Motorcycle Safety Course Blues

[Superfly3176]

So I started it last night, it goes through sunday (Sat & sun riding). I know some of you are MSF or similar trainers, but I feel so out of place. Out of twelve people in the class I'm the only one who's never ridden a motorcycle. The instructor says that I'll be the easiest to teach and we're there to improve our own skills not compete with others. I can't help but think I'm going to stall out a bunch of times a look like an idiot.


Anyway, the other thing I don't get is that it seems like a natural progression before you start riding to take this course, am I wrong in thinking this?

[jaskc78]

no, it's 100% correct to see it as a natural progression. everybody on these forums will agree with me when i tell you that taking the MSF course before you start riding is the best way to do it.

and don't worry about never having ridden before. i had childhood experience on scooters and dirt bikes, but it'd been more than a decade since i'd been on any motorcycles at all and i was middle of the pack experience wise in my class. the two best scores were both guys that had never ridden before in their lives. the guy with the most riding experience actually scored the lowest on the test because he took one of the turns too slow and lost a bunch of points on it.

just pay attention and use the time on the pad to practice the academics, and don't be shy about asking questions or hitting the instructor up for pointers between excercises. everyone pays the same amount for the course, but how much you learn is up to you.

[MTexile]

+1 jaskc78.
- Just do as your instructor says. If you drop the bike you're on, no biggie since it isn't yours...

[Grey Thumper]

Out of twelve people in the class I'm the only one who's never ridden a motorcycle. The instructor says that I'll be the easiest to teach and we're there to improve our own skills not compete with others.

I'd agree actually. I'd never ridden a motorcycle before I took my class, and there were quite a few riders there who'd been riding for years. They had a lot of habits that needed to be unlearned (even something as basic as how to mount the bike properly). You've got a tremendous advantage, and are in a really good place to learn properly.

[Amdonim]

I took mine with a bunch of extremely alpha male Army guys, all of the bragging about how much riding experience they had when the instructor wasn't around (cuz that's illegal now). I myself had only ever been a pillion with my dad, but I was easily one of the highest scoring people. One of the guys that kept bragging about riding busa's and stuff kept stalling and coming to a stop with the throttle open, on a Kujo nonetheless. Just don't worry about the other folks, ride your own ride and enjoy it.

[csspostal]

I felt the same way as you when I took my course. Especially when 1/2 dozne of them rolled up on brand new ninja's to take the course a Hysoung and a some others brand new. I went omg I'm going to suck.

At the end of the first day most of my fears subsided and was feeling comfortable and amazed from what I learned during that day. I was nervous for learning push steering the next day and it turned out for me to be the most fun of the weekend.

The next time I really got nervous was when I was taking the test. In Ontario if you fail the test you have to shut your bike off and walk it to the storage area you are no longer allowed to drive the bikes. Guess who were the first 3 people to take the walk of shame the ones that rode up to take the course on brand new Ninja's the rest were the ones that were all cocky and all mouth I got this in the bag just write my certificate now etc.

As for dumping the bike there were lots of thuds during my weekend most came when the exercises were done and people were turning their bikes around to take another run through the osbtacle.

One person panicked a bit and goosed the throttle one time pulled a wheelie and dumped the bike got hurt a little bit so we shut down and broke for lunch. He ended up getting one of the best scores in the course when we took our test the next day.

Remember your shoulder checks and keep your knees into the tank and you'll be one happy graduate come Sunday.

Instructors love to teach Rookies no bad habits to unlearn you're a clean slate!

[jstark47]

All good points above, and keep in mind the MSF BRC curriculum is designed for people who have never touched a motorcycle before. Hence the first "friction zone" exercise: you don't even move the bike, just sit on the bike and let the clutch out partway until you find the beginning of the friction zone. IIRC the next exercise has you let the clutch out all the way and move the bike a few feet - your feet are still off the pegs on the ground though, you're "duck walking" the bike. This is how the exercises progress - in very small steps.

And if you do stall the bike out - you think those 11 other "experienced" riders in your class haven't done that before?? Let me tell you something, I've been riding 5 years, got maybe 45,000 miles under my belt - I stalled my V-strom rolling downhill in my driveway the other day. You understand? The bike was already rolling downhill, and I was was such a clumsy dork with the clutch I stalled it anyway. That takes major talent....

If you find yourself stalling repeatedly, use a little less clutch and a little more throttle - it's just a learning experience, no worries! Good luck.

[Amdonim]

Hell, I stall my bike more times than I'd really like to mention.

[Johnj]

OK...but did you pull in the clutch so the bike starts rolling again, shift to second, and pop the clutch to bump start the bike...like you meant to do that.

[green meenie]

You'll be fine. Just listen to what they're telling you and do your best. Even if you have to re-take the test part a second time, the total learning experience will be well worth the money spent in terms of future experiences you'll have on the road. Getting the hang of the "friction zone" when disengaging the clutch is pretty tough, especially if you aren't used to a standard transmission car. Besides, it's different muscle group you're using anyway (hands not feet). Takes a while for that stuff to get imprinted in your brain so it's then second nature. Practise, practise, practise is where it's at. Once you get it, you'll have it for life Enjoy the experience and don't worry about all the talk from others at the same course. Some of it is probably B.S. anyway. Just be yourself and learn what you can.