my riding exp started on 16-aug-2007. i took the HD riders edge MSF course. i've got 7200+ miles on my bonnie now. all but 584 of those miles are mine since i'm the second owner. eventually i'm gonna take an advanced course. in the mean time i've read mr houghs' book and another advanced riding book, don't recall the title at the moment.

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you can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning.

Everyday's an education. 35 years in the saddle, & I'm still learning.

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"They told me I was goin to have to work for my living, & all I wanna do is ride." Jackson Browne (the Road & The Sky)

I did the MSF Beginners Riding Course 5 years ago after riding for over 3 decades.
I was amazed at how much I learned that I had been doing wrong for so long.
I am now waiting on the Rider/Coach certification course to start up and I will be then on the other side of the coin , teaching some new riders.

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Bob

Click to see My Photo Album

Age is of no importance, unless you are a cheese.

I took the MSF course in 2005, then rode Vespas (one boring automatic and one shifter) before graduating to my T-100 last week. Apparently this is not enough training, however; last night I dropped my bike for the first time! I've been practicing in a local parking lot (conveniently walled-off so nobody sees me making an ass of myself) and doing a little riding on the fairly quiet residential streets in my neighborhood. While riding on the street, I noticed my right-hand turns from a stop were too wide, so I headed back to the parking lot to practice. On my first practice effort, I didn't give it enough throttle, stalled, and, as I was already leaning into the turn, found myself in a slow-motion fall to the right (mysteriously, it was my left leg that got caught under the bike--in my effort to keep the bike from falling, I somehow got my whole body over to the right side). It scared the bejeezus out of me, but all I have are a bruised leg and a sore back (at least now I know I can pick the bike up if need be), and the poor bike was unharmed by my stupidity. Now I'm just hoping that this little f-up is all I'll have to endure to put me into "motorcyclists who've had a fall" category.

I went through the CBT then Direct Access (equivalent of the MSF I think) route. I was no natural at the CBT, wobbling about all over the place, but I got the hang of it by the end of the afternoon. However, the instructors said that they regularly send people home at mid-day (before they do the afternoon "real riding on real roads" section of the course) because they just don't think they will make it. This isn't a decision they take lightly, since although they don't lose money, word of mouth bad publicity would not do them any favours. They make you sign a five page disclaimer before you get on one of their bikes too, so it's not as if they need to worry about any liability.
So you're not the only one to "fail", don't worry about it.
And I fell off about a month ago stalling in a car park.. these things happen. I will never stop where my right foot is three inches lower than my left foot again...

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Believe those who search for truth. Doubt those who claim to have found it -André Gide (1869-1951) Nobel Laureate 1947

Started on dirt bikes in the seventies and ended up racing them for about 12 years. A tremendous amount of bike knowledge ( what they can do and can't do) can be learned from riding on the dirt. My dirt experience has not only made me a better street bike rider but a better automobile driver as well. I cannot count the times something I learned from dirt bike riding has saved me from a automoblie collision. If it was up to me, it would be a requirement that everyone, male and female, be required to complete 1 year of dirt bike riding experience before they get any kind of driving license. That being said though, while I am pretty comfortable riding my Tiger, I realize there is alot I need to learn about street riding and will probably take some advanced rider courses when time permits.

got my first bike in 1977, Yamaha FS1E fizzy, fell off it once a month until it all seemed to fall into place!
Raced 250's at club level for 5yrs, then took my test on the road.
I've never had any training, but like Old Scratcher said everyday is a training course, Ive been riding 31yrs and I learn everytime I ride!

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Steve
always look on the bright side of life!
865 T100. -AI & Snorkel,Emgos,125/40/2.5 turns/1shim/3mm hole.Bellmouth,Unifilter.ST Bars,Dart screen,Hyde damper,19T sprocket,68 seat,Hagon shocks and a few bits of "bling".

Can I show off here? Had to do a council run riding assesment as I was a care manager and YOS worker who attended county council meetings on my bike, the police instructor classed me as police rider standard, cool, never done a days training in my life, just 42 years riding/survival.

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I went to a restaurant that serves 'breakfast at any
time'. I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance

http://stickerchick.com/images/AD455-th.jpg

Well done Doodledog that's certainly something to be proud of

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Bob - not dead yet
Switch to reserve ~130 miles

Hmm...started riding dirt bikes, etc. Rebuilt an old Yamaha "twingle" (YDS3??) and rode the wheels off of it. The OM had been thru lots of bikes...XR750 flat tracker (one race...he said flying was safer...), a few Harleys and the one bike I REALLY wish he had kept...a Vincent Black Shadow. Oh, I did get to ride pillion as a kid, but the Yammer was the one I was allowed to thrash. Not fast enough to get me in real trouble. Then, to Beezers (Goldstar!!) and 10 years w/o a bike, but keeping the MC endorsement on the license. Bought a Honda to rebuild/sell but ended up keeping it and riding it for another 10 years. Got the Sprint just recently.....this month I've put 2K miles on her. STILL want to do some "easy track days" on a beater bike; looking for one now as a "plaything" and with which to learn some advanced techniques.

Also, I've got some weird deal going on fast lefties....righties are fine, but when I tear into a leftie, I tend to start locking up a bit. Psychological? Probably, but I'm hoping some coursework will help stop the "tightening up." 'Course, I'm nuts anyway.....

Derswede