Hello

[Chubaka]

Hello, All
We just purchased a 2019 C650GT and my first impression WOW! I ride a 2016 R1200RT, my fiancé watched a few YouTube videos on riding in the Blueridge Parkway and asked me if i could teach her to ride. I suggested learning to ride a Maxi scooter might be fun.
Two days later we drove down to Destin FL in the 2020 BMW X5 and met a wonderful couple who we purchased the scooter from. I was a bit hesitant about riding a scooter 900 miles back to St John IN. To make a long story short this scooter was one enjoyable machine. BMW has out done themselves engineering a wonderful, enjoyable machine. Now we need to find a scooter training class for my Fiancé, any suggestions are welcome. We live in St John IN.

 

[RollaCosta]

Welcome to the club. GT is a serious bike, not sure if learning should start there, esp. in mountain passes.
It is my firm opinion that one needs to ride 6000 miles to really master the motorbike.
Not sure what classes are available, I started commuting on a Kymco 125 twenty years ago.

 

[Ceesie76]

Congratuations on your purchase. 900 miles is a long ride!
Not sure what to advise on the training/learning part - I taught myself to ride my first moped (Yamaha FS1 50 cc 4 speed) at age 16 and have been riding since, no classes ever, passed my motorcycle permit tests in Europe and the US no problem. The C650 will be among the easiest to learn to ride on - no gears, no clutch, no footbrake - super simple. It's just heavy, compared to less-displacement scooters. Maybe she should take the standard US motorcycle safety course or whatever it is called so she can get her license, and then just practice when the roads are empty and quiet?

 

[Delray]

any suggestions are welcome.

Best tip I ever got ...

Never, ever, not once, DO NOT TRUST THAT A CAR PREPARING TO TURN IN FRONT OF YOUR BIKE SEES YOU AND WILL STOP. Slow down. Veer to the right. Leave yourself space to get away. Flick your brights erratically. Cars turning in front of bikes are the #1 cause of motorcycle accidents and fatalities. A 25-year old kid died yesterday three miles from where I sit, from that scenario.

Which leads to the second best tip I ever got, from dear old Dad (fouth generation motorcyclist):

"Stretch out your arm and hold up one finger," he said. "Move your finger across the horizon, across your field of vision. That is how big a motorcycle looks to a person through a car windshield. A lot of cars will never know you're there. It's up to YOU to avoid them."

The C 650 GT is a serious bike. I've owned six, including two 2019's in Ocean Blue Metallic. It's easy to get in trouble fast. Might be worth investing in a 150 cc or even a 50 cc to serve as "training wheels" for her.

Best o' luck on the bike and the marriage.