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Post by Aaron on Nov 10, 2006 21:06:10 GMT -5
New or experienced, take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider training course even if not required in your state. These are inexpensive and may well save your life.. I reccommend retaking every 10 years as a reminder/refresher.
Aaron
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Post by Admin on Nov 10, 2006 21:28:42 GMT -5
New or experienced, take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Rider training course even if not required in your state. These are inexpensive and may well save your life.. I reccommend retaking every 10 years as a reminder/refresher. Aaron Hmmmm, that's not what you said in the PM you just sent me. ;D
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Post by strangerdejavu on Nov 10, 2006 21:54:57 GMT -5
...except for oops, in that case, twice a YEAR may be stretching it a bit thin
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Post by Aaron on Nov 10, 2006 22:00:19 GMT -5
When serving as a moderator I have to be the voice of reason. In the real world I always ride naked. Trust me there is no greater safety device than the sight of me riding a scooter naked. Drivers get laughing so hard they go off the road...thus giving me clear passage. Better than lights and siren. (Kidding..wear your gear!, take the course, ride safe and alert!)
Aaron
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Post by Admin on Nov 10, 2006 22:32:49 GMT -5
Strangerde, what happened to your avatar. I hate it when avatars are just a little red x. Now I have to go beat the girlfriend and kick the dog and it's all your fault!
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Post by Dennis D on Nov 10, 2006 22:55:33 GMT -5
I was just checking the site for Indiana's Basic Rider's course. They supply the bikes and shifting is a large part of the course. Doesn't appear to be scooter oriented. I know from my own experience that I easily tend to ride much more aggressively on a 5 or 6 speed motorcycle of practically any size than I do on a scooter. It's too much fun, and I easily undergo a personality change on a motorcycle that could shorten my days on the planet. I'm scooting because I have always been a speed freak and decided I'll never grow up enough that I should ever have a real motorcycle again. I have the same reaction to driving very nimble sporty cars with stick shifts. On a scooter, I drive more like I do in a cushier big car, or even an econobox, except the awareness that no cage is around me makes me much more conscious of my surroundings than when I'm in a car. Riding a scooter is a really enjoyable and rewarding experience, one to savor, but for me, riding motorcycles(or driving sports cars) has always been an adrenaline rush. I want to keep on living when riding like that, too, but mostly for the next race, next series of esses, or next hairpin turn. Since there's no way I can afford a $13,000 cruiser motorcycle, a scooter is safer for me than any motorcycle I could afford. I've observed similiar responses to motorcycles in some friends, relatives and acquaintances, and for those folks putting them on a motorcycle is like handing a drink to an alcoholic.
I will call Abate of Indiana, who administers the rider courses and see if they provide scooters for those who choose them for their ride. I know that in some states they do, but the rider education courses in many states aren't so scooter friendly from what I've heard.
There is an experienced rider course here that you bring your own motorcycle to. It just needs to be legal, licensed, and insured. That looks good, but isn't for everyone.... they want people taking it to have a minimum of two years riding experience and their motorcycle endorsement.
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Post by strangerdejavu on Nov 11, 2006 13:17:33 GMT -5
When serving as a moderator I have to be the voice of reason. In the real world I always ride naked. Trust me there is no greater safety device than the sight of me riding a scooter naked. Drivers get laughing so hard they go off the road...thus giving me clear passage. Better than lights and siren. That's the ticket, Aaron- there's no better leather than the one you're born with! Strangerde, what happened to your avatar. I hate it when avatars are just a little red x. Now I have to go beat the girlfriend and kick the dog and it's all your fault! There we go dawg, all fixed. Make sure to give the girlfriend a pat and the dog a kiss on my behalf to apologize for my poor avatar maintenance!
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Post by Admin on Nov 11, 2006 13:55:54 GMT -5
It's too late, strange. My dog left me and my girl just snarls at me.
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Post by surfborg on Nov 11, 2006 20:03:53 GMT -5
Dawg, a snarling girl just make it more fun when she's got ya in those handcuffs. Honey... I've ben a baaaaaaaaaaaaad dawgy.
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Post by Aaron on Nov 12, 2006 0:54:42 GMT -5
That's it I'm calling the Viagra people and complaining...after I sell them an ad.
