This is the organization that offers the Franklin County MSF-sanctioned safety riding course. I…read moretook the course about a month back because I bought a motorcycle recently and have never ridden one. Smart, right?!?! It doesn't run right now anyway, and I intend to fix it up over the winter, but still...gotta know how to ride come spring...and be licensed and shit.
I heard terrible, terrible things about how difficult it is to get into the class. Maybe these things are true, I don't know. It certainly books up fast. Classes are full months in advance, but they have a walk-up policy, and if there are no-shows, they use a lottery system to let walk-ups in. Now, let me tell you, it was a pretty cold, rainy night the first night of class, but there were 8-9 walk-ups, and every single one of us got into the class. Of 12 spots, all already reserved, there were 9 no-shows.
The classroom portion is somewhat tedious. The videos are cheesy, and maybe it's just because that's not my learning style, but I didn't feel they added too too much to the reading material and vocal instruction. The class could be a lot shorter if they would trim those videos. And they should. Cuz six hours is a long freaking class. Bring food, by the way, cuz they only have a vending machine, and it's crappy.
The hands-on riding training is where it's at. The instructors, at least the two I had, are seasoned, looooong-time riders, and they know their stuff. You really learn the right way taking this course. It gave me a confidence I don't think I would have if I had taken a friend up on his offer to teach me, or if I had just gotten my learner's and actually gone the practice route.
You SHOULD take this course if you are a rider or interested in starting. They even have a course specifically for returning/experienced riders. Everyone can learn something from it. And there is no better bike to drop than someone else's...so yeah, do it to it.