Just passed the MSF class - scared of calssmates who passed

ScootingInTheRain · Post by **ScootingInTheRain** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:48 pm

I passed the MSF course yesterday (on their beat-up Buddy), ran over to the licensing office and got me endorsement!!!! (AND in the same afternoon, I heard that my Buddy is "in Transit" and on US soil, on its way to Seattle!!)

But the reason for this post is that 9/12 people passed the class, me included. If I were the course leader, it would have been more like 6/12. There were at least 3 riders who were scary to watch. They were so freaked out by the motorcycle that they didn't really learn how to ride. They were wobbly, wildly variant in their exercises, and one even dropped a bike very late in the course (before the final riding test).

Did anyone else notice this phenomenon? I know that the MSF instructors are "agents of the state" during the riding test and have to be very objective, marking specific points off, etc. But yikes. I am not saying I was the best rider (93/100), but YIKES again. These people will now go get their license, buy a 600cc sport bike, and ride off the first cliff they come across.

It is just occurring to me that at least they took the course. Some people just go take the written test, get their permit, then hit the streets. YIKES again.

~SITRkeepingMyEyesPeeled

Piedmont · Post by **Piedmont** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:55 pm

I had a similar experience. There are a lot of people who say the course has been watered down in the last several years. We had one person fail, and the people at the school indicated that was a rarity. And some of those people were seriously scary on the bikes.

hackett · Post by **hackett** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:14 pm

Agreed. I finished it last week, and only one person out of sixteen didn't make it.

In my section of 8, there were 3 that I had serious reservations about... and yet they all passed. I can't imagine what the other guy must have done in order to fail...

twoscoots · Post by **twoscoots** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:37 pm

You just have to figure the scary ones won't leave much of a dent in the tree when the time comes. Two-wheelers lack the mass to do much damage to anyone else,

bunny · Post by **bunny** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:38 pm

In Darwin's finest form, consider this a thinning of the crowd...

Survival of the fittest. Those scary ones will drive off a cliff, thus leaving the roads safer for all of us who are determined to be careful.

BigColdMartini · Post by **BigColdMartini** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:12 pm

I got my private pilots license when I was 16 years old and I was amazed by some of the other students that not only passed the written test but also their check rides. As far as I know, none of them have ever crashed and that was way back in 1976. I remember the FAA examiner telling me that my private license was either a license to learn or a license to kill myself. That scared me when I thought of the 'what ifs' and reminded me that this was serious stuff. Hopefully those in the class you mentioned will realize the responsibility of riding and not get hurt or hurt someone else.

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:24 pm

Some people just do not do well when they are in a test situation. Add the pressure of observation by an instructor and some become a mass of quivering gelatin. They may do fine when out on the road practicing their newly learned skills. We all have to start somewhere.

Did any of you ever get nervous taking exams? Maybe go blank for a while? Not do as well as you expected?

gt1000 · Post by **gt1000** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:38 pm

Quick questions: when you were done with the actual riding test, did the instructor's take you back into the classroom and have you sit there while they tabulated your scores? Then, did the meet with each student one on one to give you your score and discuss strengths and weaknesses?

The reason I ask this is that a number of people I've known have been "scared straight" by those meetings with the instructors. Bear in mind, the instructors are paid to teach and a high success rate is the mark of good teaching, within reason. They really don't want to fail you but they will if they have to. Still, you're going to need to be really, really bad to fail.

Passing the MSF is just the beginning. As a rider, you need to keep practicing and you must continue to learn. Those first 5 years are dangerous so it behooves all of us to practice and be honest with ourselves. Taking advanced classes and reading more advanced books (like Lee Parks' Total Control) is also a good idea.

Finally, the skills exhibited in your class really don't matter all that much. What matters is what you see on the streets. There are a lot of new riders out there, be sure to observe any riders you approach and just keep away if they look challenged. You can usually tell pretty quickly.

louie · Post by **louie** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:39 pm

BigColdMartini wrote:I got my private pilots license when I was 16 years old and I was amazed by some of the other students that not only passed the written test but also their check rides. As far as I know, none of them have ever crashed and that was way back in 1976. I remember the FAA examiner telling me that my private license was either a license to learn or a license to kill myself. That scared me when I thought of the 'what ifs' and reminded me that this was serious stuff. Hopefully those in the class you mentioned will realize the responsibility of riding and not get hurt or hurt someone else.

