MSF Advice please??

[streetsweeper]

Hey everybody, I've been thinking a lot about the MSF course lately and I just wanted some your guys' inputs on what I'm thinking. I know it would be wise of me to take the course, seeing as how I'm a "newbie" and everything, but.... I bought my bike 11 days ago and I have already put ALMOST 600 miles on it (I'll crossover 600 tomorrow on my 50 mile TWISTY commute to work and back). I feel as though I'm doing VERY well dealing with traffic (head checks, turn signals, hand signals, etc.), I can already do a 5 mph u-turn within 2 parking lot spaces (which is decent). So basically, I feel as though I'm doing a very above par job at this thus far. My question for all of you is, what is it that I would feel "grateful" for taking this course? Is there something else they teach other than stopping/starting,shifting, slow speed maneuvers, traffic tips, etc? I'm taking a risk here because I'm sure I'll be getting flamed from some of you for NOT taking the course yet, but please, I can take it, just give me your HONEST opinion. Thanks in advance you guys, I love this website.    

[RVertigo]

I was riding for a few months before taking the MSF...  Yes, it was only a H#nda 90, but whatever...

Take the course.  I don't know what you're missing...  But, there's a good chance you're missing something.

The thing that convinced me to take the MSF was The "Hurt" Report

24. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.

You're in that 92% right now...  Taking the MSF, learning, practicing what you learned, etc...   That will put you in the 8% category.

Which would you want to be in?  

I know I chose the 8%.

Read the whole report...  Lots of info that may change your mind on a few things.

[GeeP]

Well, I think the course is a good introduction to motorcycles.  It covers theory and basic street survival strategies.  I thnk it's worth $350 or so for the two-day course - if you have to pay.  Hell, that's only $21 an hour and they provide the bike.  In IL it's free.  Might be in other states too.

I can't say for sure what you're going to learn from it.  Maybe nothing.  then again, you may come away with a little tidbit that saves your hide on the way home.

One of the main things I took home was that you have to LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO!  I already knew this, but it hadn't really gotten burned in yet.  One particular exercise they do is called "the box".  The idea is that you have to to a figure-eight inside the box.  The only way to complete it is to look.  More specifically, look waaaaay over your shoulder.  I think it's a good exercise, and it burned in the idea that you have to look where you want to go.  It also made me realize just how manuverable a small motorcycle is.

To answer your question, I think that everyone who keeps an open mind will learn something.

[streetsweeper]

Thanks for your replies so far guys. I realize I should take it, but I think I'm gonna have to wait a while seeing as how I don't have very much money right now (paying for insurance on my car and bike aren't cheap when you've had a dwi in the past), paying off my bike, etc. But I'm in the process of assuring myself that I MUST take this, because before I got my bike I just KNEW that I was going to have to take it even before I bought a bike, but I saw my pride and joy and I had to have her, and ever since then I've just been enjoying the ride, practicing as much as I can (figure 8s, u-turns, emergency stops, etc.)

Anyways, thanks again you two. Any other comments?

[RVertigo]

92%!!!

What's cheaper?  The MSF or crashing?   :dunno:  The longer you wait, the more unlearning you may have to do.  

I was in a bad money situation when I took the course too...  I'm still glad I did.  I had LOTS of bad habits though (still have a few).

OK.     I'll stop now.

[boosdad]

I had put just over 3000 miles on my GS before taking the MSF.  It was worth the $50 I paid for the course.  I will tell you, I wish that I could have taken it sooner, but the classes were full.     In Indiana, from what I hear, the BMV testing is more difficult [ie..figure 8 box smaller] than the MSF through ABATE.   I had a few bad habits to break, and the MSF showed me what I was doing wrong (ie... looking thru turns).

My only complaint is that in my group of 12 there were 8 that had never been on bikes before.  It was so frustrating to be going thru the course and have to stop in the middle and wait for them.  But in all it was a good weekend.

[RVertigo]

It was so frustrating to be going through the course and have to stop in the middle and wait for them.

Same here...  Another reason why you want to take it sooner, rather than later.  If you are too frustrated, you won't care much about the rest of the course that you might need.

OK...  I'll really stop now.

[aaronstj]

Taking the MSF will probably lower your insurance rates, too, so in the long run, you're making money on the deal.

