GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

When i signed up for MSF approx two months ago i couldnt wait for the time to pass,now the class is 2 days from now and im getting nervous!

I dont understand it, at times I can't wait to get on a bike or to get some good advise as to ride motorcycles,but others I guess im a bit scarred of not doing as good as I expect myself to do. Not necissarily be Rossi my first time around on a bike but good enough that i could tell myself,man, I roxed that thing.

Anyone else get butterflies before their course?

oh, and off topic random question, is it lame to buy gear that matches your bike? dont know much about motorcycle etiquette yet, or rather, know more about cars and could spot a ridiculously painted ricer from a mile away. is gearing up matching your bike being a ricer..lol is it even called that in the motorcycle world?

Well after three long and semi-challenging days, i am now fully licensed to ride a motorcycle!wooh!so happy, for 49/50 on the exam and -8 out of a possible 21 on the riding portion..man that figure-eight in a box kicked my ass for some reason,i dont understand why i couldnt nail it.
After i get my gs-f and ride for a while im goign to go back and beat that boxes ass with it.

There are going to be so many tools in your MSF course that you're going to feel like a freakin' rock star.  Don't sweat it.  The first night, I'm sure somebody is going to rev their 250 Rebel up to about 8 grand, pop the clutch, and jump the bike into the instructer's legs.  You'll be fine.  

There are some people that literally don't know how to work the clutch that will be there.  Just enjoy you're SoCal weather and the four hours of riding you're going to do everyday for the next four days.   :x

Quote from: Jake DThere are some people that literally don't know how to work the clutch that will be there.  Just enjoy you're SoCal weather and the four hours of riding you're going to do everyday for the next four days.   :x

hehe, i detect a little resentment?? :lol:

first night, friday night is the classroom night, following day is riding/classroom, and then riding after that.

speaking of falling, my short term goal for this course is not to be the first one taking a dive.ill go down anytime after that, when the preassure is off, jus not the first ;)

You won't start of with the figure 8's or anything.  You'll be power walking the bike across a parking lot.  By time you feel challenged at all, you'll be half way through the riding test on the last night and you'll just be cruising to the finish line.  

Your goal should be to get a perfect score on the written (ahem, 100 out of 100) and get the highest score on the riding part.

Yeah, I had butterflies before MSF also, but I had never really ridden a motorcycle before.  But the riding starts out with the *very* basics and moves up, so you get over the nervousness quickly.  Also, with the riding drills, you get several chances to practice things, so it's not like there's any pressure to do everything perfect the first time. :thumb:

As for matching your bike--I don't think anyone associates matching your bike with being squidly.  If you can get gear that matches, cool.  If you worry more about the color of your gear than the quality of the gear and your riding skills, not cool.  Personally, I haven't seen many people that match everything.  Seems like most people buy a jacket then switch bikes or something and it's silly to get new matching gear.  Myself, being a noob, got the brightest color bike I could find (yellow) and the brightest color jacket I could find (hot pink).

Quote from: KessenAnyone else get butterflies before their course?

BIG TIME!!  I was totally worried that I was going to fail and lose my $240...   :?

Just read the book, pay attention, and do what the instructor tells you...  You'll do fine.  The corse is designed to help you learn to ride and pass...  They're not trying to make you fail.

Quote from: Kessenis it lame to buy gear that matches your bike?

It is in some circles...  Matching gear is like admitting that you think motorcycles are more about style than fun transportation. Basically, it makes you look like a poseur.  :dunno:

Do what you want...  If people want to talk trash about your matching gear, let them.  When you're out riding and having fun, you won't be able to hear them anyway.   :thumb:  And, no...  My gear doesn't match.  Yellow/Black helmet, Gray/Black jacket, Black pants, Blue bike.

You don't need to read the book.  They give you a movie to watch right before the test.  It has all the answers.

You should only read the book if you really want to answer all the stupid questions during class.  But then you look like a gunner, and nobody likes a gunner.

The MSF is a cakewalk.  I was pretty nervous, too, but once you actually get on a bike, it's the most naturual thing in the world.  Those things just stay up on their own.  Good luck.

Now that it's several months after the MSF, and I'm getting closer to actually getting a bike, I'm getting nervous again.  Oh well.

Also me gear matches my bike (or will, when I get my bike :) ).

Quote from: aaronstjAlso me gear matches my bike

Poseur!  :nana:

:lol:

OK...  I think it's about time to conspire with the other Seattle riders to come harass you once you have it... :mrgreen:

I had ridden dirtbikes for a year before doing the MSF class. When it came time to start the class I was nervous, as I had never ridden a street bike before, and the bikes we were riding were totally different from what I was used to. Upright dirtbikes to low low cruiser style. After half an hour or so it became a lot easier as everything just seemed to click together. It became natural, as if the bike was an extension of myself. You'll be fine. There are some people there, as said before, that won't even know how to work a clutch, or have enough coordination to use a clutch, brakes, and throttle. Just be sure to relax and not think too much about everything. Just let it flow.

