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MSF too easy?

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:30 pm
by bebopin64
I am taking my MSF course soon and I am taking it no matter what. I just want to know how much time is spent on the basics like starting it and rocking it and straight riding and all that other stuff that ppl who have been on a bike know. ive been riding 250 and 400 class dirt bikes (the 250 on the street mostly) so i know the basics i just want to take a course that teaches that specifics of on road riding. too bad they dont have one that gets the riding test waived.

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:00 pm
by matthew5656
I thought my BRC moved quickly and forced everyone to pick up the raw basics in little time before we began more advanced exercises. But I can't speak for any and all courses, and I'm sure most instructors would help someone individually if they were not catching on as quickly as the rest of their group. You may be surprised how fast you catch on though. So far I think riding was not a difficult skill to learn, but it's very hard to perfect over time. I'm not saying it's easy, but anyone can learn how with enough instruction and patience.

Re: MSF too easy?

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:19 pm
by ofblong
bebopin64 wrote:I am taking my MSF course soon and I am taking it no matter what. I just want to know how much time is spent on the basics like starting it and rocking it and straight riding and all that other stuff that ppl who have been on a bike know. ive been riding 250 and 400 class dirt bikes (the 250 on the street mostly) so i know the basics i just want to take a course that teaches that specifics of on road riding. too bad they dont have one that gets the riding test waived.
my riders test was waved but the test the secretary of state offers was not waved. basically I took the MSF (to which I learned a lot but I had never been on a motorcycle before that day) passed the msf and then next day went and took the SOS test passed and got my temp liscence right there till the new one came in the mail. friggen cost me $21 cause of that stupid $7 fee just to have CY printed on my liscence. There were people there that had been riding for 20-30 years in my class and every single one of them said they learned alot. You may not learn much as to the "how" but the "why" to do things.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 1:25 am
by storysunfolding
Ranges in Va are now offering pass cards that exempt you from both the written and riding test at the DMV.

The way to look at the BRC is that hte first day are the exercises you have to do and the second day are the exercises that you get to do.

To answer your question, the first three exercises are very basic, then it gets more interesting.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:45 am
by -Curly-
Take the advanced course then.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:51 am
by KarateChick
The basic is good for people new to riding as well as those that need a refresher. The riding time is all done at slow speeds and my instructors and the ones I hang with all say anyone can ride a bike fast, it's the slow speed stuff that really indcates who the good riders are. It takes real skill to be able to maneuver your bike at slow speeds (they always have funny stories about people they see on the road or in parking lots & such).

Here, they also have an advanced rider course (use your own bike, ridden at least 1 season and about 5000 km) and one called street skills (own bike again) where you go for 2 full days with a group of 5 plus instructor to get familiar with street and group riding.

Re: MSF too easy?

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:22 am
by Lion_Lady
bebopin64 wrote:I am taking my MSF course soon and I am taking it no matter what. I just want to know how much time is spent on the basics like starting it and rocking it and straight riding and all that other stuff that ppl who have been on a bike know. ive been riding 250 and 400 class dirt bikes (the 250 on the street mostly) so i know the basics i just want to take a course that teaches that specifics of on road riding. too bad they dont have one that gets the riding test waived.
In some states (you don't indicate where you are in your profile), a modified BRC is offered for folks like you, called the BRC II. Look into it.

If it is not available, then go ahead with your class. (I don't think you're ready for the ERC yet.) You'll learn more than you think. The course is 'student driven' for the most part. There is a time frame for each excercise, but if folks are "getting it" quickly, it can be shortened, or extended - within reason - if folks need more time.

One thing I've found helpful to keep folks like yourself from getting bored (or doing something 'squidly' around the newbies), is to make it a challenge for yourself: Ride every excercise as if you are setting the standard of what you're supposed to do for the rest of the class. Try to copy (or ride a better demo than) the instructors.

It will really force you to pay attention to the instructions and to what you are doing.

P

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:27 am
by IcyHound
Its aimed at people who have not ridden.

Rocking the bike and learning to make it go forward may not be a big deal for you but it will be a huge deal for people in your class who have never ridden. Try to enjoy their enjoyment if learning that this amazing thing they've been wanting to do is not within their reach.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:28 am
by blair
I scored a 100+100 on the riding and written tests, with no prior experience to speak of.

There. Now you have a challenge.

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:00 am
by pigsbladder
I did my MSF 2 weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed. I had not ridden a motorcycle before and I was very nervous. The guys on the course were great and helped me get my confidence level up.

I passed the course with the highest riding score in the class which really surprised me especially when there were people taking it who already had their licenses and owned a bike. I think it surprised them more however :oops:

The course moved at a perfect pace for me put there was 1 person who quit on the first day and 2 people who actually failed the course. I think confidence is the hardest part of learning. I found it really useful that I understood how to drive a standard, which I think a lot of people found confusing at first.

I've been looking around for a couple of weeks for a bike and hopefully one is just around the corner