The Relationship Between Parking Lot and Road Skills

[RockBottom]

The MSF and most states assume that a motorcycle rider with the skill to manuever at low speeds in a parking lot is qualified to ride on the road. Does everyone find that to be true?

Here's my situation. I'm a new rider, having begun last June. I have a bit over 1600 miles of experience now, most on back roads in the 35-45 MPH range, but a fair amount riding in traffic through towns and some on high speed roads (mostly 55 MPH, but a bit at 65 MPH).

I think I'm reasonably compotent given my limited experience, and haven't had anything close to an accident or truly dangerous situation. I've had to do a few hard stops and swerves, but they went off without a hitch. Yet I seem to panic and freeze during the parking lot tests given during the BRC and by the state DMV. Are they right in that I'm an "accident waiting to happen" (a quote from my DVM examiner) because I have trouble doing circle 8s when someone is standing there with a clipboard?

This is so perplexing to me because I'm not a "panic" type of guy under normal circumstances. I can speak before large audiences or on national TV and stuff like that without a problem. I've been cool as a cuke while being shot at. But I was literally on the verge of a panic attack after muffing a motorcycle riding test. I'm just trying to figure it out.

[SCgurl]

I have found it to be an issue of confidence in my abilities.

As I get better with the parking lot/slow speed maneuvers, I have found that at speed, I have much more confidence in what I can do. Particularly because the slow speed maneuvers are so much trickier. Going straight at 45 mph is easy; the U-turn I pulled off last night? Well, that took me a while to master.

I have also used the parking lot as, ahem, "initimate time" with my bike. That's the best analogy that I have. I use those exercises to improve my balance, feel the weight of the bike during counterweighting, feel where the brakes grab during emergency braking exercises. E.g., I now know exactly how much of a "grab" is necessary for my front brake to lock, etc. It's really a zen moment; "being one with the bike" and all. That's part of the joy of it.

If you've ever ridden horses, it's the same thing-it's about having control of a whole lot of power-and being able to use that power to do extraordinary things. Sounds corny, but that's my

[goodies]

it's the same thing-it's about having control of a whole lot of power-and being able to use that power to do extraordinary things.

That was great!! It gave me chills.

[Batan]

If it comes from the intimidation of the examiner being around, I would not sweat it.

For example, after my course, I took a mock road test that the school I attended provided. I was very nervous as my "examiner" was one instructor in that school that made me nervous. I did very good from what he said but still made at least a couple really stupid things. I was pretty sure I would not have made them if it was somebody else instead of him. As it turns out, I was right.
The next day I took the real test. This time the real examiner was a very easy going, non-intimidating fella. I aced the test w/o a single mistake big or small.

[Flesher]

From a psychology article:

"The transactional model of stress suggests that anxiety occurs when an individual believes that they do not have the ability to handle the demands of a situation (Reactive anxiety). Studies have indicated that high levels of anxiety are related to low levels of confidence (Abel et al 1990). Mastery of task and anxiety are related. Research has found that if the task is simple or well learned so that the correct responses are dominant, then an audience enhances task performances (Zajonc as cited in Lloyd & Mayes 1999). If the task is poorly learned such that incorrect responses are likely to be dominant, then an audience inhibits task performance. Therefore the general effect of an audience is to enhance the likelihood of dominant responses. The argument therefore is that the presence of others increases drive and thereby enhances the performance of well-learned tasks and inhibits the performance of poorly learned tasks. "

The answer to your dilemma is simple, practice the slow speed manouvers until you are so proficient at them that you are confident of the perfomance you are about to give.

Now go practice, and good luck.

[Shorts]

I think once you realize you need to pass the test or this will constantly be hanging over your head - you'll do it. You need your MSF card, period. Do you intend you ride on base? You need it. I saw you refer to being on base in another post somewhere. Hubby is military too.

Go do it. Do you really want to leave the odds of a line of duty investigation in the hands of the Officer who may or may not be having a bad week??? (Hopefully no one's panties get twisted over the O comment - I'll have to explain)

Yeah MSF is stressful. You want some motivation, go read my blog. And then tell me you can't do it after that. Your posts really read a lot as if you're scared to fail again. Its alright, I don't want to go back to a parking lot either. But put all this nervous energy to good use. Don't constantly pussyfoot around instead of setting your mind to get it done, you'll never finish.

MSF skills is a game of points. Pass all the other skills with flying colors, blow the box. Go out of the lines as many times as you want, just don't drop the bike and don't put a foot down and your fine...-5 points, max.


I say this for my own motivation often: A monkey can go fast in a straight line.

It takes work to face your weaknesses. Riding on the road is tons easier than riding skill drills in a parking lot. I think so anyway. And our MSF instructors said "Congratulations, you passed. You're now qualified to ride in a parking lot. Now go hit the roads and get your real experience...but not before going to the office to pick up your MSF card and get your license updated"

[StillTry'n]

Shorts

I took the MSF course a few weeks back and did not pass it.

I had never been on a bike once in my life....and I'm 67.

I missed a couple of cones and actully did not go fast enough where the instructors wanted me to go faster.

I'm buying a brand new Suzuki DRZ 400 SM and I'm going to learn how to pass the test.

