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What: MSF Dirt Bike School
When: Class times and types vary, see website
Where:1450 Morrison Pkwy., Alpharetta, Ga. 30004, (770) 442-2459
Cost: $100 for one day of instruction 7:45 – 3 pm. Includes instruction, bike and all gear
$125 for the trail riding course from 7:45 – 3 pm
Photos: For additional photos, visit Field Trips with Sue on Facebook (don’t forget to ‘like’ the page while you are there.)
The MSF Dirt Bike School in Alpharetta is a great place for kids and adults to learn how to ride motorcycles. Once they do, the dirt bike school offers a trail course for more fun.
Learning the basics.
The MSF Dirt Bike School offers a curriculum based motorcycle training and safety program that teaches the basics of motorcycle riding in a safe, closed course environment. There are a total of 19 lessons taught during the full day of instruction with a one hour lunch break. They start you off slow, giving some basic instruction in riding strategies, but getting you on the bikes quickly. Class sizes are limited. Kids classes are limited to four people and adult classes are between 6 and 8 people. This allows for lots of personal instruction.
Director April Zoby gives instructions to the group.
Once on the course, instruction starts with learning about the clutch and you begin by walking the bike around the course. Once you’ve mastered this, you can move on to turns, standing, going over objects and more. The instruction is excellent and the small classes allow you to progress as fast, or as slow as you’d like. Smaller classes also allow you to gain confidence. Riding a machine that weighs nearly 300 pounds with other people zipping around you can be unnerving, but with the structure and size of the class, you always feel in control. Safety is the number one priority and they teach it at every turn. Each class concludes with a graduation ceremony complete with a certificate suitable for framing. A wallet sized card with the course completion date later.
Trail Riding at MSF Dirt Bike School
Once you’ve mastered the training class. MSF Dirt Bike School offers a trail riding class on four miles of trials designed by the US Forest Service. The course offers lots of different obstacles for the experienced rider. If you want more trail riding, try visiting Durhamtown Plantation, located east of Atlanta for 100 miles of trails and various types of courses.
Couple of tips for a great day at the MSF Dirt Bike School:
1. This is a cool weather activity. Between the shin guards under the full body suit and helmet with goggles, it gets really hot. The day I went it was cooler, however, by the end of the class I was drenched in sweat. The school was good about water breaks and had plenty of cold water on hand.
2. The bike weighs almost 300 pounds, so be prepared. I’m not sure what I was expecting, the weight of a bicycle maybe, but when this machine started to tilt, I needed help getting it back upright. When you’re riding, sometimes more speed is what you need to keep from falling.
3. Wear sunscreen. Although there isn’t much of you that is exposed to the sun, whatever is exposed will likely burn without sunscreen. Several folks in my group were slightly pink on exposed areas around their helmet.
4. It’s not just a guy thing. MSF offers family motorcycle training courses and women only motorcycle programs called ‘dirt ‘n skirt’.
5. Come with an open mind and ready to be adventurous. You’ll have a great time!
