Also check with your local community college, most of them teach the MSF or an equivalent course.

The best place to start would be with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation

They can point you to rider safety courses. Courses like that can teach you how to ride, starting with the basics. Some places even offer advanced riding technique courses, once you can ride and are looking to push your bike's limits.

Some states, such as PA, even offer beginner courses for free, and give you your license upon completion.

I am a CMSF instructor and am currently in the process of getting my Riders Edge certification and yes, you can learn alot by taking a course. The instructors will work with you to get your ability up to par and you will feel confident that you will have the skills you need to operate a motorcycle.

Hands down the easyist way to go is to go online to the harley davidson web site and it will direct you to the riders edge school that they sponser. you will find a class operating in your area and you will also find a specific schedule of those particular classes. they will get you the learning permit..supply the motorcycle...and also give you the drivers test both written and the driving of the bike.. you only need to go to the dmv after the successfull completion of the school and the dmv mearly presents you with your motorcycle license..the people at the riders edge school will work with each persons skill level untill you pass... I had several of my children (girls who never sat on a motorcycle before) go through the school and they treated them great!! Don't wait to long to sign up the classes are usually are booked full months in advance...