Motorcycle Riding 101: Earning the M1 License! - Wide Open Throttle Episode 47 

I'm 54 and have been riding for 25 years, my mom also rode when she was younger but was riding a trike when she passed away in 2014. In her memory I bought a Honda Rebel 250 strictly to teach women riders. She loved when a new gal learned. Its so fun to teach. A new rider starts her first lesson today!! Ride safe and ride often.

My MSF instructor wrecked his ZX14 on our first day and ripped his leg open. He went to the hospital.

Thanks, John! I really appreciate that and hope you'll stay tuned! Jessi

Glad you enjoyed it, Khalil! Thanks for watching and for sending your feedback! Jessi

So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for writing! Jessi

So glad you think so! Thanks for letting us know! Jessi

Much appreciated, Jorge! Hope you'll stay tuned! Jessi

That's so awesome to hear! Thank you! Jessi

"The same things that scare me about them... draw me to them..." This girl's going to have some fun issues with boyfriends.

Glad you enjoyed it! Good luck with your test! Jessi

Good luck! It's fun, exciting, humbling, and challenging, all at the same time! I really hope you enjoy it! Jessi

i love how in to it Jessi is, great that you made it! have fun and ride safe

Thank you, my friend! Jessi

SO glad you guys did this episode

Many thanks, my friend! Jessi

Great job!!I too jumped with excitement when I passed...A total different world when on your two wheel ride...Fun,Fun!!

thanks for the video , I can't wait till it gets warmer outside. super stoked

Congratulations! I was super excited when I got my motorcycle license, so I know how you must feel! Getting the gear is also a lot of fun. Nice job!

Many thanks, Franco! Jessi

Many thanks! And me too! Jessi

I took a class last October. That was amazing!!! I've gotta find a job now to buy a motorcycle. I'm just gonna look for a 250cc cruiser like the Rebel that I rode. I'm excited about this!!!

Dear jessi Lang. U r an amazing host, I really like how u explain things to us through video which I imagine can't be that easy and ur general passion for automobiles. But when u asked everyone to put their hands in for a go team.... U just confirmed that u are in the biggest nerd on the motor trend staff!!! Keep up the good work.

Ha - the figure eight box was challenging, to say the least. I struggled with it during our practice sessions, but thankfully I nailed it on my test! Jessi

I think Jessi did an amazing job here. I was scared amazingly [expletive]-less when I took a similar course. She totally wasn't. Fantastic video! :)

Getting my bike license was the best thing I've ever done in my life!

Congratulations, your certified to ride in circles around a parking lot! That's what our instructor said anyway. Really great video, one of the best I've seen promoting and capturing the experience of the MSF course. I'll be sharing THIS video with anyone interested in getting a motorcycle. Thanks for taking the time to make it, and congrats on passing! Don't forget to wave!

Sheryle (in this video) was one of the coaches for the course I took about 2 years ago. Great experience that weekend! Altadena, Ca. Hot as Georgia asphalt that day, though.

Next episode, Jessi's first ride on a top fuel drag bike.

Wide Open Throttle is probably my favorite series on RU-vid. :)

So glade you guys posted this video. This will add confidence when i go during the spiring

Awesome work Jessi!!! I subscribed to MotorTrend mostly for OnTwoWheels but I really enjoy the other segments you guys put together. Thumbs up from me.

I took this course 25yrs ago to get my License. And I'm glad I did. I rode in the dirt forever, but street riding is unique, and a minefield to navigate.It was held on 2 consecutive Saturdays at a community college nearby. Half in the class, half in the parking lot. I learned strategies that I still use today. It's a great way for anyone to get started.

I loved riding those worn in 250s :) so much fun riding somebody's bike

I hadn't ridden for about 40 years, bought a sport touring Yamaha, took the course a year ago, and am on my way with Twist of the Wrist 2. The course I took which is shown above in the video brought back to mind many things I had forgotten, and best of all we rode small 500 Buells. With my certification in hand, I went to the DMV and they just signed it off and I was on my way. What was great was my refamiliarization with riding was done on a small bike. If I had tried to take the DMV riding test on my FJR 1300 Yamaha, I would have failed. Without lots of practice, slow riding on that large a bike is very difficult, such as having to do the figure eight in a tight rectangle. Small bikes are agile, but the larger ones, including many Harleys are what I call "Ponderous".

