Only say it if you mean it

[Erik the Red]

3 MSF courses offered

MSF offers 3 courses; Basic Rider Course (BRC), Returning Rider BRC (formerly known as the PB, or Performance Based), and then the Advanced Rider Course (ARC).

All are well worth taking, and the RRBRC is designed for people who already know the basics of a motorcycle, but want to learn the techniques of the curriculum.

Good riding habits are the cornerstone of coming home safely. The class definitely made me more aware, and I apply the principles even to driving. ...And walking around corners in the office. Full head turn, chin to shoulder.

I HIGHLY recommend taking at least one of the courses. I liked it so much, in fact, that I became a certified instructor. It doesn't make sense not to, in my opinion. Or as my old band teacher used to say: in my humble, but accurate opinion.

[JerseyJon]

the course

I've been riding since I was 22, and I'm 48 now. There have been some hiatuses in those years. I'm taking an advanced riding course at the end of april. I'm very impressed with the videos showing men and women riding giant goldwings and full dresser harleys slowly and in perfect control around a parking lot course. I want that kind of control. To me, safety is about confidence and feeling in control.

[DGXSER]

Good point HMar, My class was at a local career college. About 2 miles form my house. The back parking lot is marked with the lines and dots for the cones and such. So on a week night I can go there and take the XS through the course. Weaving the cones is a bit of a challenge, and I still have not got the zig zag turn around down to within the small box yet. But the rest is pretty much cake walk now. Highly recommend to anyone if you get the chance to take your bike through the course.

After all the years of riding I had done prior to the course, I knew about counter steering. The timing between vehicles and watching for idiots to be idiots was not a new concept, though it never hurts to be reminded. The biggest surprise to me was that if you turn your head, not look with your eyes, but physically turn your head to look at where you want the bike to go, the bike and your body will follow naturally. Never been shown that before and it was impressive to me.

[Hmar]

Took the basic course last year, was my first time on a bike (around here traffic can be nasty, and drivers are stupid. Wouldn't even consider first ride on the road)
The course gave me the confidence I needed to get on the XS, in a parking lot, and try out what I had learned on my own.
I suggest the rider course to anyone who asks my opinion.

[b.walker5]

Nothing like riding a bike on mud, dirt and gravel to teach someone how to handle a bike once the tires lose adhesion.

Absolutely. Couldnt agree more. Where I grew up, and learned to ride, sealed roads were only for 'townies'. All the roads i rode on were either clay or loose gravel (metal).

Nowadays I get a kick out of passing the 20mph Hardley riders at 50mph on the gravel. (Rallies in this part of the world often involve a few miles on gravel roads).

[DGXSER]

I never had a dirt bike, and I do think they would add some skill to ride them first. Parents forbid motorcycles, so until I was 21 never even rode one. Even my first one I kept at a friends house for 6 months.

I wanted tot ake the advance riders course, but that career school I posted has four or five sites in town and every one fills for the basic rider course year round, so they had to drop the advance rider course to open more spots for the basic course. Here in Ohio, you must take the MSF basic course to get your endorsement if you are under 18. 18 and up you do not need it, but taking it does save you taking the riding portion of the test, and at the course you take those same skill test on their 250 cc bikes, mine was a Nighthawk 250. We even had a lady that took hers on an old Yamaha 150 I think it was, about the same vintage as an XS but defintiely 100 or 150 in that range. It was a street bike, but very small.

[fredintoon]

- - - As for the comment about dirt and street, I ALWAYS tell someone to ride in the dirt for a few months BEFORE trying the street. - - -

Hi Ray,
some years before, even. Nothing like riding a bike on mud, dirt and gravel to teach someone how to handle a bike once the tires lose adhesion.
I got my boys onto dirt bikes at age 9, that and the riders course at age 16 made them into more skilled riders than I ever was.

[tv5150]

Here in California, you MUST take the course to obtain the class 3 endorsement on your license. At the local community college, I used to see the young kids, and now and then the "biker", all in the class! I will be looking into the advance class later this year. 31 years legal on the street, but I hope I can still learn.
As for the comment about dirt and street, I ALWAYS tell someone to ride in the dirt for a few months BEFORE trying the street. That will give them time to learn the controls, and hopefully slide and fall a few times. For the most part, you don't have a car ready to run over you in the dirt when you make the error the first or second time...