"I remember the FAA examiner telling me that my private license was either a license to learn or a license to kill myself."

that's a good analogy for most anything that ends in getting a certificate or diploma is like that.

MikieTaps · Post by **MikieTaps** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:45 pm

SITR: We have to go for a ride when you get your buddy!! WOOT! WOOT!!!

pretz_ruck · Post by **pretz_ruck** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:47 pm

ScootingInTheRain wrote:These people will now go get their license, buy a 600cc sport bike, and ride off the first cliff they come across.

It is just occurring to me that at least they took the course. Some people just go take the written test, get their permit, then hit the streets. YIKES again.

~SITRkeepingMyEyesPeeled

If they drive off a cliff then they are no longer a problem...you should be happy they passed

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:29 pm

Is this some of that n00b animosity I've been reading about on other threads?

The MSF course is a foundation but obviously, spending a couple days in a controlled environment won't fully prepare someone for real world riding. As with many things, it's up to the individual to assess their own skills and confidence and either practice more or risk it on the streets. But that's true with a lot of things, unfortunately... For better or worse, there are many occasions in our society where the public good is put into the hands of an individual who may or may not be ready for the responsibility.

At the very least, these people did take the MSF so are somewhat better prepared than those who took only a written test, got a permit, and are out on the roads without the benefit of professional instruction. Uh, like I did when I started riding... And I'm sure that's true for many of us!

curlyred · Post by **curlyred** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:35 pm

I can see where you are coming from, but I have some sympathy for these people.

My reason:

I am a lousy test taker. Whenever I test for a new belt rank in my dojo, I'm a mess. I start to breathe heavy, my hands shake.....it's horrible. It's humiliating, but I can't seem to control it. Shihan and all those other black belts on the panel watching...not to mention the audience. I'm just a wreck.

Get me in the dojo for class and you'd never know it. You ought to come watch me in the MSF...betcha I look like an accident waiting to happen.

hackett · Post by **hackett** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:39 pm

FWIW, I'm not just talking about the EXAM, I'm talking about the entire two day course...

Not following directions... not paying attention to the instructor... unable to control the bike...

Smiziley · Post by **Smiziley** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:40 pm

BigColdMartini wrote:I got my private pilots license when I was 16 years old and I was amazed by some of the other students that not only passed the written test but also their check rides. As far as I know, none of them have ever crashed and that was way back in 1976. I remember the FAA examiner telling me that my private license was either a license to learn or a license to kill myself. That scared me when I thought of the 'what ifs' and reminded me that this was serious stuff. Hopefully those in the class you mentioned will realize the responsibility of riding and not get hurt or hurt someone else.

Hey awesome to see another pilot here! It is weird/scary after the checkride knowing that you now "know" how to fly an airplane.

Oddly I felt more in control of the motorcycle after the MSF class than I did after I got my pilot's license. And yeah, a motorcycle is way simpler than an airplane, but each are different in their own right. It's too true that it's a license to learn.

Not that it's a slam on the system, the FAA is way more intense in licensing and capability han the DMV ever will be. Fortunately we didn't have any scary riders in my class that I've heard so much about.

ScootingInTheRain · Post by **ScootingInTheRain** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:45 pm

MikieTaps wrote:SITR: We have to go for a ride when you get your buddy!! WOOT! WOOT!!!

O M frickin' G!!!!! I can't wait. I'll let you know as soon as I get it.

I understand the test-taking anxiety stuff, the first guy in line to start the riding test REALLY had a tough time with the double U-turn (first skill on the list). He had 11 other guys nervously staring at him and he knew it.

curlyred · Post by **curlyred** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:46 pm

hackett wrote:FWIW, I'm not just talking about the EXAM, I'm talking about the entire two day course...

Not following directions... not paying attention to the instructor... unable to control the bike...

I guess I missed that....if they weren't paying attention or following directions, then yeah....I'd be scared, too.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:49 pm

Here in Illinois, the written motorcycle permit test is a 30 question joke.
I can not understand how anyone could fail it. Yet, my wife was the first of the day to pass it when she tested last year.
The license (riding) test isn't much better. I know many people who aren't even licensed and ride (illegally) all of the time.
My point is - the process for obtaining a motorcycle license/permit is inadequate. The MSF course is a much better preparation. However, there really is no substitute for getting thousands of miles under your belt.