Hahaha - many thanks, my friend! Jessi

Awesome to see ya on a bike Jessi!! Makes me want to get mine even more now!! Love those jeans too, and glad you passed and enjoyed it so much!!

Perfect timing! I dunno how you guys keep doing this, but a few months back Motorcyclist came out with an issue on small bikes just as I got my friend interested in learning how to ride. She signed up for her BRC last night and she'll be taking it on the 18th of this month (assuming weather holds out). She was telling me today that she's a bit nervous, so I'm going to link this video to her Facebook now. Excellent work, and come on out to Colorado sometime!

Our video is more like a snapshot of the course. The course was two eight-hour days; we began each morning with four hours of classroom instruction and then spent four hours on the bikes. Jessi

Congrats Jess!!!!Keep up the good work and hopefully We can see you in the show On Two Wheels!!!!

The training course was one of the best experiences I've ever had in in any schooling. Although the Eliminator looks so much better than the Rebels that I used during my class!

MSF is the best way to taste the life of motorcycles safely. Congrats Jessi!

This is awesome .. Would love to see more ladies get there license. Thanks Jessi !

I'm really glad that your course seemed exactly the same as the one I took in Denver. Only thing is that your instructors were much more encouraging!

I'm thinking abt gettin my first motorcycle this should be interesting😂😂😂😂

Congrats! Man that test made me so nervous too, I literally almost failed mine. Most of my deductions were from not being fast enough but quickly got rid of that once I got riding =D

hey, a few tips from a 10 year dirtbiker/quad rider- most bikes will allow you to adjust how heavy your hand lever pulls are for the clutch and brake, most riders find the best comfort and control in being able to pull the levers straight back with 2 the index and middle finger, also you can adjust the angle of your controls when you have a bike of your own, mostly its just remember that its a heavy maching and doesnt have good balance over bumps at low speeds, and watch out for deep ruts

Very nice video alot of people dont even knw that this class is available to take and I knw this test may differ from state to state a lil bit but I remember taking mine and I had fun it was hot as ever but I didnt care.

Nice work!

Glad you passed, can't wait to get my M1 endorsement!

You can find him at the Academy of Motorcycle Operation. Jessi

Welcome to the wonderful world of two wheels Jessi. I went from 4 wheels to 2 and I can say I'm never going back. Ride well and keep the rubber side down.

Awesome video by the way!

Jessi I envy your enthusiasm :D You're always up to any challenge. Congrats on the M1 license. Keep up the good work :)

Congrats, Jessi! Nice job, and another great video. My wife and I will be taking the MSF next Spring. I'll probably start off with a 250 or something a little larger but still tame and low-geared, but when I grow up (mentally - I'm 36) I'm in love with the Triumph Street Triple. :-]

Great Video MotorTrend

so many good memories, I took my MSF a few years and aced the riding, 90 something in the written. A great 2 day course, and in Arkansas I was able to skip my riding test when getting my license.

In the Philippines, getting a motorcycle license is like getting a driver's license. Go to the Department, fill up the forms, take the exam(does not matter if you pass or fail), pay up and your done. No wonder there is always traffic and accidents on the road. And in the provinces, someone wearing a helmet is very rare.

MSG is great! 4 years later, still loving it.

This is going to be a truly epic experience for all of the above. Avast, worthy champion.

Hey, this was MY idea! Haha, just kidding. Glad to see the hosts switching it up a bit. Keep it up!

Congratulations,Jessi :) And I'm still procrastinating.I hope,one day will get a motorcycle licence :) All the best and stay safe :)

Thanks for the reply, that makes sense. Keep up the good work on the videos. :D

Perhaps you will...Ari, Zack and I are talking about doing some off-roading together. Stay tuned... Jessi

This was awesome. I'm doing my course here in April 7-10 2016 and I'm excited and nervous!

