MSF Rider Safety Course Update

[Syzygy]

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/04/msf-gets-serious-about-motorcy.html#more



Peace,
Syzygy

[Paulcet]

Thanks for the link Syzygy. 

The MSF update is indeed long overdue.  However, I can't get very excited about it....  The cost of the new program looks to be several times what the old one is.  The economic realities will stifle this program.  Even as it is, the state of Georgia has steadily reduced it's subsidy of the state-run rider courses, which are based on the MSF courses.  When I started riding, the participant cost was about $50.  Now it is $250.  In fact training locations are being eliminated at this time, and Experienced Rider Courses are hard to find.

It's not until motorcyclists (and other drivers) change their attitudes about their privilege to ride/drive, that an extensive and effective training course will really take off.

[romulux]

In Michigan, MSF courses that receive state funding have their course fee capped at a maximum of $25.  I'm taking the ERC at the end of May.

It is amazing that I can go to a dealer and buy a race replica motorcycle and ride away without ever having been on a motorcycle.  Some people think that's what America is about.

Then I notice half the drivers I pass are holding a cell to their head or texting away and I remember proficient training is not a priority in the USA.


Shiny side up.

[bassmechanicsz]

I think it would be a good idea to offer these courses to have courses tought on the actual road instead of driving in really small circles in a parking lot.  I took the beginner course 2 years ago and i did learn alot but once you actually go out on the road some of what you learned changes.  I would take atleast some of the courses but it looks like would be adding quite an extensive list. 

Right now with just the beginner, experienced and 2-up courses as far as i know they are basically the same range exercises except that the experienced and 2-up courses you use your own bike and the beginner you use one of theirs.  And they did just add a course between beginner and experienced in NJ last year but you can only take it within 3 months of taking the beginner and it is just the range exercises from the beginner if you didn't feel comfortable with them by the time you finished the beginner.

[tt_four]

The course is free here in PA, which is great. I wonder if an update like that would change anything. It's much easier to convince someone who's new that they should take the course than it would be if they had to put $200 toward it. To be honest I don't even know if I would've taken if I had to pay, and I definitely learned a bit from it. It was also helpful for my wife, who I tried to teach when we first brought the GS home, but quickly realized that we were getting nowhere and I was just stressing her out.

My dad took me up to my uncles camp and put me on a 500cc dual sport and said "let this lever out while you give it some gas with this one" and then just sent me off to ride around in the woods for 2 days, so needless to say I don't really have the background to be teaching anyone else how to ride. If my wife had gone through what I did those 2 days she'd never touch a bike again.

[Toogoofy317]

In Florida you have to take the course and fork out the $250. I took it just before it was required when it was $150. It was a great course especially for those who like me had never riden before.

Mary