ScootingInTheRain · Post by **ScootingInTheRain** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:52 pm

gt1000 wrote:Quick questions: when you were done with the actual riding test, did the instructor's take you back into the classroom and have you sit there while they tabulated your scores? Then, did the meet with each student one on one to give you your score and discuss strengths and weaknesses?

The reason I ask this is that a number of people I've known have been "scared straight" by those meetings with the instructors. Bear in mind, the instructors are paid to teach and a high success rate is the mark of good teaching, within reason. They really don't want to fail you but they will if they have to. Still, you're going to need to be really, really bad to fail.

Passing the MSF is just the beginning. As a rider, you need to keep practicing and you must continue to learn. Those first 5 years are dangerous so it behooves all of us to practice and be honest with ourselves. Taking advanced classes and reading more advanced books (like Lee Parks' Total Control) is also a good idea.

Finally, the skills exhibited in your class really don't matter all that much. What matters is what you see on the streets. There are a lot of new riders out there, be sure to observe any riders you approach and just keep away if they look challenged. You can usually tell pretty quickly.

Yeah, the teachers stayed around to explain why people were marked down, or any other questions they had. Not really on-on-ones, which would have been better coaching. They were very good at coaching during the exercises, taking extra time with the ones who needed it.

One of the sketchy riders who passed (the one who dropped the bike...) actually did ask about a follow-up course to get better, which they offer as an "Additional Riding Course" that is essentially 4-5 hours of riding exercises repeated from the Novice course. It was good to see this person recognizing that she needed more experience.

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:59 pm

Johnny wrote:Here in Illinois, the written motorcycle permit test is a 30 question joke.
I can not understand how anyone could fail it. Yet, my wife was the first of the day to pass it when she tested last year.
The license (riding) test isn't much better. I know many people who aren't even licensed and ride (illegally) all of the time.
My point is - the process for obtaining a motorcycle license/permit is inadequate. The MSF course is a much better preparation. However, there really is no substitute for getting thousands of miles under your belt.

This is pretty much universally true in all states. There's a balance here—make it too hard and people will just ride without a license. There were 4 guys in my MSF who were there because they'd been riding without licenses for years. Two of them had gotten busted.

I think there has to be a good combination of rider education, incentives, and enforcement. Unfortunately, those things cost states money. One of my hopes is that the scooter/MC boom will grease the wheels of government a little more and there will be more drive for policies and programs that favor these things, better parking access, etc.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:23 pm

Did any of you ever get nervous taking exams? Maybe go blank for a while? Not do as well as you expected?

Completely blanked on a test in college after studying all night. I figured I had just overdone it and not gotten enough rest! So I studied less going forward....

We had a couple or three bikes dropped in our class and one girl ran over the curb and dropped hers twice while trying to turn! But the ones who stuck through it, passed. The instructors talked to each of us individually to give us our grades. I had to take mine on a motorcycle instead of my Buddy but it turned out well anyway.

I didn't finish the course with a sense that anyone was a terrible rider but I think we all felt we needed practice! SO true!

louie · Post by **louie** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:38 pm

i think i may have been one of those people you're talkiing about. i paid attention and followed instruction and all, i don't think the instructors would have accepted less. i dropped the bike once and almost a couple more. during the quick stop i locked up the front wheel right off the bat, i saw the expression on the instuctor's face. after he told me what i did (without dumping it) he instructed me not to do that again. it seemed to be the ideal way to learn hard braking. i definitely didn't create any idols for myself that weekend but i did take home lots of knowledge to practice with.

Lauriehp · Post by **Lauriehp** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:20 pm

I'm one of the people who has not passed my MSF course. (Too little sleep the night before due to work before the second day.) I agree with the assessment of the instructors and will be going back to retake the test, when I've had time to practice what I've learned from them. (I really, really do not like the box.) Because I feel that I have learned a lot I did go out and get a permt and my Buddy. I did not drive it home because I did not feel confident enough for that, yet. I have been taking it slowly and am practicing a lot of what I learned from the course.

I don't know all of the course instructors or how competent they are, but I would think that if they are any good the students brought a lot away from the course to continue learning.

