Took the Advanced Rider MSF course today

[Capt.Bob]

With 400k plus seat miles on bikes/trikes, I realized that at age 68, it might not be a bad idea to take an advanced rider MSF course. Firstly, it provided a formalized opportunity to see how my skillsets have "aged", to pick up some safety tips and also get a 10% discount on my insured trikes.

The school I went to in North Florida provided me with a Honda 250 Rebel since I only own a couple of trikes now. I had some fun scraping hard parts a couple of times to deal with some of the more challenging maneuvers (greater speed=greater lean).The course was both very enjoyable and I learned some new things like how distractions affect your stopping distances. The course is designed very well for the experienced rider to get some challenges that I think helped tune up my overall riding skillsets. Highly recommended fun day of two-wheel motorcycling that will enhance my three-wheeled life.

[LadyonaMission]

Bob, sounds like you had a fun day.

[David357]

Nice going Bob.

Learn a lot and have fun at the same time.

[1dn5up]

Never too old to learn new tricks

[Capt.Bob]

Bob, sounds like you had a fun day.

I was talking with my wife last night and this morning as we went on our 3-mile before dawn walk about how absolutely much fun I had yesterday. I used to ride very high-performance sport bikes at high rates of speed and on some very technical roads and an occasional track and was frankly amazed that most of my skills came flooding back. I challenged the instructor and we did a number of chase rides on some technical courses yesterday and he seemed amazed that I kept up and kept within the tight lines set up by the various courses. He was an exceptionally skilled rider and it was fun to hang with him and stay well within safety parameters.

It reminded me of a couple of years in my early 50's where we went "supersonic" every Sunday morning locked in a staggered 6 feet apart formation on very desolate local country roads that were in superb condition. After two years of that somewhat silly behavior, I mentioned to my 5 other cohorts that if we had ever harmed someone that we would have been facing a 20 year stretch in prison. My cohorts actually asked me what my point was about bringing that issue up? At age 52, I exercised one of my limited adult thinking patterns and decided to stop riding with my buddies. It was one of the hardest decisions I had ever had to make from a fun/social standpoint.

Like 1dn5up mentioned, we are definitely never too old to hone our riding skills. I really appreciated some of the aspects of what the MSF is trying to impart to their participants and definitely gleaned some learning that will translate into better trike riding. The instructor was planning to add several classes and one of them will include trike riding with an experienced trike instructor. That too might be a very interesting class.

Back in the day and even to this day, I see every ride as an opportunity to hone my riding skills. It sort of sets up artificial challenges that seem to keep me more alert and looking for ways that I can improve my skills and/or safety margins. I find it great fun but today, since the weather is so spring-like, I am putting my wife on the back of my Tri Glide Ultra and riding her to the coast to a large Federal wildlife refuge on the Gulf of Mexico and then on to a fabulous seafood restaurant near the coast.

[1dn5up]

Did ya ask what qualifys one to be a experienced Trike rider ? To be a teacher. Querious!

[Capt.Bob]

Did ya ask what qualifys one to be a experienced Trike rider ? To be a teacher. Querious!

Retired Meter Maids

Or more politically correct, Retired Meter Readers

[Capt.Bob]

In addition to improving my skill sets with the Experienced Rider MSF course, I called my insurer GEICO this morning and was able to save approximately $95 on my two trikes for the upcoming renewal period. The course cost me $130 and so in about 15 months, it will have been paid for by the savings of the MSF course. According to the insurer, the endorsement has no time limitations. Apparently, Tennessee is the only State that requires recertification every three years.

[427dave]

With 400k plus seat miles on bikes/trikes, I realized that at age 68, it might not be a bad idea to take an advanced rider MSF course. Firstly, it provided a formalized opportunity to see how my skillsets have "aged", to pick up some safety tips and also get a 10% discount on my insured trikes.

The school I went to in North Florida provided me with a Honda 250 Rebel since I only own a couple of trikes now. I had some fun scraping hard parts a couple of times to deal with some of the more challenging maneuvers (greater speed=greater lean).The course was both very enjoyable and I learned some new things like how distractions affect your stopping distances. The course is designed very well for the experienced rider to get some challenges that I think helped tune up my overall riding skillsets. Highly recommended fun day of two-wheel motorcycling that will enhance my three-wheeled life.

