I don't have to wait till May to take my safety course!

AlleyOops · Post by **AlleyOops** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:38 pm

Woohoo! They had a last min cancellation so I'm taking my class this weekend.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:01 pm

Yay! it's demanding but you'll enjoy it.

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 5:40 pm

I'd have to agree with 93. The lessons you learn there may just save your life one day. + it's fun!

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:24 pm

Awesome, good luck!

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:01 am

Shhhhhh! No-one mention the part about jumping the hoop of fire while executing a dark 7 maneuver; let her find out at the test!

JK. Good luck.

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:06 am

Its wheelie time, AllyOops!

Tenchi · Post by **Tenchi** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 3:34 am

Don't forget the panic stop....that's a fun one. Hold tight, maintain composure, and don't overcompensate ...don't concentrate on one lever), don't close your eyes...and don't run over the instructor. And modulate both brakes. Locking up just the front one may put you on your backside (it did for me, but that's a different story). Back in the day (1971), if you didn't fall off or hit little old ladies, you passed. Ah, to be sixteen again!

All we had to go was go around orange cones, start the bike, shift maybe once to get over 10 mph....and stay upright. My first lesson was on a loaner 350 Honda twin. Borrowed. My mother wouldn't let me get a bike when I lived at home. Had to get married to get a wonderful wife who put up with me, and my two Gold Wings, Suzuki Tempter 650, and Suzuki 550 Triple two-stroke. Was funny, because my step-father bought both me and my brother Bonanza mini-bikes and got us into two-wheeling...first motorcycle experience was on a BSA 250 single in our back yard when I was 13, which I managed to run up the fence...(he didn't tell me about the clutch, brakes, etc). Still funny after 40 years.

jonesygirl · Post by **jonesygirl** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:52 am

Let us know how it goes! I had signed up as an alternate for a class next week but because of scheduling conflicts, I had to cancel. So I registered for a guaranteed spot in May. Can't wait to officially have my license and be allowed to ride at night.

AlleyOops · Post by **AlleyOops** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:28 am

I'm taking the one "Scooter only" course they offer... so I'm not toooo worried. I'd be terrified if I actually had to get on a big motorcycle

although.. I'd probably be fine. I can't wait to have my license, legally I can't ride at all without another licensed rider within a 1/4 mile of me. Soo I've just been practicing in the 20mph neighborhood behind my house a little, praying I don't get pulled over. The little old lady who walks her dog all the time must think I'm nuts because I keep driving in circles. I'm hoping the course gives me some good tips for riding and helps boost my confidence, I'm pretty nervous/scared going out to ride on "real" roads.

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 3:17 pm

AlleyOops wrote:I'm pretty nervous/scared going out to ride on "real" roads.

Like my dealer told me, until you get that first cumulative hour or so on the scoot under your belt you'll feel nervous and anxious. Small trips in daylight around the block at 20 mph or less are good ways to get your footing. Time and experience are the best instructors along with the MSF teacher.

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 3:36 pm

AlleyOops wrote:I can't wait to have my license, legally I can't ride at all without another licensed rider within a 1/4 mile of me. Soo I've just been practicing in the 20mph neighborhood behind my house a little, praying I don't get pulled over.

I can tell you right now, if you are wearing a proper helmet, seem confident, and aren't doing anything stupid, you won't get pulled over. They can't pull you over for suspicion of not having a motorcycle license, you have to somehow be breaking the law some other way for them to give you a ticket for not being properly licensed. Even then, if you at least have a permit, they may let you go, especially if you tell them that you're taking the MSF course in a week and you were just trying to get the hang of the bike first. If you're practicing in a neighborhood and aren't being reported to the police, then there's no reason you should have a problem.

PS. The motorcycles NY MSF courses have for students to use are all old, rather small Hondas and Suzukis. I don't think I've seen one at a single MSF course above 250cc, maybe 450cc for the larger folk (which are usually bikes that have been donated to the program anyway). All of them have been dropped several times and are beat to hell. They aren't anything like the giant gleaming Harleys dripping with chrome and such that you see around all the time.

