Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I passed the MSF a couple of weeks ago and need to get some practice. I remember a long time ago reading on this forum a bunch of exercises that new riders should practice before seriously venturing out onto the road. I can't remember if they were posted here or if it was a link. Someone can help me out perhaps?

Try the MSF website. Proficient Motorcycling also has exercises in it I believe.

figure eights. progressively smaller.

Stop, go, stop, go, stop go! That was what I had to practice at! At first I would panic at a stop sign or light . Also practice quick stops (pick a point in a parking lot, and stop there as quick and safely as possible). Tight turns of course, and someone else mentioned figure 8's - great idea. Have fun !!!

Practice wheelies! Just kidding.

Things to practice, eh? Just think back to what they had you do at the MSF. Starting and stopping properly, mid corner gear changes, slow speed manuvers, slow speed manuvers, slow speed manuvers, and SLOW SPEED MANUVERS! Remember, all the highspeed stuff is based off the slow speed stuff.

s..s.....s..........l.l................o..o....o.....o....o....w................s................p....................e........................e...........................d............................r........................i......................d.....................i......................n......................g

Make one of your mantras...."How slow can you go?"
Starting and stopping on a hill.

Ditto to all of the slow speed maneuvering advise. Also, ride around your neighborhood for awhile...wherever there are lots of stop signs and not much traffic. You want to practice the whole clutch/throttle relationship with your bike, this way you will be less likely to stall out in busy traffic...and if you do you will know what to do to restart your bike quickly rather have the good ole' "OMG, OMG I stalled my bike in the middle of all these cages trying to kill me " panic reaction.

You will need a can of tennis balls. Something to cut them in half and the last 40-60 pages of this pdf file http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Riding_Tips.pdf

That's just for starters. Once you master theses, make them harder, and master those, then find new exercises, master them and then make them harder.

Then small backroads and slowly work your way up.

In my area, there are more and more garage sales. I've bought a dozen orange cones from kids soccer games etc... to run over, I mean around, for only 10 cents each. At a garage sale, I'm a old horse trader.

Also for some experience in running over things. Some scrap wood that's clear of nails would be nice as well. Just some short 2X4's. Even old shoes. Just make it easy to setup and easy to clean up.

flw wrote:In my area, there are more and more garage sales. I've bought a dozen orange cones from kids soccer games etc... to run over, I mean around, for only 10 cents each. At a garage sale, I'm a old horse trader.

Also for some experience in running over things. Some scrap wood that's clear of nails would be nice as well. Just some short 2X4's. Even old shoes. Just make it easy to setup and easy to clean up.

Cut up tennis balls won't blow away.

IN the MSF they used to use 4x4's