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anyone here took the MSF course?

Started by jdmbuilt, October 16, 2005, 04:31:21 PM

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pandy

#20
October 17, 2005, 12:41:31 PM
Quote from: jdmbuiltthanks pandy for the info.  i just bought a purple GS too. :cheers:

:thumb: on the purple beauty!!

You'll find that there are many questions here that will bring you different answers. We can all ride around the same block and have different experiences. Just figure it's like calling the IRS: you'll call the IRS 12 times, and you'll get 12 different answers.  :lol:

If you REALLY want to get things stirred up, ask what sort of oil is best, whether the Ninja or GS is a better beginner bike, or if one should use premium or regular unleaded gasoline.  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
:cheers:
'06 SV650s (1 past Gixxer; 3 past GS500s)
I get blamed for EVERYTHING around here!
:woohoo:

My Name Is Dave

#21
October 17, 2005, 12:45:45 PM
I think a better question is one asking who hasn't taken the course. It's like me and one other person. I think it's the guy who bought an R1 for his first bike.  ;)

Dave  :cheers:
Quote from: AlphaFire X5
Man, I want some wine right now. Some pinot noir...yeah, that sounds nice

pandy

#22
October 17, 2005, 12:54:25 PM
Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDXI think a better question is one asking who hasn't taken the course. It's like me and one other person. I think it's the guy who bought an R1 for his first bike.  ;) Dave  :cheers:

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:
'06 SV650s (1 past Gixxer; 3 past GS500s)
I get blamed for EVERYTHING around here!
:woohoo:

Phaedrus

#23
October 17, 2005, 12:58:04 PM
Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDXI think a better question is one asking who hasn't taken the course. It's like me and one other person. I think it's the guy who bought an R1 for his first bike.  ;)

I didn't take the MSF course either, and didn't buy an R1 for my first bike. I just do one handed wheelies with no gear on. I typically do this in the Seattle area  :P
Richard died in a motorcycle accident that was at no fault of his own.  We lost a good friend and good member of this board.  Though Rich may be gone, his legacy will live on here.

Photos from the June '06 Northeast GStwin Meet

pandy

#24
October 17, 2005, 01:04:27 PM
Quote from: PhaedrusI didn't take the MSF course either, and didn't buy an R1 for my first bike. I just do one handed wheelies with no gear on. I typically do this in the Seattle area  :P

Wearing the pink tutu, right?  :P
'06 SV650s (1 past Gixxer; 3 past GS500s)
I get blamed for EVERYTHING around here!
:woohoo:

aevans17

#25
October 17, 2005, 01:14:18 PM
Original Poster:
We always started off in 1st gear. However, we were given the option to do whatever we wanted. Some poeple started in 2nd for some of the exercises, but since I was terrible at using the clutch I always started off in 1st (and managed a stall in every gear.) I just took the MSF in July.

To everyone else:
I was riding my 04F around the other night and stoped by the MSF course. When I took the class I never completed the figure 8's. I returned to see if my riding skills had improved and was surprised to find out that I could actually do the u-turns. At first I was not leaning the bike over enough nor was I sitting on the outside of the seat to counter steer. After two or three times through it was pretty easy. I tried doing them in 1st using the clutch to control speed, 2nd also using the clutch (this was really hard), and doing them in 1st using the clutch, but mostly footbreak to help control speed. For me 1st w/ clutch was the easiest. The key for me is starting the 1st turn with enough speed to get through without the bike wanting to fall.

I also did the breaking distance test because they have lots of great lines to show you how long it takes to come to a stop. That was pretty fun too.  I hadn't locked the front tire during normal driving and was unsure on just how hard I could break on the GS. I was having alot of fun, but then my bike started to overheat from being in 1st/2nd gear so long and not going very fast. I'm planning on taking the ERC next spring when it gets nice, and then hopefully a track day (for beginners of course).
Such is life

Badger

#26
October 17, 2005, 01:22:49 PM
Quote from: NightRyderNo way, no power would make it much harder. The best is to turn the motor way up, and just apply enough power to accelerate you a tiny bit. If you start to fall, let more power out. That and shift your ass over.
That's what I did...just like the coaches demonstrated, it still led to some tentative moments.  My observation was that there were a number of folks that clearly had the clutch squeezed all the way to the grip through each half of the turn and seemed to get around the box without much excitement.  

One thing I've noticed as I've run practice full-lock circles and 8's is that keeping some speed definitely makes the process easier (just like they said it would).  Of course, not having the lines on the ground and someone watching you with a stern look and a clipboard seems to make it easier as well.

Beware the clipboard...it has powers.

ShadowFire

#27
October 17, 2005, 01:31:17 PM
there were 2 things I "missed" on my MSF test thingy. 1. That damn 8. yes badger is right the clipboard has powers! it will haunt you for days after  :lol: .  2. I wasn't going fast enough in my turns. I wasn't doing "18 mph" I was at like 15. they popped a point on for that crap. either way I passed. Now I'm all offical!   :thumb:
If guns kill people I blame misspelled words on my pencil.

Don't make fun of my bike...she's sensitive about her blemishes....she'll cry...and I can't afford an oil leak.

93 GS500E nothing special done to it.

dgyver

#28
October 17, 2005, 03:24:26 PM
Quote from: RoadstergalNo, nobody here took it.  And they make you start in 5th.

Why are you asking?


(They teach you to ride, which involves starting in first.)

What no search?  ;)

......

I never took the MSF and my first street bike was a 1000. I have been to EBRS (racing school), if that counts. Not sure if the MSF was around when I started street riding.
Common sense in not very common.

pandy

#29
October 17, 2005, 04:29:42 PM
Quote from: dgyverWhat no search?  ;)

Well..she *did* just turn another year older...perhaps she forgot?  :mrgreen:    :kiss:
'06 SV650s (1 past Gixxer; 3 past GS500s)
I get blamed for EVERYTHING around here!
:woohoo:

Roadstergal

#30
October 17, 2005, 04:32:27 PM
Quote from: pandyWell..she *did* just turn another year older...perhaps she forgot?  :mrgreen:    :kiss:

What?  Eh?  Speak up!  I can't hear nuttin'... damn kids with their loud music...

pandy

#31
October 17, 2005, 04:34:14 PM
Quote from: RoadstergalWhat?  Eh?  Speak up!  I can't hear nuttin'... damn kids with their loud music...

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:
'06 SV650s (1 past Gixxer; 3 past GS500s)
I get blamed for EVERYTHING around here!
:woohoo:

daneilah

#32
October 18, 2005, 06:24:40 AM
Quote from: pandy...When I took it, they never had us start off from second gear. It is possible, however, to do so on the GS500....one just doesn't get as GRACEFUL a start as one normally might.  :lol:  :mrgreen:

I have discovered, purely by accident  :lol:  that you can start a GS500 in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th.  I haven't tried 5th or 6th yet.  I'm hoping to stay more attentive than that  :?
2004 GS500F ... SOLD after 2 summers and 16,600km
2006 GSF650S Bandit

dhgeyer

#33
October 18, 2005, 08:57:11 AM
I took the MSF Basic Rider Course in August of this year, and the Experienced Rider Course about 2 weeks later. I just finished taking the RiderCoach Preparation Course this past weekend.

There is no range exercise in the BRC that involves starting the bike, under its own power, in any gear other than 1st.

Dave Geyer
Merrimack, NH
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