Laurie

enzomatic · Post by **enzomatic** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:03 am

Still haven't taken MSF but may do it. I always love to hone my skills. I feel that I've done a pretty good job for having a permit, I practice in parking lots on weekends and do a lot of riding with friends in the mountains. I've put 1800 buddy miles on the scoot since the permit test and it's only been 6 months. I'm going to start practicing on my friends 250 ninja to get the whole gear thing down. I'll probably take the course after summer.

curlyred wrote: Whenever I test for a new belt rank in my dojo, I'm a mess. I start to breathe heavy, my hands shake.....it's horrible. It's humiliating, but I can't seem to control it. Shihan and all those other black belts on the panel watching...not to mention the audience. I'm just a wreck.

At my dojo you do a pretest with the sensei and a few classmates to take ukemi, it counts as your real test so you do better on the "demonstration" in front of everyone.

JNV · Post by **JNV** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:31 am

I do have a motorcycle endorsement (since I was 18) although I have never taken the course. I feel however from the little bit people have told me, is that the course should be tougher to pass. I find it hard to believe that a new rider can take the course and the very next day be licensed to ride a crotch rocket or a mega cruiser. I think there should be more strict steps to motorcycle licenses.

JNV · Post by **JNV** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:35 am

It looks like I screwed up my previous post. That is supposed to say I have had a motorcycle license since I was 18 although I have not taken the MSF course. I would be interested in taking the course anyway and also taking an advanced rider course.
That is what I get for hitting the happy hour too early on Friday; I don't know what the hell I am writing.

louie · Post by **louie** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:41 am

easy licensing?

in alabama you used to automatically get an M class when you got a regular drivers license. that all changed between 10 to 20 years ago but if you already had a license you were grandfathered in with an M.

Since i lived in another state for 10 years i had to take the whole shebang...

a 20 question computorized test and get 16 right. that's it.

i'm fully licensed.

curlyred · Post by **curlyred** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:08 am

enzomatic wrote: At my dojo you do a pretest with the sensei and a few classmates to take ukemi, it counts as your real test so you do better on the "demonstration" in front of everyone.

At our place, your instructor checks you for testing during class. If he/she doesn't think you can pass, you don't get to test. But if they do, you still have to test in front of the panel.

I'll be trying to get into the MSF for October. It's the only one I can fit in with vacation and work. Meanwhile I'll just be riding as much as possible. What else can I do, really? Hopefully I won't be scary forever....

brimstone · Post by **brimstone** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:15 am

out of my group of 10 we all passed. even the couple of ladies, no offense ladies in general, who scared the crap out of the others and the instructer's at the begining, they were doing great by the end of the second day. and the only reason they were "sketchy" was because neither one of them had experience using a clutch on a vehicle. other than that we all passed with flying colors. not a single bike layed down the entire weekend.

Christy · Post by **Christy** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:55 pm

there were only 8 in my class and everyone passed. everyone was riding well and no one had any falls. by the time we got around to our skills test we all felt like we could do it blindfolded...ok, not literally, but it was easy (i grew up riding motorcycles, but hadnt ridden in 10 years).

I read somewhere that the MSF course is equivalent to something like 400 hours of riding experience. I don't know if that's true or not, but I did leave the class feeling like i had a good handle on it.

amanda_c · Post by **amanda_c** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:05 pm

even the couple of ladies, no offense ladies in general,

This is something that bothered me about my MSF class. There were 12 of us at the start--9 men and 3 women, and of the women, I was the only one to pass. I'm also almost 6 feet tall--taller than most of the guys in the class--so I didn't really have a problem with the size or weight of the bike.

The other two women were the smallest people in the class. They seemed to struggle with the weight of the bike. I'm wondering now if there aren't things instructors could do in the class to help smaller riders manage the bikes.

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:07 pm

In my class, there was a very very short girl. She had a bike that fit her at home, but on course, she couldnt fit onto the nighthawks there. They had to give her a "shaved" seat just for her feat to touch the ground.

Post by **ericalm** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:45 pm

amanda_c wrote:
even the couple of ladies, no offense ladies in general,
This is something that bothered me about my MSF class. There were 12 of us at the start--9 men and 3 women, and of the women, I was the only one to pass. I'm also almost 6 feet tall--taller than most of the guys in the class--so I didn't really have a problem with the size or weight of the bike.

The other two women were the smallest people in the class. They seemed to struggle with the weight of the bike. I'm wondering now if there aren't things instructors could do in the class to help smaller riders manage the bikes.

We actually had several models of bikes in our class and one small girl tried a couple before finding one she fit. We also had an instructor who was about 5 feet tall and had lots of advice for stopping, etc. for the shorter riders.

