MSF on Friday!

Message

G3rrity · #1 Unread post by **G3rrity** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:51 pm

So my long awaited MSF BRC is finally coming up on Friday and I couldn't be more excited. I got my booklet in the mail and I think I've read it through about three times already.

I got my permit last week and couldn't resist the temptation to take my bike out since I already have one. I went out riding locally with my dad (him on my brother's '07 cbr600rr and me on my '80 CM400T). Having a considerable amount of experience on 250cc dirtbikes the controls and operating the motorcycle were no problem, but right away the level of attentiveness required to ride safely on the streets became apparent to me. We took it very easy and just cruised around the neighborhood for a bit, and then over a few days worked my way up to going on a couple 60+ mile rides around North and Central Jersey. The bike is like a dream come true, it's incredibly easy to ride, light and easy to control, completely predictable and very forgiving. At no point while riding it did I feel out of control or like the bike was controlling me. I constantly kept everything in mind I had read in the MSF booklet and David Hough's Proficient Motorcycling book and used the safety and observation techniques they outline. Overall the rides were extremely successful. We wound up taking the GSP and RT78 for one exit each which was quite an exhilarating experience, but one I probably won't repeat until I've been riding more. The bike is revving pretty damn high at 70 mph and the wind pressure is a very new feeling.

There are some beautiful backroads with tons of twisties really close to me in NJ, who would have thought! I can't wait for the MSF class and my license - It's so close now!

Happy and safe riding,

Sean

the_sandman_454 · Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:23 pm

Good luck! My BRC is scheduled for this weekend too.

Thumper · #3 Unread post by **Thumper** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:22 am

You're gonna have fun in the class

I like that you got the book before the class--we got ours at the start of the class, which left no time to study it before the written test at the end of the classroom portion. It was open it, break the questions down into groups, each group answer theirs, and then a test. Most people passed, but it made no sense to me to do it that way.

Enjoy the class! Since you already have some experience, it's not going to be difficult at all. Kill the figure 8 box...someone needs to

#4 Unread post by **Skier** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:27 am

Thumper wrote:You're gonna have fun in the class I like that you got the book before the class--we got ours at the start of the class, which left no time to study it before the written test at the end of the classroom portion. It was open it, break the questions down into groups, each group answer theirs, and then a test. Most people passed, but it made no sense to me to do it that way.

Enjoy the class! Since you already have some experience, it's not going to be difficult at all. Kill the figure 8 box...someone needs to

You didn't get the book the first night? I believe I received my BRC material on the Friday and had a chance to read through it all before the written exam. Two nights is plenty of time!

G3rrity: Best of luck. Enjoy the class, have fun and keep your head and eyes up.

bearcat · #5 Unread post by **bearcat** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:55 am

If you haven't already, go to

HTTP://www.msf-usa.org/

There is a wealth of information there for the new rider including the complete test with the answers that you will be taking. Lots of videos of training.

Remember, keep your eys and head up and look where you want to go. Good luck

Thumper · #6 Unread post by **Thumper** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:21 am

Skier wrote:You didn't get the book the first night?

Nope...we got it at the start of the first class on Friday night, and took the test that same night...no one got any chance at all to study it. And if they didn't pass, they didn't get to move on to the range portion. Still makes no sense to me.

#7 Unread post by **Skier** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:36 am

Thumper wrote:
Skier wrote:You didn't get the book the first night?
Nope...we got it at the start of the first class on Friday night, and took the test that same night...no one got any chance at all to study it. And if they didn't pass, they didn't get to move on to the range portion. Still makes no sense to me.

I am no expert in MSF classes, only having taken the BRC once several years ago, but that is not how it should work.

Did you let the state rider training coordinator know of this? I hope it was just a mixup by the instructor and not how the classes are taught down there.

Brackstone · Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:55 am

You guys got a book?

RhadamYgg · Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:24 pm

Good luck for both of you! I really enjoyed the course after I loosened up a bit.

The course book is online in a PDF file - I had read the book several times before the course.

The break-out sessions with the group were good to talk things out. We had one person fail the written portion. Nobody failed the riding portion. Some came close, though.

One of our instructors was a long-time police office and we had a trooper in the class. Seems like a lot of police like to ride, so don't admit to anything that you don't want on your record.

They were all very cool about it. Even when the one guy admitted to riding for 10 years without a license (in the bio portion at the very beginning) - he went just before the last person - the girl that turned out to be a trooper....

Actually, it seems that a significant number of people ride for a long time before getting their license. The reason it isn't a big deal - is that the MSF instructors are just glad that they non-licensed are taking the course, getting their license and trying to be safe.

RhadamYgg

Flesher · #10 Unread post by **Flesher** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:35 pm

Sounds like you're having some fun on your bike. But if you really want to prepare for the MSF, ditch the "high" speed riding and hit a parking lot. Let's see what you can do at really slow speeds