As for matching your bike. I've got a blue bike, blue helmet, blue goves, blue jacket, and black pants. I personally don't think it's ricey at all. A part of motorcycling is not just the riding, it's also the look. We modify our bikes to look unique, and why shouldn't our gear be a part of that? When we're on the bike, we're a key part of how it looks. The visual modifications shouldn't stop at the machine itself. It just looks better, IMO. Not knocking on you people with mismatched gear, of course.

Im sure it'll pass as soon as I get on a bike. speaking of which, do they have any standard sized bike?250? 125?just curious

ah and i see;
ricers are to cars
as
squids are to bikes.
damn you SAT's.

I'm most likely not going to match my gear to my bike (i guess im a lot like aaronstj in that he took MSF but didnt have a bike right afterwards,im savin up on my own)
maybe its me dreamin,but that Icon skull motorhead jacket looks so nice,incredibly pricey,but niiiiice!

My class had Honda Reblel 250's, Honda Nighthawk 250's (the bike I chose), Suzuki GZ250's, and Kawaski 125 dual purpose bikes.  Go for the Nighthawk.  It is big pimpin.  The GZ we had in our class was cool looking.  No front fender, street tracker style.

Quote from: Kessenthat Icon skull motorhead jacket looks so nice,incredibly pricey,but niiiiice!

Watch for it on Ebay...

Someone I know got a pretty good price for his.

In my MSF I rode a Yamaha TW200 as I was one of the taller folks in the class.  Don't worry about the nervousness, it will quickly pass.  I had never been on a motorcycle before when I took it.  In my class there were some people that actually rode their bikes to the range  :lol:.  I thought for sure I would stick out like a sore thumb, but did great.  
Our Rider coaches were very pleased as I guess the class before was a bunch of douchebags, and wouldn't follow instructions. Which sort of surprised me, since the majority of the two classes going on the weekend I took it were cruiser riders and older than me.  In fact, in the other class I thought it was a requirement to wear a do-rag.  :dunno:

If you're lucky they'll have a pair of goggles that they make you put on that are supposed to make you feel drunk.  They made me put them on and walk around the classroom.  I kept tripping and stumbling around.  They distort your vision.  People were laughing their asses off.  I have been drunk probably 1500 times, and never had any feeling that that before.  I nearly puked!

Quote from: RVertigo

Quote from: aaronstjAlso me gear matches my bike

Poseur!  :nana:

It's actually worse.  I've having my bike custom painted to match my gear.  :mrgreen:

Quote from: aaronstj

Quote from: RVertigo

Quote from: aaronstjAlso me gear matches my bike

Poseur!  :nana:

It's actually worse.  I've having my bike custom painted to match my gear.  :mrgreen:

ooo, ultimate.

At least he's not having his BODY painted to match his bike.  :lol:

Kessen, I was VERY nervous before taking the MSF, but I made it! w00t! I had never ridden a motorcycle before at all, so I was truly starting at ground zero. Fortunately, the MSF starts at ground zero, so the folks who arrived on their motos to get their M class are the ones I felt sorry for! They must have been bored "power walking" the tiny bikes across the parking lot.  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

It's rather funny, because when I took the MSF, those tiny bikes seemed big. When I got the GS a month later, he seemed HUGE!!! A year later, they don't seem so big!  :cheers:  :mrgreen:

the msf was a cake in my opinion, when i got there i was alittle nervous as i had never riddin anything motorized with two wheels and then i get the second highest score, perfect being the first.  the first day you watch movies and stradle the bike as you hold the clutch halfway out and let it crawl beneath you.  its easy dont worry.  my take on matching gear is its is ok as long as you dont try to look all sponsered and stuff like that one joe rocket jacket with all the patches on it with the sponsers and junk.  my jacket is black and grey (mesh and leather) and my helmet just matches, red being the dominant color on my helmet and my bike.  i just think the people with all the yoshimura, parts unlimited, Scotts and sponsrs like that are goons. but a jacket that has red on it would be nice though.  so color is ok, just dont go over board.  good luck.

oh, the good MSF days... I remember now, it's all coming back.

you will have plenty of time for yourself... listening to your breathing inside your helmet, wondering about the hundreds of thousands of riders who did the same thing before you (those who took the msf course), feeling the wind trying to pull your head off your body while you go at amazing speeds on each run (12-18mph).
yes... those were the days when it took me forever to put my gloves on, and when the helmet seemed like a heavy burden to carry around, feeling a bit dumb with such a 'big head'.

