MSF Course

[storysunfolding]

That crappy eliminator can do the box in less than half the alloted space.

Of course- that damned box is impossible on those big bikes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDspJm3OPpw

[RockBottom]

That crappy eliminator can do the box in less than half the alloted space.

Not with *me* on it.

[storysunfolding]

Right, so the problem is the nut connecting the seat to the handlebars?

[RockBottom]

Right, so the problem is the nut connecting the seat to the handlebars?

No disagreement from me on that!

I had a huge mental obstacle in doing "the box"--I've put in tens of thousands of miles on a road bicycle and if you turn the bars of one of those to full lock, you go down.

I've been working on it in empty parking lots the past few days and think I could do it now, at least on my bike (a BMW F800ST). While it was initially scary because the seating position is high, I found out the thing can turn on a dime. I'm convinced I could ride circuits in my living room. I also found that once I get moving, I can run 8-10 MPH without using the throttle, and just control the speed with a bit of rear brake as needed.

[Lion_Lady]

That crappy eliminator can do the box in less than half the alloted space.

Not with *me* on it.

Yes, it can. You've just got to listen to what the coach is saying, trust what he/she is telling you, and do it. Two things that seem to trip folks up are, looking at the lines, and NOT turning your head far enough to look at your destination.

P

[Gummiente]

It didn't help that her hubby and friends (all Harley Riders) were anxiously monitoring her progress

We had a policy of politely asking any and all friends, relatives, spouses of a student to leave the area unless they were students themselves. It significantly reduced the stress level of the student, regardless of what brand of bike their spouse and friends rode.

[StillTry'n]

Lion_Lady

NOT turning your head far enough to look at your destination.

This simple statement is the be all, and end all, of riding a motorcycle.

And this "simple" action is the most difficult behavior for any new rider to master.

This is like telling someone to close their eyes and fall backwards and to believe that someone is going to catch them before they hit the ground.

If you have never done this: you won't know what it's like until you try it. It's totally nerve racking.

If you do it by instinct you can't imagine not doing it.

Dan

[Lion_Lady]

Lion_Lady

NOT turning your head far enough to look at your destination.

And this "simple" action is the most difficult behavior for any new rider to master.This is like telling someone to close their eyes and fall backwards and to believe that someone is going to catch them before they hit the ground.

If you have never done this: you won't know what it's like until you try it. It's totally nerve racking. If you do it by instinct you can't imagine not doing it.Dan

And your point is? I'm gonna have to disagree with you that turning your head to look where you want to go is as nerve wracking as falling backwards into the unknown.

I didn't start riding 30 years ago, only 6. I remember that it was kinda tough to "get" the head turn thing, especially the way far around head turn needed to do the u-turn exercise. I guess its all in how the instructor demonstrates/explains it.

P

[StillTry'n]

L_L

Let me try this another way.

I want you to jump out of an airplane for the very first time in your life.

I am going to imagine that you are probably like every other living person on the planet: meaning that you are going to be somewhat (maybe a lot) petrified.

However, as soon as you leave the plane and start toward the ground, I want you to not think about the ground: and maybe dying.

I want you to think about pulling your harnas handles a certain way so as to manuever your desent in a correct and precise way so as to be ready for a perfect landing.

Remember, this is your first jump out of an airplane.

OK.......

For a person who has never ridden a motorcycle in their life and knows that these things have a mind of their own when ridden by amateurs: I am trying to explain that "NOT turning your head way in the direction of where this thing is going" is like jumping out of an airplane and never thinking about the ground.

It ain't natural.

Dan

P.S

Yes, Lion_Lady, I agree, it is imperative when riding motorcycles, to look far into the direction that you want to go to.

But in the very beginning it takes a huge leap of faith to do that.....just like falling backwards, alone....or jumping out of an airplane for the first time.

[storysunfolding]

I think it's just a matter of questioning your hyperbole. In the MSF course you have the puny little motorcycles. It's true that even the puny ones can kill you but there's also hundreds of feet of run off space....