My MSF class experience

[MarkB]

I took the MSF course recently (completed and passed last night) and I thought I’d give a report on the class and how it went.

For the sake of setting the stage, I had not been on a bike for 25 years. Nor had I been in a classroom session for a couple decades. I was excited for this class for numerous reasons!

I took the MSF course at the Honda Training Center in Colton, CA. The facility, the equipment and the instructors were all first rate. They had all necessary equipment you needed for the class; long sleeve jerseys, helmets, gloves, boots and safety glasses. There was no charge for equipment use. Safety was the primary emphasis and that entailed more than just riding skills. Shady areas and misters were available, as was cold drinking water. There were ample breaks so the heat (and it was hot!) wasn’t much of a factor.

My session was Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The first night was all classroom. They handed us each a nice workbook with all the information in it and the sample test questions in the back. Class participation was more or less forced as every person was given sample questions to research and then discuss out loud. I was a little panicky at first, making the whole process too hard on myself. Everybody was highlighting stuff and taking notes. It was too much to process until I took a breath and realized how stupid easy the questions were and the answers were all right there. I followed along, participated and at the end of the night, passed the test with flying colors!

The second evening was the first on the bike sessions. It was blazing hot out there on the asphalt, but everybody was so excited, it didn’t really matter. The little 250 bikes they provided were all pretty new. There were no Rebels in the fleet; they were XR230L and CRF230L, which is basically the same thing except with street tires. I grabbed a CRF and was happy enough with it for what we were doing. I think all the bikes there had less than 1K miles on them, so they’re fairly new.

We first went over all the basic controls, then we actually engaged the clutch, put it in gear and rocked the bikes. Once everybody mastered that, they had us ride around doing drills only in first gear. As others have stated, the first night is just real basic stuff and pretty easy to get through. Everybody in our group passed through to the second riding day.

The following evening, it was brutally hot again out on the asphalt. This time, there was a little more grumbling among the students, but we wanted to get it over with, so away we went. As promised, the second riding session featured more complicated exercises and covered a lot of material. The instructors gave us plenty of breaks to cool off and talk about things. After we went through the instructions and drills, they set up a practice session where we could work on three of the four skills that were on the test. I did pretty well during the practice and then they lined us up for the test.

We were evaluated on four areas. The first phase was u-turns and then a high speed swerve. They put you inside a box in which you are to first make a left hand u-turn, then a right hand u-turn, exit the box down a fast run to the high speed swerve. I’d had difficulties in the u-turn, so I didn’t expect to do that perfectly. It went pretty well, but I just touched the line on the last turn. I headed down the straight and totally choked on the swerve. That made me upset with myself because I had executed it just fine during instruction and practice. I was beating myself up pretty well as I got in line for the next phase, which was high speed stopping. I was pretty sure I would do fine on this, since I had done well in practice. The biggest thing was not to slow or begin stopping before the prescribed mark on the tarmac. I did it just right, except I forgot to downshift when I stopped. The fourth and final phase was cornering and I was pretty confident in that. I knew I needed to pretty well nail it if I were to pass. I thought I did OK, so I parked my bike thinking I had a decent chance at passing, but with mixed emotions about it.

They had us go to the classroom and talked to us individually about our scores. They told us up front that not everybody passed. You’re allowed a total of 21 points you can accumulate in the four trials and I saw three people have to retake at least one trial and that’s 15 points right there. While I waited my turn, I prepared myself for the worst. By the time they called me in, I had decided retaking the second night would really be a good thing, if it came to that. It turns out I passed. Having accumulated 18 points, it was by the skin of my teeth, but I passed.

I didn’t come away from the class with much of a warm fuzzy. I’m not real proud of my effort. I don’t feel like I’ve mastered enough to be safe in the streets. Not even close, to tell the truth. Even if I had aced the riding portion, I’m just not convinced that’s enough. I’m not taking anything away from the program, the instructors or the equipment. What I’m saying is; there is no way this basic course should be enough for a person to get turned loose in traffic. I’m giving a lot of thought about seeing if I can re-take the second night of riding, even though I passed and even if it costs a few bucks. It would be worth it in my mind to at least ace the riding portion.

The thing I took away from this class is the need to practice and practice a lot. The next step for me is to get my license, then get a bike, then practice, practice, practice before I ever take to the streets. I think I will take the advanced class after I feel more comfortable with the skills taught at the class.

All in all, I felt I got my money’s worth out of the MSF course. It’s the bare minimum a person should do prior to riding. I found that I was in the minority as most of my fellow students already had their learner’s permit and had been riding prior to taking the class. The class was my first time on a bike in 25 years. OK, not really, I rode a bike around the block (without a license) about 11 or 12 years ago. Still, whatever skills I maintained all these years were pretty rusty and need more work!

Be safe out there!

Mark

[Thumper]

Nice write up!

