OK, need some opinions on the MSF.  Now that I have my bike, and my permit, I need to finish getting my license... since my bike license did not transfer in my move from NY to CT some years ago (not sure why, but DMV says I'm SOL - retake the tests).

I've had bikes in the past, and know how to ride... I rode my bike home 40 miles or so last week and after 10 or so years I was a litlle rusty but it came pretty much right back.

I was considering just taking the MSF because in CT when you take the basic rider course they waive the lic. test, plus I figured it would be good for me to brush up on my basic skills.  Problem is, I don't have 2 days to freely give away for the course... also my riding buds think that it would be a waste of time for me to take it, and that I should just practice the test maneuvers in a parking lot for a couple of days and just go take the test, then take the advanced course in a few months.

Any opinions?

Thanks,

J

It can't hurt to take it, but it's ultimately up to you.  It's a good class for people who have never been taught how to ride.  They teach you things like countersteering and counterweight steering.  Essentially, the basics of low and high speed maneuvering and emergency maneuvering and stopping.  if you're sure you can pass the test with an hour or so of practice (the figure-8 was the trickiest part for me) then you probably know what they're going to teach you. 

+1

yeah its pretty much up to you.  They probably aren't going to teach you anything that you didn't already know but i know for a fact here in VA the DMV test is much harder than the MSF test.  This might be because you take two afternoons and are taught what they are going to make you do in the test.  I say if you can muster the time and it isn't to pricy take the MSF course, if not ask for the DMV test guidelines, if they will give it to you and practice till you can do it.  If it is similar to the test here in VA then the stop (without putting your feet down), box turn and figure 8 are going to be the hard points.

Dunno about the BRC.  I rode for two years then took the ERC.  Taught me alot and was fun.

The Instructors told me not to worry about missing the BRC, most I missed from the BRC was basic and skippable.

But like I said, I dunno about the BRC. You could call the MSF in your area and speak diredtly to an instructor.

Check this link out, http://www.msgroup.org/DISCUSS.asp

The guy is a bit self-righteous but some good info.

Thanks... actually on the inside of the permit booklet they list the "AL-MOST" which is their version of the test I guess.  They have a U-turn, obstacle avoidance, sharp left/right and u-turn, etc.  No figure 8's listed surprisingly, I remember doing that for the NY test.

Take it...  If you already knew everything, then at least you got to ride someone else's bike for a while.

But...  You should also think about this, from the Hurt Report:

Quote from: The Hurt Report24. 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.

For the whole thing, you can look here:  The Hurt Report.  It's old and I'm sure the statistics are slightly different now, but the points still stand: 

1. Get Trained (See #24)
2. Wear Full-Face helmet (See #47 and #51, as well as #44-#53)
3. Wear the rest of your gear (Gloves, Jacket, Boots, Pants) (See #40)
4. Most moto accidents were caused by the car driver not seeing you (See #1 and #6)
5. Don't be an ass... Etc.(A bunch more...)

The BRC goes through a lot of the same crap, then they teach you how to ride. And at the end, you can go down and get your endorcement. 

Take the Basic RiderCourse.  Good classroom refresher on the perils of riding, and the range exercises and camaraderie is worth it.  Although the early exercises my not excite you, I guarantee many of the other exercises and coaching will help you be a better rider.

If you do the BRC, you'll probably be bored for the first day or day and a half while you're (they're) learning the basics. After that, however, the class gets pretty useful. The street strategies are helpful, and the instructors helped me a lot with little things. I got my license before I took the class, had read Hough's Proficient Motorcycling, and had put about 300 miles on my bike, but still found the class useful. I might have gotten lucky but my instructors were able to give me some good advice about cornering and stopping which I wouldn't have known otherwise.

I'd suggest that you take it because of your time off from riding. Techniques have changed a bit, and there's a good chance you've forgotten some details about safe riding that you once knew. Even if most of the information is review, you'll probably still get a break on your insurance rates for it.

I took it after not riding for many years. I found parts boring but overall thought it was useful.

I'd read "Proficient Motorcycling" by David L. Hughes as a refresher (+ much more) for the classroom stuff, and also take the ERC course.

In your case I'd say stay away from the BRC.

Take the BRC, ride for a year or so, then take the ERC.

Well worth it.

After a 10-year break, taking the beginner MSF course is an excellent idea. It's a fast way to brush up on your skills (and get that endorsement!). 

Thanks guys, exactly the kind of input I was hoping for.  I'm currently of the view that it can only help me, and there's the benefit of the test being waived.  I'm going to see if my schedule will allow it, and try to give the BRC a go.  I'm sure I'll be bored thru most of it, but what the heck, I have to take the test again anyway... what's a few extra hours and dollars?  I'm sure it'll be worth it even just for a few tidbits I'm sure to pull from the instructors.

Thanks again,

Johnny

Even one tidbit can be life saving! 

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Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on March 01, 2007, 11:05:45 AM

Quote from: RVertigo on February 28, 2007, 05:28:47 PM

Quote from: The Hurt Report24. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends.

Statistics can be interesting to say the least (which isn't quite what Mark Twain said about them). You can usually make them sound any way you like. There's really not enough information in that statement to make a valid judgement.

Just for the sake of discussion... if 92% of motorcycle riders that were involved in accidents were "essentially without training" (then), and, say, 70 or 80% of ALL motorcyles riders were "essentially without training" (which seems to be an underlying assumption), then the implications point one way.

However, if 92% of motorcycle riders that were involved in accidents were "essentially without training" (then), and, say, 98% of ALL motorcyles riders were "essentially without training", then the implications point the opposite way. You could then say that having training made it four times as likely that you'd have an accident. 

Back on subject... how would you approach flying a plane again after all those year? Your life is not one whit less in your own hands on a motorcycle.

I'd at least take the ERC, and since you need the endorsement, it may as well be the BRC.

Entire summary point # 24:

Quote from: 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.

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Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on March 01, 2007, 11:35:06 AM

Quote from: Egaeus on March 01, 2007, 11:17:48 AM

Entire summary point # 24:

Quote from: 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.

Yeah, I got it (even without the bolding).. but that's a stated conclusion, not supporting evidence. The statistic cited does not prove it, there's just not enough info there. The raw statistics probably do... but you need to know what the baseline percentage of trained motorcyclists is.

That's why it's called a Summary of Findings. 

Quote from: pandy on March 01, 2007, 08:46:53 AM
Even one tidbit can be life saving! 

And, can stop bad riding habits.

Everybody has made their points, let's move on.