Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi everyone,

I'm taking the MSF class next weekend. I have heard these terms, but not exactly sure how they are defined.

I've learned to ride on my husband's 1988 Honda Shadow VT800. I love it, but feel it's too big for me to ride around on as a beginner. I'm looking forward to learning on a 250 to gain more confidence and skills. Most women tell me I'll want to trade up almost immediately, but I am taking caution and going with what my instincts tell me....start small and work my way up.

Thanks.

Let me test out my knowledge from my class yesterday

Low siding - that's when you basically tip over and "lay the bike down". You fall down and the bike slides out in front of you. This is considered a less dangerous way to crash. It can happen when you have a front wheel skid, or you lean too much into a turn.

High siding - that's basically this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzsScCnW9AA It happens when you have a real wheel skid and you release your rear wheel brake. Considered a very dangerous way to crash.

Hi Jiffy,

Thanks, that makes sense to me!

How did you do in your class?

Our tags are funny, I wonder what we graduate to after a "tricycle squid"?

100% on the written

Still have to pass the riding test today. Kinda worried, natch!

best wishes to you, I'm sure you'll do fine

Lori wrote:Most women tell me I'll want to trade up almost immediately,

Really? I usually only get the size-ist comments from guys.

highside happens when the rear wheel starts to slide then suddenly regains grip again. The result is the bike whips over sending the rider in the air over the "highside" of the bike ... a good way to break collar bones.

A low side is having the bike slide out from under you.

Both of these typically happen during a turn, but can happen at any time under hard braking or poor road conditions.

Lori wrote:Hi everyone,
... I've learned to ride on my husband's 1988 Honda Shadow VT800. I love it, but feel it's too big for me to ride around on as a beginner. ...

I'm impressed, the VT800 is a fast bike, you should have no trouble on the 250s.

Thanks for you're help everyone, I'll be taking my classes starting the 14-16th and trying to gain as much knowledge before going as possible. This a great site.

Flesher, I'm not too impressed with myself...I dropped the bike by grabbing the front brake hard on a stop, but was able to jump off it before I went down with it...just a really bruised up leg and a little scrape on the bike. I've got the coolest husband ever....he ran to me first and didn't even look at the bike (which is his baby), but never got upset about it...just tried to make me realize what I had done.

I'm hoping I'll take to the 250 with ease, thanks for the encouragement.

Lesson learned for sure, ease on the brake with the wheel straight!

Lori,

I just took the class as a beginner. I can tell you that they put A LOT of stress on correct stopping. You will practice fast stops a bunch. Key things they teach, squeeze and press (don't grap and stomp), handlebars and posture straight, shift to first as you stop (left foot down first). I imagine it will be easy for you on the smaller bike and probably help reinforce good habits.