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Post by Admin on Nov 12, 2006 1:39:34 GMT -5
Dawg, a snarling girl just make it more fun when she's got ya in those handcuffs. Honey... I've ben a baaaaaaaaaaaaad dawgy. Give me a lesson here surf. Am I the one who's supposed to confess to being a baaaaad dawgy? Or, am I the one who's supposed to just take it since I'm all tied up?
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Post by Aaron on Nov 12, 2006 1:47:05 GMT -5
Ok Dawg... don't make me delete this thread.... and on a side note Watch the CSI episode with Grissom and the Dominatrix... in this case Lee you would be the suplicant and as such have the real power...all you have to do is say stop. But why would you.... how the hell did we get here from take a motorcycle safety course....
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Post by surfborg on Nov 12, 2006 9:16:42 GMT -5
Sorry, Sorry.. I coudn't resist. My bad. I'd like to take a safty course myself. They are free here in Illinois. The only problem with that is they fill up within a few hours perhaps a day of the anouncement of the course schedual. I wonder... pehaps I could just take the riding test at the DMV and then enroll in the advanced course next year. I don't need all the time on shifting and stuff like that. Bring the scooter and learn the evasive stuff and defensive riding. Surf
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Post by Dennis D on Nov 12, 2006 9:50:40 GMT -5
I plan to take the experienced rider safety course myself, I've never taken one of any kind. I was riding before IN had a motorcycle endorsement. Anyone with a driver's license could ride, so everyone who already owned a motorcycle before they started the mc endorsement was grandfathered in. The ERC is $50 in IN or $25 if you're an ABATE mrmber. That way you get a magazine and invite to events for your $25 membership. Wierd thing about ABATE is they are responsible for the safety courses(in IN at least), but their hottest selling items are stickers against helmet laws. Now I'm against helmet LAWS too..... next'll be rubber daisy on the bottom of your bathtub laws so you don't slip and fall. Do you know how many bathtub accidents there are a year! But I'm certainly for wearing helmets! I just think it should be an individuals choice on how best to protect themselves.... includes seatbelts, and would vote against helmet laws if it ever came up, but I don't want to do anything that would encourage dummies to not wear helmets solely to assert their rights.
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Post by Charlie on Nov 12, 2006 10:34:09 GMT -5
Here in Arkanfreakinsaw abate charges $70 for the safety course so cost is a factor as I will be taking it along with my wife and 14 year old. I have been riding for almost 45 of my 57 years but if it helps me dodge the Arkanfreakinsaw test I would take it. We have to travel an hour and a half to get to the course. Then an hour and a half in the opposite direction to take the test...ack!
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Post by Dennis D on Nov 12, 2006 10:58:22 GMT -5
The Basic Rider course for obtaining an endorsement is $75 in IN and is around 18 hours over 3 days. There's one about 60 mi away that isn't done by ABATE which is also a state approved course. It's $50.
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Post by surfborg on Nov 12, 2006 13:12:09 GMT -5
Illinois courses are approved by the state and run buy the state universities. University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University and such. They charge a $20 sign up fee that is refunded after the completed course. Since the course is free, they need to do that to minimize the amount of No-shows.
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Post by Charlie on Nov 12, 2006 14:57:55 GMT -5
Cool idea with the colleges. I will have to check curicullum and ancillary programs at the U of A.
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Post by Dennis D on Nov 13, 2006 12:28:38 GMT -5
I checked with ABATE of Indiana this morning. They said that they are looking into the possibility of beginner courses for scooter riders, but it could be a year or two off yet (2008-2009). They were not at all clear as to whether such courses would target scooters licensed as motorcycles, those recognized by the state as mopeds or both. They said to check back or contact them with suggestions about that around February. They don't supply scooters or CVT equipped motorcyles for their Beginning Riders Course(BRC), and said that the course wasn't really adaptable to scooters as it is now. I think I will join ABATE, as that may help in getting comments and suggestions heard. They said no problem with taking the ERC (experienced rider) with a scooter licensed as a motorcycle.
