Msf

[Scope240]

So i just took the course and wow, man it was a lot of fun. The class room part wasnt as borning as i thought it would be. We did a lot of group stuff and just answered questions and went through senerios. It was quite entertaining. The riding part was enjoyful as well. They help you out and running the drills is a good time too.

Just wanna say i highly recommened this to any and everyone if you havent taken it, do it! You'll never regret it. Plus you get a discount on your insurence.

[speediva]

+15,000,000



BRAVO!

Thanks for the details!

[richtazz]

I agree Scope, the MSF courses are run by motorcycle enthusiasts, looking to make our hobby safer for all, so it's not shome bureaucrat droning on about helmet safety and blah blah blah. They keep it interesting and interactive. The insurance cost reduction is a bonus too.

[BP2K2Max]

yeah MSF is good stuff. i recommend it to everyone who says they're trying to get into bikes. when i go out riding in groups i can just pick out the people who haven't been through MSF, they're the squirly ones.

[jeffcoslacker]

I'm a believer in the MSF course...although I didn't take it myself, I think it's a very good way to have some tools to work with rather than hitting the street clueless.

HOWEVER...

I get really upset with people who insist that the way the MSF teaches it is the ONLY way to handle a situation.

They teach it the way a BEGINNER, with no experience, should handle it. Which is absolutely the way to go. But I've met a few people who never moved beyond that, never developed any "feel" for riding, just going through rehearsed motions and reactions.

Sorry...just got in a long argument with someone about something they learned through MSF....apparently they teach that if you lock a rear wheel by accident, stay on it, that to release it would result in disaster of the highside kind....

While this is true IF THE REAR WHEEL NO LONGER IS TRACKING WITH THE FRONT, if they are still in agreement, you are accepting a loss of 30% or so of your stopping power for no good reason.

I understand why they teach it that way. A novice rider with a locked rear wheel is in no position to gauge what their bike is doing, being that they have apparently already:

1. Fucked up by failing to identify a hazard
2. Panicked
3. Overreacted
4. Locked a wheel

This person needs to focus on where they are pointing, and what's gonna happen next. not whether the rear wheel has started trying to cheat the front yet or not. The snap when it regains traction, if off-tracking, is not difficult to overcome, as long as you are ready for it and know how to react (or not to react, as the case may be) to it, and you understand at what steering angle you have crossed the threshold, and the snap is going to be too much to absorb. Then by all means, ride it out locked up

Why do some riders know this stuff, and others don't? I don't know about others, but for me it's because of two things...I've made lotsa mistakes, but I really HATE getting hurt, and always managed to do the right thing to recover...but I don't let it go at that...I rerun the scenario in controlled conditions, and duplicate what I did. If it's repeatable, it gets filed under "saves your ass" in my head...if I find I was just extremely lucky, or it's too dicey to repeat under stress, I go back to what i know works...and resolve to NOT GET IN THAT SITUATION TO BEGIN WITH...which is of course always the best evasive manuever

[aussieidiot]

i'm confused....

i thought if you lock the rear, you should break harder on the front, drop down a gear, rev the crap out of it with the clutch in and dump the clutch and wheel spin outta the corner.

most of my f@#k ups involve a locked rear, sideways drifting and pant shitting.
drifting bikes... it's the new thing down here

[aussieidiot]

WARNING: THE PREVIOUS POST WILL NOW BE TRANSLATED FOR THE THINKING IMPAIRED.

I'm an idiot. do not take anything i post seiously. i've had beer and i'm wearing new socks.

[jeffcoslacker]

You know how in Moto GP a lotta times you'll see a riderless bike, happily running along upright and stable...having rid itself of unwanted influence by the rider?

There's a lesson in that...

[richtazz]

Aussie, you are one of a kind bro, one wacky kid!!!! When I start sliding, I like to crank the throttle and countersteer, dirt-track style. You're gonna stack, but you'll look cool until you do!!!

Under normal circumstances, unless he expressly states he's being serious, NEVER do what Aussie says, unless you like being in traction and hospital food!!

I also agree with Jeff, it's better to err on the side of caution when a newbie, but there are better ways to deal with a locked rear than staying on it and flat-spotting a tire.

[gremlin96]

good for you taking the msf corse. next is the advanced riders corse. its a blast too.

[aussieidiot]

Originally Posted by richtazz

Aussie, you are one of a kind bro, one wacky kid!!!! .

just waving the aussie flag

we're all nutjobs down here.

[Scope240]

ya the rear wheel lock was kinda like you can only hold it and wish for the best but ya. I enjoyed it, as soon as i get my bike im going back for the next level.

[richtazz]

Good for you Scope. Don't let our ramblings sway your opinion. For a beginner, they teach how to ride defensively, and to err on the side of caution. That way, if you do make a beginner mistake, you have less chance of getting seriously hurt. THe best advice I can give you is this. IF all goes wrong and you go down, GET AWAY FROM THE BIKE. Once you're down, you cannot do anything to preserve the bike, but it can snap up and bust you all to hell. If you're conscious, and someone tries to help, DON'T let them remove your helmet if you tumbled hard. Leave that to the EMT's when they arrive.