Thanks, my friend! Maybe our video can inspire her?... Jessi

I use too take these types of classes then I went a track obstacle course for dirtbikes it was so so so much fun

I agree. It was an entertaining experience learning how to ride with my nervous dad teaching me :)

I did not know my favorite motorcycle duo are here, hehe! Got to know them in other channels.

awesome jessi, welcome to the motorcycle community

I don't see the tester bikes having any side mirrors, is that OK? They don't teach you to use side mirrors? Sorry, I'm not familiar with how getting M1 works, I don't live in USA.

riding is super addictive. Nothing quite like it.

Its cool how much respect you get for sometime ones you realize what it takes! And at the end I saw a Husqvarna terra 650, Please review it!!

for me it was the first four hours in the class room. just to finish a couple of quiz's and the rest of the two days was learning on the bike.

Another awesome video from my favorite program on my favorite youtube channel (starring my favorite host.) Keep it up. I can't wait for your new show, the J-TURN. It's gonna be like WOT on speed (pun completely intended.)

What bikes did they use?

Great work Jessi! Fantastic episode and well done on getting your license! Trust me, you're going to be addicted to bikes in no time and forget all about cars ;)

good job jessi, ill be right behind you in a couple of months.

Nice Job Jessi, always enjoy WOT!

Absolutely. I rode trail for a decade before I got a cruiser and it gave me skills and instincts that some of my rice rocket friends have a hard time grasping. In my opinion the best learner bike is the xt 225 or 250. I went from a Honda 400 to the Yam 225 (because its street legal) and loved it. Newbies! Get a Dual Sport. Learn in the woods were its ok to crash, then dirt roads, then take it into town and feel like a Boss!

woo hoo congrats. im so jealous of your job hahaha. this gives me a boost of confidence when i go get mine.

I remember as a kid back in PI, riding on the tank, in shorts, tank top and sandals, while the bike was going 50mph down a dirt road. LOL I can't imagine having my kids do that.

Congratulations Jesse

Rule #1, don't learn to ride from the internet.

Good stuff. I took the same class in California. Loved the class and it was fun to learn to ride. I really respect the instructors What bike are you going to get? You should video to purchase decision

Awesome, congrats! We wanna go with you and the guys on a drive. Do that for a segment either for WOT or O2W :)

Took this class. so easy.

In the USA its note required to wear every piece of protective gear. In some states you don't even need a helmet. To take the course. All you need are boots, gloves, helmet, and a long sleeve shirt.

I never took this type of course. Riding is in my blood. My first bike was a RM400 when I was 12 and I'm still riding to this day. Love to go fast as my name implies.

Good job Jessi, glad to see you are learning the right way. Stay safe and have fun cause it sounds like you have already been bitten by the bike bug.

Just when you think Jessi can't get any cooler, she hops on a bike. haha, congrats on passing, glad you had fun!

The MSF course was recommended to me by an experienced sport bike rider, and I cannot recommend this course enough for the beginner. Now I ride a heavy BMW R1150GS Adventure with confidence, and the learning continues...

How did you eradicate the problem of accelerating while trying to use the front brake? I am having the same problem. Anybody else?

Good for you! Sadly, I failed mine in 1 1/2 hours because i struggled with finding neutral, coordinating the clutch, stalling the engine and nearly dumping the bike on the ground a couple of times...was so frazzled my hands were shaking. Didn't help that my goggles kept fogging, too.

Motorcycle goals done done

congratulations Jessi ! It is nice to see you're learning basic knowledge in a safe environment and not as a crazy redness hater. keep up the good job @ WOT.

When I got my California M1 years ago through taking the MSF course, I crashed in the box during my exam. Case of "Where my eyes go, that's where the bike goes!" Fortunately, they let me take the 2 day riding course for free again a couple weeks later where I somehow got through the box. God, I hated doing that drill!!! I don't know anybody who has passed the motorcycle exam directly from the DMV but I always tell folks the MSF is absolutely worth it + you get your exam there!

My dad made me learn by making me take off on an incline. Probably the best way to help someone learn the hardest thing you need to learn... and that is taking off :D

It should be absolutely mandatory to take one of these courses to get a license . I rode for 10 years before I took the class and thought I knew a lot about how to ride. I was wrong. I learned more in the first few hours than the previous 10.

MSF is great. got my license here in jersey in august 2012!

Riding is addictive. I took home the book from our local D.O.L. and passed my first time without a class in a heavy rain storm. WA does not require insurance for bikers. Have insurance,