The MSF courses are 100% funded by the fees collected from the students.

One. Hundred. Percent.

I know this because I also serve on the board that oversees the program and I've seen the balance sheets.

So, Bill's claim that the courses are a waste of taxpayer money is also full of bull poopies.

Anyone notice a pattern here?

I have been riding well over 55 years,I took it few years ago so as to lower my insurance rate.and after all those years I am humbled to say I still learned alot,so don't knock it Bill,try it it could lower your insurance rate.

A hamster do what a hamster does.

bill67 wrote on 08/06/10 at 12:31:51:


Bill,
 Wake up and read the post.  Babyhog's was the "try not to brake in a cruve and power thru" lesson.    Mine was the "oh Sh.T    got to stop in a curve" lesson.  

So... Bill,  what do you do if you're coming around a sharp blind curve and their is something stopped in the middle of it??????   Use you're imagination.... a Big old Tractor with a traliler full of Hay, A beat up old car with the hood up in the middle of the road, ..... a naked Playboy bunny winking at you..... (hmmmmm maybe that last one isn't a good example........ ) ?

T Mack

If I could weigh in ... bill, you make some interesting points ... yes, will agree that some folk are perfectly capable of learning to Ride or drive perfectly well without professional instruction ... BUT, I firmly believe that in today's world where traffic has increased exponentially over levels of the 50's & 60's, is faster and with distracting gagets like cell phones, etc. thrown into the mix, professional Rider Training gives (most) motorcyclists who have taken a Course a better chance on our roadways. Proper technique can be learned the hard way thru trial and error, or taught properly ... my 2 cents.

As for braking (NOT "breaking" why do some folk insist on spelling that word incorrectly! LOL!) in a curve ... we teach how to perform a quick stop in a curve. While negotiating a curve at speed, the Bike is usually banked over in a lean. Sudden application of the brakes (locking front and/or rear) while in this attitude can possibly result in a low-side crash. The technique we teach students is that if an obstacle presents itself in the path of the motorcyclist while negotiating a curve, first thing is to straighten Bike upright and point out of the curve away from obstacle. Once Bike is straight (takes fraction of second to do this) apply both front and rear brakes smoothly and progressively while simultaneously pulling in clutch and tapping down on shifter to ensure in 1st gear when Bike comes to a stop. Finally, a quick head check to see if someone is coming up too fast on your six o' clock so that you can skee-daddle before getting punted into the ditch or on-coming traffic!

I never worry what gear I'm if I have to stop quick.

As us old timers all know... quick shifting the savage in a panic stop will most likely leave you in the gear you started with.  And with a touchy rear brake your attention is better spent on braking.  But it is a skill worth practicing, as it may become a rote skill and accomplished w/o any thought at all.

Personally, I brake with engine braking as well.  I serves several purposes, the jacob brake sound generally gets someone attention and rather than look around for the truck bearing down on them, they just get out of the way.  Also, I find that it moderates the rear brake and rather than letting the rear wheel lock up and stop, it keeps it rolling.