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Ok, I finished the MSF course and passed. I did fall once, during emergency braking, had turned to get centered on the entrance but the front wheel was turned slightly to the right, so when I hit the brake it skidded, I panicked and gripped harder, went down then just let go and put my hands out. No damage other than my pride, my teknic gloves worked wonders and I landed in a mid-pushup position so my helmet came out ok (was more worried about damaging helmet than the bike). After that I was gunshy, went through emergency braking again and took my time and stopped at 50ft (end of the markers). When I went through the evaluation the front wheel ended at 30ft and I did fine with everything else, though I think I may have messed up in the double-u-turn just a tad, might have touched or barely gone over the lines but I was busy looking where I was going not where I was. I aced the written exam and got my card and bumpersticker (Look Twice Save a Life).

So now I'm dead exhausted, I spent the last 4 hours at my gf's house because she was upset because I did not specify that Sunday is part of the Weekend MSF Course. I left early (usually with her late at night) because I was falling asleep. Barely able to stay up now, but I needed to post while my memory was still fresh.

congrats!



do you already have a bike?

Congrats on getting your license dude!

Sevulturus wrote:Congrats on getting your license dude!

No license . Our state doesn't do that, but apparantly you can get one if you take the Intermediate Course.

And no, I have no bike, right now I'm working out a deal to go pick one up from a guy in Cinncinati, gonna try and meet in Knoxville. It's a Suzuki GS650GL and after today I think it'd be great fun to ride that back from Knoxville, TN all the way home to Charleston, SC. I just need to find someone to drive up with so they can follow me back and keep tailgaters off of me.

Yeah I almost did what you did on the "Quick Stop." I locked up my front tire, but immediately let off and then got back on. Only did that once and it was enough for me. Instructor complemented me on quickly letting off the front brake when it locked up but said I shouldn't have locked it up in the first place. He told me next time to squeeze the front brake like a sponge, slower at first and progressively firmer.

I had to use this technique just today. I was riding with a buddy and he was leading. Light turned yellow and I was for sure he was going to go through. Well he decides to stop and I have to get on the binders. I go over the white line about 2 feet, but since it is a big intersection with no crosswalks no biggy. Didn't lock up the brakes, though I didn't have time to downshift.

I just read an article that says that you actually stop quicker if you do not downshift to 1st when doing a quick stop. This wasn't going through my head today, just that I didn't have time to downshift I was more worried about stopping before blowing through the light.

congratz on passing your MSF course and glad your little tumble worked out well

DieMonkeys wrote:

Sevulturus wrote:Congrats on getting your license dude!

No license . Our state doesn't do that, but apparantly you can get one if you take the Intermediate Course.

And no, I have no bike, right now I'm working out a deal to go pick one up from a guy in Cinncinati, gonna try and meet in Knoxville. It's a Suzuki GS650GL and after today I think it'd be great fun to ride that back from Knoxville, TN all the way home to Charleston, SC. I just need to find someone to drive up with so they can follow me back and keep tailgaters off of me.

Well, congrats on passing the MSF then.

And that sounds like the kind of bike that our friendly neighbourhood Gadget did his ironbutt on. I'm 90% sure that's what he was riding back then. So if you can find one in decent shape you have my vote.

Congrats man. Good luck on getting the bike you're after.

Congrats on passing the MSF!


I'm glad you weren't hurt in your tumble and the course allowed you to still take the exam. The MSF course I took in Washington had an automatic discharge policy for anyone that laid a bike down



~LJ