I am getting ready to take this course, and am wondering... they said I could bring my scooter, and test on it, or use their motorcycles. I am brand spanking new at this... would you use your own? I just bought a Vespa LX 150. I posted on the Modern Vespa Message boards and spoke to some motorcycle friends... sigh, part of me is just afraid of the motorcycle. What would you do?

Personally, I used their motorcycle and would do it again.

If you drop a Vespa and the cowl gets scratched, that's an expensive repair.

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~~~~~ Linda ~~~~~

I took the basic course twice...

The first time, I took it on my own Vino 125 and passed and got my endorsement.

Three years later, I bought a Burgman 650 and took the Experienced Rider course, and dropped my bike. I still passed, but my ego took a beating on the ride home, about a two hour ride.

About mid-2010, I decided that I really wanted to know how to ride a motorcycle and wished I had taken that first course on a motorcycle instead of my scooter...so I took the Basic Course again, this time on a motorcycle. If I had taken that first course on a motorcycle, I would have known what I now know, that I can ride both my scooter and my motorcycle, and enjoy both of them.

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Patriot Guard Riders of WA State
Ride Captain - Peninsula District
"...for those who man the battle line, the bugle whispers low,
and freedom has a taste and price the protected never know..."

they had scoots but I wanted the experience on a motorcycle. I'm really glad I did it that way.
if you can coordinate both hands and feet with a heavier bike, + many more knobs/switches, then being aware and mostly just using 2 hands will be a snap.

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Are you in a state where it will affect what class of license you get or anything like that? If you are afraid you will have trouble shifting and controlling the motorcycle, by all means take your scoot. But, as already pointed out, you'll have to take care of any damage to your own bike if you drop it. (What happens if you drop THEIR bike? Does anybody know? I imagine the word FAIL comes up, but who pays for damage?)

In my state, if you drop the bike once during practice, it's not a problem. There was no cost to me for damaging the clutch lever during practice. A dropped bike during the final test is a failure.

_________________
Patriot Guard Riders of WA State
Ride Captain - Peninsula District
"...for those who man the battle line, the bugle whispers low,
and freedom has a taste and price the protected never know..."

I dropped their motorcycle and broke off a lever.
They replaced it quickly from a stash of them.
(I think their bikes get dropped a lot.)

I most deservedly failed for other reasons.

_________________
~~~~~ Linda ~~~~~

same here. dropped in practice, no prob. dropped in testing, automatic fail.
2 people dropped their bikes in my class. 1 girl during practice. 1 older lady during the test.
i'm pretty sure the course fee covers any repairs that may be needed if this happens. my class cost $200.

also, don't try to eat chinese food with chopsticks after your first day on the motorcycle. my hands were useless that night after working the clutch and brake so much. i think i had to be fed or i ate with my hands. lol

I took the MSF course on my Vespa, and got my M license. Now I'm registered to take the basic course again, because I want to learn to ride a motorcycle, and I plan on using one of their small bikes. For me, I felt like I needed to get the experience on a scooter first (balance and feeling comfortable in turns); I don't have that anxiety now about having to worry about those issues, in addition to learning the gears! I guess I'll find out if I should have started on a motorcycle first!

I took the BRC on one of the MSF provided scooters. Rather drop theirs than my own!
A couple of months later I bought a motorcycle.
I was really glad I took the course on a scooter. Learning to ride was much harder for me than learning to shift. I had driven a manual shift car for years so just bought the motorcycle and pretty much to learned on the ride home.

I used my own scooter and glad I did because I could concentrate on what the exercise was and what was required.

The figure eight was easier for me to master on my scoot.

Probably personal preference and what your future is in cycling.

My goal was to pass the test and get my endorsement. I'm glad I took the class, it is well worth it.

I passed and am now scooting around on my Damask Design Vespa LX150... it is so much fun! God Bless your Easter weekend!

Thank you, and Happy Easter to you as well. And, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Congrats!