I have a Vino 125 and "tried" to take the basic rider course last fall. I lasted for only one of the 2 days after dropping the bike 3 times! I was a nervous wreck. I don't want to give up, but the course just moved too quickly for me. I needed more time to get used to each skill before moving on. I can't seem to find any place to get lessons so that I would get to the point where I would feel comfortable enough to try the class again. I'm in upstate NY in the Albany area. Does anyone have any suggestions or has anyone else been through something like this? I really want to learn to ride!

I was blessed to only have 2 people in our class, it was Holy Week... so we pretty much had private lessons... do they offer private lessons for your training, and let you use your scooter? I used my own, never ever had driven it, and there was absolutely no pressure, because there were only 2 people! You CAN do this, and once you get your confidence, you will love it! Week two for me!

You sound like my daughter.

She wants to ride but after dropping the scooter just once, she now wants to have a scooter that is "hers" so she doesn't have to worry about dropping it and wrecking it. Well, that is not easy to do.

She also wants to try riding in a huge parking lot, with no one around to watch her or comment on her "mistakes". She wants to also try it on a long straight street with no cars or anyone around to see her.

She seems fixated on this now, claiming that, this is what she needs to learn how to ride.

That being said, I am a bit worried that she is just not meant to ride. She seems so wrapped up in someone seeing her make a mistake, versus, you have to make mistakes to LEARN!

No one is perfect, just relax, focus and do your best. Riding anything, motorcycle or scooter is all about practice. If you have your own scooter, just go to a close local parking lot and do circles until you feel more confident. Then do figure eights. Then practice quick stops. This should help you understand the scooter and allow you to become comfortable with the machine.

Remember - YOU are in control.

_________________
A Dragon can be unseen or visible, minute or huge, long or short. However,
always it is great. ~ Shuo Wen (ca. 100)
Visit my new scooter blog at -
http://saltyscooterstories.blogspot.com/

This just might be a long shot here but have to thought about maybe trading your 2 wheel scoot in for a 3 wheel scoot? Here in FL you can get your license to ride a 3 wheeler by taking a 3 wheeler class. Only drawback to that is that you are restricted to just a 3 wheeler. It does not allow you to legally drive a motorcycle or two wheel scooter. You can still zoom down the road just like a two wheeler but have 3 wheels so there is no falling over or dropping it. You do have to be cautious in curves with it, but shoot, I am cautious in a curve with 2 wheels!!! I myself thought about taking the 3 wheel class but wanted to give the reg course a try first. Had I failed the course I would NOT have given up my dream of riding!
Just slap 3 wheels under my hinny and get going! Some say that's the easy way out.....ASK ME IF I CARE WHAT THEY THINK??? Just shutup already and get out of my way before I run over you and leave 3 black skid marks across your belly button!

_________________
~Riding Miss Daisy~

"Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."

Dont give up.. If it makes you feel any better, I was dismissed from my first class as I was going the opposite way everyone was going..LOL. It was my very first time on a bike. I felt the same way. It was too fast paced. The majority of the students were already riding. Meanwhile, I had nothing to practice on. At least you have a scooter to practice .I went on and bought a sport bike which I had a few falls. Then I bought a 150cc scooter. Next, I graduated to a can-am spyder. I am now the founder of a riders association here in Stroudsburg Pa. I wish I was there to continue to support you. Done give up.. If I could do it, you surely can.

I had a similar experience with the MFC. I was the only one who had never ridden before,(and the only woman) everyone else was an experienced rider. One of the instructors constantly pushed me to go faster that I felt safe with. The end result was I took a serious spill. Thank God I had a helmet on. Took a heck of a wack on the head and was trapped under the MC. Got a burn on my leg right through my high leather boots and had lots of bruises. Left the class after I fell, (just before the test).

