How I Took the MSF and Learned To Love the Figure-8 (looong)

[stingray]

good job passing the BRC.  points system around these parts is a 21 pt.  system.  anything over 21pt is considered failure to meet the requirements of basic bike control.

We were all warned to wear protective clothing (long pants, long sleeve shirts, gloves) but 2 of the girls came dressed in really really thin fabric blouses with sleeves that went just to the elbows...and each one of them fell at some point. One girl skinned her forearm really bad, another ripped her thin nylon blouse when she fell.

the instructors should NOT have let those girls continue till they've had proper "gear,"  if anything for liability reasons.  have them reschedule, or turn them away flatly.  had they had on long sleeve shirts, at least the 1 girl would have lessened her rash on her arm.  it's a safety course first, riding course 2nd.

hmm....i guess some instructors like dancing on the line to get their rider coach license revoked...

[aaronstj]

Except that you didn't take the MSF.  WA doesn't have one.  You took the WA Motorcycle Safety Course, subcontracted to the Motorcycle Safety Company.

I'm pretty sure it was the MSF course.  The Motorcycle Safety Company is listed on the MSF's web site, at on the Motorcycle Safety Company's website it says "MSC offers the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic RiderCourse," which is what I took.  Perhaps it's been changed recently?

Either way, I loved the course, and like you said, Bruce is great.  He asked on to come buy some weekend he's teaching after we get biked to show off - I definiately plan on it.

good job passing the BRC. points system around these parts is a 21 pt. system. anything over 21pt is considered failure to meet the requirements of basic bike control.

Yeah, same system here, we just thought of it as being points off, and you needed 80/100 to pass.  But since there's no way to get 100 points knocked off, I guess it really doesn't make sense that way.

[Roadstergal]

When I spoke to the guy listed on the WA DOT's website as being the coordinator for WA motorcycle safety, he was very adament about the WA course using MSF course materials, but not being MSF itself.  *shrug*  All I know fer sure is that the courses are contracted to private companies here.

[aaronstj]

Huh.  Well, whatever it was, I know how to rider a motorcycle now.

[Roadstergal]

Yep, that was what I took out of it.

Maybe it was a good learning experinece for the gals, and they'll go buy some &^%$ protective gear.

[starwalt]

"Animals could be bred and slaughtered!"   :lol:  :lol:

or for a more updated line...

"Motorrad riders could be trained and evaluated!"

A superb reflection on your experience.  
We had Nighthawk 250, Rebel 250, and one GZ250. The short girl got the GZ.

[Alphamazing]

Alright, first off, that was an excellent and extremely entertaining write up. Clearly written and well worded, it provided information with excellent descriptions and allowed us to feel what you were at the time. I'm sure we've all had the same feelings you had :mrgreen:

I must say, that brought back a lot of great memories. Be glad your class was so cheap! It's $300+ here. I LOVED doing the figure 8 in the box as well, as shown when I clocked the fastest time in it! Be gladd you had the Honda 125s, though, as we were stuck with Kawasaki Eliminator 125s. That meant low seat height (awkward for my long, lanky frame) as well as low pegs. Those low pegs caused me to drag them through the corners, much to the delight of the instructors. However, it just prevented me from clocking fastere times out of fear of scraping hard parts. I had a great time, just as you did though.

Keep writing! That was wonderful!

[pronator]

Where'd it go? 

I wanna read! 

[scottpA_GS]

Prob. left 3 years ago when this thread died 

[pronator]

 

I happen to find it when I was doing a search (on something else). Maybe the OP moved his posting elsewhere?

Thanks! 

[skwidd]

I'm taking the MSF course this weekend.  I don't have an endorsement, and I've never owned a bike, but I have ridden friends' bikes.

The course is VERY basic.  Actually, perhaps too basic for the skill level at which I am, since i do have a few miles under my belt.  I'm hoping tomorrow I learn a few more things.

I do give the course and instructors A LOT of credit.  I've picked up what may appear as very minor things to expeirenced riders, but I think these minor things will help my riding.  I don't normally use the friction zone and I played with that a lot today.  Using the friction zone really appears to smooth out the slower speed parts of riding.  There were a lot of things I knew, but concentrating on using friction zone makes my riding a lot smoother at slow speeds.  The higher speed stuff was a cake walk for me, although it appeared a few students were hesitant to go into second gear.  I was ready for a little faster.

Tomorrow is the second riding day and I am looking forward to see what they will teach us. 

Bummer OP del'd his post.  I think this would be a great thread for n00bs...like me.

/edit: received my certificate today.  Had a little trouble with the Figure-8.  I did learn a few things today, the second day.