Selling Bikes to New Riders.

[mojo]

I offered to pay half of the cost of an MSF course for him, and he accepted my offer.  He passed the final riding test without a single point deduction. 

The MSF course should be mandatory before getting your motorcyle license, imo.  It would weed out a lot of the people who think bikes are just "cool" before they get out on the street and are scared to death or get hurt.

[bluemoco]

The MSF course should be mandatory before getting your motorcyle license, imo.  It would weed out a lot of the people who think bikes are just "cool" before they get out on the street and are scared to death or get hurt.

Personally I agree, but not everyone involved in the industry feels this way. 

Related story:  I was at an OEM's scooter demo once.  There were some non-riders in the crowd who wanted to take the scoots for a spin around the parking lot.  Not sure why, but the facilitators were allowing it.    One guy (who obviously had never ridden a moto before) got on a scoot and grabbed a huge handful of throttle and launched himself+the scooter at the crowd of bystanders.     Fortunately, there was a curb and a parking lot median that caused the bike to tip over and no one was hurt.

Regarding my nephew, I just feel that my college-student nephew needs at least a little training to ride safely.  I'll be happy to do the same for my own kids and my other nieces/nephews, too.  Until rider training becomes mandatory, I look at this as my way of 'paying it forward' to another generation of riders.   [moto] 

[DW]

The stats are pretty staggering.  I've got a safety book that references the results of new riders that do or do not take a safety course. 
Those that do not take the course - 70% crash shortly therafter, 30% do not crash.
Those that do take the course - 30% crash shortly thereafter, 70% do not crash.

Interestingly enough, the other day a friend was over and mentioned that he was thinking of picking up a scooter.  Since I disdain scooters (Physics, small wheels = instability)  I started talking to him about a 250 dual sport or supermoto, small Ninja, etc.  His concern was that he hadn't really ever tried one out and that he didn't want to buy something he may not like.  Of course this was my perfect invitation to slide in the MSF.  He of course had no idea anyting like that was even available.  I pulled out my latest Cycle World, showed him the MSF advertisement and an article on a little Honda Supermoto and he was hooked.  I am hoping to hear from him on Sunday.  Maybe he is already signed up.

We are really stupid in America on our drivers training.   I am 30 years old and have never had a drivers education class...  It wasn't even offered where I lived as a kid.  Society tries to protect you from yourself in so many ways.  I can't buy bottle rockets in my state, but it is perfectly legal for someone with zero experience to ride a 160hp literbike.    Each time this subject comes up there are plenty of "I had a friend" stories about someone pulling it off with no problem.  It does happen, but is not the intelligent choice.  You do not lose anything by starting small.  Tiered licensing makes sense.  I hate govt intervention in my life, but if they are at all serious about actually protecting society, this is good policy.  If not this, stop screwing around with everything else!   Let me at least buy bottle rockets and celebrate the birth of our country.

[somegirl]

Of course this was my perfect invitation to slide in the MSF.  He of course had no idea anyting like that was even available.  I pulled out my latest Cycle World, showed him the MSF advertisement and an article on a little Honda Supermoto and he was hooked.  I am hoping to hear from him on Sunday.  Maybe he is already signed up.

I find most people who don't ride don't know about the MSF.

Anytime someone asks me questions because they seem interested in learning about riding, I tell them about MSF.   

I "sell" it by telling them:
- it's a chance to try out riding without having to invest in a bike or much gear
- it gets you out of the riding test for the DL
- it may qualify you for a discount on insurance
- it may qualify you for a discount on gear

Most people seem to appreciate the value when I tell them about it.