AlleyOops · Post by **AlleyOops** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 4:16 pm

Good point about having to break the law to get pulled over, I don't think I've ever even seen a cop driving around the neighborhood behind my house, you can't actually get anywhere, so the only people that come in are people who live there.

I did take the scoot to the grocery store to buy laundry soap (1.1 miles away from home lol) and that was a bit stressful. Unfortunately I live on a semi-busy 40mph road (which means people like to drive 50+) so even though I was going just over 40 for that short 1/2 mile, I had a car on my ass the whole time, I ended up pulling over and he went around me, I guess I'll have to get used to that.

I just want streets with no cars

AWinn6889 · Post by **AWinn6889** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 4:31 pm

AlleyOops wrote:I just want streets with no cars

I think we all do.

There's just no way that a country run by big business and big gov't is going to do anything special for, let alone reward, anyone responsibly using LESS of a commodity that they tax so heavily.

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 5:04 pm

AlleyOops wrote: I ended up pulling over and he went around me, I guess I'll have to get used to that.

No, they have to get used to you. It's your road too and you're entitled to be on it (this argument is more valid once you have your MC license) and any ground you yield to cagers is another victory for idiots who say "these f$*%#!@ scooters are slowing me down."

After the course and your license, you'll have confidence in shedloads. Trying to beat speed with speed will end up with everyone in a mangled heap; scoot smart and use your head and you'll be fine.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:33 pm

Uncle Groucho wrote:
AlleyOops wrote: I ended up pulling over and he went around me, I guess I'll have to get used to that.

No, they have to get used to you. It's your road too and you're entitled to be on it (this argument is more valid once you have your MC license) and any ground you yield to cagers is another victory for idiots who say "these f$*%#!@ scooters are slowing me down."

After the course and your license, you'll have confidence in shedloads. Trying to beat speed with speed will end up with everyone in a mangled heap; scoot smart and use your head and you'll be fine.

I gotta disagree with you on this one. AlleyOops did the right thing for her/him in this situation, which was to get away from the tailgater. I've pulled over/waved cars to pass me on roads where I'm riding over the speed limit (even 15-20 over), both on my scoots and motorcycles. I'm safer with the tailgater in front of me, and so was Alley.

The MSF BRC suggests one way of dealing with a tailgater is to "turn at the next opportunity, into a street or parking lot, to allow the person tailgating you to pass by." It's not about being right; it's about being safe.

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:03 pm

siobhan wrote:
Uncle Groucho wrote:
AlleyOops wrote: I ended up pulling over and he went around me, I guess I'll have to get used to that.

No, they have to get used to you. It's your road too and you're entitled to be on it (this argument is more valid once you have your MC license) and any ground you yield to cagers is another victory for idiots who say "these f$*%#!@ scooters are slowing me down."

After the course and your license, you'll have confidence in shedloads. Trying to beat speed with speed will end up with everyone in a mangled heap; scoot smart and use your head and you'll be fine.
I gotta disagree with you on this one. AlleyOops did the right thing for her/him in this situation, which was to get away from the tailgater. I've pulled over/waved cars to pass me on roads where I'm riding over the speed limit (even 15-20 over), both on my scoots and motorcycles. I'm safer with the tailgater in front of me, and so was Alley.

The MSF BRC suggests one way of dealing with a tailgater is to "turn at the next opportunity, into a street or parking lot, to allow the person tailgating you to pass by." It's not about being right; it's about being safe.

Point taken and I certainly wouldn't want to give bad advice. But if there's another lane for the driver to go around, why pull over if the car can just overtake?

But you're right; if one's safety is at risk it's better to pull over.

My intent was for the OP to have confidence in being on the road and not feel like she's doing something wrong with someone on her bumper.

