Just got home from passing my motorcycle safety course. Having not been on a bike for 30 years, I figured a professional course was the way to go. A benefit in AZ is when you complete the course, you can go get your M endorsement on the drivers license. First half day (Fri nite) was didactic. The instructor made it a lot of fun by having teams of two "teach" sections of the material. Got us into it and helped us bond. Sat morning we were on the course with the bikes. Since it was the basic course you started with how to get on the thing correctly, then starting procedure. Next came duck walking the bike, then runs across the parking lot in 1st gear. They built on this until noon and had us doing some pretty cool handling skills by lunchtime. Then back to class to finish the didactics and take the test. Next AM (this morning) we did the advanced skills portion. Included all we did before but added speed and new maneuvers that included the figure 8's in the rectangle that you have to master for the riding test. By 1100 we had a final practice session and then the skills test. Everybody passed although there were a couple of students we were concerned about. I knew it would be fun getting back on a bike after so long, but I didn't know that unlearning a lot of bad riding habits and relearning correct riding habits was going to be such hard work. Also, 5 hours on the bike flat wore me out. All in all a great course. If you're considering a motorcycle do yourself a big favor and get to a Motorcycle Safety Foundation approved rider course. It could very well save your life!

Congrats Senior!!! That's awesome.

I really want to take the MSF, but will wait until I actually have a bike to ride hah.

How much was your course, if you don't mind my asking?

They do it a weekend?

I seem to remember the course being several weeks long, like every saturday for 2 months 3-4 hours at a time.

I guess it's been condensed.

Ride on your toes and cover that front brake.

In texas the courses are state price fixed at $190, last Saturday and Sunday 7am to 4pm and are readily available. When you go into the DMV you still have to take the written test, but if you pass the MSF you don't have to take the driving test.

The one I'm signed up for is on a weekend too.

Fee was $275 and included lunch on Sat, bike rental, gas, water and sodas on ice each day, helmets, gloves and everything else. RideNAZ (www.ridenaz.com) actually runs 2 classes over the weekend: the Fri nite didactic, Sat AM skills, Sat afternoon didactic and Sun AM skills that I took, and another simultaneous class that was broken up in the same way but started Sat AM, then skills Sat PM, didactic and test Sun AM, then skills Sun PM. They also have an intermediate class for those that passed the written test at MVD but haven't taken or passed the skills. It's a one day skills only and ends with the MVD skills test. I'm planning on taking the experienced rider course this fall, not because I am but because they cover a lot of the maneuvers I did on the small bike but you do em on your own (big bike in my case).

Hey, congrats dad!!!

Now, lets see some photos of the new ride!

Oh come now...we all know Senior is the greatest, but his pic posting ability is somewhat lacking...LOL

...besides I want to see it in person, when you coming over the hill?

Won't take delivery until later this week. I plan on a trip somewhere soon if I can get a few guys together and go. You're right about my lack of picture posting ability. It so happens that Mrs Senior has the digital cam loaded with pics of flowers and grandkids so there's no room left for pics of bikes.

congrats, I'm not able to ride a bike.

quote:

Originally posted by Senior:
Won't take delivery until later this week.

What kind of bike did you get?

2007 Kawasaki VN 1600 Mean Streak. It's a big V twin hot rod cruiser. Here's the link to the Kawasaki page:

http://www4.kawasaki.com/Products/detail.aspx?id=278&content=introduction

My Z is for sale by the way...Price is just about getting to rock bottom for the right buyer.

quote:

Originally posted by Senior:


My Z is for sale by the way...Price is just about getting to rock bottom for the right buyer.

I got $50 in my pocket...

quote:

Originally posted by Desert Rat:

quote:

Originally posted by Senior:


My Z is for sale by the way...Price is just about getting to rock bottom for the right buyer.

I got $50 in my pocket...

I thought this was N4W,not Craigslist .What is the price?

PM headed your way