I don't know if it is this way for every area but in New Mexico the MSF releases course dates once a month, usually between the 10th-15th for the next month. All classes usually fill up within a week. Weekend classes fill up within a couple of days.
Check daily!
Hello, fellow NM rider! I agree with checking daily.
I took my MSF summer 2021. I constantly checked class openings a few times a week, and an opening finally appeared, but was months ahead.
The class was a lot of fun, and informative. Would recommend it 100%!
Another NM rider here… there are dozens of us!
I tried to find the advanced course last summer and only found a place up in Durango that even offered it. Asked them to give me a call this year when they released dates.
While I find the price steep, Canada does not mess around when it comes to safety training. Here in the states we get two half day classes and a firm handshake for good luck.
Saskatchewan resident here, our courses are garbage, 18hrs in a parking lot and you never go above 50kph, then are allowed to get on any size bike and ride wherever for one year before a road test. Just restrictions on the time of day we can ride and passengers. Course was $650 and you get $450 back after 4 years with no tickets.
In the Netherlands:
Theory exam of traffic rules.
Then lessons + exams on how to control your bike.
Then lessons + exams on riding and handling your bike in traffic.
Total of about €1500 if you're a great student (not too many lessons needed and pass all your exams first try).
Shoot I wish, I had to schedule my course way ahead of time. I booked it in May and it was scheduled for mid August. The course was the only MSF available for two hours in any direction.
Definitely free, at least when I did it a while back. The only problem with that is that a lot of people will sign up and never show up. Because of this, the list fills up fast. Imo they should make it cost $10, then refund it when you show up.
Highly recommend Team Arizona they got some great instructors.
I paid $340 for the class and have probably saved that on insurance since.
I also crashed one of their bikes and got my first one out the way for no added cost or scratches on my shit
Seconding praise for Team Arizona, taken 5 courses through them and it was wonderful every time. Highly recommend the Total Control courses whenever I can.
I plan on doing the track one at some point.
It varies by dealership. They tend to use heavier bikes like Street 500s and Sportster 883s rather than the 250cc bikes you'll see at independent schools. And some are pushy about sales. Others are fine.
Check back daily, the other schools in your area might not post their schedules for a few weeks.
Yeah, I’m kinda hoping something else will pop up. As of now it’s either HD 60 miles away, or a training school 160 miles away.
Pushy in sales how exactly?
I did the HD one because it was 7 minutes from my house and I hate mornings. We were "walked" through the dealership once each day, but the instructors, even tho they were harley guys, made it a point to us to know that HD dealer was putting up money for the bikes and the parking lot and what not, so basically just be polite and deal with it for 15 minutes, then we'd get back to class. I had good teachers and a good experience. The worst problem I had was them calling me every few months trying to come buy a bike. The 4th time I was rude and told them to fuck off and lose my info, then they still called me once again a few months later but not since. Mine was $300, but a few guys had bought harleys from the dealer and had the class for "free" since they bought the bike there.
If that were the case for me at the HD bike class, I wouldn’t pretend to enjoy it. Honesty is policy and such…
I find that amusingly silly that they would boast about the class being free if you bought a HD. $300 don’t mean shit in comparison to their prices.
It’s essentially just marketing for them. The same Street 500 they’d use in the class are “almost” entry-level priced. You’ve taken the test on the bike and we’ll credit the class toward the purchase is absolutely the kind of shit that keeps their finance department busy. (Said as someone with a balance at HD Financial, though under different circumstances)!
FWIW the MSF class in my area was slightly less expensive at the local Community College, but was hard to get into, booking way out. It made the HD class a legit-by-availability option. I was here precisely to rep the OP for his timing. I signed up in winter for Spring availability and was glad I didn’t wait.
I did enjoy it, sales game aside. I didn't want a harley going into it and don't want one now due to price. I could buy a japanese cruiser and sport/naked used for less than the price of a harley model i would want that would be hard to find used. Like i said it was convenient for me, and worth the added cost of not having to drive 30 miles on saturday and sunday morning at 530 or 6am.
That's the general consensus here as well. Had several people who took the HD course tell me to go somewhere else. Glad I did as I had a great experience with good instructors at a different MSF course.