It's pretty clear that the MSF schools across the country could use more female instructors, though. I think that may help a bit with a lot of these women who go into it with severe nerves.

StacyB · Post by **StacyB** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:46 pm

Everyone passed in my class. Even the ones that skipped parts of the riding test.

Severe nerves... Yep. After walking out of a MSF class 3 years ago due to inappropriate comments from the male instructor, and being made to feel like it was a joke for a woman to ride by the entire male class, you bet'cha I was nervous when I took the MSF class this year. Thank God, it was a totally different and better experience.

Post by **ericalm** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:39 pm

StacyB wrote:Severe nerves... Yep. After walking out of a MSF class 3 years ago due to inappropriate comments from the male instructor, and being made to feel like it was a joke for a woman to ride by the entire male class, you bet'cha I was nervous when I took the MSF class this year. Thank God, it was a totally different and better experience.

That's horrible. I hope you complained to the company providing the class. It's inexcusable.

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 6:26 pm

Haven't read this whole thread yet, but just posting because I just passed today.

Took the basic course (already have my license but it made sense to cement some good cycling skills) over two days.

Swerving and cornering was great. Braking hard was cool. The u-turns were the toughest part for me.

I HIGHLY suggest everyone go take the MSF course. It gives you confidence, breaks your bad habits and could just keep you alive.

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 6:35 pm

Oh, my class report.

We started with 12 people on Saturday morning and ended with 11 (one guy didn't wake up in time for the Sunday session so he fails.

Of the remaining 11 people, we all passed. The only dropped bike was a stall and tip-over while lining up (the only woman in the group was the dropper).

And skillwise, I think 9 of the 11 were really really qualified. Only two people lost points in their testing for putting a foot down or going outside the lines.

SO, the low score - other than sleeping in guy - was probably a 96. There were probably three or four 98/99s and five perfects.

I think the course was hard. I think the people took it seriously (again except for sleepy mc teenager). And the instructors were deadly serious in their approach.

Don't know why so many other locations had so many different experiences. I DO know that I was going to take the course at a different school, but they seemed less serious about it. It was also MSF and they charged about $50 less than the one I ended up going to. But I figure I wanted the best training and the best skills instilled in me, so I went for the one that seemed more professional.

Just my $.04.

ScootingInTheRain · Post by **ScootingInTheRain** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 6:42 pm

Congrats on passing!

I wish we had more riding time. We did about 8 hours in the classroom and 8-9 riding. We could have done 4 in class and 12 riding and not missed a thing.

Many in my class went way outside the u-turn box and others had "too slow" issues, I imagine the average was about a 90. I got a 93 - 6 points removed for stopping 6 feet too far for my class of bike (Buddy). I think I was one of the only ones who didn't brake before the cones, though, and my slight hesitation caused the length. The instructor was standing after the cones and couldn't see brake lights so people could easily grab the brakes early and not be noticed, which happened to every bike I watched.

Anyway, not bitter, just happy to have my endorsement. Now I need a scooter. Should be next week.

~SITR

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:32 pm

ScootingInTheRain wrote:
gt1000 wrote:Quick questions: when you were done with the actual riding test, did the instructor's take you back into the classroom and have you sit there while they tabulated your scores? Then, did the meet with each student one on one to give you your score and discuss strengths and weaknesses?

The reason I ask this is that a number of people I've known have been "scared straight" by those meetings with the instructors. Bear in mind, the instructors are paid to teach and a high success rate is the mark of good teaching, within reason. They really don't want to fail you but they will if they have to. Still, you're going to need to be really, really bad to fail.

Passing the MSF is just the beginning. As a rider, you need to keep practicing and you must continue to learn. Those first 5 years are dangerous so it behooves all of us to practice and be honest with ourselves. Taking advanced classes and reading more advanced books (like Lee Parks' Total Control) is also a good idea.

Finally, the skills exhibited in your class really don't matter all that much. What matters is what you see on the streets. There are a lot of new riders out there, be sure to observe any riders you approach and just keep away if they look challenged. You can usually tell pretty quickly.
Yeah, the teachers stayed around to explain why people were marked down, or any other questions they had. Not really on-on-ones, which would have been better coaching. They were very good at coaching during the exercises, taking extra time with the ones who needed it.

One of the sketchy riders who passed (the one who dropped the bike...) actually did ask about a follow-up course to get better, which they offer as an "Additional Riding Course" that is essentially 4-5 hours of riding exercises repeated from the Novice course. It was good to see this person recognizing that she needed more experience.

