Never rode , the one time I did I cracked upmy friends trail bike, UGH! Then when I hit 30 I was having dreams all the time about riding and I mean all the time? In my drams always was straight up GREAT rider? So I bought a Kawasaki 454 LTD a used one and took it in the streets on Sunday morning about 5:00AM and drove on those streets until I got the nerve and skill to ride the main streets. I did do alot of clutch take off practice in my driveway , but I did all the training myself. Later on took the defensive riding school stuff. But I was a natural I had many bikes in my riding (73 to be exact) and I am not a big guy but I can jump on any bike and ride it even the monster GOLDWINGS and such. Hey it is fun
Even took off about 7 years but came back and finally bought my UC, always wanted one but in all those bikes never had? Hey I have a long way to go and they make new ones every day? LOL!

 

My dad sat me in front of him on his 1942 Harley when i was 6. Gave me the throttle and told me to listen to what he was telling me while we rode in granddads corn field. Got my own in 1967, a step thru frame yamaha 50 with a three speed shifter on the throttle. In 2007 the wife wanted to learn so we both took the MSF class and i learned i had a lot of bad habits and now her's still sits in the garage while she rides eveywhwere behind me.

 

For years I was the passenger on my husband's bike. Didn't even know which was clutch and which was brake.

In my late 30's, I took the MSF course and was the only one that didn't have a bike yet (much less, hadn't operated one before). Had no bad habits to unlearn and had fun learning. Passed the course easily then got a Suzuki 250 to start out with. When I got comfy with that, sold it (for the same $600 I had bought it for) and got something bigger.

 

July 09 bought my first bike at 34 y/o. 2004 Yamaha v star 1100 classic. First time i rode was when i picked up the bike. was the scariest 15 miles of my life back to the house. Since then i have owned a 06 street bob and now a 09 EG standard. wouldn't trade it for the world should have started riding a lot earlier in life!!!

 

A half-day "crash" course at Marine Air Station Iwakuni, Japan back in 1988. Took my brand new Sportster through the course. They taught me just enough to almost ride off the mountains out there! I had no business on a bike after that. Very weak training.

Once back in the states, I went through the MSF course.

 

Indy Classic,

I just sent you a PM.

Mark

 

I'm guessing that if Indy Classic is anywhere near you he'll be attending! He's as addicted to the cones as I am!

 

Police motor school

 

My Dad taught me how to ride when I was 12 in the 70s. He climbed on the back and told me what to do for the first few minutes then I soloed. The rest I picked up through experience or other dirt bike riders. Learned a lot about riding whoop-de-doos from a little **** on an 80cc bike who sailed right past me on day while I was on a 125. I found out that the faster you go over those things, the easier it is. Anyway, riding (and falling) on dirt bikes was a great teacher.

 

Now don't get me wrong, I am glad they have all these great motorcycle riding courses for folks to learn how to ride. Back in the 70's it was a whole different story. When I got out of the Army in the mid 70's I answered an ad in the paper for a 360 Honda. Later that day I left there with the Honda and a big bag of weed. Back in those days there was no better way to learn and have been riding ever since. Now, I know the goodie two shoes will be appalled at this method. but I would not change a thing. I know there are more out there that lived and learned the same way, just won't say they did.