We used to have two places in town that did the MSF course, but one was shut down so the other one was filled up through the rest of the season. I've been on a waiting list for like a month and I finally got a call today that someone backed out for the Nov. 16-18th weekend. It's gonna be cold.

What should I expect? Should I practice some stuff now? I already have my permit and have been riding for a couple weeks now. I was told I could use my own bike since it is under 500cc, is this a good idea? I know it would be nice to do it on my own bike, but I'm also a little worried about some of the less experienced riders that could be in the course with me. Any suggestions or preparations I should make for the course would be great.

-Rafe-

If your class was the same as mine than the bike has to be under a 250cc, unless your taking the advanced class than your bike will have to be used.
quick stops
left and right hands turn (be sure to look through)
swerves
and slow U turns

I asked the lady on the phone tonight and she said that it just had to be under 500cc. The only bikes they have for you to ride there are all 250s though. She was just saying that some of the people in the course may have never been on a bike before and she said they can't be held liable if my bike gets messed up because some idiot runs into me. I'd kinda just like to ride one of their bikes, but I'd also like to be more familiar with the bike and the only one I know is the GS500. It's a 90, that's seen better days, so I'm not really worried about the appearence. I may just ride the thing there and decide once I get there. What's this box drill I hear so much about and what are the dimensions?

-Rafe-

I took it recently and the bike provided to me was an old honda nighthawk 500. All the bikes were 250 except the nighthawks for us tall people.

Id just ride theirs. You will care a lot less if you drop their bike in the u-turn box. Two people in my class did.

Use their bikes.  The little 250s will be easier to ride than the GS and you don't have to worry about dropping them.  They've been pre-dropped MANY times, with a few crashes in-between.   

msf-usa.org has (or had) descriptions of the exercises and approximate dimensions.

"The Box"  exercise requires that you do a figure-8 inside a box roughly 40x60'.  I think the main purpose is to teach counterweighting and smooth clutch control.  It is a very good exercise, one that I practice weekly on the GS in a space 20' x 35'.  The GS will do it in that space with room to spare, but the steering must be at full lock both directions.

Go in with an open mind, listen carefully, and do exactly what they tell you and you'll learn while having a little fun.   

Let us know how you do.

the whole point of the "box" exercise is to teach you that the bike will go in the direction you look at... turn taht head the bike will do it...

in our class (back when in 03 in carrolton) the 3 first people tried and dropped their bikes..... the teacher paused the class.... grabbed his fully loaded Goldwing and sweeped the box super fluid like without ever locking the steering.....  its a great excercise that teaches balance and directional fluidness

trust your balance and the bike will go where you head is looking at.

No one dropped their bikes in the box exercise....BUT.... someone did drive straight into the woods while powerwalking the bike on the first exercise!!!! I was thinking holy crap. I drove my GS500F to the class and the instructor put me on the CB125 125CC bike. Even though it was a smaller engine, it was way more difficult to ride because it sat up high and had bicycle thin tires. I had to keep the throttle twisted while sitting because the bike was a piece of junk! But it did help me learn better though. 95% on written and 95% riding. I had points deduted on the quick stop because I had to start further back because of the bike and they didn't know that. Oh well.

Quote from: pbureau69 on November 03, 2007, 05:12:52 AM
the teacher paused the class.... grabbed his fully loaded Goldwing and sweeped the box super fluid like without ever locking the steering.....  its a great excercise that teaches balance and directional fluidness

Same thing happened in that class I attended a few months ago, except nobody dropped their bikes. The teacher explained that the goldwing is bottom-heavy, and actually a lot easier to maneuver than it looks.

Most of the people in my class failed that test but they all passed overall.