I needed more than two days on a bike to be an expert at slow figure eight turning and other moves as well.

It's a great course and I highly recommend it to every rider.

Most riders in my class had been riding for years. I don't think it hurts at all to be able to ride a bike before you show up at that MSF course.

P.S

I was always told that if you can ride a bicycle and drive a stick shift car, you can ride a motorcycle.

That's like telling someone who writes with his right hand to just start writing with his left hand.

If you've never been on a bike in your life, you will find it is a whole brand new experience....like nothing you've done before.

Dan

[RockBottom]

I think once you realize you need to pass the test or this will constantly be hanging over your head - you'll do it. You need your MSF card, period. Do you intend you ride on base? You need it. I saw you refer to being on base in another post somewhere. Hubby is military too.

Go do it. Do you really want to leave the odds of a line of duty investigation in the hands of the Officer who may or may not be having a bad week??? (Hopefully no one's panties get twisted over the O comment - I'll have to explain)

Yeah MSF is stressful. You want some motivation, go read my blog. And then tell me you can't do it after that. Your posts really read a lot as if you're scared to fail again. Its alright, I don't want to go back to a parking lot either. But put all this nervous energy to good use. Don't constantly pussyfoot around instead of setting your mind to get it done, you'll never finish.

MSF skills is a game of points. Pass all the other skills with flying colors, blow the box. Go out of the lines as many times as you want, just don't drop the bike and don't put a foot down and your fine...-5 points, max.


I say this for my own motivation often: A monkey can go fast in a straight line.

It takes work to face your weaknesses. Riding on the road is tons easier than riding skill drills in a parking lot. I think so anyway. And our MSF instructors said "Congratulations, you passed. You're now qualified to ride in a parking lot. Now go hit the roads and get your real experience...but not before going to the office to pick up your MSF card and get your license updated"

My only point is that I think I'm fairly competent at real world road riding and can even do the parking lot exercises when I'm practicing on my own, but for some reason the combination of orange cones and someone with a clipboard makes me freak. I'm having trouble figuring out how to deal with this because I'm not a freak/panic type person. I mean, stuff like congressional testimony, national television interviews, or presentations with a thousand people in the audience don't even raise my pulse rate.

I'm taking the test during the MSF at my post this Saturday. Since I'm an add-on, I have to do it on my bike which may or may not be a good thing. If this doesn't work out, I'm just going to wait until next spring and see if I can work the psychological kinks out.

The only reason I was pushing to get the MSF card is because there is plenty of motorcycle parking where I work, but limited car parking. I normally have no problem finding a spot because I get to work at 6 (so that I can leave at 3 and write from my home office), but if I move the car to run an errand or go off post for lunch, parking becomes an issue. Plus, we had logistics problems over the summer at home because we had four people with jobs sharing two cars.

[Lion_Lady]

The MSF and most states assume that a motorcycle rider with the skill to manuever at low speeds in a parking lot is qualified to ride on the road. Does everyone find that to be true?

Actually. The MSF makes no such assumption. In fact, the Basic Riders Course was originally designed as just that. THE BASICS, as the first level in a graduated icensing system. Which, as we all know has never materialized.

It is a perfectly wonderful TOOL. Many states use it as the basis for licensing. Some states use the entire course and the riding eval as written by the MSF. In MD, the penalty point values allowed to recieve your license are altered, and you can "pass" the course, but not qualify for the license waiver.

At completion, I make a point of telling my students that they are "now fully qualified to ride around in a parking lot." Stressing that they need to practice their new skills and be aware of their inexperience before heading out on the road into traffic.

P

[RockBottom]

The MSF and most states assume that a motorcycle rider with the skill to manuever at low speeds in a parking lot is qualified to ride on the road. Does everyone find that to be true?

Actually. The MSF makes no such assumption. In fact, the Basic Riders Course was originally designed as just that. THE BASICS, as the first level in a graduated icensing system. Which, as we all know has never materialized.

It is a perfectly wonderful TOOL. Many states use it as the basis for licensing. Some states use the entire course and the riding eval as written by the MSF. In MD, the penalty point values allowed to recieve your license are altered, and you can "pass" the course, but not qualify for the license waiver.

At completion, I make a point of telling my students that they are "now fully qualified to ride around in a parking lot." Stressing that they need to practice their new skills and be aware of their inexperience before heading out on the road into traffic.

P

In PA, passing the MSF is harder than the "normal" DMV test (which is just a circle and a few circle 8s in a parking lot). My gripe with my first shot at it was that there seemed to be a disconnect between the coaching and the examine. On three of the four exercises on the exam, I was marked down for going too slow. But at no time during the ten hours of coaching was I told to go faster.

I guess I just find it strange that at least in PA, one could have their regular M class license without ever having ridden a motorcycle on a street or road.

I'll admit, though, that this is mostly just a personal problem of mine. I'm convinced that if an examiner would follow me on a ride, they'd see that I'm at least reasonably competent. But, for reasons I don't understand, when I see orange cones and someone with a clipboard, I lock up. I'm giving the course another whack this Saturday. If that doesn't work out, I'll just wait until next spring to take it again. I should easily have 3-5K miles under my belt by then.