[genel]

I"m in California, and have been riding since I was 13. Most of my riding experience was on a Kawasaki enduro setup for desert riding. My last dirt bike was a Bultaco 250 Pursang, and I sold it about 1980. My first street bike was a Suzuki Titan 500 twin. I sold it about the same time. My last street bike before now was a Honda 550-4. Since that time, I married and raised a family, and had no time or money for another bike.

I am now remarried, my kids are grown, and got the bug to get another street bike. I purchased a 85 Honda 650 Nighthawk. Shortly after, I passed the written test to get a permit. (I had let my MC expire many years before). I am now close to taking the MSF course for beginners. Of course, I am a veteran rider, and if I pass, I can take proof to the DMV and get my license re-instated.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[hogcowboy]

Any advice is appreciated.

Keep and open mind and lose the, I know it all attitude. You might actually learn something that could save your life. Probably not what you wanted to read but.........

 

[gunsmoker]

Advice? Take the MSF course like you planned. Change your learner's permit into a full unrestricted motorcycle license.

Go out and practice the things you learned in the class,


And if you ever get a very different bike,
like a much bigger and heavier cruiser,
or a sport bike with a much touchier throttle and ridiculously fast acceleration, practice those MSF skills again as if you were new.

 

[gunsmoker]

You rode motorcycles 45 years ago.

Until recently I myself hadn't hadn't been riding since the dirt bike days of the late 1980's and early 1990s-- so that's 30 years ago. Then I got the itch to ride again --this time on the street and without falling off the bike daily like I used to do on the muddy trails & coming down hills full of rocks, ruts, and tree roots.

I had always kept my motorcycle license active since I used a Yamaha 250 Enduro to get the license back in the late 80s. That was basically a dirtbike that had turn signals and mirrors which I quickly broke off riding in the woods.

So when I got a Honda Shadow 1100 as my first bike intended for street use, I had a friend pick it up for me and bring it to my house. My first several rides were just around my neighborhood. Then I went to the parking lot of an abandoned business and practiced tight turns, sudden braking, and other maneuvers.

Then I rode it on the street just for a couple short trips on weekends while I waited for my Pro Rider motorcycle safety course date.

I took the advanced level course, which was less bookwork and more parking lot skills and drills. It worked out fine.

 

[Eagle Six]

You have a good plan. They will provide bikes that can easily perform the requirements of the class. As @hogcowboy stated keep an open mind, learn from their program even if you think differently. Once in a great while, a student may get a bike that seems a bit cranky. If you think you have a bike that the throttle, brake or clutch isn't working correctly, inform a coach as soon as possible and let them examine it. They will check it out and if needed make an adjustment, or even give you a replacement or explain why. Keep in mind you are learning the basic, when you have completed the course and get your endorsement from the DMV it is your license to then learn on the street. Take it easy and practice.

When you step up to a larger or faster bike, consider enrolling in their advanced course and take that with your larger/faster bike, or consider taking an advanced course at the California Superbike School (CSS) or Yamaha Champions Rider School (YCRS). Enjoy the learning process they are all designed for you to benefit and become a safer rider. We have two instructors as members here, one a MSF coach and one a CSS instructor, they may add to your thread.

 

[gunsmoker]

You have a good plan. They will provide bikes that can easily perform the requirements of the class.

He said he has recently acquired a
1985 Honda nighthawk 650
which looks like a perfect motorcycle to get back into riding on the street.

It's got a 58 inch wheel base,
435 pound curb weight,
and a reasonable seat height of 31 inches --which is taller than ideal for me, but not ridiculously tall. For most fully grown adult American men, this would be a perfectly normal seat height

The 1983-1985 Honda inline 4 engine, 650cc,
made 30 HP at normal RPMs around 5000 RPM, with 15 foot-lbs. torque.

If you pushed the RPMs up to 7000 your torque with double, and at 9200 r.p.m. your horsepower would get up to 73 HP.

Sounds perfect to me.

The Future Motorcycle: 1985 Honda Nighthawk 650 - Motorcycle Classics

The Honda Nighthawk was bombproof, easy to ride and is worth a look over 30 years later.

www.motorcycleclassics.com

 

[FlipFlop]

I have taken and taught the, and then taken again MSF course and then taken it again. Biggest take away I have gotten from taken it multiple times, you get a lot of bad habits. I basically took the course because someone wanted to go to it, and did not want to go unless I went with them. Every time I have taken it I think I learned something, usually from the "oh yeah" perspective.

 

[genel]

Hi everyone, thanks for the comments and advice. As Hogcowboy said, I've got to leave the attitude at the door. I know I'm a good rider, but I know I need to learn more and become a safer rider. Finance-wise, I am not getting another bike, unless it follows me home (lol)

 

[BAZININJA]

I might want to begin by saying I previously passed the MSF course and have my full bike permit. I let my cousin evaluate my bicycle in a parking garage and he might want to go take the MSF course. Could I be permitted to take the course again with him despite the fact that I've previously passed? Despite the fact that I don't require it I feel like it would at any rate level up my abilities as a rider.

In the United States, you are certainly permitted to take the course as many times as you wish ( and wish to pay for). I've had quite a few "support riders" in classes with family and friends. Some riders choose to take the course every few years or even yearly to refresh their skills. Check with the site where you're planning to take the class to see if you're allowed to retake it. And congratulations on being such a supportive family member!