As for that 92% stat, while it is a good incentive to take the MSF (which I support), I'm a bit wary of it.  It may not be so much that untrained riders are nine times more likely to crash, but more like nine times as many riders are untrained, period..  What percentage of riders had taken a safety course at the time the study was conducted?  I'd wager it was fairly low (though probably not at low at 8%).  A better statistic would be percentage of total riders who've taken safety course vs. percentage of crashed riders who've taken safety course.

But do take the MSF.  You almost certainly have bad habits you don't know about.

[boosdad]

Taking the MSF will probably lower your insurance rates, too, so in the long run, you're making money on the deal.

My insurance didn't budge with the course under my belt.  I hear the Farm Bureau is already pretty low, so they don't offer discounts for the course.

[dhgeyer]

I had over 40,000 miles and three years before I took the Basic Rider Course. I had already read the book (Motorcycling Excellence), and done a lot of the exercises, like you. I would take it again in a minute. I learned that I had developed a few bad habits, and how to correct them.

Here in New Hampshire there is a course called the Experienced Rider Course, which I also took. It is essentially a bunch of the exercises from the Basic Rider Course plus a couple more, and no classroom instruction, although some items are covered via some stand up class time on the range. You take it on your own bike. They may offer the same course where you are, and they may call it something else. I am a new MSF Rider Coach myself, and I know that this course is something that MSF put together. Unfortunately I am on the road right now and don't have my MSF materials, and I don't remember what the MSF calls this course. I don't think it's the same name New Hampshire uses. Anyway, a call to the state organization would tell you whether or not it is available where you are, and what it might be called. It's only one day, and doesn't cost as much as the BRC.  Worth checking into. It would give you the good coaching that MSF has to offer, without you having watch a lot of people who have never sat on a motorcycle learn how to use the clutch and brakes.

[pandy]

Ok..put your asbestos shorts on:

DWI? Are you a troll or what?  

You're coming here begging to have your mind changed, but you're sitting here saying that you don't think you're going to take the course anyway, but please give me more opinions on why I should take the course!

You already know what the answer is. It's quite simple: if you can't afford proper training, proper gear, insurance for your motorcycle, etc, then you can't afford to ride.  

You asked for honesty; you got it!  :mrgreen:

I realize I should take it, but I think I'm gonna have to wait a while seeing as how I don't have very much money right now (paying for insurance on my car and bike aren't cheap when you've had a dwi in the past), paying off my bike, etc. But I'm in the process of assuring myself that I MUST take this, because before I got my bike I just KNEW that I was going to have to take it even before I bought a bike, but I saw my pride and joy and I had to have her, and ever since then I've just been enjoying the ride, practicing as much as I can (figure 8s, u-turns, emergency stops, etc.)

[natedawg120]

Ok..put your asbestos shorts on:

DWI? Are you a troll or what?  

You're coming here begging to have your mind changed, but you're sitting here saying that you don't think you're going to take the course anyway, but please give me more opinions on why I should take the course!

You already know what the answer is. It's quite simple: if you can't afford proper training, proper gear, insurance for your motorcycle, etc, then you can't afford to ride.  

You asked for honesty; you got it!  :mrgreen:

I realize I should take it, but I think I'm gonna have to wait a while seeing as how I don't have very much money right now (paying for insurance on my car and bike aren't cheap when you've had a dwi in the past), paying off my bike, etc. But I'm in the process of assuring myself that I MUST take this, because before I got my bike I just KNEW that I was going to have to take it even before I bought a bike, but I saw my pride and joy and I had to have her, and ever since then I've just been enjoying the ride, practicing as much as I can (figure 8s, u-turns, emergency stops, etc.)

+10 Pandy

[dbNnc]

Here in NC the MSF course costs $100. Taking it reduced my six-month insurance premium by at least that much. So if you want to reduce your costs, taking the MSF course is the fastest, easiest way to do it. Plus, you also learn to ride better from experienced teachers.

[callmelenny]

I had not ridden in several years before I bought my GS. I decided to take the MSF course anyway. I passed all the skills with 100% and could have done so the first day.

Despite that, I'm glad I took the course. If the instructors are good they can point out bad habits you have.
There were several long time riders in my course (for ticket reductions) and they were some of the worst riders.

Like others have said, you could always take the Exp rider course if they will let you. Around here it is shorter and cheaper.