msf class
msf class
does the msf class really give you a good understanding of shifting and braking and what to do in common situations? i know it takes practice but i have been reading some stuff on here and i want to know is it really covered that well in 2 or 3 days? (however long the class is, i havent taken it yet.) thanks in advance
In short, Yes. I had never riden before the class. I had driven a manual for years and understood the concept though. They cover everything from starting, stopping, cornering, shifting, you name it. You will be amazed at what you will learn in two days of riding. I can't imagine doing it any ohter way when the class is available to you. Take it, you won't regret it for a minute.
i am DEFINITELY gonna take the class i was just wondering the confidence level of poeple coming out of it is all. it just seems intimidating, but i had the same things to say about my full time paramedic class when i took it, now im glad i did. i hope i will fell the same after this msf class. thanks for the input guys
I finished the class just over two weeks ago. I went into the class with the following experience level: NONE.
While I was confident that I would be able to at least sit atop the bike, I was not so confident that my big clumsy feet would be able to coordinate with my hands. It took all of 30 seconds to "figure it out".
The class I was in had about 12 people in it, and experience levels ranged from NONE to Experienced, and two "Nabbed by police for driving without Endorsement, sentenced by judge to take the class". These guys were funny to watch, and didn't last long before being yelled at by the instructors for racing around the practice area.
As for the question, "Can I really learn much in two days?" I would say "emphatically, YES". After the first day, I was very comfortable on the motorcycle (well, physically, I was dying, because the little suzuki 125 was way, way too small). I went to bed that night, completely exhausted, but desperate to get back on the bike the next day.
Sunday morning, the 2nd day of the class, they started us off with low-speed maneuvering. We had closed off the previous day with this maneuver, and I had gained some level of proficiency (not going feet-down even once), so I thought I was ready. Well, uncaffeinated at 6:00AM with florida thunderstorms looming on the horizon, it was fun to watch 1/2 the class go wonky trying to coordinate that early in the morning.
The rest of the day we focussed on quick-braking, obstacle avoidance, and various other "get-out-alive" type scenarios.
While I think they could've spent more time with increasingly hazardous situations, the basics were effectively drilled into our heads.
My one complaint, however, about the MSF course, is that it seems to be a NO-FAIL course. There were three people in the class, one of whom had already taken the class twice, and failed twice. Sadly, after these two previous classes, the guy still did not get it. He was awkward, and ruled by fear.
Now, given this NO-FAIL setup, I do remind the reader of this post that MSF seems to have a "Take the class until you pass" mentality. You won't surrender your registration fees by failing once. Take the class as many times as necessary, you will pass.
I spoke at length with several of the instructors about the 1-day "Experienced rider" course, and they suggested to me that I wait 6 months and come back to take it. I saw one ERC "student" on the first day of my class, and they had him doing some fairly difficult maneuvers.
Summary: Take the course, it's the best money you'll spend in motorcycling.
While I was confident that I would be able to at least sit atop the bike, I was not so confident that my big clumsy feet would be able to coordinate with my hands. It took all of 30 seconds to "figure it out".
The class I was in had about 12 people in it, and experience levels ranged from NONE to Experienced, and two "Nabbed by police for driving without Endorsement, sentenced by judge to take the class". These guys were funny to watch, and didn't last long before being yelled at by the instructors for racing around the practice area.
As for the question, "Can I really learn much in two days?" I would say "emphatically, YES". After the first day, I was very comfortable on the motorcycle (well, physically, I was dying, because the little suzuki 125 was way, way too small). I went to bed that night, completely exhausted, but desperate to get back on the bike the next day.
Sunday morning, the 2nd day of the class, they started us off with low-speed maneuvering. We had closed off the previous day with this maneuver, and I had gained some level of proficiency (not going feet-down even once), so I thought I was ready. Well, uncaffeinated at 6:00AM with florida thunderstorms looming on the horizon, it was fun to watch 1/2 the class go wonky trying to coordinate that early in the morning.
The rest of the day we focussed on quick-braking, obstacle avoidance, and various other "get-out-alive" type scenarios.
While I think they could've spent more time with increasingly hazardous situations, the basics were effectively drilled into our heads.
My one complaint, however, about the MSF course, is that it seems to be a NO-FAIL course. There were three people in the class, one of whom had already taken the class twice, and failed twice. Sadly, after these two previous classes, the guy still did not get it. He was awkward, and ruled by fear.
Now, given this NO-FAIL setup, I do remind the reader of this post that MSF seems to have a "Take the class until you pass" mentality. You won't surrender your registration fees by failing once. Take the class as many times as necessary, you will pass.
I spoke at length with several of the instructors about the 1-day "Experienced rider" course, and they suggested to me that I wait 6 months and come back to take it. I saw one ERC "student" on the first day of my class, and they had him doing some fairly difficult maneuvers.
Summary: Take the course, it's the best money you'll spend in motorcycling.
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Lion_Lady
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Re: msf class
A very appropriate description of what the MSF class does for complete newibes is, it: "Prepares you to go out and practice in parking lots."amiles wrote:does the msf class really give you a good understanding of shifting and braking and what to do in common situations? i know it takes practice but i have been reading some stuff on here and i want to know is it really covered that well in 2 or 3 days? (however long the class is, i havent taken it yet.) thanks in advance
Now, don't get me wrong. This is actually a good thing. Consider: When you were first learning to DRIVE, once you got your car license, you still had lots to learn. It all comes with practice, and you just gotta practice until you are no longer THINKING ABOUT every move you make or are about to make.
When I first started riding, after a short spin on my new bike on the roads, I would come home and fall asleep on the sofa, I was that mentally drained from all the stuff I had to think about. After a couple weeks of riding once or twice a week, I realized that I wasn't napping afterwards anymore. It started to become more natural.
So, TAKE THE MSF. Then spend some early Sundays in a parking lot practicing the slow speed maneuvers, then venture out on the roads. Sunday early is a GREAT time to get 'real road' practice without much traffic.
Good luck!!
P
Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity - Alice Paul
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jmillheiser
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I dunno. I wouldn't do it on Sundays.
Sure the streets are empty but if you catch the to/from church traffic you're screwed.
They may be holy for the hour or two that they're in church but once they're ina cage they're the devil on wheels, racing each other to get to salvation before the person next to them.
Church goers frighten me, even when I'm in a car...
Sure the streets are empty but if you catch the to/from church traffic you're screwed.
They may be holy for the hour or two that they're in church but once they're ina cage they're the devil on wheels, racing each other to get to salvation before the person next to them.
Church goers frighten me, even when I'm in a car...
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jmillheiser
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thats because a lot of that sunday church traffic is managing their cellphone,and 3 or so misbehaving rugrats in the back seat. Basically just like the do on their commute when terrorizing the rest of us during the week.
I may just ride down to my synogouge one of these saturdays when the weather warms back up, but iirc we already have a member of our congregation who rides his motorcycle to services. Our Rabbi could pass for a biker when not in his "saturday" dress, he usually wears a black leather vest and black leather Harley-davidson beanie when outside the synogouge and of course he has the beard to go with it, dont know if he rides, never asked.
I may just ride down to my synogouge one of these saturdays when the weather warms back up, but iirc we already have a member of our congregation who rides his motorcycle to services. Our Rabbi could pass for a biker when not in his "saturday" dress, he usually wears a black leather vest and black leather Harley-davidson beanie when outside the synogouge and of course he has the beard to go with it, dont know if he rides, never asked.