Took the MSF basic course last weekend - impressed!

[denviola]

Wife and her friend registered for the MSF basic course, and on a whim I walked into the day of class registration with them to see if there were any open spots. Figured that after 38 years of bad habits, might be good to learn some good ones and maybe snag an insurance discount. Was able to get an open spot, and settled in for two nights of classroom/written test (5 hours total) and two days of practice and skills evaluation on a bike (10 hours total) running from Thursday through Sunday. Took it here in Pa., and it was free as $5 from every motorcycle license fee in Pa. goes toward the course.

Classroom time was spent finding and discussing the practice questions, watching associated videos and some discussion. Test was kinda easy, much easier than the practice questions. Class was a very diverse mix of gender and ethnic origin, and it was actually fun. One of the young guys told me he asked his wife about buying a Sportster, and she said no. When she came home from work that night, it was in the garage and he said she would not talk with him for 5 days.... go figure!

Bikes were provided, small Suzuki or Kawasaki 250s, with one dual sport for taller riders. All mirrors and turn signals were removed as they would not survive if left on. Couple of additional students joined the class for the practice ride days as they did not pass the skills the first time. Started very basic, and there was one guy that had never ridden before. He dropped his bike very early, and after that was fantastic and actually passed and earned his license. Skills included bike pre-ride inspection, operation of all controls, starting the bike, rocking it with the clutch, walking it with the clutch, all quite a bit before actually riding. Riding skills included riding, shifting, turns, stops, weaves and the first try at the two-U-turn-box, which is similar to figure 8.

Day two included weaves, swerves, lane changes, obstacles, tight turns, stops in turns, etc. A skills test followed, with an explantion of the test and where penalty points could be given - must score 21 or less points to pass. Dropping your bike or an unsafe act during the test is an automatic fail. I scored 8 points, took 4 feet too long on the quick stop test, two points just outside the box one time on U-turns, and a two point addition for coasting into a turn when I was supposed to be set up and under power going in.

The skill I learned and appreciate the most was counterweighting, and I will practice that more. The instructors Glenn and Terry were first rate. They talked with me about taking the experienced rider course on my "trike". There is a MSF trike course although it is not offered in Pa. yet.

Wife and her friend accumulated a couple too many points, so they will get to do the two skill days again. Found out wife can use her own bike (Honda Rebel), so it may be a little more familiar. In the last 20 years I can count the hours she has ridden on one hand, with a finger or two left over. We can also practice the test skills a little more...

Bottom line - I had fun, learned new skills and refreshed old skills. It was a good assessment of my ability in the year following my stroke, and would recommend this course to all. Funny note, the guy with the Sportster came up to me and ribbed me about training wheels. Told him that at least my wife still talks to me..... We had fun all weekend.

Anyone else take this course?
I read online the U-turn box is 20 feet wide, did not get the length. Anyone know before I drive back to the local Community College and measure it?

Denny

[Big_Steve]

I never had any training what so ever. I had owned two bikes when I was younger, and even though they were small, I always was bad at slow speed stuff. After a while I parked them. 25 years later I got the bug and bought a trike. After a few months on the trike, I was yearning real bad for 2 wheels again. Talked it over with the wife. She said go ahead, but buy a big bike (go figure.) I went down to the local dealer, but couldn't muster up the nerve to take a big bike for a test ride. I signed up for the same class you did. I did mine over a Saturday and Sunday. It really didn't matter if I passed or failed, because I still had my endorsement from years ago. Well, I passed, but I did really-really bad at the U-turns, and I missed the last gate after the two curve roll around the course. But I did pass.

Anyway, it really gave me a big shot of confidence. Two days later I rode home on my Valkyrie. LOL, she DID tell me to get a big bike.........

I'm still not so hot at slow speed tight turns, but I'm better, and I know what I'm doing wrong anyway. I went back to the course (2 minutes from house) to practice once after hours. I probably should do that some more.

Actually, I don't think it was really enough time for a total newbi to learn much. But on the other hand, it does demonstrate to the state that there has been some instruction, and hopefully careful evaluation from a skilled instructor. When I got my first bike, I took a written test, and was given a permit. I could ride solo on city streets in daylight and come back within a year for the driver test. Back then, the riding test was a lot easier then the skills test MSF conducted too.

I went back the following Saturday and showed one of the instructors my new Valkyrie. He forgot that I was a refresher rider, not a total newbi, and he about died when he saw me ride the dragon into the parking lot.

There were a few things I figured out on my own years ago, but I never really knew if I was doing those things "right" or not. The course was real good at pointing out misconceptions, and cementing other things I wasn't sure about.

[Doc]

Denny....you can go to the MSF Site and pull up a schematic of the Test Course for the sizes. My Daughter-in-law is a National Instructor for MSF, teaching LEO Motor Courses, Basic, Advanced and Instructor Courses across the Country and the Training was invaluable....had my endorsement since '71 and she threatened to kick my Butt if I didn't take the Course after a Multi year layoff...Best thing I ever did!

Ed

[Will]

Great write-up, Denny. My experience with the MSF course is very much the same. I took the course 3 years ago, after decades of not riding. It was fun and informative, and I passed the couse straight up. Several weekends I've gone back to the DMV lot, and practiced the boxed turns and figure-8's. You really do need to crank your head around, and look where you want that front wheel to be, in order to make those tight turns.

Another, even more informative "course", is to get your hands on the video "Ride Like a Pro". I bought it on-line, and have watched it a number of times. It is worth every penny, and you will be a better rider as a result.

I have no affiliation with that video or the people who make or sell it, so my endorsement is strictly from a learning point of view. Perhaps a library has one, that could be checked out.

[skuuter]

GOOD STUFF, even if You have been ridin' for years. Two of my Sport Bike Buddies race WERA and are MSF Advanced Course Instructors. They "grill me" regularly on the parking lot to keep me honest.....

[Saltywheels]

Did the ERC every few years, just to clean up bad habbits. Then realized there were a number of other courses that imparted even more. As an example: Ride Like a Pro. This is as close to a California Highway Patrol course as a civilian can get. Have done it twice now & got as close to my version of proficient as I ever will get. You even learn how to safely drop your mount...S... happens you know! On the 17th am taking a Trike course put on by the GWRRA in/ near Las Vegas. That should be interesting! Details when I get back.

[jlb]

loved the msf so much I took it twice :no: Ok, I admit, i failed the first time by 3 points. I hate that box maneuver! I'd like to take a trike course, I understand they had a trial one here in Il last year but I missed it.

Msf courses fill up fast around here, many sign up as soon as registration opens in Feb/Mar.

[jim peacock]

A few years back after riding for many years I took the experence rider course,boy did I learn a lot did not realize all the stupid mistakes I had been making.
Have taken the course three times twice one up and once two up.
Since I have had the bike triked I have not taken the trike class,plan to do it next year.These are good classes I would recomend them to every one and to every few years to take a refreher course.
:yes::yes::yes: