Well I am a new(er) rider with just 18 months and around 10,000m under the riding belt. I would be happy to share my own personal experiences with you.
First off I have not taken MSF, but recently got my M1. I knew how to ride before I got my M1 as I was a permit rider up until then. I am letting you know this because many make the mistake of "well i passed MSF now I know how to ride" and go off and get hurt or killed thinking because they have an MC endorsement they can ride well. Well, that's not true at all. So it's good you are being prudent.
Playing in traffic is not a light matter, so don't be in a hurry. I will tell you how I did it. I practiced in parking lots and then on quiet residential streets. I could turn, stop, go, paddle walk, creep along slowly in a very basic way. First I rode on the street a little at night just to see what it was like. Very local, very brief. Then when I would go practice (around 1 and a 1/2 miles from my home) one day I just decided instead of taking the side streets I was confident enough to take a busy avenue. All in a straight line, just one turn. That's what I did, and I began to explore familiar streets with a bit of traffic. Then I ventured out more. Funny how in those first few hundred miles I was intimidated my this one intersection near my house. i thought 'i will NEVER ride through THAT!"
Now i do it everyday
IMO no one can tell YOU when is the right time for you to "try it," as no one can ride your bike for you. But you won't be completely comfortable doing it. So you sort of have to go ahead and do it when you feel or know you are ready. You'll know when with more practice. At around 300 miles I took my first 18 mile ride in traffic. I had to as a i was riding a new scoot home from the dealership. It went fine but I had to take a rest halfway through. And that was a GOOD thing.
Never ride if not comfortable or uncertain. Just pull over, take a break.
You'll get out there, no hurry, easy does it. If anything like me it will take at least a few thousand miles of riding (took me around 4,000) to become fully comfortable riding in traffic. And completely comfortable riding a bike. It may be different for all so far as time it takes, but that's not important. Whats important is you ride safe and within your own ability. Being comfortable out there on two wheels will take as long as it takes.
Practice, practice, practice. All in due time. I went from not wanting to enter an intersection I drove through in cars for 20 years, to riding through it daily. And anywhere else I please. Traffic never really crosses my mind until I get in it. And I look forward to it because it's my favorite kind of riding. It's fun, a bit dangerous, exciting, all that stuff.
But it won't be for awhile. I would tell people it's "interesting" or "intense" or "different" or "fun sometimes but not like a rollercoaster." But now its as I said b4
"fun, a bit dangerous, exciting".
So that is a big leap. It's just experience and the things which go with. Muscle memory, skills gained, attitude. Just don't be in a hurry.
What does riding become? Well, here is a thread I posted the FIRST day I rode in traffic, one from my first long ride in traffic, and one I posted last week about riding in general, and through intersections. Pretty different from
then to now.
Very first ride in traffic
viewtopic.php?p=206207&highlight=#206207
First 20 mile ride in traffic
viewtopic.php?p=209101&highlight=#209101
Thread from last week
topic21554.html
That has been my experience. Give it time. I just hope some of this helps you gain some perspective and keeps you looking forward. And I hope you too will one day know the wonderment of being "out there and in it," so to speak.
Oh, and you will have to get through some "wait, i don't want to do this, this is CRAZY" moments. You'll know if riding is for you or not. And listen to that final vote of yes or no. Never force it. You should want to ride, not feel as if you need to prove something to yourself or "overcome" fear or w/e. Just....let it happen