It's been a while (11yrs) since I took that Advanced Rider's Course,
but from what I remember it's also State Law in Texas that you take the Basic Course to get your motorsickle endorsement...
Any other Texians here who can verify or testify???
Can I get a witness???

[DiverRay]

Here in California, you MUST take the course to obtain the class 3 endorsement on your license. At the local community college, I used to see the young kids, and now and then the "biker", all in the class! I will be looking into the advance class later this year. 31 years legal on the street, but I hope I can still learn.
As for the comment about dirt and street, I ALWAYS tell someone to ride in the dirt for a few months BEFORE trying the street. That will give them time to learn the controls, and hopefully slide and fall a few times. For the most part, you don't have a car ready to run over you in the dirt when you make the error the first or second time...

[tv5150]

Old Dog Never Too Old to Learn New Tricks

Been riding legally for over 45 yrs. and I took it upon myself to take the Advanced Rider's Course 11 yrs ago when I got my 1st GL1800 (after owning every Goldwing model since 75) and I'm here to tell 'ya you can never get too old to learn something new OR re-enforce the knowledge that's been instilled into your brain over a lifetime. I ALWAYS suggest and recommend ANY rider that's never ridden or has been off a bike for any number of years to take the Basic Rider's Course before they attempt to get into the helter-skelter exposure of daily riding in today's climate of driver's. Any and all knowledge can and will be helpful for you to survive in this day and age. I'm actually looking for a MSF class close to me to re-fresh my skills....

[fredintoon]

However most of those with street bikes owned by the finance company refer to the bike as being theirs. Generally they are the registered owner, just not the LEGAL owner (a fine distinction I know, but an important one, one is the person authorized to operate the vehicle the other is the one authorized to dispose of it (generally with restrictions placed on BOTH of them)).

Hi Cy,
most bike racers refer to their factory ride as "my bike" and get really huffy if the bike's actual owner lets someone else ride it.
And I would suppose the Captain of the USS Nimitz refers to her as "my ship", eh?

[cywelchjr]

Hi Geo,
correct but perhaps misleading? Most race bikes are owned by the factory. Most street bikes are owned by a finance company.

However most of those with street bikes owned by the finance company refer to the bike as being theirs. Generally they are the registered owner, just not the LEGAL owner (a fine distinction I know, but an important one, one is the person authorized to operate the vehicle the other is the one authorized to dispose of it (generally with restrictions placed on BOTH of them)).

[Cuda 69]

Rider course should be manditory for new riders.Trying to talk swambo into getting her bike licence,she will take the course.Dont want her learning all my bad habitsmight even take it with her,think ill get kicked out for racing thoughs little 250s

[geobiker]

Hi Geo,
correct but perhaps misleading? Most race bikes are owned by the factory. Most street bikes are owned by a finance company.

Fred . . . can't argue with your point but that is why I love my XS11. I paid cash for it!!

[ddragon63]

Squid

I meet guys like that often, they go around proving Darwin's theories. Eventually they'll all go the way of the Dodo bird while the rest of us watch and wonder.

in the sport bike world we call them people "Squid's"

Took this straight out of the urban dictionary


Squid
#1 A young motorcyclist who overestimates his abilities, boasts of his riding skills when in reality he has none. Squid bikes are usually decorated with chrome and various anodized bits. Rear tyres are too wide for their own good, swingarm extended. Really slow in the corners, and sudden bursts of acceleration when a straight appears. Squids wear no protection, deeming themselves invincible. This fact compounds intself with the fact that they engage in 'extreem riding'--performing wheelies and stoppies in public areas. Squids wreck alot. Derived from 'squirly kid'


#2 An extremely rare animal with a short lifespan. Usually a new sport bike enthusiast with the reasoning of a lunatic, whom you might see thrashing on an R1 wearing sandals, shorts, and a tee.
When found lying motionless on the pavement, this creature transforms itself into a stream of blood, exposed flesh, and broken limbs. Hence the squid moniker.

Stupid
Quick
Underdressed
Imminently
Dead
Did you see that guy leave the showroom on the R6? Did you see what he was wearing? What a moron. That Squid.