I'll give you the first lesson free of charge: never brake in a turn

your welcome  :thumb:

oh yeah, and about the gear: buy flashy colors with glow in the dark stuff... honest.

you want to be seen by car drivers once you are in the road.

Yeah. You WANT to be seen. That way the driver can laugh at you as they run you over saying, "hahaha look at that stupid motorcyclist".

just kiddin'

hey i feel like that a lot on a bike..


Its a feeling like...i'm going tooooo diee

alternating with

Wooohoooo

depends how far you slide on the snow covered road and where your trajectory is taking you :)

Quote from: pandyIt's rather funny, because when I took the MSF, those tiny bikes seemed big. When I got the GS a month later, he seemed HUGE!!! A year later, they don't seem so big!  :cheers:  :mrgreen:

When I took the MSF, I thought the Nighthawk 250 felt a bit small.  When I went to look at/sit on the GS at the dealership, my first thought was, "Jeez...this thing is huuuuge!" :lol:  It seems to get smaller every time I ride it...pretty soon it's going to disappear.

Quote from: AlphaFire X5Yeah. You WANT to be seen. That way the driver can laugh at you as they run you over saying, "hahaha look at that stupid motorcyclist". just kiddin'

:lol:  +1

I have a bright red bike, my gear is black and blue, and I wear a lovely fluorescent orange belt and fluorescent...uh....kinda lime-yellow.. vest for safety....   :lol:  :thumb:

My bf bought me the orange and lime-yellow lovelies....He said it was for my safety :bs: , but I think he just likes to laugh at me....  :P  

You definitely made me more visible on da' road! Wubz yew, sweetie!!!  :kiss:  :mrgreen:

Quote from: subcoh, the good MSF days... I remember now, it's all coming back.

you will have plenty of time for yourself... listening to your breathing inside your helmet, wondering about the hundreds of thousands of riders who did the same thing before you (those who took the msf course), feeling the wind trying to pull your head off your body while you go at amazing speeds on each run (12-18mph).
yes... those were the days when it took me forever to put my gloves on, and when the helmet seemed like a heavy burden to carry around, feeling a bit dumb with such a 'big head'.

I'll give you the first lesson free of charge: never brake in a turn

your welcome  :thumb:

i have slight riding expierience,friends dad has a suzuki burgen 650,granted its not a sport bike, or really a motorcycle motorycle, but its a pretty fast freakin scooter,i know that feeling tho,listening to your breathing inside the helmet,constantly saying "smoothness is key,smoothness is key".

im buying my gs-f in about half a year, give or take a couple months, most likely give,after i get it, will it feel strange to ride having taken the MSF course so long before?or is it the kind of thing like riding a bike,never forgetting?

Quote from: Badger

Quote from: pandyIt's rather funny, because when I took the MSF, those tiny bikes seemed big. When I got the GS a month later, he seemed HUGE!!! A year later, they don't seem so big!  :cheers:  :mrgreen:

When I took the MSF, I thought the Nighthawk 250 felt a bit small.  When I went to look at/sit on the GS at the dealership, my first thought was, "Jeez...this thing is huuuuge!" :lol:  It seems to get smaller every time I ride it...pretty soon it's going to disappear.

lol, pretty soon you wont need to park it, just put it into your pocket, and your good. :lol:  :lol:

Quote from: Kessenim buying my gs-f in about half a year, give or take a couple months, most likely give,after i get it, will it feel strange to ride having taken the MSF course so long before?or is it the kind of thing like riding a bike,never forgetting?

Regardless, it's going to feel strange riding your own bike...whether you do it now or in 6 months.  Even if you got something right away, you're not going to want to just jump on and ride like your rear end is on fire...any new motorcycle is going to take some getting used to.  

The MSF range sessions aren't intended to make you an expert rider, but more to make sure you understand the basics, know what you need to practice, and are aware of the various dangerous situations that commonly sneak up on people (like braking in a turn).  Now or in 6 months, your process will probably be the same...get your bike, ride it cautiously, and spend a lot of time in empty parking lots or deserted office parks working on low speed turns, emergency stops, clutch control, etc.

That said...I thought the worst part of the MSF course was passing the test, getting my license, and not having a motorcycle to ride.  :x  I had fully intended on waiting until the spring to get a motorcycle, but got one at the tail end of the season because I didn't want to wait.  I'm glad I did.  YMMV.