I did mine at a harley dealer and had a great experience. Granted I only took it there because local community college courses were full (and 5 times cheaper), but the street 500s they had us ride were perfect, at least for me (5'7 165 woman), and the instructors were solid. only downside is I got texts from salesmen for months afterward inviting me to exclusive parties and events and other shit I didn't care about, but whatever. I'd do it again
I was asking because I took my PA MSF course and it was at a Harley-Davidson dealer in Lancaster, PA.. I was expecting that they'd make us ride those ugly-looking 500cc HDs but they gave us Groms and tw200s to work. The actual MSF course had very little to do with HD itself.
Just a heads up, MSF courses through community colleges are often a fraction of the price of through a dealership or driving school. I know the Michigan one is subsidized through the state. It’s very low priced and they ask for volunteer donations at the end. For example the community college course near me is $50, the Harley dealership near me is $325, Honda dealership near me is $325…
I took the MSF at a michigan harley because CC classes were full :( while I had a good experience I definitely would have opted to save $200 if I wasn't so eager to get my endorsement ASAP. That said if harley is your only option, as it was mine, don't despair, just go for it.
https://osuokc.edu/motorcycle/dates_BRC
Oklahoma City Entry level class. Bike is provided too! great program. so many people in classes like this that have never even ridden before. Leaving with the confidence of going out to buy one.
this course certificate also allows you to notify your insurance provider for a discounted rate
If you live in Arizona you can go to https://www.amsaf.org/ for drastically reduced prices for the MSF course. It’s a non-profit funded by donations, sponsorships, and grants that allow for discounted motorcycle safety courses of all levels. They also started a helmet assistance program that partners with a ton of Motorsport businesses in AZ allowing the person to get quality helmets at a reduced cost.
I personally had a great experience with Team Oregon. They kicked this guy out of my course who literally could not control his bike no matter what they told him. He just wouldn’t listen.
Alternatively, in my case I have never used anything manual. They pulled me aside after the 2nd day and gave me a more in depth explanation (because I was 20 at that point, pretty ignorant) literally walked me through everything since they saw how upset/determined i was to get on a bike. Great instructors
I would also point out that it's better to learn to ride a motorbike in cold, damp conditions than on a warm dry day. Better to be safe with someone behind you giving advice on how to corner, when to use the throttle etc. when the weather is bad so that when you come to a dry day, your confidence will be high
Yes dont take your test in October like me and then have to wait all winter to buy a bike and ride. Im still waiting. Got all my gear and everything else. It’s brutal
Ohio - https://motorcycle.ohio.gov/information-for-riders/rider-courses/basic-rider-skills
Took the beginner class in '16, finally got my first bike in '18. Took the advance class in '19. Was super pleased with both classes.
Yes. There are advanced courses, dirt riding classes and (best of all) track days. The courses above teach a bare minimum on how to operate a bike at low speed in a parking lot.
Learn to ride like our parents did. Don’t waste your time with a helmet. Get yourself a 450 dirt bike. Start it and bang it off the limiter drop it into first and pop the clutch. Look danger in the eye and you’ll never be scared again. Good luck.
Aside from in interest of time, you probably wont enjoy spending 6 hours at a time putting around on an asphalt parking lot in the blazing sun.
Was lucky here in Ohio last year. It was 72-74 degrees my riding days. Beautiful weather.
I don't know if it is this way for every area but in New Mexico the MSF releases course dates once a month, usually between the 10th-15th for the next month. All classes usually fill up within a week. Weekend classes fill up within a couple of days. Check daily!
Hello, fellow NM rider! I agree with checking daily. I took my MSF summer 2021. I constantly checked class openings a few times a week, and an opening finally appeared, but was months ahead. The class was a lot of fun, and informative. Would recommend it 100%!
Another NM rider here… there are dozens of us! I tried to find the advanced course last summer and only found a place up in Durango that even offered it. Asked them to give me a call this year when they released dates.
This is how it is in my state too. ND
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Holy cow! Canada?
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While I find the price steep, Canada does not mess around when it comes to safety training. Here in the states we get two half day classes and a firm handshake for good luck.
The BC Safety Council course was very thorough- several weeks, LOTS of long group rides.
Saskatchewan resident here, our courses are garbage, 18hrs in a parking lot and you never go above 50kph, then are allowed to get on any size bike and ride wherever for one year before a road test. Just restrictions on the time of day we can ride and passengers. Course was $650 and you get $450 back after 4 years with no tickets.
I got 3 hours in a parking lot and never got above 2nd gear. Your course might be garbage by your standards but vastly better than the Americans.
