The Relationship Between Parking Lot and Road Skills

[Ivan M]

I still wish, though, that the class M license test consisted of an examiner following you in a car while you did a real life ride rather than doing circle 8s around orange cones.

I'm totally with you on that, but I wouldn't say it here. You wouldn't believe all the people that jumped down my throat when I said cones weren't very practical.

In any case, I experienced much the same thing as you did. I had extreme nervousness even though it should've been a cakewalk. I'm also fine with public speaking and dangerous situations, so it was really disconcerting. For my second test, what I did to manage my anxiety was deep breaths before each maneuver and I really took my time before starting and visualized. They don't take points off for pulling yourself together, so take your time and do it at your own pace.

[storysunfolding]

I'm totally with you on that, but I wouldn't say it here. You wouldn't believe all the people that jumped down my throat when I said cones weren't very practical.

I think for the most part we'd all like to see a more involved exam. However, if you know how to operate your motorcycle effectively, cone courses are remarkably easy.

[Lion_Lady]

I still wish, though, that the class M license test consisted of an examiner following you in a car while you did a real life ride rather than doing circle 8s around orange cones.

The problem with this would be, what about traffic? Suppose you really ARE clueless? From a car, the examiner would simply be able to write the accident report after a rider candidate crashed. State agencies must keep in mind citizen safety in all things they oversee.

I'm totally with you on that, but I wouldn't say it here. You wouldn't believe all the people that jumped down my throat when I said cones weren't very practical.

In the post you refer to, you were trying to say that the whole Basic Rider's Course was impractical because it is taught on a parking lot, not out in traffic, as I recall.

Cones make pretty good "stand ins" for real life situations without the actual risk involved. Most folks understand that they are just that... stand ins.

P

[Nalian]

Part of the issue with the MSF/BRC is, even though the materials are the same (typically) state to state - there is no accounting for the quality of the actual course that you take. So when you talk about it online, someone may have attended a class with a great instructor who was patient - tells you what you're doing wrong and helps you correct it. Others may end up with an impatient a-hole who has no business teaching the class*. If you did something too slow and the guy didn't tell you that, then told you to repeat the exercise - that's poor form on the part of the instructor.

I agree with others, though - the more practiced you are the calmer you'll be. Yeah you may be more nervous with someone watching you - who isn't? But if you've practiced enough, you'll get through even with the extra anxiety.

*I did fine in my class, but one of the instructors definitely caused one girl to fail out because he thought the best way to teach people was too scream at them. This caused a tiff with another guy who couldn't stand how this guy was treating everyone. Some people think that teaching means treating your students like children, which is the last thing they should be doing. Apparently he's had plenty of complaints about him and would have been fied if the school wasn't so short on instructors. I steer people away from the place I took the course at now as a result.

[lukem5]

RB, pick up some orange cones from the store and do a mock setup. At the very least, replicate visuals as best you can. Get that into your mind so they're more or less familiar. Then take them at your pace and work up for faster speeds..

Done that. Have no problem with it. I practiced for hours without a hitch before going to the DVM for the exam, then stalled and almost dropped the bike during the exam. I went out the next day and replicated the exam in a parking lot by myself, and had no problem whatsoever.

then u gotta buy manicans put sunglasses and a cowboy hat on them, make em hold a clipboard. A leather jacket wouldent hurt either. Set up some cones just like the real course, and go at it. If someone sees you doing this in a parking lot, dont be suprised if they call the cops.

[RockBottom]

RB, pick up some orange cones from the store and do a mock setup. At the very least, replicate visuals as best you can. Get that into your mind so they're more or less familiar. Then take them at your pace and work up for faster speeds..

Done that. Have no problem with it. I practiced for hours without a hitch before going to the DVM for the exam, then stalled and almost dropped the bike during the exam. I went out the next day and replicated the exam in a parking lot by myself, and had no problem whatsoever.

then u gotta buy manicans put sunglasses and a cowboy hat on them, make em hold a clipboard. A leather jacket wouldent hurt either. Set up some cones just like the real course, and go at it. If someone sees you doing this in a parking lot, dont be suprised if they call the cops.

I like your thinking!