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Hopefully some of you will answer a couple of questions. I had a VERY bad experience in California on the airbase when I took the course there and didn't complete the course because of it. In a real-world MSC (not on a military base), how picky are they about the very slow S-turns inside the box? I ask because despite the fact that two individuals dumped their bikes during the start/accelerate/shift up/quick stop portion, they didn't get yelled at...but my tire came outside the painted box about 2 to 6 inches each time on those S-turns and the instructor kept yelling like I was doing it on purpose to annoy him or something. Were the slow S-turns important enough that the instructor should have repeatedly yelled about it? I finally got tired of it, and just left...and never got a chance to go back. I REALLY want to learn to ride, but I do NOT want to be instructed by someone who's got terrible attitude. If someone has advice or some insight, please share. (I do drive a manual transmission truck every day, BTW.)

Heartland Patriot wrote:Hopefully some of you will answer a couple of questions. I had a VERY bad experience in California on the airbase when I took the course there and didn't complete the course because of it. In a real-world MSC (not on a military base), how picky are they about the very slow S-turns inside the box? I ask because despite the fact that two individuals dumped their bikes during the start/accelerate/shift up/quick stop portion, they didn't get yelled at...but my tire came outside the painted box about 2 to 6 inches each time on those S-turns and the instructor kept yelling like I was doing it on purpose to annoy him or something. Were the slow S-turns important enough that the instructor should have repeatedly yelled about it? I finally got tired of it, and just left...and never got a chance to go back. I REALLY want to learn to ride, but I do NOT want to be instructed by someone who's got terrible attitude. If someone has advice or some insight, please share. (I do drive a manual transmission truck every day, BTW.)

We need to find good instructor and some one-on-one tutoring.

I took the Safety class at a Harley dealership last year, the S turns inside the box was tough for everyone, I think I put my foot down once. I would say that 1 out 10 people did it without going outside the box or putting a foot down. This was pretty much my first time to ride a motorcycle and i passed, heck Everyone passed the course. As long as you have a general idea how to ride and operate the controls you'll be fine. The instructors did show some impatience with a person or two, but they were the ones on day 2 that were not going fast enough to get out 1st gear and were slowing up the class agenda. Even they passed.

Is this a good school for MSF basic course: http://www.texasmtc.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In my experience, they're usually completely cool about things, and unless you show a pure lack of ability to control a motorcycle, then chances are, they'll give you a second, or even a third chance to complete the task.

That said, I took the MSF course with about 15 road miles under my belt and passed without any problem. I think what helped is that they provided very small and nimble bikes (I was too tall for the little rebel 250's so I road an enduro) This was quite a few years back, but I used Total Rider.

http://www.trainingwheelstexas.com/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Great experience with these guys. Cheaper than Hardley classes by $100 in my part of TX.

Is this a good school for MSF basic course: http://www.texasmtc.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I did my rider safety with mtc. It was worth every penny.

After over 40 years of riding, I took the class with my wife. It was her first time on a bike sitting at the controls. Funny thing, she passed the S turns and I put my foot down every time. Of course, if you knew me, you would know how large I am (looked like a pregnant giraffe on those little bikes). We both passed however.

Now, after the class, I got on my bike (Ultra Classic) and never had a problem with the S turns.

I did my MC safety course many years ago in the Navy. The "S" portion was the most difficult and we did it with our own bikes. I had a GS1100E and one other guy had one of those new Honda Interceptors. Neither one of our two bikes could physically complete the "S" turn. The two instructors walked our bikes through the course and they couldn't do it. I was able to finally get through the "S" turn after my fifth or sixth pass. I was about to fall before getting my front tire inside the last cone, but goosed it and lifted the front tire up and over it and shot out the "S" on my rear tire. So, I made it through without knocking any of the cones over. Scared the dickens out of myself and everyone else thought it was the coolest thing. I don't do wheelies and really really prefer to keep both tires on the ground. The other guy with the Interceptor did not have to do that to pass. Since the instructors couldn't walk the bike through they gave him a pass on that section.

Thanks for all the replies so far...its giving me some confidence to go back and try it again. Funny thing is that I never did put a foot down, I just swung a bit wide every time...not going to blame it on the bike, it was some small Chinese knock-off cruiser. But that guy was just putting out some really bad attitude, and I guess being an E-7 (Master Sergeant) at the time, it just bugged me to be yelled at...I'm going to start looking at schools here in the area. Thanks again.

The Texas MTC class has locations all over the metroplex and they are very good as well as about 100.00 less than Harley.

I wanted to stay married so I decided not to teach my wife myself but let them do it. As stated above I took it with her and really glad I did. It taught me a few things that I was doing wrong as well as reminded me of some other things.

But now she brags to everyone that she made it through the s turns and I didn't. I will let her have her time of glory though.

Heartland Patriot wrote:I had a VERY bad experience in California on the airbase when I took the course there

Your instructor was probably an ARMY guy trying his best to make all you Airmen cry...

Seriously... Like any other similar class (CHL comes to mind), there are good instructors and bad. Sounds like you had a lemon last time. There's already a list of recommendations in this thread... I expect you'll have a better experience this time, especially in a civilian class where there's more of a "satisfy the customer" mentality, generally.

"Just do it"

http://ntmsc.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Owned and operated by Mckinney PD motor officer Donnie Williams. Hes got a few videos of him in action on his website. He knows what he's doing and talking about

I think it's like anything else, it's finding the right instructor, problem is, you can get hurt if you get the wrong instructor. I took a motorcycle course down here in San Antonio...there were 2 of us women, neither of us had ever been on a bike before (I have a 50 cc scooter, but that doesn't count) everyone else had been riding illegally or like my DH had ridden a bit years ago. As a result the instructor taught to everyone else, the other girl got frustrated and left, I ended up on the ground twice, the second time I was lucky not to break my leg.

We're going to buy a smallish bike and DH is going to teach me, then find me a different class. His bike is too big and too expensive for me to learn on.

Beiruty might have a good idea with the one-on-one tutoring, probably just a couple of hours would help just to get your confidence up before a class

This has been posted on every Harley forum I know of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJxOsYh12yY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Donnie Williams in action. Amazing control.
"S" turns in the box are mainly clutch & throttle control. Sometimes riding your rear brake can help
with control. Last thing, and the hardest at first, even in the box, look where you want to go not where you're going.
That last statement won't make sense to a non rider.
Good luck. Be safe.