Msf

[winfield]

I am taking the Basic Rider Course offered locally for $150 on Monday and Tuesday. This will be the first motorcycle safety course I've taken. I'm looking forward to it.

One complicating factor: I had a basal carcinoma removed from my ear yesterday. It is still patched up and I have stitches. Bandage comes off Saturday. I hope I can wear a helmet without too much pain and without bleeding by Monday. We'll see.

 

[steve murdoch]

Great decision and good luck.
On the off chance you are having a hard time, maybe you can pull a stitch, start bleeding and get a sympathy pass.

 

[Redman]

Good.

Do post more of the story after the class.

Your story may be similar to mine.
Relative to they wanted me to do some things that were not compatible with some of the habits I had after 20+ years of riding. Some examples, that are easy to describe: what fingers to have or not have on the brake and clutch, which foot to put down at a stop.
THe instructor and I were having a discussion (a-hem) about the relative merits of various such options (a-hem)... and then the instructor just said "well, this is how you will have to do it during the final testing."

Dave

.

 

[Gregory]

put bandages on your other ear also and tell the instructor that you never can be too careful, extra padding for the helmet.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

I am taking the Basic Rider Course offered locally for $150 on Monday and Tuesday. This will be the first motorcycle safety course I've taken. I'm looking forward to it.

One complicating factor: I had a basal carcinoma removed from my ear yesterday. It is still patched up and I have stitches. Bandage comes off Saturday. I hope I can wear a helmet without too much pain and without bleeding by Monday. We'll see.

Great Course! At least it was for me at Dover Air Force Base, DE.

And our state charges $200...although, since I am retired military, it was $50 for me.

A lot of what they'll teach you, you'll already know...you will probably learn something you didn't know. Written Test and of course the Riding Test.

Enjoy the course!


Ed

 

[winfield]

Great Course! At least it was for me at Dover Air Force Base, DE.

And our state charges $200...although, since I am retired military, it was $50 for me.

A lot of what they'll teach you, you'll already know...you will probably learn something you didn't know. Written Test and of course the Riding Test.

Enjoy the course!


Ed

I have been riding for about, well let's just say a long time, and I am sure I have many bad habits and a lot of things to learn to make my rides safer. I enjoy learning. If I disagree about something I'll consider what the instructor says and why that perspective may be the correct one. In the end, it is my neck and I'll do what seems best to me once out of the course--most likely will be what the instructor said after all.

Gregory said: "put bandages on your other ear also and tell the instructor that you never can be too careful, extra padding for the helmet."

LOL

Gregory: the padding that has me worried the most is between my ears.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Re-Engage

Re-Engage

I have been riding for about, well let's just say a long time, and I am sure I have many bad habits and a lot of things to learn to make my rides safer. I enjoy learning. If I disagree about something I'll consider what the instructor says and why that perspective may be the correct one. In the end, it is my neck and I'll do what seems best to me once out of the course--most likely will be what the instructor said after all.

Gregory

Oh My!

Not the dreaded, "I've been riding for many years".

I'm sure the instructors have heard it all and probably have to bite their tongue with alot of people.

We all have bad habits that no one can lecture us about...that's a given. My challenge would be to see if they can teach you something you don't already know. Maybe they will...maybe they won't. I'm sure you'll be positive otherwise you wouldn't be taking this course to remind you what you already know. (Plus it's a benefit to take it every so often to get perspective). Again, you don't need it but it keeps the mind sharp.



Ed

 

[srg]

My MSF Course was extremely rewarding. I had never ridden a bike before I took it. I'm glad I took it when I did so I wont develop those "bad habits." In my state, it's free to take for residents.

 

[tkent02]

I have seen what they teach. Some good, some maybe not so good. They teach some techniques that are at times useful as the gospel truth that must be followed always, which most of them are not. Some of it is just plain wrong. The important stuff about avoiding cars, they don't touch on much at all.

Probably better than nothing for someone who has never ridden at all and is foolish enough to want to jump out in traffic right away.

 

[earlfor]

Good.

Do post more of the story after the class.

