 A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 371
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 371 |
You could take the MSF course and get your motorcycle license without ever having gone over 17 mph, gone higher than 2nd gear on a bike no bigger than a 125. I know some classes use a 250 but ours used 125s.
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172 |
Yep. Scarey, ain't it? 
More flags
More fun!
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
When I got done with my class, the instructor went out of his way to make the point that we were now qualified to ride in a parking lot and to get out and really practice.
Soren
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
I managed to get it up into third for a minute in my class 
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,308 Likes: 4
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,308 Likes: 4 |
Like these guys obviously did:  notice the middle passenger 
A word to the wise is not necessary. It is the stupid ones who need the advice.
Pat
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
notice the middle passenger
where's waldo? 
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 389
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 389 |
Quote:
You could take the MSF course and get your motorcycle license without ever having gone over 17 mph, gone higher than 2nd gear on a bike no bigger than a 125. I know some classes use a 250 but ours used 125s.
OR conversely you could learn it all on your own as you go and reinforce a plethora of really bad habits at 70+ mph
hmmm. 
Definition of Insanity: "Doing things the same way over and over and expecting different results."
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,541
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,541 |
Quote:
You could take the MSF course and get your motorcycle license without ever having gone over 17 mph, gone higher than 2nd gear on a bike no bigger than a 125. I know some classes use a 250 but ours used 125s.
You are absolutely spot on. But as an MSF Instructor i always tell my students at the end of the class when the've all received their diplomas.
"Congratulations, you are now all certified on how ride a motorcycle around a university parking lot".
All the MSF course does is to teach you the very very VERY basic skills on how to operate a motorcycle, and just a small amount of road craft skills. The rest each rider has to learn for him/herself out on the big wide road. Scary isnt it?
However, every now and again i will meet someone who will remind me that they attended my class (i have the worlds worst memory, i forget everyone i teach) and they will thank me for teaching them something that saved their lives. Sure makes standing in 100 degree heat with the sun beeting down on the black top worth it when i hear comments like that.
Incidently, im teaching this weekend and one of the students has just purchased a new TBA.
Arsenalfan. AKA Mark Able
Seller of fine automobiles.
Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche of Chattanooga
423-424-4000
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 948
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 948 |
I took the MSF course after not riding for over 20 years although I still had my license. For once I took something someone told me seriously.
Then I bought my '06 TBA. SInce then I've read every book about safe riding techniques I could find. It's made me a better cage driver as well as a better rider.
I know there are some things no rider can prevent but it is absolutely amazing if you watch other drivers, stay out of blind spots, don't over ride your skill level, etc.
I've got 2,500 miles on my TBA and I'm not emberased to admit I go down to the high school parking lot on sunday mornings and practice slow, tight turns and other things you don't do every day but when you need 'em, you need 'em. Hat's off to the MSF instructors.
In the last 4 months, 5 riders in Austin tragically have been killed and unfortunately 4 of them were do to poor judgement or lack of skill on the rider's part. Like Honda says "Stupid hurts."
Redbike7
2006 America
No amount of skill can overcome gross stupidity. Ask me how I know...never mind, I forgot...
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,877 |
Quote:
It's made me a better cage driver as well as a better rider.
I'm such a better cage driver too!! I think it is all about perspective. I'd like to leard to drive a big rig too. I think I would be a better driver, and it would be fun It's like when I took french in HS, I learned way more about the structure of the english language than I ever did in english class!
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
Quote:
A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
See? Even our own thoughts don't look out for motorcycles! 
There is both good and bad about learning everything in slow motion. The good is that you are learning to control the bike at a speed where it is more difficult. The bad is that you learn a somewhat different reaction set when you are at the lower fringe of countersteering speeds.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,018
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,018 |
Quote:
Like these guys obviously did:
notice the middle passenger
Now that's what I call safety equipment.
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
It's made me a better cage driver as well as a better rider.
I've always driven little cars in a world full of behemoth trucks and SUVs. I found that the instincts and powers of observation I developed to avoid getting smashed in my little car have served me well on the bike and vice versa.
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6
Complete Newb
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Complete Newb
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6 |
that is just sick!
That poor kid!
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Like these guys obviously did:
notice the middle passenger
Then they've got that towel poised to tangle in the works. Most places helmets are mandatory for kids under 16.
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Most places helmets are mandatory for kids under 16.
I'm convinced a helmet won't matter much in this example. That child's immediate need is a snorkle quickly followed by a visit from Youth Services!
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 948
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 948 |
Riding slow on a 700 or 800 pound cruiser for a new rider is difficult to master. I've been riding almost 40 years but when I took the course I saw guys who had purchased big bikes and had no idea how to handle them other than going in a straight line. I hadn't owned a bike in a few years and I thought the MSF was a good reminder course.
As far as riding between the cones and only going 17 miles an hour, just exactly how would you teach a course to beginners? Granted one of our instructors was a p**** who thought he was a drill sgt but, all in all, it was a good course if it did nothing but teach new riders that the bike is going where your eyes are pointing. Amazing how many new riders don't know that.
Diss it all you want, more people are riding than ever before and it's more dangerous out there than ever before. What ever can be done to keep people from getting hurt or killed enjoying an enjoyable activity is a good thing.
When I got my America, I went to the high school parking lot and practiced slow riding so I wouldn't drop it the first time I went to the mall and a car pulled out. Being cool is a lot less important to me at my age than being safe.
Redbike7
2006 America
No amount of skill can overcome gross stupidity. Ask me how I know...never mind, I forgot...
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
When I got done with my class, the instructor went out of his way to make the point that we were now qualified to ride in a parking lot and to get out and really practice.
Soren
That's pretty much what I remember, and I took it to heart. I started very slowly, riding around the neighborhood, then around town, then onto county roads, then on the state roads. The day I finally got onto Interstate 80 I was literally praying and kept it to about 60 mph.
The beauty is the Speedmaster is so accomodating of a new rider. Ride safe everyone!
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,525
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,525 |
Quote:
Quote:
Like these guys obviously did:
notice the middle passenger
Now that's what I call safety equipment.
Poor kid!
Erwin
05 America
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 788 |
I didn't take a course, however lucky for me I was in a small town in Alberta, Canada and my test consisted of me riding a figure 8 pattern on the streets of the town I lived in. Talk about easy. Total test time under 10min. Not sayin' I'm an expert by any stretch of the imagination, just liked how easy my test was. Took it on my own bike to which was nice!
07 TBA Pacific Blue and White.. stock for now!
A bike has half the wheels my cage does.. but 3x the fun factor
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,485
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,485 |
When I took the class upon graduation the instructor told us we fully trained to operate a motrcycle in a parking lot.
"Despite all the amputation, you could dance to a rock 'n roll station..."
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Re: A Thought Hit Me The Other Day
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,555
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,555 |
Quote:
Like these guys obviously did:
notice the middle passenger
Yes "stupid" comes in all shapes and sizes.
The percentage you're paying is too high-priced
While you're living beyond all your means
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams
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