretty much should have lol.
Good job on passing, but you still have much to learn. Are you saying you coasted through a swerve? That would warrant a loss of points. If you have power on in a turn, you can turn much faster. Pulling the power right before or even during a swerve is about the worst thing you can do short of hitting the brakes. You really should go take the MSF...
Nah, he already knows all that stuff.
Yeah and his posts keep proving so. :confused:
i took a safety course in september 2005. it cost me a pretty penny. ($175 or so i think) took it in arkansas. guy by the name of James Hooper was the instructor. he was also the instructor for little rock pd motorcycle unit at the time. (he may still be, and still do the course, i'm not sure). he also said he taught courses for MSF but could not teach us the same course as it was not at an MSF sanctioned event. he did however take us through the same course he taught to the pd. (except we had more distance between cones :icon_mrgreen: ) anyways. it was an 8 hour class. it was great. James was a cool cat, same as his wife who assisted that day. i'd take his course again in a heartbeat. but i hadn't ridden since that day really until yesterday on a demo ride, and i could still hear his voice in my head, talking to me, reminding me things. great, great instructor.
Congrats on passing your test! However, I highly recommend that MSF course. I live in PA (where it's free) and my boyfriend teaches it so I took it 2 years ago, learned A LOT, and got my license. Now that I FINALLY have my first bike (2 yrs later), I feel more confident than someone that has never had any experience before. I'm retaking the MSF course again this summer as a refresher course. You can never have too much instruction on safety!
I'm thinking about signing up for an MSF course, I've never taken one and I'm not sure which one I should sign up for. I've been riding for about four years and I passed my test with zero deductions. I consider myself a safe rider. I'm thinking either Basic Rider-2 or Experienced Rider. Does anybody have any advice?
I got my CA motorcycle endorsement 20 years ago, but hadn't ridden in at least 18. I bought my new bike, a TW200, then signed up fir the MSF basic course. I learned a TON of stuff. I even rode my own bike. I am the type of person who strives to be the best in class, I passed the course, flying colors, some who were scary also passed, but I felt comfortable riding right away, I know those folks were still riding around the block with their feet hanging down.
I'm hoping to take the experienced rider course after a few more miles, I have about 2000 under my belt.
Before, someone mentioned why you don't coast on a swerve, we learned that, but didn't go over the dynamics of it. I'm curious, why does it turn better under power, vs. coasting?
Here's the site on MSF. It varies on each state, and if you click on the "About MSF" link, you can get a set of test questions to review that are nearly identical to the actual written part of the test.
http://www.msf-usa.org/ (http://www.msf-usa.org/)
+1 for MSF. I learned SO MUCH! Plus Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist, Vol 1&2" are also great references as well.
I watched this poor gal drop a Rebel in my MSF class during the final exam... you could see it coming like a train wreck... doing the figure 8, too slow, planted inside foot, dropped clutch and went *thump* over onto the far side. She couldn't pick the bike up off her ankle. Felt bad for the poor gal....asked the instructor "does she get another chance" and he just looked at me. The bad part was, the gal had this big ass HD at home ready to go...she'd been talking about it all day.
Since my boyfriend is the instructor, I hear some pretty funny stories. About 1-2 people in every class fail because of something stupid that they haven't done all week in class, but just get nervous during the riding portion of the test. Though the most common story is all these harley dudes that ride in w/ a helmet (b/c you have to wear one if you have a permit), adn then as soon as they pass the test, strap their helmet to their bike and ride off without any eye protection. there have even been a few older women that have taken the class on a 50-125cc scooter to get a discount on their insurance!!! Overall, a SUPER worthwhile program that everyone should take!!!
it's a good thing she fell over on the tiny rebel as opposed to a tricked out, expensive hog that could've crushed her and cost her a lot 'o' cash.