Passed my MSF class this week, interesting incident...

Message

Inquizator · Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:46 am

Well, this tuesday and wednesday I took the MSF course here in Kansas City, MO. I'm happy I took it and I think it was a great learning experience. I feel a lot more confident about quick stops and slow speed manuevers now, can't wait to practice on my own bike. I passed with 100% on the written test and 99% on the riding test.

Anyways, the interesting part: About midway through the second morning, while we were practicing for the riding test, we were doing the double u-turn box and then straight into a right swerve. Well, I messed up the u-turn box a little bit and was still thinking about what I did wrong as I went towards the swerve box. Being distracted, I was a little too weak on my swerve and as the bike was leaned over to the right I hit one of the little cones with my front tire. At this point it happed so quick that I'm not 100% sure what happened, but what I believe happened is that the front tire hit the cone and then slid sideways to the left, then when it got back on pavement it caught and I basically experienced a high side fall. As the bike fell over to the left, my left foot caught the pavement and twisted backwards, so when i landed my left leg was under the bike pointed towards the rear tire. This also spun the right side of my body towards the pavement. So I ended up with 2 hair-line fractures in my right hand and 1 in my left foot. I did get back up on the bike and finish though. The 1 point I missed on the riding test was for going to slow on the cornering exercise, because it's very hard to shift into 2nd gear with a fracture on a bone on the top of the left foot, lol.

It was still fun and the instructors were very supportive. One of them even gave me a ride home after the class, because I couldn't drive my truck (it's a stick and the 4 hours since the crash my foot had swollen and my wrist had gotten tighter). And that instructor also called just a few minutes ago to check how I was doing.

So, no riding for me for a while, unfortunately. But I can't wait till I get to ride again. Just figured this was an interesting story to relate, hehe.

younggun · #2 Unread post by **younggun** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:51 am

Good story to share, glad you are ok

spinner · #3 Unread post by **spinner** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 10:09 am

I'm happy to hear that you got back on and finished even though you were hurt.

Inquizator · Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:03 am

Oh ya, i forgot to mention that all the doctors and nurses at the hospital got a huge kick out of the fact that I crashed at a motorcycle safety course. So I got a lot of "some safety course" and "so, maybe you should rethink the motorcycle thing" comments.
What was even funnier is that my mom would insist on mentioning that I also got the highest score in the class, despite crashing during the practice. Though, all the hospital staff took from that basically "that's kinda scary if you crashed and got the highest score", lol. Instead of taking it just as a reminder that people make mistakes, it doesn't mean the person is incapable of the skill or that the task is too dangerous. And on that note, I'm glad I messed up my swerve at the MSF course where I hit a cone and had a 15mph crash than on the road where I may have hit a large vehicle and been travelling much faster.

Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:12 am

Glad you are alright and congrats on passing the course !!

kellanv · #6 Unread post by **kellanv** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 11:38 am

Youch! That sounds painful. Those swerves can get you. I almost lowsided when I braked in a quick swerve too early during the course.

Congrats on passing the course and hopefully you are on your way to a speedy recovery

ofblong · #7 Unread post by **ofblong** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 1:35 pm

I just used that swerve thing today to avoid some big branches that were in the road. Although I was doing 55 instead of 18mph lol

CrioGeniC · #8 Unread post by **CrioGeniC** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:04 pm

Gratz on passing the BRC. I know that fall must have stung pretty badly, but to get up and finishing everything with those scores must have felt awesome.

Gratz again and ride safe,

Crio

sharpmagna · Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:37 pm

Wow congrats on passing under the circumstances. I'm pretty suprised they let you continue with those kinds of injuries.

GrandGT · #10 Unread post by **GrandGT** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:45 pm

nice job stickin it out.

when i took the class the only person to dump a bike was probably the most experienced and probably got the best score on the skills.

we also all noticed that one pole in the chainlink fence around the parking lot was partially knocked over. the instructor told us someone had run right into it and somehow their bike went up onto the fence, while they managed to slide under it as it got lifted up. but he went on to pass anyway.