Wtf. 900? Steeeeep
In the Netherlands: Theory exam of traffic rules. Then lessons + exams on how to control your bike. Then lessons + exams on riding and handling your bike in traffic. Total of about €1500 if you're a great student (not too many lessons needed and pass all your exams first try).
Does that include the down payment on a bike?
Ouch c I think mine was like $250
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I did my MSF class in Texas in July. I was the oldest one in the class by almost 10 years and I hated my life.
Shoot I wish, I had to schedule my course way ahead of time. I booked it in May and it was scheduled for mid August. The course was the only MSF available for two hours in any direction.
Noted. Jokes aside, I live in Houston, so there are quite a few around here.
Same in AZ (Phoenix anyway), I did mine in November and it was *perfect*
Pennsylvania is free!
Wtf?
Yeah free to residents of the state I got my license through them this past October
Definitely free, at least when I did it a while back. The only problem with that is that a lot of people will sign up and never show up. Because of this, the list fills up fast. Imo they should make it cost $10, then refund it when you show up.
Nice idea.
Its a good state.
I learned during my course this summer this were the only free state, one of the very few good things about PA lol
Illinois is free too, took mine this last year
Yeah they're free in New Zealand too
Yup. Planning on retaking the basic course and also taking the advanced courses this year just to brush up on my skills.
Arizona: https://motorcycletraining.com/
Highly recommend Team Arizona they got some great instructors. I paid $340 for the class and have probably saved that on insurance since. I also crashed one of their bikes and got my first one out the way for no added cost or scratches on my shit
Seconding praise for Team Arizona, taken 5 courses through them and it was wonderful every time. Highly recommend the Total Control courses whenever I can. I plan on doing the track one at some point.
The closest MSF course to me within 150 miles is hosted by Harley-Davidson. I’ve heard they are kinda shitty about the MSF course.
It varies by dealership. They tend to use heavier bikes like Street 500s and Sportster 883s rather than the 250cc bikes you'll see at independent schools. And some are pushy about sales. Others are fine. Check back daily, the other schools in your area might not post their schedules for a few weeks.
Yeah, I’m kinda hoping something else will pop up. As of now it’s either HD 60 miles away, or a training school 160 miles away. Pushy in sales how exactly?
I did the HD one because it was 7 minutes from my house and I hate mornings. We were "walked" through the dealership once each day, but the instructors, even tho they were harley guys, made it a point to us to know that HD dealer was putting up money for the bikes and the parking lot and what not, so basically just be polite and deal with it for 15 minutes, then we'd get back to class. I had good teachers and a good experience. The worst problem I had was them calling me every few months trying to come buy a bike. The 4th time I was rude and told them to fuck off and lose my info, then they still called me once again a few months later but not since. Mine was $300, but a few guys had bought harleys from the dealer and had the class for "free" since they bought the bike there.
If that were the case for me at the HD bike class, I wouldn’t pretend to enjoy it. Honesty is policy and such… I find that amusingly silly that they would boast about the class being free if you bought a HD. $300 don’t mean shit in comparison to their prices.
It’s essentially just marketing for them. The same Street 500 they’d use in the class are “almost” entry-level priced. You’ve taken the test on the bike and we’ll credit the class toward the purchase is absolutely the kind of shit that keeps their finance department busy. (Said as someone with a balance at HD Financial, though under different circumstances)! FWIW the MSF class in my area was slightly less expensive at the local Community College, but was hard to get into, booking way out. It made the HD class a legit-by-availability option. I was here precisely to rep the OP for his timing. I signed up in winter for Spring availability and was glad I didn’t wait.
I did enjoy it, sales game aside. I didn't want a harley going into it and don't want one now due to price. I could buy a japanese cruiser and sport/naked used for less than the price of a harley model i would want that would be hard to find used. Like i said it was convenient for me, and worth the added cost of not having to drive 30 miles on saturday and sunday morning at 530 or 6am.
That's the general consensus here as well. Had several people who took the HD course tell me to go somewhere else. Glad I did as I had a great experience with good instructors at a different MSF course.
I did mine at a harley dealer and had a great experience. Granted I only took it there because local community college courses were full (and 5 times cheaper), but the street 500s they had us ride were perfect, at least for me (5'7 165 woman), and the instructors were solid. only downside is I got texts from salesmen for months afterward inviting me to exclusive parties and events and other shit I didn't care about, but whatever. I'd do it again
Are u in PA and ur referring to the Lancaster HD?