Felt $250 was a lot of money for the experience. Went home and took my scoot SLOWLY up and down my street. Then around a few streets. Then to a big parking lot. I practiced every day and slowly taught myself to ride. I have been riding for 4 and a half years now and love to ride. I own 2 scoots, a Honda Reflex 250 and a Honda Silver Wing 600 with a Tow Pac trike kit, (my legs are much too short to ride anything bigger than the Flex).

So don't give up. Find some books on riding, read all you can, then go practice, nice and slowly. You will grow more skilled and more confident as time goes by. I rode the Mod Quad, (the Silver Wing) from CT to MI last summer. In 2013 I plan to ride across country. So keep riding.

_________________
The JOY is in the journey.

I know they probably know better than me, but perhaps you should try another course?

Took mine through ABATE and the instructors were very patient and calm with everyone, though if you failed to do something such as turn the key or fuel off, you had to sing "I'm a little teapot"

_________________

There are some great videos posted on youtube by the Washington state motorcycle licensing program.
There's 4 lessons on different videos that will demonstrate the things you are learning in the class.
Watching them might help you understand the class. Some folks do better learning by watching.
This is part 1- the others are in the menu to the right of it. The videos give demonstrations and
explanations of what you will go thru in your test (and learn in class).

You have one advantage- you already have your scooter. Go to a big parking lot after the business is closed (or school / church/ park parking lot on closed or light day) and practice just riding around... making turns with nothing in your way.. doing U turns .. stopping & starting. I think that's how most folks do it. I had my husband practice that way. He just passed his test today-
(OMG_ I'm gonna have to share the scooter!!! )
He attended a 3 day class.. day 1 was just classroom.. day two was half class and half riding and today was the test.

Maybe I can talk him into getting his own...

''She also wants to try riding in a huge parking lot, with no one around to watch her or comment on her "mistakes". She wants to also try it on a long straight street with no cars or anyone around to see her.''

Lots of folks are that way.. perfectionists. Don't want to go onstage until they can perform perfectly.
They still learn by doing.. just want to do it in private.

I learned on a Honda c-70 and was fine riding that for years.

I think young folks are best starting on something manageable to learn the basics so they aren't
having to deal with a scooter that taxes their abilities.

So how is it going? Did you get everything sorted out?

_________________
Dar ~ I was born to ride!

my blog: Princess Scooterpie http://scootermayhem.blogspot.com/

Here's my take on it: teach yourself to ride at your own pace and in your own manner and setting. Then LATER go to the safety course. That's what I did with both a motorcycle and scooter.

And actually I have not gone to the safety course yet as there is nothing around here to go to! One is 75 miles away but it fills up quickly for the riding season. I would like to go at some point. I will comment that the maneuvers, the pressure, the push to get through that class while people are watching would have put me off completely when I was a newbee.

I needed to get alone with the scooter on some quiet roads (or a big parking lot) and practice taking off and coming to a smooth stop, turning left and right, and then maneuvering through cones, etc. Over and over again until you feel comfortable.

Once you can do all that pretty subconsciously, then ride some quiet residential streets. Out in traffic the biggest factor added in is the need to become permanently "hyper-vigilant", meaning to practice looking around all sides of you all the time.

I call it "scanning" and it takes focus, practice, and energy. You have to do it or risk being hit or having some unexpected situation (bunny rabbit!) erupt before your very eyes.

The biggist obstacle to learning to feel confident while riding , IMO, is "nerves". You will be nervous at first. The first season I rode I gripped the handlebars so tightly that my hands were numb all the time. If you get confident with handling the scooter and learning to scan your environment, you will be ok increasing your speed, distance, and going out on more busy roads when necessary.

I took a year to do this and then I took the riding test and passed easily. I practiced the test maneuvers a few months before I took the riding test, but by this time I had confidence on the scooter.

Facing the MSF NOW after 5 years riding, I'd say I'd feel intimidated all over again just due to the pressures of the class like riding a motorcycle, having others watch me, etc. But I do have confidence overall and that would be a plus that I did not have 5 years ago.

