Passed the basic MSF course, but wonder if I should take it again

by Liz
(Alabama)

I barely passed the basic MSF course in March. It was the first time I had ever been on a motorcycle and I was terrified. My husband bought me a Vespa LX 150 and I wanted a little more confidence riding it. I was scared of it also. Now I am riding my husband's Vespa 300 and getting used to the size of it. I am much more confident but have dropped the bike twice because I slowed down to stop at a stop sign and lost control over the bike. Thankfully nobody was around to see me struggle to get the 300 plus pound bike upright again. Now that I am more confident riding the scooter, I would eventually like to get a motorcycle. It is the shifting gears that made me nervous at MSF class and makes me hesitant to get a motorcycle. I feel like I am confident enough now that I could do well in the MSF class. Should I pay the $ 250 bucks to do it again, even though I don't think I need to practice duck walking the bike across the parking lot or would I be able to handle an intermediate course even though I haven't been riding a motorcycle, just the scooter. No shifting required. I see women on motorcycles and wish I could be that brave and feel kind of like a sissy on the scooter. BUT it took a couple of months to get comfortable on the small scooter and a couple more to get used to the 300. If it weren't so much money, I would for sure retake the basic course and then take the intermediate course. Thoughts?