Your story may be similar to mine.
Relative to they wanted me to do some things that were not compatible with some of the habits I had after 20+ years of riding. Some examples, that are easy to describe: what fingers to have or not have on the brake and clutch, which foot to put down at a stop.
THe instructor and I were having a discussion (a-hem) about the relative merits of various such options (a-hem)... and then the instructor just said "well, this is how you will have to do it during the final testing."

Dave
.

I can sympathize with that. To pass the MSF course, I was required to come to a stop with my left foot down, right foot on the brake pedal and holding the brake and clutch levers with four fingers. My normal is middle finger only on each lever and both feet down. heh eh

 

[tkent02]

My normal is middle finger only on each lever and both feet down.

I thought your normal was no feet down?

But that's my point. Might be a good idea at times, but certainly is not the only or the correct way to do it. They teach it like anything else is folly.

 

[earlfor]

I have seen what they teach. Some good, some maybe not so good. They teach some techniques that are at times useful as the gospel truth that must be followed always, which most of them are not. Some of it is just plain wrong. The important stuff about avoiding cars, they don't touch on much at all.

Probably better than nothing for someone who has never ridden at all and is foolish enough to want to jump out in traffic right away.

"The important stuff about avoiding cars, they don't touch on much at all."
Yeah, that is probably the biggest hole in their instruction. In the class I took, there was not one word devoted to that subject. After learning the basics of how to mechanically operate the bike, I think traffic analysis, predictions and probability are THE most important skills to learn for survival on the street

 

[GSXR7ED]

Driver's Ed & Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Driver's Ed & Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Okay,

My perspective on hitting the street soon after taking the MSF Beginner's Course; not a good idea.

Spending alot of time in a parking lot or non-high traffic estate is instrumental in gaining confidence in controlling/learning your bike. This should be a no-brainer and really doesn't fit into the curriculum.

It should be noted in the course as a brief discussion but really most of what you learn from maneuvering in traffic should be learned (for the most part) in Driver's Ed. I know, it's different on a bike but I'm talking about the concept of using mirrors/turning your neck and being aware of your vehicle's dimensions. (Your head on a swivel on a bike is what you do if it's done in the car)

Learning how to guide your bike takes many hours...that's where it's up to the individual to determine when they are comfortable/ready to hit light traffic.

So, the instructor has you do something "off the wall" in your opinion...Big Deal. Do it and move on. It's amazing how critical humans can be when it comes to A Teaching Method on a subject that is already being practiced. (Make sense?)

I'm all about feedback whether constructive or sarcastic...everyone should know how to decipher the difference.



Ed

 

[Guest]

My first MSF course was me, I had no clue they were even around at the time. I took my wittle Yamaha 450 and learned how to ride it in the field behind my house for a week or so. I then ventured out on the hiway and some close streets for about another week. Then I got brave and took it into town (I was umm 24 or so at the time). Rode the wittle beast around for about 5 months when I bought my GS750. Rode that for about 3 years until I did actually take the MSF course. Glad I did. I had some habits to modify in my riding. Anyhoos, any time I hear someone say they want to buy a motorcycle, I pipe it (whether they wanted to hear my opinion or not) I tell them flat out TAKE A MSF COURSE! Use the course in two ways, make sure you want to ride a bike and its for you or not, and if it is, well you done took the course.

 

[Big T]

Rider training is now mandatory in OR if you want to get an endorsement, phasing it in by age

This should cut down on the fastest rising accident segment, middle aged men who are returning to or starting riding with no training

Anything you can learn in a MSF class is worthwhile and crashing someone else's bike while you learn is worth the $200 right there

 

[GSXR7ED]

Exactly My Point

Exactly My Point

Anything you can learn in a MSF class is worthwhile

That's all I'm tryna say. Learn something new (if that's possible) Take away a positive from the course. See what the new generation of Riders are saying about today's riding and what they learned from the MSF course.



Ed

 

[Guest]

Looks like there is some state-to-state variations.

In Pennsylvania the basic course is free.
The basic course is required for 16 & 17 year olds.
Pennsylvania also has an advanced course that is free.

 

[winfield]

Oh My!

Not the dreaded, "I've been riding for many years".

I'm sure the instructors have heard it all and probably have to bite their tongue with alot of people.

