MSF Course Mishap = Dislocated Elbow

Message

bolocheung · Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:15 pm

I am a newbie who took the MSF course here in FL this past weekend. I wanted to start out the right way and everything was going good, was progressing and yesterday we were doing the last practice go round with various exercises before final evaluation, one of them being a shift into 2nd gear down straight-away and once you past cones next to ridercoach you stop. I did this several times with no problems, although I had felt the brakes were very touchy and just a little finger pressure led to slight skids, but nothing major. Well on my last approach past cones I hit brakes and they locked, wheel got turned and bike along with myself fell to side. End result, ambulance called, trip to ER with dislocated elbow. I was just minutes away from taking the evaluation and I know I would have passed as I was going thru all the exercises with no major trouble. Needless to say, my pride is hurt more than anything, as I am a 40yo athletic male who gets carted off in an ambulance, while 60yo grandmothers got licensed, quite a disappointment. I was told all I had to do was come for the evaluation any time when I was ready and not to worry. Has this ever happened before on a slow 2nd gear 12-15mph braking exercise? I plan to get right back on the horse (bike) once my elbow is healed. I saw few people drop their bikes, but I actually got injured taking a MSF course which will cost me medical bills. I thought I was doing everythig right, but I left to start over.

VermilionX · Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:19 pm

sorry to hear that.

im a newbie to motorbikes.

so far i haven't locked my brakes yet... i already stopped from speeds of 50mph.

on another topic, my friend who took a course said that he signed something that says if a student drops a bike, they automatically fail the course.

did you sign something like this?

VermilionX · Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:24 pm

oh and are you serious about the 60 yr old grannies?

bolocheung · Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:28 pm

Yes, there were 2 over 60yo ladies in my group. I don't think there was a drop bike failure clause during practice. I know during the final evaluation a drop would be automatic failure,

VermilionX · Mon Jan 09, 2006 4:32 pm

thanks for info, my MSF class is due on Feb 18.

and damn! that really hurts... your poor pride, i hope you don't have nightmares and hope you don't get scarred for life.

jmillheiser · Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:08 pm

Actually, I did exactly what you did on that braking exercise. Locked up and lowsided first time around. I was not hurt (had full gear on) and the bike only picked up a few more scratches, got up dusted myself and the bike off and kept it upright the rest of the time.

Oh the "you dump you fail" deal is ONLY during the final evaluation. We had 3 people dump their bikes (myself included) during my MSF cousre and everyone passed (we all kept it upright during the eval).

#7 Unread post by **Sev** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:35 pm

I did the same thing. I'd just completed an "emergency braking in the corner." Test and did fairly well, except my chin was down. And went to pull forward, I got going a little fast towards the curb, and paniced. I grabbed the front brake with the wheel turned and tipped the bike at about 5km hour. I was pissed.

But one of the instructors picked up the bike, we checked to see if I was okay, I think I had a couple of scratches and a sprained ankle, and I got right back on there and did another one. This one was perfect. The only lady instructor there said she was going to start throwing people off their bikes so they learn better.

I hope she was joking.

I'm also really glad that it happened at slow speeds, and on one of the classes bikes. Which have sliders all over to prevent major damage.

jmillheiser · Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:45 pm

no sliders on the bikes in the MSF course I took. the only bike that didn't have "character" in the class was the brand new rebel that they had just purchased. From what the instructors said the session I was in had a lot less dumped bikes than they had seen in awhile. Apparantly the previous week one of the students managed to highside himself over the bars.

JustJames · #9 Unread post by **JustJames** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:54 pm

sorry to hear about you mishap. I hope you heal well and dont worry next time will be better. This can happen with everyone experience or not even in a very low low speed. Luckily it happened at MSF course not in the middle of street.

Shiv · #10 Unread post by **Shiv** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 7:54 pm

Our bikes were pretty dinged up too. And old.

We only had three drops in my class (two of which were mine; don't turn your handlebars when braking, remember that) but none were at any speed over 2 miles per hour (the girl dropped hers in the u-turns).

But we all passed on the evaluation and the oldest guy there (72 years old) had the best score (and he'd never ridden before, mind you).

There was a 58 year old, a 63 year old woman, and the 72 year old. Crazy old people, gotta respect people who don't let old age stop them.