Here in MA, and I thought it was the same everywhere, you automatically fail if you drop the bike during the test.

Maybe some states have a less stringent test and MSF organization.

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:39 pm

Lauriehp wrote:I'm one of the people who has not passed my MSF course. (Too little sleep the night before due to work before the second day.) I agree with the assessment of the instructors and will be going back to retake the test, when I've had time to practice what I've learned from them. (I really, really do not like the box.) Because I feel that I have learned a lot I did go out and get a permt and my Buddy. I did not drive it home because I did not feel confident enough for that, yet. I have been taking it slowly and am practicing a lot of what I learned from the course.

I don't know all of the course instructors or how competent they are, but I would think that if they are any good the students brought a lot away from the course to continue learning.

Laurie

I'm sitting at home right now four hours removed from successfully completing the course and still think the hardest part was the U-turn box.

Of the 11 people in our course, only four of us did it without losing any points.

And not to be sexist...I'll just be sizest, having to take the test on a full-size motorcycle made it difficult for the smallest person in our class and the only person to drop the bike. She was (is) a woman. Funny thing is, I was the only scooterist and the woman - of all the people - already owns her own Harley Sportster 1200 - A HUGE MOTORCYCLE.

She was 104lbs MAYBE and a mere five feet tall.

As an aside (this is an edited line too) my instructor was a woman who was great. She didn't try to scare us, but was adamant about making us serious about the responsibility of riding a bike. We did about four hours in the classroom and about 10+ hours on the bikes.

I had lobbied HARD to take the course on Scootle because I felt that I didn't need the course to get my license (got that in 1992) and I wasn't going to be on a crotch rocket or need to shift anytime soon.

But after taking the course, I'm thinking that doing it on the standard bike was a great asset. It focused on skills and not on how well you have learned your scoot.

I would stress to everyone who's waiting until the fall or practicing on their own, talk to one of us and learn some of the proper techniques to practice. Or better still find someone local who has done the course and go practice with them. It will ensure that you don't lock in bad habits and it will give you real stuff that you'll be tested on.

curlyred · Post by **curlyred** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:56 pm

I'll be taking it in October....provided I can get in. It tends to fill up quickly here.

What exactly should we be practicing? I've been working on the skills listed in the alternate MOST.

Artisan · Post by **Artisan** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:14 am

Today was the final day and they gave this young woman a 20. I could not believe it!!! She was game but.... The instructors kept putting me behind her. Now I'm serious. First she laid down the bike .Half the time she either could not get the bike started or stalled out during the exercise..several times within the exersise. Could not make curves ( went at least 10 feet on all sidand braked in the middle of them. And who kept getting yelled at for sudden braking or slowing down...me!

I finally pulled both instructors over and told them that since they told me that I could not pass her when she stepped on the brakes and stopped in the middle of the exercises ,or stalled or slowed to a crawl what did they EXPECT of me!! Hit her?

I had to keep one eye on her ALL the time! I finally figured out that they put me on her tail because I had the sense and agility not to lose control and crash into her. But still did not make it fun for me.

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:21 am

curlyred wrote:I'll be taking it in October....provided I can get in. It tends to fill up quickly here.

What exactly should we be practicing? I've been working on the skills listed in the alternate MOST.

Curly, do you mean alternate POST?

I believe a lot of the exercises are listed at the MSF Website, but the main things I would work on are:

Countersteering to swerve around obstacles

Riding through curves and accelerating while doing so

Keeping your eyes focuses on the horizon or where you plan to go NOT LOOKING AT THE ROAD

Keeping wrists level on the grips and elbows relaxed

Slow-speed maneuvering by turning the bars and counterweighting the bike (this is the total opposite of countersteering and leaning the bike)

Emergency stopping without locking up the brakes (key here is to make sure the bike is upright and wheels are straight before touching either brake)

Five steps to changing lanes - check mirror, turn on signal, turn head like an owl and check the lane where you want to go, make the lane change, cancel the signal

There's more, but you can do most of these in a parking lot. Just do them until you can master them all.

Any more questions, let me know.

