SuzukiSavage.com - MSF beginner course

weracerc

Serious Thumper

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 594
Greensboro, NC
Gender: male

MSF beginner course - what to expect?
04/26/11 at 11:17:03

Ok all ofyou who have done the MSF beginner course I need to know what to expect - what was difficult how did you get thru it etc. I am going to take the class May 6-8 and i have read the curiculum book already - as far as the hands on goes what do i need to prepair for?

Had one co-worker who took the course and said for her the figure 8 insdie two parking spaces was her biggest challenge.

Back to top

"GOD Was Busy, He Sent The Marines"

IP Logged

OE

Junior Member

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 87
Panama City, FL
Gender: male

Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect?
Reply #1 - 04/26/11 at 11:33:10

weracerc wrote on 04/26/11 at 11:17:03:

Had one co-worker who took the course and said for her the figure 8 insdie two parking spaces was her biggest challenge.

I concur, the figure 8 was the hardest for me. After riding for many years I had to take the course when I moved to Florida. They didn't recognize the MC endorsement on my previous license. I'm getting old and my sense of balance isn't as it once was. I only had to put my foot down once but it only cost me 5 points. I swear, that space was a lot smaller than 2 parking spaces.

Back to top

IP Logged

Oldfeller--FSO Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline Hobby is now "concentrated neuropany" Posts: 12686 Fayetteville, NC Gender:	Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect? Reply #2 - 04/26/11 at 11:52:26 Yup, they ain't making getting into riding a bike any easier. Coursework and tests are much more complete than they were in years past as well. They are putting some $$ and time barriers up to new riders, IMHO.
Back to top	Former Savage Owner IP Logged

babyhog

Serious Thumper

Offline

On two wheels...
again

Posts: 3805
WV
Gender: female

Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect?
Reply #3 - 04/26/11 at 12:59:27

Yea the figure 8 was probably hardest. Trick is to not slow down too much. Keep clutching in and out, steady speed cause you'll touch your foot down if you get going too slow. I think going over the line is less points than touching a foot down, but don't quote me on that.

The other thing I hated was the quick-stop in a curve! Still bugs me to come around a curve and a car be stopped in front of me.

You being a bigger guy might want to practice some straight quick-stops. They make you get going to a set speed, say 20 mph, then raise a flag and you have to stop by a certain distance. And you can't start braking until they throw the flag.

But as long as you've been riding, you should do fine. Just be open to all their techniques and suggestions. And have fun!!! Best of luck!

Back to top

~ Hairdo by Helmet! ~

IP Logged

weracerc

Serious Thumper

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 594
Greensboro, NC
Gender: male

Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect?
Reply #4 - 04/26/11 at 13:21:00

when i get off the throttle and on both brakes the 650 stops pretty darn quick from say 40 or less......I'll practice though - curve stopping hummmm interesting.....if all the bikes they have are midget mobiles i wonder if they will let ride my own since I have the forward controls and feel more at ease on my own bike????

Back to top

"GOD Was Busy, He Sent The Marines"

IP Logged

mick Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Hell-bound Posts: 7323 Dayton Oregon Gender:	Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect? Reply #5 - 04/26/11 at 14:12:28 babyhog is right on about the figure 8 just keep the throttle steady and slip the cluch as needed.
Back to top	Science and Logic fly you to the moon, Religion makes you fly into skyscrapers IP Logged

Demin Serious Thumper Offline We need more chlorine in the gene pool Posts: 2435 Warren,Ohio Gender:	Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect? Reply #6 - 04/26/11 at 14:17:07 Listen to your instructors,and trust them.We have a curriculum we have to follow that has been proven to work.You also have to trust yourself.Relax and have fun.
Back to top	Next project:finish '87 Savage custom/bobber/CHOP STYLE***DONE finish '77 Yamaha XS650 bobber Bought another one finish'79 Harley custom bobber(NEXT) IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28996 L.A. California Gender:	Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect? Reply #7 - 04/26/11 at 14:28:06 +1 demin The hardess part will be learning to crawl cause you all ready know how to run. So don't roll yer eyes when they say to do baby steps. yes hardess skill is figure 8, we don't do that every day.
Back to top	Versey's Place Tech Section Index IP Logged

Ed L. Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline "We All go a Little Crazy Sometimes" Norman Bates Posts: 2808 Sunny Florida Gender:	Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect? Reply #8 - 04/26/11 at 15:51:56 The figure 8 is tough and the emergency stop from 20 mph can be a challange, they made us downshift to first gear while stopping,it didn't seem hard till it started to rain. Stopping a DR 90 with bald tires in the rain was not any fun. Get as much time on the bike as possible so you are comfortable with it.
Back to top	Silver '02, clubman handle bars, Cobra headlight, Sportster muffler, K+N stock air filter, 152.5 main, Superbrace, oil cooler, 1/2 inch aluminium plate forward controls, spark advance, goes like stink IP Logged

topgunz1 YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 34 Baton Rouge, LA Gender:	Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect? Reply #9 - 04/26/11 at 16:22:48 Just keep an open mind, pay attention, and try your best and you will do fine. My wife and I completed it handily with zero motorcycle experience.
Back to top	IP Logged

LostArtist Ex Member	Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect? Reply #10 - 04/26/11 at 16:30:19 I hated it. learned a lot. still hated it. I think it's my personality though.
Back to top	IP Logged

mick

Serious Thumper
Alliance Member

Offline

Hell-bound

Posts: 7323
Dayton Oregon
Gender: male

Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect?
Reply #11 - 04/26/11 at 16:35:11

topgunz1 wrote on 04/26/11 at 16:22:48:

Just keep an open mind, pay attention, and try your best and you will do fine. My wife and I completed it handily with zero motorcycle experience.

Perhaps that's what it takes, us old pro's are a little set in our ways.
Lets hope you can put the old adage away "it's not if you fall off,it's when"

Back to top

Science and Logic fly you to the moon,
Religion makes you fly into skyscrapers

IP Logged

Stimpy - FSO Serious Thumper Offline SuzukisSavage Int'l Division Posts: 1203 Germany - formerly SD, SoCal Gender:	Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect? Reply #12 - 04/27/11 at 07:36:58 MSF beginner course - what to expect? ...dehydration
Back to top	Recently sold 97'savage (change of residence) - looking to buy another - just bought a temp, a great SR125 called 'methadone' IP Logged

topgunz1

YaBB Newbies

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 34
Baton Rouge, LA
Gender: male

Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect?
Reply #13 - 04/27/11 at 11:41:08

Stimpy - FSO wrote on 04/27/11 at 07:36:58:

MSF beginner course - what to expect?

...dehydration

Forgot about that! We did it in July in S. Louisiana, pants, boots, gloves, long sleeves, and full helmet get MISERABLE when your only going parking lot speed. Bring lots of water, instructors should give you breaks.

Back to top

IP Logged

weracerc Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 594 Greensboro, NC Gender:	Re: MSF beginner course - what to expect? Reply #14 - 04/27/11 at 12:06:01 Early May in NC probably in the low 70's and low humidity - I hope! fat boy might loose a few lbs during the process though if it gets much over 70F.....hell i get hot setting still in sub-zero temps who am i kidding! will take a water jug thanks for pointing that out.
Back to top	"GOD Was Busy, He Sent The Marines" IP Logged