JBenjimin · Post by **JBenjimin** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:37 pm

AlleyOops wrote:I'm taking the one "Scooter only" course they offer... so I'm not toooo worried. I'd be terrified if I actually had to get on a big motorcycle although.. I'd probably be fine. I can't wait to have my license, legally I can't ride at all without another licensed rider within a 1/4 mile of me. Soo I've just been practicing in the 20mph neighborhood behind my house a little, praying I don't get pulled over. The little old lady who walks her dog all the time must think I'm nuts because I keep driving in circles. I'm hoping the course gives me some good tips for riding and helps boost my confidence, I'm pretty nervous/scared going out to ride on "real" roads.

Good luck with the course, I'm lucky my wife took the course a few years ago so I can tool around my neighborhood with her sitting at home and still be less than a quarter mile from her. If you weren't taking the course so soon she would have been glad to you and follow you here to practice in my neighborhood with her nearby.

AlleyOops · Post by **AlleyOops** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 1:21 am

JBenjimin wrote:
AlleyOops wrote:I'm taking the one "Scooter only" course they offer... so I'm not toooo worried. I'd be terrified if I actually had to get on a big motorcycle although.. I'd probably be fine. I can't wait to have my license, legally I can't ride at all without another licensed rider within a 1/4 mile of me. Soo I've just been practicing in the 20mph neighborhood behind my house a little, praying I don't get pulled over. The little old lady who walks her dog all the time must think I'm nuts because I keep driving in circles. I'm hoping the course gives me some good tips for riding and helps boost my confidence, I'm pretty nervous/scared going out to ride on "real" roads.
Good luck with the course, I'm lucky my wife took the course a few years ago so I can tool around my neighborhood with her sitting at home and still be less than a quarter mile from her. If you weren't taking the course so soon she would have been glad to you and follow you here to practice in my neighborhood with her nearby.

That makes it easier! My father-in-law rides a motorcycle, but he lives in the falls, so not super convenient. Are you planning on taking the course? Or just going for your road test. Also... What color is your Stella. So I can look for you around Lewiston this summer. It's such a small town we are bound to run into each other at some point.

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:56 am

Just a little sample of what you'll be practicing on your big day

AlleyOops · Post by **AlleyOops** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:37 am

JHScoot wrote:Just a little sample of what you'll be practicing on your big day

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LXD91ZhXL5I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That made me LOL for real.. not sure I'm quite there yet.

JBenjimin · Post by **JBenjimin** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:30 pm

AlleyOops wrote:That makes it easier! My father-in-law rides a motorcycle, but he lives in the falls, so not super convenient. Are you planning on taking the course? Or just going for your road test. Also... What color is your Stella. So I can look for you around Lewiston this summer. It's such a small town we are bound to run into each other at some point.

I'm scheduled for my road test in the middle of May. I would like to take the course but just can't justify the cost with me having ridden dirt bikes when I was a teen.

I have an orange Stella. I've been to center st. a couple of times so far, even went to lew-port one day when our oldest daughter forgot a notebook. Just got back from a trip to Silo for dinner and Hibbard's for desert.

Ben

AlleyOops · Post by **AlleyOops** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:09 am

JBenjimin wrote:
AlleyOops wrote:That makes it easier! My father-in-law rides a motorcycle, but he lives in the falls, so not super convenient. Are you planning on taking the course? Or just going for your road test. Also... What color is your Stella. So I can look for you around Lewiston this summer. It's such a small town we are bound to run into each other at some point.
I'm scheduled for my road test in the middle of May. I would like to take the course but just can't justify the cost with me having ridden dirt bikes when I was a teen.

I have an orange Stella. I've been to center st. a couple of times so far, even went to lew-port one day when our oldest daughter forgot a notebook. Just got back from a trip to Silo for dinner and Hibbard's for desert.

Ben

Ah Hibbards and the silo, the best parts of summer in Lewiston

what grade is your daughter in? I've got one in 3rd, 10th and 12th (the two oldest are my stepdaughters)

JBenjimin · Post by **JBenjimin** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:13 pm

AlleyOops wrote: Ah Hibbards and the silo, the best parts of summer in Lewiston what grade is your daughter in? I've got one in 3rd, 10th and 12th (the two oldest are my stepdaughters)

We have 2 girls, one in 4th and the older is in 6th.

Good luck this weekend with the course!