I have a friend who has been on the list for the MSF class for weeks now and I think today he just got fed up and shot me an email...he just finished complained to me that all the classes are for the end of October.  He's impatient to start riding.  It is frustrating to have to wait months for this course....

I told him that I worked with Evan - MonkeyMoto - who I hired when I first got my bike to give me some additional riding lessons on top of the MSF course that I took (they just don't give you enough actual riding practice time at the MSF) - especially for riding around the hills/pot holey streets of San Francisco.

Do you guys have any other suggestions for him?  If he goes the route of hiring Evan, he's going to have to buy a bike first.  How does that work with the DMV?

You can buy and even register a bike in your name without a motorcycle endorsement or license (assuming you can get insurance).  You just can't ride it. 

I got my permit first then bought the bike.  You can ride around with the permit legally, make sure he gets insurance before he puts the key in the ignition.  Only things you can't do with a permit is ride with a passenger, ride on the freeway or ride at night.  There is a huge parking lot down in the marina that looks ideal to learn how to do basic stuff.  Maybe a scooter would be a good idea to start on???  I remember learning on a honda shadow 125 that felt like a tricycle super super light and non-intimidating.  If he does get a duc put sliders on the frame and axles asap.  Sometimes impatience could be not so good when it comes to learning to ride.  I had to wait 3 1/2 weeks for my class too.  I didn't study for the permit test whatsoever, just showed up, read the booklet took the test after waiting for 20 min and walked out with the permit 

Yup permit. Get in line at the DMV, take the test, start riding.

He can sign up for a different location which is less popular.

But I agreed with everyone else permit it up.

if he has xbox360 motogp2007 might hold him over for a few days, just as long as he doesnt try to ride like that at the MSF course

Insurance will be extremely pricey with no motorcycle endorsement.  With no insurance, it might be hard to finance.  Cash is always good.  Next best thing is to practice on someone else's starter bike.  I'd wait for the MSF course, practice with a permit, then do it legit.

Quote from: r_ciao on September 24, 2008, 02:21:09 PM
Insurance will be extremely pricey with no motorcycle endorsement.  With no insurance, it might be hard to finance.  Cash is always good.  Next best thing is to practice on someone else's starter bike.  I'd wait for the MSF course, practice with a permit, then do it legit.

Just buy a $500 bike-why finance? It's cheap enough to insure-all you'd need is liability.

Quote from: Spidey on September 24, 2008, 11:59:41 AM
You can buy and even register a bike in your name without a motorcycle endorsement or license (assuming you can get insurance).  You just can't ride it. 

I've been riding with a permit for over a year on a scooter registered in my name. It's perfectly legal.

Quote from: someguy on September 24, 2008, 03:38:59 PM
Just buy a $500 bike-why finance? It's cheap enough to insure-all you'd need is liability.

Ditto. I have an ancient scooter and only a permit and it costs $130 a year to insure with basic liability.

I've been riding and driving with a suspended drivers license for quite sometime now.
The most the police can do is give you a ticket and tow your vehicle, you can always get in after 24hrs.

Oh, that's comforting...

 

Quote from: 707soldier on September 24, 2008, 05:42:53 PM
I've been riding and driving with a suspended drivers license for quite sometime now.
The most the police can do is give you a ticket and tow your vehicle, you can always get in after 24hrs.

Getting stuff out of impound is never cheap. Also I don't believe your insurance will pay out in an accident if you don't have a license

Quote from: 707soldier on September 24, 2008, 05:42:53 PM
I've been riding and driving with a suspended drivers license for quite sometime now.
The most the police can do is give you a ticket and tow your vehicle, you can always get in after 24hrs.

Now we know why you keep getting new bikes