And while you don't have warm fuzzies about your effort, keep in mind that *no one* passes that course having mastered anything. The guy who gets a perfect score? He's really only qualified to do exactly what you are--practice in the parking lot a whole lot before hitting the street.

You got the basics under your belt, which is what the course is for. You also go the right idea, which is that you need to practice; a lot of people leave the class thinking they can jump on an 800 pound bike and take a road trip. So I'd say it was a roaring success for you!

Congrats!

[MarkB]

Nice write up!

And while you don't have warm fuzzies about your effort, keep in mind that *no one* passes that course having mastered anything. The guy who gets a perfect score? He's really only qualified to do exactly what you are--practice in the parking lot a whole lot before hitting the street.

You got the basics under your belt, which is what the course is for. You also go the right idea, which is that you need to practice; a lot of people leave the class thinking they can jump on an 800 pound bike and take a road trip. So I'd say it was a roaring success for you!

Congrats!

Thanks, Thumper. I really did get a lot out of the class. It also opened my mind a little. I was dead set on getting a cruiser, but I've decided as a first bike, it doesn't really matter. The important thing is to get a decent, reliable bike and practice.

Mark

[kennyp46]

I hope i do as well. My class date is July 27th; four classes at the local community college. I convinced my buddy who's been riding for years to get a permit and take the class with me. He got his permit today.

[MarkB]

I hope i do as well. My class date is July 27th; four classes at the local community college. I convinced my buddy who's been riding for years to get a permit and take the class with me. He got his permit today.

You know, you don't need a MC permit to take the class. I didn't, anyway. All I needed was a valid driver's license.

Mark

[kennyp46]

You do need one here in PA.

[Grey Thumper]

The thing I took away from this class is the need to practice and practice a lot. The next step for me is to get my license, then get a bike, then practice, practice, practice before I ever take to the streets. I think I will take the advanced class after I feel more comfortable with the skills taught at the class.

Really nice writeup, Mark. I felt exactly the way you did after my course. I was really ana about practising; I think I practised everyday for almost a month before riding on a road with significant traffic. It's really important to put all the skills you learned into muscle memory and make them instinctive. Once you're on a road surrounded by cages, there are too many other things that you have to pay attention to aside from, say, friction zones. It's great that you're focusing on getting all the basics down pat. Good luck to you (and enjoy!)

[flw]

All in all, I felt I got my money’s worth out of the MSF course. It’s the bare minimum a person should do prior to riding. I found that I was in the minority as most of my fellow students already had their learner’s permit and had been riding prior to taking the class. The class was my first time on a bike in 25 years. OK, not really, I rode a bike around the block (without a license) about 11 or 12 years ago. Still, whatever skills I maintained all these years were pretty rusty and need more work!

I agree with Grey Thumpers comments. You also summarized the goal of the course in "It's the minimum a person should do prior to riding". Its the starting point of learning not the finish line. Just becuase someone completes a excercise without any deduction points doesn't mean they were smooth in there actions or there is still no room for improvement.

As you mentioned more practice and when ready another course are well founded if riding for many years is ones goal and not playing the odds on the road. The odds are not for us but we can alter what is in our control. That is simply our ability's and knowing when not to ride. I don't drink but I have to remind myself of riding when tired and for where I live getting home before dusk do to deer. With Deer there are no garuntee's but dusk and dawn are popular times around me.

Great write up and keep the rubber down.

[LadynRed56]

Ditto on the great write-up Mark. I felt exactly the same way after the course, great course, but barely enough to have any confidence in actually riding out on the streets.

I actually did pretty well in the course, which I took last October. I had a Honda Rebel, which for my 5'4" height was perfect. Due to the timing, I haven't gotten a bike yet and haven't been on one since, so I'm considering re-taking the class just to reinforcement and to bolster my confidence. I really disliked that box exercise, and it rattled me during the test, I put my foot down 1 time.. for which I was really annoyed with myself. Our instructors told me afterwards that you could completely screw up the box and still pass, it's not a life-saving skill. I aced the 'high speed' braking test, actually stopped in a shorter distance than was allowed and still made a perfect stop. The part that I was afraid I'd blown was the cornering, which I'd had trouble with the whole course. I ALMOST went over the line on the last left turn, and I was prepared, mentally, to have to re-take the course because of it. But, I passed only losing a few points for the foot down incident in the box.

I really wish there was a "next-step" class that would build on the basic MSF course. For me at least, it would help a lot with building confidence and handling a bike. I would think it would be helpful for a lot of people, not just me.

[jackacid]

Took this class myself in Rocklin, CA and it was near identical drills and set up, although our hours were different: Sat-Sun only, 8:30 - 5:30. We had about 5 hours in the class room and closer to 10-11 hours on the track.

Learned a WHOLE lot and look forward to practicing more on my own before I branch out.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for new AND experienced drivers.