Start out slow, on your own, and you will do just fine!

Other unsolicited advice: Never ride when you are tired or distracted by worries and ALWAYS respect the gravel!

_________________
2009 Monzo Honda Met "Squirt"
My scooter blogs:
http://www.49ccscooterlife.blogspot.com
http://www.ohioriverramblersscootin.blogspot.com

For anyone else who may be experiencing a similar situation as spsalmon... I dropped the MSF's Suzuki GZ50 (?) 3x during my Friday night, Sat. & Sun. motorcycle safety course 7 or so years ago. I was VERY upset. During that course, I NEVER thought that I would successfully ride a motorcycle. However, my desire to rise to the riding challenge overrode my embarrassment. I felt as though I came out of there knowing little more about riding than I knew when I went in, even though I passed the course and earned my MC endorsement. I had already purchased my first (used) Honda Rebel to ride after the course. GIVING UP WAS NOT AN OPTION!!

After the course,
I rode up and down the street a bit in first gear for the first few days.
Then I rode around the block in first gear.
Then my husband rode it to our local high school on a Sunday while I followed in the car behind him. I practiced around and around the high school's lot. We did that for a few weeks.
Then we tried a different lot.
Later, we went to huge park a few miles away when I felt ready. I still rode like crap, but I practiced circling the park. I was SO afraid of leaning into turns.
Then we went to a place that is an industrial area, kind of like a city all its own. During the week, the place is hustling. On Sundays, no one is around. Plenty of street signs, lights, empty roads...a dream for anyone learning to ride without fear.
Finally was the clincher. My husband and I realized that our nearby Motor Vehicle agency had a complete course set up for driving tests. On Sundays (always Sundays!!) Motor Vehicle is closed and it was apparently the place to go to practice. Without any type of traffic fear, I relaxed and almost instantly became a much better rider. All I needed was the confidence to know I could do it.

I don't think anyone is ever ready to just 'get out there and ride' after the course. The course is only a first step and nothing more.

Glad to hear I am not the only one who felt MasF class was too fast paced for someone who never rode even as a passenger. I washed out on a last exersise. Good thing too because 1. I realised I really was determined to ride. Not just get M- class license and 2. I really practiced hard for the DMV test before I got on the streets and perhaps put myself in real danger. Yep, I practiced in my development, than snuck out to an empty parking lot next door. I was on my own. No one to help me practice. I got lucky with meeting one very generous guy from our local riding club who took me on a long ride and then to a testing site at DMV. Si am glad I took MSF class. It is meant to teach safety. Not so much riding.

Nope, you are not alone.

I had loads of problems with my MSF and had been riding dirt bikes for almost a year when I took it so I was no stranger to motorcycles. My problem was with the instructor who singled me out after I disagreed with him on a matter of safety while wearing polycarbonate face shields during our indoor safety class. He wouldn't give me my endorsement even though every one in the class thought I was one of the best riders among the lady riders. Riders who dropped their bikes and went off course were passed. I went away feeling about as low as a person can feel. I had never failed at anything I had attempted and everyone told me I shouldn't have failed the course.

I gave myself a few days to calm down and got my learners permit, then started getting practical experience on the road with the little 200 cc bike my husband bought for me to take my DMV test with. I tested a month later and passed a test on a course that few folks in the area pass on the first try. It just reaffirmed my beliefs that I should have been passed on the MSF course.

I hesitate about recommending the MSF course now. Instructors can be bad as well as good and from what I have read here on the forum, most are exceptional teachers, but like my experience, there are also stinkers out there. I tell people interested to shop around for local MSF courses and don't be afraid to ask if you can observe part of the class before you sign up. Ask questions and if anything gives you a bad feeling......RUN!

I did learn many good things at the MSF, but it was in the course of the practical riding. There are good classes out there, you just have to find them.

Good luck! And don't give up.

_________________
There are two types of people in this world, people who ride scooters and
people who wish they could ride scooters.