We all have bad habits that no one can lecture us about...that's a given. My challenge would be to see if they can teach you something you don't already know. Maybe they will...maybe they won't. I'm sure you'll be positive otherwise you wouldn't be taking this course to remind you what you already know. (Plus it's a benefit to take it every so often to get perspective). Again, you don't need it but it keeps the mind sharp.



Ed

I think we are saying the same thing here. I was trying to express that I am taking the course because I want to learn and I do not plan on arguing with the instructor at all. Simply saying that if I take the course and still disagree with something then I will make an informed decision about the best course of action for me. This is in contrast to Redman who said he and the instructor had a discussion over something the instructor taught. I am not saying Redman is wrong to do so, I just won't be doing that. I'll listen and learn.

I have ridden motorcycles for many years, since I was 7 or 8 yrs. old, but there was a period of ten+ years when I did very little riding. I've been back at it for a couple of years but am aware that I have a lot to learn.

 

[winfield]

I had my first class today. There were 9 of us. Only myself and one other person had ever ridden a motorcycle before and him for only 6 months. 5 men, 4 women. TWo dropped out of the class before the day was half over. One woman got off the bike when we were told to dismount and forgot to put the kick-stand down. The bike fell over with her under it. Only her pride was hurt. She was having a lot of trouble with the riding part. It seemed like she couldn't coordinate the clutch and throttle so that she would slow and begin to wobble and put her foot down. She was one who quit the class.

The second person was another woman who was completely unbalanced and awkward on the bike from the gitgo. She could not master power walking the bike, i.e. letting the clutch partially out so the wheel begins to rotate and the bike moves forward while you keep your feet on the ground and walk as the bike moves forward (you are seated on the bike at the time). Any way, she constantly had to stop and put her feet down while going through the various skills. Her bike would rev and nothing would happen because she would have the clutch in, then she would dump the clutch. Finally, as the bike revved she got scared and kinda let the clutch out so it lurched forward and she came off the seat on her feet and the front wheel came off the ground and drug her forward and then she let it go and the bike hit the pavement. She quit.

They weren't the only ones having trouble, though. A truck driver couldn't seem to remember to pull his clutch in before he shifted while moving. He was slow, wobbly, confused, and sometimes stopped in the middle of the course. How does he drive an 18-wheeler? So many of us were having trouble learning the techniques that we didn't finish all the skills that were scheduled for today. We have to go an hour earlier tomorrow to catch up.

Here's something I learned today. They called it something like riding using the friction zone (of the clutch). The clutch is let out slowly until the clutch starts to engage and once the bike moves forward keep the clutch in the friction zone without releasing it all the way out. In addition, you apply the rear brake to create a drag affect which provides stability in circumstances where you must go slow and maintain control, such as a parking lot. I had never done that before. The instructor said this will not have an ill affect on the clutch since it is a wet clutch, unlike the clutch in a car that you definitely don't want to slip because you'll burn it up.

The bikes we used were Suzuki GN125, Kawasaki Eliminator 125 or 250 (not sure), Suzuki TU250, and the one I was on, a Suzuki GZ250. I'm going to try for the TU250 tomorrow. I didn't like the GZ250. Feet forward and rear brake was ABOVE the foot peg making it difficult to find. I'm used to pressing my toes down to depress the rear brake lever. I don't like cruisers.

Well, tomorrow will be the second class and more skills to learn. Should be fun.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Same Same

Same Same

I think we are saying the same thing here. I was trying to express that I am taking the course because I want to learn and I do not plan on arguing with the instructor at all. Simply saying that if I take the course and still disagree with something then I will make an informed decision about the best course of action for me. This is in contrast to Redman who said he and the instructor had a discussion over something the instructor taught. I am not saying Redman is wrong to do so, I just won't be doing that. I'll listen and learn.

I have ridden motorcycles for many years, since I was 7 or 8 yrs. old, but there was a period of ten+ years when I did very little riding. I've been back at it for a couple of years but am aware that I have a lot to learn.

It's cool. No harm intended with my comments. Every time a sentence is prefaced with that line, it leads me to believe otherwise intended. But that's because I've seen it happen. No offense to you.

Sounds like you had an interesting class. We had one guy dump his bike coming to an emergency stop...instant fail. We had one female and 8 guys...all passed.

Enjoy the last day of class.


Ed