rider course or spend the money elsewhere?

[don_vanecek]

So, it is time to decide if I'm going to spend $109.00 for the NE Safety Councils advanced rider course-this only lasts one day from 1-8 PM, and as an advanced course you use your bike (which would be the Vision of course).

Or if I should spend the money on other items, may need a new tires by fall, could use better boots, go on a trip. It does take me 30-45 days to accumulate this kind of loose money so to say-tips don't seem to be as good as in the past!

So what do I get for 7 hours on one day?

What should I do?

[sunburnedaz]

Never such as thing as too much training

[Brian Moffet]

Ask your insurance company if they give discounts for the training.  You may be able to make it up (or at least some of it) right there.

I'd go for the training.

[h2olawyer]

I agree - training is very important, but if your tires are wearing out, those are a 'mission critical' item.  The instructors at the riding course will perform a safety inspection before letting you participate.  If your tires are worn out, you can't ride.  Furthermore, if your tires are shot, you won't be able to take any trips.  However, if there are some good miles left in the tires, I'd go for the course now, save for tires next, (and maybe take a shorter trip or two), then get your boots over the winter.  That way, you can take a couple long, worry-free trips next summer!   8)

Budgetary constraints are a b!+@# for everyone but the government.   ::)

I'm planning to take the experienced riding course sometime this summer, too.  (Cost here is $100)  I really enjoyed the basic course I took a few years ago.  Very informative & beneficial - even though I'd been street riding for 20 years before I took it.

H₂O

[don_vanecek]

My tires will be fine for most of this summer anyway, I'd guess about half way though their short life. MC tires sure are a bummer considering how much they cost, how long they last-but that's life I guess, I can buy two sets of tires for the money you poor guys north of the border have to pay just for ayears insurance! 

[Kevin]

You will be on your motorcycle among other riders having fun and you will be a better rider at the end of the course.

[h2olawyer]

Since tires aren't an immediate concern, I agree - take the course.

H₂O

[Tiger]

 :) Ah Don, screw the course, bugger the tire's, sod the boot's.......go find a dirty woman for the night :o ;D :D :D :D :D :D... ;) Suppose you really should do the course, eh 8)

              8).......TIGER....... 8)

[rhpaw]

If you play your cards right, the right dirty women are free...

I vote for training.

[Tiger]

If you play your cards right, the right dirty women are free...

:o Uh!! I better learn to play cards then... ;D :D :D :D :D :D :D

             8).......TIGER....... 8)

[don_vanecek]

OK, I'll do it, assuming the class doesn't fill up before I get down there tommorrow. As this is being financed by, uh, excess t--s, I will need to need to take a practice ride down to Omaha and back tomorrow to hand over the cash they want-umm, the weather looks great, about a nice 50 mile ride, what a nice idea! This class will be on father's day weekend, class is Sat. with rain date Sunday.     

[rhpaw]

I have not done it with the bike, but I have taken a few advanced driving courses for auto-x (cars)
No matter what the price, it was always worth it.

Probably next year I'll sign up for something along the lines of "advanced bike control" but for the moment I'm kinda sick of dropping the XB in parkinglots.
(XB's are not known for their low speed maneuverability.)

[artbone]

I'd say go for the training. I've taken the MSF course several times as well as racing schools from Keith Code and others and they have all been money well spent.

Art

[don_vanecek]

Ah, nice ride to Omaha and back to sign up for this course today. I will do a report on the course after I take it. Also by then I will have a good idea how the V is doing as I "took off my restrictive plates" and frankly the bike seems to basically run the same!!!  I did pull the manometer out when I took em off and made just a wee adjustment. Geez, and after all the times I claimed this was such a good idea-throw that out!!! I'm hoping to see my MPG go up.

[Kevin]

I wish I had ARTBONE'S garage. :D