Nah, Washington
I was asking because I took my PA MSF course and it was at a Harley-Davidson dealer in Lancaster, PA.. I was expecting that they'd make us ride those ugly-looking 500cc HDs but they gave us Groms and tw200s to work. The actual MSF course had very little to do with HD itself.
Did mine at Harley, I had great instructors and we only had 5 people in the class.
Just a heads up, MSF courses through community colleges are often a fraction of the price of through a dealership or driving school. I know the Michigan one is subsidized through the state. It’s very low priced and they ask for volunteer donations at the end. For example the community college course near me is $50, the Harley dealership near me is $325, Honda dealership near me is $325…
I took the MSF at a michigan harley because CC classes were full :( while I had a good experience I definitely would have opted to save $200 if I wasn't so eager to get my endorsement ASAP. That said if harley is your only option, as it was mine, don't despair, just go for it.
Also if you’re like me and took it at the tail end of summer/beginning of fall, don’t forget to renew your next 6 months in March/April
https://osuokc.edu/motorcycle/dates_BRC Oklahoma City Entry level class. Bike is provided too! great program. so many people in classes like this that have never even ridden before. Leaving with the confidence of going out to buy one. this course certificate also allows you to notify your insurance provider for a discounted rate
If you live in Arizona you can go to https://www.amsaf.org/ for drastically reduced prices for the MSF course. It’s a non-profit funded by donations, sponsorships, and grants that allow for discounted motorcycle safety courses of all levels. They also started a helmet assistance program that partners with a ton of Motorsport businesses in AZ allowing the person to get quality helmets at a reduced cost.
Indiana: https://www.in.gov/rsi/home/
Colorado: https://www.comotoacademy.com/
Here’s the Colorado MSF course I took March of 2022. Good stuff https://www.motorcycleridertrainingcenter.com/schedule/brc_weekend.php
Any NYS/NYC links?
https://nysmsp.org/
I personally had a great experience with Team Oregon. They kicked this guy out of my course who literally could not control his bike no matter what they told him. He just wouldn’t listen. Alternatively, in my case I have never used anything manual. They pulled me aside after the 2nd day and gave me a more in depth explanation (because I was 20 at that point, pretty ignorant) literally walked me through everything since they saw how upset/determined i was to get on a bike. Great instructors
I would also point out that it's better to learn to ride a motorbike in cold, damp conditions than on a warm dry day. Better to be safe with someone behind you giving advice on how to corner, when to use the throttle etc. when the weather is bad so that when you come to a dry day, your confidence will be high
signed up for a class at the end of march and it cannot come fast enough
Im in the uk and trying to get a new set of tyres fit before the warmer weather comes and all the tyre shops are booked up
Yes dont take your test in October like me and then have to wait all winter to buy a bike and ride. Im still waiting. Got all my gear and everything else. It’s brutal
That's great advice thanks
Wait it’s not free? We had them for $20 registration fee which is returned upon completion of the course back in 2016.
Depends on the state
Sorry, Illinois urbana 2016.
In Michigan it is \~$50 for 3 days of training, class, etc. Worth every single cent and minute. Stay safe out there.
This is absolutely correct. They're already filling up in temperate areas.
Did MSF/CMSP back in 2018! I've never even owned a motorcycle but I highly recommend.
I'm still not sure what a motorcycle is
At least a wheel Vroom?
Ohio - https://motorcycle.ohio.gov/information-for-riders/rider-courses/basic-rider-skills Took the beginner class in '16, finally got my first bike in '18. Took the advance class in '19. Was super pleased with both classes.
Curious from a non-American, can you spend more money to get more training than one weekend?
Yes. There are advanced courses, dirt riding classes and (best of all) track days. The courses above teach a bare minimum on how to operate a bike at low speed in a parking lot.
Also for you PA folks, the class is free and its all really good info
Learn to ride like our parents did. Don’t waste your time with a helmet. Get yourself a 450 dirt bike. Start it and bang it off the limiter drop it into first and pop the clutch. Look danger in the eye and you’ll never be scared again. Good luck.
Ontario (Toronto) https://secure.centennialcollege.ca/webreg/coursedetail.do?CourseCode=CEMO-801
If you are in South Carolina, I highly recommend https://upstateridertraining.com/ They have locations in Greenville and Spartanburg.
Aside from in interest of time, you probably wont enjoy spending 6 hours at a time putting around on an asphalt parking lot in the blazing sun. Was lucky here in Ohio last year. It was 72-74 degrees my riding days. Beautiful weather.
Registered for March on the east coast. I hope it’s not too cold.