Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Motorcycle Class

My Friend is in the middle of a 3 day 6 hour each motorcycle training class. He is learning a number of things but claims the "HD" trainer is picking on him (and his Honda VTX). HA! Says he is putting down his foot to soon and not using all four fingers on his braking hand. Instructor actually slapped his hand once.
1/2 the class is females although his says it is criminal for 2 of the females to graduate...they apparently are clueless (I said similiar to you hey???)
Anyway, should be interesting to see what he learns.

I don't know anyone who has gone, regardless of experience level, that hasn't picked up something useful. And with all those women attending, your buddy may pick up something fun, too.

Most people would not consider ghonnaria fun, Barry.

They say ya should always pack a rain suit when yer out ridin' in strange territory.

Ok. I was told EVERYONE passed the motorcycle class and can now go straight to getting their license!
He said at least 3 of them have NO motorcycle skills and would not have passed the normal State license test which is required if you don't take the class. Plus, the class helped those same individuals complete their "Take home, use the book 50 question test".
Kinda makes a MOCKERY of the class everyone so HIGHLY recommends.
Hum.

I hear what you mean, but I'll still reccomend it to everyone. It's about making yourself a better rider.

They fail people in NH and the test is the same as the state test and people fail. My brother-in-law failed the road test twice.

As for the brake thing, you have to consider that HD brakes require a max strength pull with all fingers of both hands before you notice anything happening. That's why they stick with big bore engines, compression is the greatest part of braking effort. On the other hand, honda brakes are so bloody touchy that 4 fingers will likely result in a stoppy.
About the 2 ladies, remember that many of these schools have a 'go again free' policy if you don't pass. If they are that bad, there would be no point in a retry. The reason for such ineptness is usually a lack of interest, and they are probably just there to make someone else STFU and you will probably never see them riding on their own.

My wife starts next week at HD of Atlanta...She has about 100 miles up and down the street in our cul-de-sac, and 64 actual highway miles as she followed behind me last week. I was petrified as she approached a fully loaded logging truck in a moderate turn, but she did fine and looks forward to riding with me on her 1981 Honda CB650....

Last Sept. I took the course from the local ABATE group.I hadn't been on a bike in 13 years. They also smacked at my right hand for only pulling the brake with 2 fingers. I still catch myself and Think about smacking my own hand. Their reasoning is so you don't have pressure on the Throttle while you are braking. Try it sometime. You will notice that if you leave 2 fingers on the throttle grip you will have a tendency to put pressure on the throttle and possibly increase speed instead of decrease. You see old dogs can learn new tricks or old tricks that I forgot.
B717Doc I'll be looking for you at the Rally, you hang in there and stay in the saddle.
Steve

Since the finger pull on the brake tends to pull the rest of the hand forward, it's hard to add throttle while braking. At the same time, having some grip on the throttle makes downshifting easier. Guess that isn't so important anymore, but when I started riding, 20% of the braking effort came from the front brake, 10% from the rear and the remaining 70% was a combination of compression braking and dragging your feet.

Also if you ride with the "wrist down" position like they tell you at the MSF, in order to reach the brake, you automatically roll off the throttle.

I've been riding for a year and took and passed the MSF course in PA. I wish I would have taken it before I ever got on a bike. I learned a ton and my confidence of what I can do on a motorcycle has drastically increased.

I'll tell ya something man... I got my bike in December 01, it was like 50+ degrees and I figured I could toot around the block or whatever. Got to the end of my street. Tried to turn around, and dropped it. FIRST day I had it. I took the course the following April having not gotten on it again untill I did!! Been fine ever since. I reccomend it to EVERYONE no matter how macho they are

I dropped my BA the first day I took it out too

Wifey graduated!!! She was the top in her class, and received the "most likely to wear leather" award....Now she has to wait for 3 weeks for her cert...the DMV is back logged....I told her to ride anyway....

I have signed up for the class the last weekend in June ~~ every class between now and then was booked solid. I did have an experienced rider tutor me in a large parking lot ~~ starting, stopping, turning right, turning left... But I can't wait to complete the class. So far I have put close to 400 miles on my BA and so far so good.

The likelylhood of you at least dropping your bike on the ground is almost 100% ...probably most likely during the first three months or so of ownership.

They do tell you at these classes about the old cliche. "there are two types of riders...those who have been down and those who will" Best to have it happen at five miles an hour or less or simply have a brain fart and drop it when parking.

Its easy to say no way not me ...but the day will come sooner or later. These courses do a good job of teaching us all how to minimize things.