Quote from: Kessen

Quote from: BadgerWhen I went to look at/sit on the GS at the dealership, my first thought was, "Jeez...this thing is huuuuge!" :lol:  It seems to get smaller every time I ride it...pretty soon it's going to disappear.

lol, pretty soon you wont need to park it, just put it into your pocket, and your good. :lol:  :lol:

Maybe I can just stuff it in a shoebox for the winter? :lol:

Nervousness is natural but trust me, once you get into that class room full of other motorcycle enthusiasts, your nervousness will melt away and you'll be wondering why the class is over already. I was most worried about dropping the bike during the class. It's inevitable that at least one student does it during each session. Lucky me, I dropped it during my final so I ended up not passing. I had to retest during the next class. Where are you taking the class?

As far as gear goes, I agree you should get gear that stands out a little. Wearing all black or gray makes you harder to spot especially at night. If you can get a jacket with reflective patches, that would be the best. Gear with hints of red, orange, or yellow also add visibility. IMO I don't care whether your gear matches your bike, it's the dumb arses that wear shorts and t-shirts that I make fun of.

On the topic of gear color...  I went from a Bright Green (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/RVertigo/MotosPhotos/594b1139.jpg) jacket to a black and gray (http://www.firstgear-usa.com/prod_htj_magnum.htm) jacket.

The bright color made a difference during the day...  People were more likely to see me and less likely to drive to change lanes into me.  At night I've noticed no difference...  All they see is your headlight, taillight, and reflectors.   :dunno:

You can't rely on your gear to get you noticed.

Quote from: kidcomaWhere are you taking the class?

Quote
At College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita

speaking of gear..


anyone know how to make a drooling smiley?

Eh. The only jacket made by Icon I've found to like is the Retro Daytona. I like all the colors except the black one, it just looks dumb.

updated! (read first thread)

kthx

Quote from: KessenWell after three long and semi-challenging days, i am now fully licensed to ride a motorcycle!wooh!

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :cheers:  :thumb:

Congrats on passing!   :thumb:

The figure-8 box is haaaard.  And worse, few of us could get it (I crossed the line once) on these tiny little 125-cc bikes, and the intructor can nail it on a Goldwing.

Quote from: aaronstjThe figure-8 box is haaaard.  And worse, few of us could get it (I crossed the line once) on these tiny little 125-cc bikes, and the intructor can nail it on a Goldwing.

yeh man!my instructor did it hangin off a goldwing!showoff! was cool tho.i crossed the lines twice.

Quote from: Kesseni dont understand why i couldnt nail it.

Turn your head MORE.   :thumb:

I screwed it up every time I tried...  Except on the test.   :dunno: I found that if I turned my head more than I thought I needed to, then I'd actually be able to pull it off...

Hanging off helped A LOT too.

I like a challenge.  So I decided to try it while looking directly at the front wheel.

That didn't work out so well.  I did practice my target fixation skilz by staring at both of the lines I crossed over.  Ultra nice!

The hot chick in my class with the low rise jeans nailed it like she'd done it a brazilian times.  I am humbled.

Quote from: Jake DI like a challenge.  So I decided to try it while looking directly at the front wheel.

That didn't work out so well.  I did practice my target fixation skilz by staring at both of the lines I crossed over.  Ultra nice!

The hot chick in my class with the low rise jeans nailed it like she'd done it a brazilian times.  I am humbled.

well the harley chick in my group nail the ground....the old gentlman never put his feet up on the pegs as I recall...and everyone locks up the rear tires at least once or twice during the sudden stops...

LESSON #2
The gs's disk brakes are 500x better than drum brakes...this means you can lock up both tires I have locked up the front tire doing a practice stop in a parking lot.

ok back to the program
I was able to nail the "box" but I think that was due in part to having a class A CDL [semi-truck licens] and I used every inch of space available with-in the lines.....FYI don't listen to me I got the nick name Speedy at my MSF because I was the one with riding experience and was able to get the nighthawk up to the rev limiter....whopping 25mph in 3rd gear

Quote from: RVertigo

Quote from: Kesseni dont understand why i couldnt nail it.

Turn your head MORE.   :thumb:

I screwed it up every time I tried...  Except on the test.   :dunno: I found that if I turned my head more than I thought I needed to, then I'd actually be able to pull it off...

Hanging off helped A LOT too.

yeh thats what the ridercoaches kept saying, and i did turn my head, but i felt like if i dont have the bike in sight, even slightly, i might drop it, and thats an auto fail, so i gladly took the 5 points off for crossing 2 lines then an auto fail.

oh and yes, hanging of the bike helps immensly, thats hw\ow i did as good as i did, even tho i didnt do it perfectly, it must be way harder on a bigger bike tho, on a 250 it feels like you can pick it up and put it into your pocket, the gs is bigger tho,i guess ill find a parking lot somewhere and practice practice practice, and hope it dont tip it.