Jeff

krly82 · Post by **krly82** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:29 am

i just finished my MSF course too!! i passed. . . thankfully. i think everyone in our class did really well-- of course the big struggle was in the u-turns. those were very tough. thankfully, i didn't put my foot down, but i didn't stay in the box either. oh well, it's over. and if i ever want to, i can ride a motorcycle. . . thank goodness there's not a clutch on my buddy!

curlyred · Post by **curlyred** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:52 am

Curly, do you mean alternate POST?

Probably...

Thanks for the info. That's the main stuff I was practicing anyway, so it's good to know I was doing the right stuff. The main issue I'm having is that slow weave. I only get it totally right about 1/3 of the time. I do better if I can get up speed before I hit the cones, but I have to start from a dead stop 10ft before the first cone, so my speed is slow.

Oh, well....guess I need lots more practice. I'm fairly good at all that other stuff...Happy to say I smoke that right U-turn!

Post by **polianarchy** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:01 pm

StacyB wrote:Everyone passed in my class. Even the ones that skipped parts of the riding test.

Severe nerves... Yep. After walking out of a MSF class 3 years ago due to inappropriate comments from the male instructor, and being made to feel like it was a joke for a woman to ride by the entire male class, you bet'cha I was nervous when I took the MSF class this year. Thank God, it was a totally different and better experience.

UGH! I got sexually harassed during my written test, and it was terrible. I came one question away from failing and having to retake the test. Grrr...puny humans!

I'm glad this experience was totally different and better.

charltons · Post by **charltons** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:30 pm

I thought it was pretty funny- and ironic- that one of the only two people who failed was this teenage kid who had been riding around w/o a license. He failed both tests. I think partying the night before -might- have had something to do with it. The first hour in the class he was bragging about a LARGE ticket he got while driving an automobile.

Plus, he had to have his dad come in during the first lesson and sign for him to take the class. But, why is he letting his addle-brained son ride a MC in the first place?

overall, my experience was very positive.

Korian · Post by **Korian** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:22 am

Hi Folks,

I'm new on here - getting my Buddy St. Tropez 150 sometime this month (July). I've been trying to schedule an MSF in my area, but they're all booked up until the fall. Lucky me.

And the problem I have is that many of the MSF classes that are nearest to me, make you ride their motorcycles.

You see, I'm disabled and I can't get my legs over a regular motorcycle. That's one of the main reasons I'm purchasing a Scooter - I can slide right through and sit down - because with my arthritis and hip problems, it's physically impossible for me to fling my leg over the saddle.

Anyway, I'm hoping that whomever the instructor is for my class will let me use my scooter. Otherwise, I'll have to ask for an accommodation.

In the meantime, I live on a private road where I can practice, my neighbor (who has had a motorcycle license for over three years) has agreed to teach me some of the basics, and I live close to a town mall parking lot where I can bring the Scooter to practice. So hopefully, I'll be able to get my endorsement before I take the MSF.

Korian

jfrost2 · Post by **jfrost2** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:25 am

On the MSF's website for your state, contact the head of the program, you can usually request the use of your own bike for the MSF if you have a reason. I remember when taking mine, they asked us to list any disabilities when signing up. I'm sure you can do it on your scooter because of your disability. Good luck and hope you can find a class that opens up, it really is a great class!

louie · Post by **louie** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:47 am

Korian wrote:
Hi Folks,

I'm new on here - getting my Buddy St. Tropez 150 sometime this month (July). I've been trying to schedule an MSF in my area, but they're all booked up until the fall. Lucky me.

And the problem I have is that many of the MSF classes that are nearest to me, make you ride their motorcycles.

You see, I'm disabled and I can't get my legs over a regular motorcycle. That's one of the main reasons I'm purchasing a Scooter - I can slide right through and sit down - because with my arthritis and hip problems, it's physically impossible for me to fling my leg over the saddle.

Anyway, I'm hoping that whomever the instructor is for my class will let me use my scooter. Otherwise, I'll have to ask for an accommodation.

In the meantime, I live on a private road where I can practice, my neighbor (who has had a motorcycle license for over three years) has agreed to teach me some of the basics, and I live close to a town mall parking lot where I can bring the Scooter to practice. So hopefully, I'll be able to get my endorsement before I take the MSF.

Korian

hi korian, it sounds like your accomodation is your scooter. btw while your on the phone about using your scooter ask them if there is a waiting list. i've known others who show up on the first meeting and take a no show's place in class. i don't know how the paperwork is handled though.

Modern Buddy

Just passed the MSF class - scared of calssmates who passed

Just passed the MSF class - scared of calssmates who passed

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