Sometimes I think its best just to find a small patch of gravel and hit it at three or four miles an hour and slide it down just to get it over with. Enough to not do much damage and really surviveable.

Just reading the stories of riders on this forum who have had accidents is enough to view the reality of it vicariously.

I hope I didn't come across cocky or arrogant. Every time I start the bike I realize the potential danger. I am just extremely anxious to take the class ~~ for the experience, for the insights, for the lessons, for the confidence...

A little trick that has served me well is to sit down when you have some time and visualize, as vividly as possible, some hazardous scenario. Maybe someone left turning (right in UK) in front of you or someone running a stopsign/redlight etc. Play it through several times, working in different ways of dealing with it, trying to find the best for this particular situation. Then change things a little, maybe speed up or slow down the idiot who is about to run you down, add or delete other traffic, etc. and do it again. This is rather like practicing a particularly difficult pool shot because you may need to be able to handle it. If one of the situations you have worked over like this ever does come up, you will already know how best to deal with it and will have pre-programmed your reflexes.

Hmmm here in South Florida 3 people in my 12 person class did not make it. One dropped out voluntarily (came in 3 hours late and hung over, so maybe that doesn't count); the other two did not pass the practical test. And our test was NOT take home, it was proctored and books put away. Maybe it depends where you take it....I learned ALOT!!

Oh I forgot to add the 3 that didn't make it were all male, if that matters, all 4 female riders passed with flying colors.

I learned A LOT too when I took my class last month. I have much more overall confidence of what a bike can do, and more importantly, what I can do and what my limits are while riding.

I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who hasn't taken it yet...even if you have your licence already.

Actually everybody in my class passed. One lady took it on her own moped and she was the only one who shouldn't have passed. She was actually 1 point away from failing.

when I took my class the instructor took two people aside on the first day and suggested perhaps they were not cut out for two wheeling, everyone else completed and passed the course. I for one was glad I took it.
mike

I had so much fun thinking of taking it again just for a fun weekend. Of course could spend the money on some new parts too.

I took the MSF course at the local community college before I ever got on a bike. No doubt, next to buying a Triumph, the best motorcycle decision I have made. Our skills test was exactly the same as the one given at the DMV. One of my instructors was a big Triumph guy.

Anyway, all 12 people passed the skills test, but the instructors were pretty honest with two of them, and reccommened they spend some "alone time" with their bikes practicing in a parking lot before heading to the street. Mainly those two guys felt real insecure with some slow speed moves and needed to build some confidence.

In Maryland you can take it at the dealer, college, or the MVA but depending which one use choose the price changes with the dealer being highest and MVA being cheapest. They also have a couple differant advanced options, I've thought about taking one of those next spring.

$275. here for the course.

Oregon being Oregon and having to do things different (even when something is already very good), we dont have MSF here, we have "Team Oregon". Basically it is the same thing as MSF without it being a genuine MSF class. It costs $129 (pass or fail) if you fail, you have to pay for it again. If you pass you get your endorsement. You still need to pay for the endorsement ($74). $10 of that goes back towards Team Oregon. There are genuine MSF classes available here, but the DMV wont reconize passing them so you would still need to either take the written and riding tests or take the Team Oregon class.

Soren

I'm 60 and have been riding since I was a teenager. I took my first "formal" class at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan in 1965. I re-take a MSF course about every 10 years and each time I learn, or re-learn, something.

I've a great insurance company (USAA) but they have no interest in seeing any kind of refresher document.

Anyway, if its been some time since you've taken the course, do consider taking it again. You'll be surprised at what you forgot.

I'll tell you how popular the class is here in Virginia. I bought my bike almost exactly one month ago. I called every location that has a class within a two hour drive of my home here in Northern Virginia. Most were full till almost the end of the year... one was full through the beginning of next year. I'm going to take the standard road skills test to get my full motorcycle endorsement but I'm still going to take the class as soon as I can get in one. Based on everything I've heard... it's a must do.

In CT. the classes are given at the community college's and you have to call around to find one that is open then you have to wait about a month for your class to begin.

They supply the bikes and you have two (3 hr)classroom sessions (with a test that you have to get at least an 80% on)and two 7 hour riding sessions. If you pass they give you a cert. and you bring that to the DMV and they will give you your endorsement.

You still have to take the written permit test. They clip you for $58.00 (for the permit)the class runs $168.00. But you can get a 10% discount on your insurance if you show the insurance company your rider cert..