Modern Vespa

It went from 6:00 am to 4:00 but we got out early ....

I was the only one driving a scooter. It was so easy and while were doing circles in the parking lot i reached my 1000 mile mark!!! yay!!

Looks nice. I wish I had taken pictures of my MSF course. Some good memories there. Good luck on the box (I STILL cannot do it).

Congrats on taking a MSF course. I finished mine a couple weekends back in Indiana. I have no scooter in the States (hope to have one soon in the Canary Islands when I get back there), so I used a Suzuki GN125 they had.

I learned a lot! and I am sure you are learning much too! I too wish I had taken a photo! It was bonding to to the course with others.

The course is a MUST for all riders in my opinion!

Plus you get a break on your insurance. Does anyone have any tips for the dreaded Box?

Yes. Use your rear brake like everyone on a manual uses their clutch - maintain your lowest stable power to the rear wheel, and use the brake to transfer more or less of that power to pushing you forward.

I did the box perfectly - ONCE - on an MP3 250 after about a month of riding. On anything smaller it should be easier. If you can, get out to an empty parking lot and practice the tightest slowest turns you can manage, and by the time you take MSF you should be golden.

I'm actually lucky because the local Comm. Collage I attend is where the MSF course takes place (they have the Box, Swerve, Stop and Corner all painted into the pavement). Every time I have class I always try it at least 5 times and I have only been able to do it once.

I couldn't do the box either. The instructor said to not worry so much about it because the absolute maximum points you can lose is five. Three for going outside the box the first time, two more if you go outside a second. Five max, no matter how many times you go outside. Since we are allowed something like 21 points deducted and still be able to pass, the box really isn't that critical to be able to do. I lost another point on entering the curve slightly slow. Everything else was perfect.

I marked a 20' X 60' box in chalk on an empty parking lot and after almost an hour of practicing with our MP3 250, I finally got it down reliably. And yes, on a scooter, you need to use the rear brake like a clutch - nothing else works. It feels really weird to give gas to the engine and use the brake to "not move". It was a lot easier on a standard motorcycle for me. Good luck with the course - it really helped me and my wife.

Box tips:

Use the whole box- they give you the whole thing, so use it - go wide, go deep.

Crank your head around and look where you want to go - really crank your head around - really.

Don't go too slow, you'll lose your balance, if you have to brake a bit, feather the rear brake.

and finally - don't worry about it too much. If you blow it but do the rest fine, you'll still pass.