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Post by coyotesweat on Nov 14, 2006 12:20:06 GMT -5
Whew, I got lucky... There's a local motorcycle safety course here in Austin, TX, that has a couple of scooters available. It's $190, they provide scooter or cycle (little cruiser bikes), helmet & gloves if necessary. Three days, I guess about 16 hours? (Thurs night classroom, Sat. am riding, Sat. pm classroom, sun am riding/testing). So I've signed up for this weekend. Since I also have to work Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, I probably won't be able to post my experiences until Monday. Needed to take it because I let my motorcycle endorsement expire, and I haven't ridden in 10 years, and that was a Virago 750...wanted to get used to riding a lil' scooter with both brakes on the handlebars. Then I can get my motorcycle license (course includes the DPS riding exam), and go test ride the Agility to see if I can manage it even though it's a bit too tall...
Hugs to y'all. (Yes, I'll wear my Scootdawg t-shirt to class...of course!)
Katie
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Post by Aaron on Nov 14, 2006 17:19:06 GMT -5
Good Luck Katie! You'll do fine what's an itty bitty scooter compared to that other monster you ride..the Clyde! At least scooters don't freak out at the sight of a broken fan belt...don't ask...
Aaron
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Post by Dennis D on Nov 14, 2006 20:05:46 GMT -5
That's great! No classes up here til April. They have classes rain or shine, but not freezing cold!
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Post by ooopseyesharted on Nov 15, 2006 9:51:40 GMT -5
...except for oops, in that case, twice a YEAR may be stretching it a bit thin Screw you jerk.....LOL I actually took the course in may. So enough pickin on the injured guy.....J/K I took the 50cc for a spin yesterday morning and it ran great after sitting for 6 weeks. It loves colder air thats for sure.
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Post by hoove on Dec 11, 2006 19:26:10 GMT -5
I didn't think I'd ever have a reason to say this. Boy am I lucky to live in Pennsylvania! All of our Motorcycle Safety Program courses are FREE (if you call being financed by motorcycle license learners permits and renewal fees free). So I only have to pay for mine until they pry my license from my cold dead fingers. I guess I was right, Boy am I NOT lucky to live in Pennsylvania! Oh well, at least I still have the potholes, crappy road surfaces and bad weather. Kidding aside, I rode for years before taking the MSP class and still learned a few useful things. Anyone who has the opportunity should take it.
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Post by einism on Jan 23, 2007 2:42:13 GMT -5
I took the course here in oregon its like 100 bucks here but worth every penny. I used one of their bikes but could have used my own.
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Post by prostick on Jan 30, 2007 21:58:08 GMT -5
I took the MSP class here in Philly last October. (Free and only 15 min. from my house.)I've been riding Harley's and dirt bikes for years and still found the class to be usefull. If you get the chance to go to one do it. It was also lots of fun to watch people that never rode anything before learning to ride.
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Post by westcydr on Jun 25, 2007 21:18:10 GMT -5
Hmm, I am from PA, but stationed in NE, and am taking the course here for free (DOD pays for military, for the same course $150 for DOD civilians and military dependents).. I did not think about PA and the fees there.. maybe I will keep the NE DL for now..... As for the course... Started my MSF today, everyone is on bikes though (even though I have a scooter) but we had only 6 total out on the bikes (5 after one decided to do the 101 course first). At least if I ever get a bike, I will know I can shift.. so far, 4 hours class, 5 hours bike, tomorrow, 4 hours more class, wednesday, 5 hours more bike, then I can go get the M (assuming I pass, which so far, I think i will)...
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Post by westcydr on Jun 29, 2007 9:52:17 GMT -5
Got mt M, passed my course, now I want a Cruiser bike to go with my scooter.... (the course only used their own bikes, and they did not have scooters, so now I got the itch)
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leisa
Junior Dawg
Posts: 9
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Post by leisa on Jul 12, 2007 3:10:09 GMT -5
i just finished a MSF Basic Rider Class this past week (July 6,7,& 8), and it cost $150 here in KY. 4 hours class on Fri evening, 8AM-2PM on the range Sat, and the same on Sunday. Passing gives you a card to take to county clerk and will count for you to get license. It was a good class. However, we did about melt in our long pants, long sleeves, over ankle boots, and full finger gloves for 6 hours on those days. It was extremely hot!!
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Post by wilding on Jul 29, 2007 1:23:29 GMT -5
The closest MSF safety course here in Ma. is $275. Worth it? Absolutely. Financially feasible? Not for me at the moment. Soon, hopefully.
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