I think tonight and tomorrow night will be just in-class study, then Saturday and Sunday start training on a bike.  

I've been riding around casually with friends on my permit for about 2-3 months now, and I think I feel pretty comfortable, but I'm still nervous about the whole thing.  Any tips?  Thanks

drink lots of beer tonight, so your still plastered tomarrow morning.

Quote from: Neon01but I'm still nervous about the whole thing.  Any tips?

Tip: Don't be nervous  

Being nervous only makes you second-guess your actions.  Whenever you do something on a motorcycle, do it deliberately and with a purpose.  Have confidence in your equipment and in your ability to execute.

You'll do fine.

Be the box, nannanananannanannnana

well only that wear the gear that they tell you to bring. bring extar incase you are unsure. they pretty much hold your hand through the whole thing, so no real tips needed.

Don't get pissed when they treat you like pond scum.

My instructor tried to punk me out every day because he knew I was cooler than him.

I asked him, "How about I punch you in the temple?"  And he was cool after that.

tip: don't act so cool like jack d

Quote from: Jake DI asked him, "How about I punch you in the temple?"  And he was cool after that.

The two instructors for my class nearly got into a fistfight with each other.    One was a younger guy (liter sportbike) and the other was an older guy (goldwing).  I don't think they agreed on anything...except perhaps that taking the MSF class was a good idea.

Get lots of sleep...  After the first "in class" do the reading, 'cause you'll take the test during the second "in class."  (That's how it was here anyway).

Then just chill out and have fun.

Let me clarify: the guy was a jackass.  Page boy hat, huge stach, etc.  But he was a jerk, but only to me.  
The first day, if I breathed without him telling me to first, he'd yell stuff like, "Did I tell you turn your engine off?"
The next day, I would watch him for the "go ahead" sign.  He would yell, "What are you waiting for?  You want me to hold you're hand!"

So yeah, I'm cooler than that guy.

Quote from: Jake D"Did I tell you turn your engine off?"

Funny...that's exactly what the two instructors were arguing about.  One was adamant that every time we were stopped and lined up, engines needed to be off (for safety).  The other thought that turning off the bikes when we were only going to be starting them moments later was wrong (for safety).

There were a couple of times when people would get contradicting instructions from each coach.  :dunno:  Never anything dangerous, but they both had their own way of doing things.

Oh...one more tip:  Be early.

My range session was scheduled to start at 7:00am (ouch), and we were told to be there by 6:30.  I arrived at around 6:25 and was given a hard time for "being late".

Thanks for the tips.  The class starts at 6 tonight, so I'd better get changed and get over there.

I took it about  a month ago, after 3 years of riding, after not riding for 30 odd years. MD may be a little different than NH, although if it's straight BRC it shouldn't be.

Bring a lot of water and/or Gatorade or whatever.

Bring a lunch and snacks if you can, so you can rest during breaks instead of having to go in search of food.

Here they dictated long sleeves, but allowed  very light long sleeves. I wore a very light, mostly white Western style shirt that I like to wear when it's hot, to keep the sun off me without adding insulation. Ask if they will allow something like that. You want to be as cool (temperature wise) as possible without getting thrown out of the class. It's hot work, and whatever the temperature is, it's hotter on a parking lot all day.

I strongly reccommend a full face helmet under normal circumstances, and I wore one for the course. If I had it to do again I would get a DOT approved half helmet. I could have used the extra visibility close up in some of the exercises. Our more experienced RiderCoach is a very vocal proponent of full face helmets, and arrived wearing one. But, he rode all the demo's in a half helmet that he brought with him.

Get a lot of sleep. They work you pretty hard. You will start out by pushing the bike  they give you accross the range while sitting on it several times. The riding exercises take some concentration as well, and are a degree of physical work also when doing some of the tight maneuvers.

Pay attention in class, but don't worry too much about the written test. If you paid any attention at all, it's easy. Almost no one fails.

This may be anectotal, but I think it's worth noting. We started with a class of 10, and only 6 made it through. This is very unusual. Most people do get through successfully.  All the ones that had trouble were riding  single cylinder bikes (Suzukis and Kawasakis). The Hondas (Rebels and Nighthawk 250's) are two cylinder bikes, and are a bit smoother starting. The people on the singles were having much more trouble with the friction zone exercises, and getting the bikes going at first. If you can get assigned a Honda Rebel, I think it's the easiest one to do that course with. Here, it was pretty much first come first served, so get there early on Saturday and try to get the bike you like.

Keep your head up and look through the turns all the time. They really stress this. Don't look down at the controls or the speedometer or whatever.

Once there, relax and have fun. If you have been riding at all, you will not fail, and it will be fun.  I had a blast doing it.

make sure to pay attention to the instructions....my instructor basically told every one what are we being graded on when we perform the manuvers during the test (we just didn't know it untill we saw a report card)....good luck

Quote from: Neon01Any tips?

Don't forget to take a towel.

Be as sober as possible.

I personally think you don't learn anything at MSF course unless it's the first time you see a motorcycle it's so easy a monkey would pass it. I was lucky to get very nice instructors though. the only use for me was that my bike was down at that time and I couldn't take the DMV test that's why I chose the MSF way. saves you money in the long run I guess..  :dunno:

the one tip I might have is actually for registration not for the course itself. if it gets really hot in your area during the daytime try to register for a class that has riding instruction in the morning not noon or afternoon otherwise it's quite a painful experience. I was lucky to be riding 7-12 a month ago here and it was scorching by the end of the class, so I felt so much pitty for the class that started at 1pm  

1)  Have fun, and keep an open mind

2)  When they say look over your shoulder to do the box, they mean LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER!

3)  Definately try to get a rebel or nighthawk.  Far easier to do the manuvers on than the thumpers.

4)  As others have said, bring lots of water.

5)  Also as others have said, plan to be early.  They'll throw you out if you're a minute late.

Good luck!  

Biggest mistake I made when I took my MSF:  I didn't bring sunglasses.   I took my msf in Aug. in GA, it was HOT!  You must have eye protection, so I had to have my visor down throughout the class.  I almost suffucated.  So, on the riding days bring sunglasses or safety glasses, something so that you can leave the visor open.

Quote from: GeeP2)  When they say look over your shoulder to do the box, they mean LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER!

+2.  Like, behind you over your shoulder.  It wouldn't hurt to practice doing low speed turns in your driveway beforehand.  That figure-8 box is tiny.

3)  Definately try to get a rebel or nighthawk.  Far easier to do the manuvers on than the thumpers.

Quote4)  As others have said, bring lots of water.

5)  Also as others have said, plan to be early.  They'll throw you out if you're a minute late.

+1

Also, wear all the gear they told you to bring.  One guy got sent home for not having high-top shoes or boots.  If you don't have it, buy it, 'cause they won't let you ride.

Other than that, it's pretty much a no-brainer, and a lot of fun, so relax.

I did a fairly detailed write-up of my recent MSF experience, if you're interested in reading it: http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20898