Beginner Riding Course for the Experienced.

[TechTMW]

Hey all, Just got done with the MSF Beginner Rider Course. Now, I've been riding for a few years, but I've never taken an actual course. The traffic around Naples convinced me that maybe it was time to brush up on the skills, and luckily, the course is offered at the US Navy base.

Nine People showed up for the course. Here's the interesting part. Only one person had no riding experience. Everyone else was an experienced rider.
The bikes were:
(my) '82 Yamaha Seca 650
H-D Police Special
H-D Dyna Low Rider
ZX-6R
GSX-R 750
GSX-R 600
CBR 900rr
2 Buell Blasts (Class bikes)

The folks on the buells passed easily (Those things are like bicycles.) One Buell rider was the Newb (also the only female) dropped twice, but nothing major, and she passed her test without incident. It was amazing watching the Harley guys take the course - especially the figure 8 and the u-turns. Both guys had a little trouble at first, but both managed to pull it off. Especially since the instructor also had a full dresser Road King and ran thru the course like he was on a ninja 250.

Surprise of the day was the sportbike riders. I hate to say it, but of the four of them, three didn't pass the 8's and the u-turn maneuvers. It was almost painful watching them have to put a foot down on the turns. They just weren't used to their bikes in any kind of a slow maneuver situatiuon. They were definitely trying to give it their all though, even practicing together over the lunch break. In my opinion it takes alot more guts to maneuver a sportbike in this situation because the weight is up higher than a cruiser, and the turning radius pretty much sucks - But that just means you have to let the tires and the lean angle do the steering, while feathering the clutch ... something that these guys couldn't grasp. The instructor easily made the course on the Honda (Which had the largest turning radius I believe)

My bike, besides the buells was by far the most maneuverable out there. My big mistake came on day two ... I was in a hurry to get gas before the afternoon session, so I ran out of the parking lot with the kickstand down!!! This was pretty embarrasing, but hey, life goes on.

No course in the world is going to change traffic patterns. Bad drivers will always be out there messing with your ride. The best we can do is to be comfortable with our bikes and aware of any situation which may be thrown at us. After two years on this Seca, I thought I had the bike mastered. I didn't think I was going to learn anything ground breaking in this course. However after passing my test, the ride home seemed easier. In a way, it was like I was riding the bike for the first time. I have to admit, I've always felt like I should hold back a bit, because of the age of this bike. I was always aware of the Ride itself ... and maybe I should take certain corners a little slower because the bike's not a modern canyon carver with all the bells and whistles. However, on the ride home after the class, it was almost as if the bike wasn't there. This is what I learned in the BRC - to ignore that little voice in my head and just ride. The bike functions as a part of me. I don't have to make sure the bike is still there - just as I don't have to look at the ground when I am walking. It was a vindication for myself and the scoot.

All in all it was a very good experience, and well worth the money. This course is designed to take someone who has never been on a motorcycle, and make them street legal in just three days. It is a wealth of information, and now without hesitation I can truly recommend the course to EVERYONE - New and Experienced.

[d2mini]

Good write up.

I was one of the total noobs in my class, and because of the bad habits some of the experienced riders had picked up over the years, I did really well in comparison.
So i would encourage every one who hasn't taken the class, to take one now. I think you'd be suprised and you can only come out of it a better more informed rider, even if you do find it fairly easy.

[Keyoke]

Good review - am looking at doing an extra course myself fairly shortly (IAM - Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists) will let you all know how that goes.

[Relsek]

You mentioned that 3 of the 4 sprotbike riders had trouble and attributed it to them not being used to their bikes. That may be true but it is also a fact true sport bikes don't turn very sharp. Mine is very long for a sport bike and no matter how aquainted I get with it, I'll never be able to turn it like a buell.

Kev

[DustyJacket]

At work we have a rider returning after 20 years of not riding.
He bought a H-D Super Glide and had my boss ride it home for him.
2 weeks later, he traded it in for a Heritage Softail and had my boss ride it home for him.

I've encouraged him to take either the basic or the advanced rider's course but he refuses.

I invited him along when I went to motorcyclecloseouts.com for a jacket and pants with armor, and he refused saying wearing armor is just inviting a crash.

I doubt he is long for this world, assuming he ever gets the bike on the highway.

[TechTMW]

You mentioned that 3 of the 4 sprotbike riders had trouble and attributed it to them not being used to their bikes. That may be true but it is also a fact true sport bikes don't turn very sharp. Mine is very long for a sport bike and no matter how aquainted I get with it, I'll never be able to turn it like a buell.

Kev

Aye, I don't disagree. The turning radius ain't all that great on a sportbike. However, the instructor was able to take the longest of the sportbikes through the course, so it was possible. He just had to give it some throttle, lean the bike over and let the tires do the steering while he raised out of the seat and counterweighted the bike. Definitely a complex maneuver, but one that can be developed.

That was not intended to bust on sportbike riders (I've owned a cbr1000 Hurricane in the past, so I'm not a sportbiker hater) Just a note that skills like this aren't easy, and even people who have been riding for years have room to improve. What struck me was that the guys who should have it down in the twisties were shown up by full dress Hogs. I think they were embarrased too.

[Relsek]

You mentioned that 3 of the 4 sprotbike riders had trouble and attributed it to them not being used to their bikes. That may be true but it is also a fact true sport bikes don't turn very sharp. Mine is very long for a sport bike and no matter how aquainted I get with it, I'll never be able to turn it like a buell.

Kev

just had to give it some throttle, lean the bike over and let the tires do the steering while he raised out of the seat and counterweighted the bike. Definitely a complex maneuver, but one that can be developed.

You're right, I've never tried the course U-turn on the busa but I do make sharp turns by leaning the bike while keeping my body vertical and working the throttle and clutch together. I'll have to try the course again and see how I do on the longest sportbike made. (not to mention, the best looking too.)

Kev

[HiFlight]

Kev...

Without a doubt, the long wheelbase of the 'busa makes it challenging for slow, tight maneuvering, but one of my m/c endorsement applicants showed up with his 'busa and requested to try it rather than our supplied Rebel. After some experimentation, he successfully completed the 12' offset coneweave, and the 24' U-turn on his bike.

Of course he did have to ride faster and lean more, but the fact is that it can be done, depending upon the skill of the rider.

I think most of the slow-speed maneuvering problems that are blamed on the sportbikes should more properly be blamed on the riders, who seem as a whole, to be uninterested in practicing and improving their skills in this type of operation.

[cb360]

Fantastic TechBMW. Good report. I don't understand all the resistance to the MSF. I took it in the pouring rain and still had an absolute blast. I'd ridden before but not in a long time so I signed up basically so I could skip the skills test for my license and get a break on insurance. We had a couple of experienced bikers drop a bike in our class too but nothing serious. Anyway, to the last person everyone in the group professed to learning a lot. I'm a big believer in training... anyone who takes that class is going to get something out it whether they are already a good rider or not. It's never a bad thing to brush up on technique under the guidance of someone who knows what they are talking about. I'd recommend it to anyone who rides. For a practical reason I believe the Hurt Report shows a positive correlation for those who've had professional training.

[Sev]

Fantastic TechBMW. Good report. I don't understand all the resistance to the MSF. I took it in the pouring rain and still had an absolute blast. I'd ridden before but not in a long time so I signed up basically so I could skip the skills test for my license and get a break on insurance.

My biggest complaint was the $400 price tag, but I understand that went towards buying and maintaining the bikes + paying the instructors. I consider it to be money well spent. Even though it only saved me a couple dollars on insurance.