I would love to get a scooter for the summer (or what's left of it) and was wondering how long it takes to take lessons and take the exam for the license?

As I do not have any freinds with scooter I also need to find a good school/instructor for lessons and to take the road test - any place you recommend?

I recomend the basic riders course given by the MSF. It's 3 days and you will learn a lot. (Someone got a link for this?)

[ YES: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2340 ]

If you just want to take the road test I went to this place and they were really good. You take the road test on an ET4.

http://www.prodriveny.com/vespa.html

jaysbmx00 wrote:I recomend the basic riders course given by the MSF. It's 3 days and you will learn a lot. (Someone got a link for this?) If you just want to take teh road test i went to this place and they were really good. you take the road test on an ET4.

http://www.prodriveny.com/vespa.html

There is a waiting list to get into MSF.

http://www.msf-usa.org

If you dont go the MSF route, register for the road test now. Right now. Thats the hold up. After you get your test scheduled (will be at least a month), go get the book for the permit test (I think you can download the pdf somewhere), read it, then take the test. You should be able to pass the test after one read-through, about fifteen minutes of "studying".

Then I would contact Mr. Annuit Coeptus and beg him to teach you to ride at a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Read both the drivers manual and the motorcycle manual. The test is on both.

If MSF is full, go this route if you can afford to:

http://www.prodriveny.com/vespa.htm

Thank you for all the answers.

I just called ProDrive on 23rd Street and they only have the package lesson and DMV road test for $245. Doesn't meet my needs as I already have Vespa.

Motorcycle Safety School
http://www.mssnyc.com
718- 599-1079 you can hire the motorcyclist and chase car for $90/150.

New York Scooter Club
I'll book my DMV appointment, borrow a car or rent a Zip car, and find someone from the club to accompany me to the road test in Brooklyn and take them out for dinner!

Not a problem. Happy to. Expect to hear about the benefits of the MSF Basic Rider Course every minute, though...

PLEASE NOTE:

Any other course will take your money, give you a few pointers, and set you up for the free (although convoluted and useless) DMV road test. But the only thing I can think of that you actually get for your money is the use of a car (required to follow you around at the DMV test site). Why anyone would take one of these other courses is beyond me. The only course you should consider is the MSF BRC, as noted above.

MSS is qualified by NYS for the safety course and administering the DMV road test as part of the rider course.

and have fun

Allev wrote:MSS is qualified by NYS for the safety course and administering the DMV road test as part of the rider course.

Please understand:

Yes, the various MSF-affiliate schools (such as MSS, in Yonkers) are certified to teach in NY.

But the schools DO NOT ADMINISTER THE PASS/FAIL DMV ROAD TEST. They examine students with a graded, much more rigourous test. The DMV test is crap. Read about the DMV's test in the FAQs.

Students at the MSF affiliate schools get their licenses by mail after submitting proof of successful course completion to the NYS DMV.

BUT

These schools teach many different types of classes!

The only COURSE that will give you a motorcycle license if you pass it is the Basic Rider Course. The other classes may give you pointers + the use of a car and then send you off to take the bullshit DMV road test like the rest of the Great Unwashed, but they are NOT the Basic Rider Course.

I got my licence by taking the BRC at MSS. Those of us who got our licenses through the BRC are pretty adamant about this. Learn the right way, not with some sort of "Cliff notes" for the useless, absurdly easy DMV road test. Not "Scooter School". Not "ProDrive". The BRC will keep you alive and make you a better driver. Yes, it's given on a motorcycle. Yes, it costs about $375. Take it. This is not the place to cut corners.

Discussions about licensing get confusing when people toss around meaningless phrases like "the MSF course". Which one?!? The BRC? Please be specific.

Okay?

i took my test with driving schools of the Americas. they go to the Yonkers site. the guy tells you the directions to a parking lot. that is where you do the circles and figure 8's. real easy up there.

jaysbmx00 wrote:i took my test with driving schools of the Americas. they go to the Yonkers site. the guy tells you the directions to a parking lot. that is where you do the circles and figure 8's. real easy up there.

And, if you do it with 2 people its like half a test. One person rides to parking lot from starting point. The other starts in parking lot and then rides back to the starting point.

I used these guy, highly reccomended:
http://www.njrentascooter.com/
After you make an appointment for your road test,
they meet you there with a scooter, a helmet and an they take you to a parking lot to practice the test, for $100.
They really make it easy, and then you can ride any size bike you want to.

We ( http://www.FerrariDrivingSchool.com ) do scooter training. Give us a call @ 718-278-6679

New York Scooter Forum members get 10% off training!

- Training is on Vespa's and Vino's.
- We have road tests almost ever week
- Get your license the SAME day you pass unlike the rider courses.
- Training in traffic as well as on a closed
course.
- Take lessons at your pace & customized
to your ability.
- Small class sizes with a low student to
instructor ration.

5 LEVEL TRAINING PROGRAM
It is Ferrari’s mission to help you attain the five
major skill levels that are the basis of safe riding
and passing the road test.

1. Learning the basics. Brake, steering, gas and
signaling. How far and fast the vehicle moves.
Where, when and how to observe.

2. Develop judgment through structured
experiences and repetition. Approaching
Intersections judging traffic and road conditions.

3. Becoming Semi-Independent; learning to
Anticipate hazards and React accordingly.

4. Becoming independent, confident and in
control of most situations. Students at this level
should pass the road test.

5. Fully independent, highly skilled, mature
judgment under the most challenging situations.