Total Motorcycle Community Forums

The quality of the course is directly related to the quality of the individual instructors, and to the direction they get from whoever runs the course at that location. Just like the public schools in this country, the quality of the teachers at the MSF will vary greatly. Some of them are very safety conscious, and some just pay enough lip service to safety to keep the job. Most of the courses will tell the students that the learning doesn't end at the end of the class, it is just beginning.

You should definitely put your observations in writing and notify the MSF. Your issues are valid, and they should know about what is happening on their courses. In my class, the instructors taught the program to the letter, and nobody squeaked through the course. They were very supportive too. Anyway, it's too bad that you had a bad experience with that particular group - doesn't make for a very positive beginning to biking, eh? But do lodge a complaint with the MSF. The class should have gone much better.

Cheers,
Loonette

You might be just so unlucky on that course. Mine was pretty good, instructor showed off a bit (scraping peg) but other than that was good. The thing I like about my instructor was, he always point me and get me out of bad habbit, like cover front brake when making turn or used only two fingers when doing panic stop.

The thing about gears in your class, I believe becuz most of ppl who take MSF class are beginner without any bike experience and of course without any gears available. If MSF required proper gear (jacket, helmet, pants, boot) then it would be hard to most of them to buy all the gears at first hand. That why they provide helmet to anyone without one, but they require at least you to have L/S t-shirt, Gloves, Eyes protection and cover the ankle boots.

It only takes 2 days to learn how to ride super sport. I know MSF course is pretty short, only 2 of half day in driving range. I did complain a little bit about lack of time, but the thing is MSF is there to give you a basic of become a safty rider, no matter what you ride/will ride. They just provide you a basic of everything and after the class they assume you would continue pratice all the basic on your own and for your own safety. You wouldn't want them to be with you all the time you ride, would you?

Well they do better than having no instruction. I agree they pass to many people. In my class I was the only one to pass with a perfect score...but then again I was already riding my bike on the road when I took the course.

They even passed the girl that fed up and did a 200 degree burnout before falling over...when she was supposed to hit the brakes.

Their not the best...but like I said, their worlds better than having no instruction at all.

Just took the MSF course a few weeks ago. The instructors were great. The continually stressed the need for proper gear. Think all of them rode bikes to the road instruction. I notice each one had on full gear, jacket, helment, gloves, riding pants. We were also not allowed to be on the bike unless we had all of our gear on. They also stressed (in particular the second day) that the course was only an introduction. In no way did passing the course mean that a rider was ready to head out into traffic. That the continued practice of what we were taught was important in order to be a safe rider.

They did not talk about bike size, what to buy etc..

Felt they did such a good job plan to go back for experienced course.

Just my two cents.........

Click on the MSF National link in my signature and see if they have a spot to complain.

The instructors at mine wore protective gear and recommended it and, they were great about answering any questions we had. They refrained from endorsing any particular brands, dealerships, insurance companies, etc. I was very pleased with the quality of the instruction.

I took my MSF course last October here in the O.C. and the instructors were great! Safety and gear were thoroughly explained and encouraged.

ninja79 wrote:The instructor mentioned that he was selling his bike (~1000cc Honda, not sure which model), and he was only half-joking. That bike has the muffler completely torn off, and a hole in the gas tank patched with duct tape.

I think that say's everything it needs to, would you trust this man enough to get on the back of his bike...

I wouldn't, and almost certainly wouldn't trust someone who can't keep their own ride legally on the road to teach me how to survive out there...

ninja79 wrote: The instructor mentioned that he was selling his bike (~1000cc Honda, not sure which model), and he was only half-joking. That bike has the muffler completely torn off, and a hole in the gas tank patched with duct tape.

LOL... And don't forget the missing rear peg... and "I ride stunts professionally sometimes, so that's why I have it like that...."

If you want fun, have him as your classroom instructor...

The MSF cousre I took was very good. All 3 instructors wore gear (jackets, helmets, gloves, jeans and boots), they STRONGLY recommended wearing ATGATT. The starting bike recommendations they gave were pretty much the same you would find in the stickys here. 500cc or less for a sportbike and 800cc or less for a cruiser. I was the only person in the class with zero riding experience, all but one person passed and that person did not show up for the second day.