I took that course a few years back on my Ultra Limited before I got the trike. It was very good and fun.

[Capt.Bob]

I took that course a few years back on my Ultra Limited before I got the trike. It was very good and fun.

Dave, I cannot even imagine taking that course on a big dresser. Geez, some of the maneuvers are extremely slow and tight and for you to have completed it without hopefully dropping your bike is unreal. The instructor had offered me his ST1300 Honda and I had owned one of them but at age 68 with a 5-month new left hip, there was no way in hell that I was going to take him up on that offer. Sheesh, the little 250cc Honda Rebel was a hoot to ride and I could flick that around like I was on a skateboard. Can't imagine how difficult it was on your HD Ultra, kudos to you

I have to agree that the course was really fun!

[Jack Klarich]

Very good info here

Insurance company's like it when we take these courses

[427dave]

Dave, I cannot even imagine taking that course on a big dresser. Geez, some of the maneuvers are extremely slow and tight and for you to have completed it without hopefully dropping your bike is unreal. The instructor had offered me his ST1300 Honda and I had owned one of them but at age 68 with a 5-month new left hip, there was no way in hell that I was going to take him up on that offer. Sheesh, the little 250cc Honda Rebel was a hoot to ride and I could flick that around like I was on a skateboard. Can't imagine how difficult it was on your HD Ultra, kudos to you

I have to agree that the course was really fun!

Never dropped it I could turn that thing around in less than one lane, can't do that with my trike . It did the slow stuff real good, I think the Ultra is well balanced and I think that is why the cops like to ride them. It was about 8-9 years ago. Got the clutch real hot

[5x40]

Back in the 80s when I lived in TX, I took the TX Department of Public Safety Motorcycle Riding Course. In the 90's I took both of the MSF courses. Two yrs ago I took the MSF 3 Wheeler Course offered by my local HD Dealership. It was a good course. I was not new to 3 wheeler riding but took it mostly for the insurance break.

[1dn5up]

Here in NY the defensive drivers course will get the both the auto and MC deduction. Just sit and watch videos for 8 hrs

There is no Trike class available here, only a 2wheeler class. Trikes are welcomed but not reconised yet.

[HDB0B]

I took the MSF Advanced course on my ZRX 1200R .... and it was very informative. I learned that I can lift the rear wheel off the ground when braking hard! The insurance discount was an added plus. I'm 67 ... and never too old to learn.

Bob

[Ed H]

Dave, I cannot even imagine taking that course on a big dresser. Geez, some of the maneuvers are extremely slow and tight and for you to have completed it without hopefully dropping your bike is unreal. The instructor had offered me his ST1300 Honda and I had owned one of them but at age 68 with a 5-month new left hip, there was no way in hell that I was going to take him up on that offer. Sheesh, the little 250cc Honda Rebel was a hoot to ride and I could flick that around like I was on a skateboard. Can't imagine how difficult it was on your HD Ultra, kudos to you

I have to agree that the course was really fun!

I took the course when I got my 12 Ulta, was a challenge for sure. Fun tho, I would do it again just to renew some maneuvers.

[prariepilot]

Check with your local DMV/BMV or their website. I know for a fact Pennsylvania offers the MSF courses at NO CHARGE. You must be licensed in PA though. The state pays for them. Your state may do the same. The MSF does offer a Basic Three-wheeled Riders Course and the manual for the course is available on their website. https://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/3W...dbook_2017.pdf

Someone asked about becoming an instructor for MSF courses; The how-to is also on their website. https://www.msf-usa.org/ridercoaches.aspx

[tx freebird]

Did ya ask what qualifys one to be a experienced Trike rider ? To be a teacher. Querious!

I am an MSF & H-D qualified instructor - we use the terminology RiderCoach . Each step in the qualification process is different. You need to qualify to coach the basic course first (BRC) then a second qualification for the new version with eCourse (BRCu), The Experienced Rider Course, BRC2 in MSF terminology, is another qualification. Trike courses (3WBRC) are a little different, but still require one more qualification. As of this moment, I am not aware of an experienced 3W course.

Having said all that, I still take at least one course each year as a student to refresh/update my skill and correct bad habits that keep slipping in.

[mythplaced]

B

PITBOSS! Oh Yeah!!

[DamnYankee]

In the 3 wheeled course....... do they teach power sliding through turns ???