Signed up for the MSF course

[JustAyoungMC]

soo... Ive been wanting to ride a bike for a long time now, but havent had any friends/associates/distant relatives who knew anything bout em.

Finally signed up for the MSF course at community college.

The bad part: it was full until july 16...gotta wait til then.


I remember seeing a thread on bikes here a while back, many gorillas into motorcycles?

[Uniputt]

I raced bikes both on the dirt and on paved tracks as well for a long, long time, but recently sold mine. Hardest thing I ever did. I do still have the itch in my blood, thoguh and will probably get another bike in the future. (Once you start riding, it really is quite difficult to stop....)


Anyway, the best advice I can give you is to learn how to do a hard panic stop on dry pavement, wet pavement, and gravel. Learn how to slide the bike sideways even on pavement. You must really work on learning how to stop the bike in as short a time as possible. You must also learn how to quickly turn the bike hard, leaned all the way over to the footpeg, in a millisecond....and back. This will prepare you for the inevitable accident avoidance maneuver you will undoubtedly have to execute. If you are'nt comfortable doing these things, then you are sure to have a serious accident. It really is your best defense. You have to know how to completely control the bike and be it's "master". Your survival can truly depend on it.

You also need to learn how to balance the bike (such as in a "slow race"). You and one of your friends can compete on seeing who can go the slowest, for the longest distance, without putting your feet down. Really does a good job to teach you balance.

One last thing: Countersteering. Learn it. Live it. Love it.
Here is an explanation of it:

http://www.msgroup.org/TIP048.html

Remember this: With only your right hand on the bars, (assuming your going at least 5mph) PUSH RIGHT--GO RIGHT. Start turning the bike in this manner, and you'll quickly see it is the fastest, most controlled way to perform directional changes. It will become second nature in no time.You'll see, and thank me later!

[okie2]

JustAyoungMC: Never ride beyond 80% of your ability!

Hey Uniputt, remember similar days?

From an old post:

Hard core sport riding in the backwoods of western N.C. and southwestern Va.....CBR900s-ZX7s-Ducs and R1s...coming into a curve and snapping two or three quick downshifts while hard on the brakes, off the back brake.. tossing the bike to the inside while feathering the front brake with a steady throttle to keep the suspension working for you...sometimes hearing the tick tick of your knee slider kissing the asphalt while all the time listening to the front tire talking to you while the rear is just barely in a drift...past the apex and easing the bike up while rolling the throttle back and the front end getting light while you kick it up another gear!! Then get ready for the next curve and do it all over again!

Track day at Road Atlanta before they changed it.......Hammering down the back straight at 130mph, or more if you had the balls, as the bike gets light going through Gravity Cavity...then as you approached the bridge staying close to the inside, hard on the brakes and banging down through the gear box as you go under the bridge and down about a twelve story drop while the bike is drifting to the left....then lean it over hard to the right to the finish line!!

DEALS GAP...on the N.C./Tenn. line...311 curves in 9.5 miles...the Ultimate road ride......the record ride on this road is an average speed of around 60mph....and this is by some of the top racers in the southeast with full blown race bikes on slicks. This ride will wear you out both physically and mentally! Don't ever ride this road at over 80% of your ability, or any road for that matter, because if you do the Dragon will eat you for lunch! Seems like every year, back in the mid to late 90s, there were two or three guys killed riding this road because their right hand wasn't connected to their brain!

The group I rode with were very good riders and very experienced. We always rode with full armored leathers, also helmets, gloves and racing boots We had a lot of fun and good times. We tried never to violate the 80% rule on the street. This always left us a reserve for the unexpected. We rode about 8-10,000 miles a year on our crotch rockets for many years. We are all still alive with no injuries.

I don't ride that way very often anymore, but I have some wonderful memories and friends who I enjoy visiting.

To a man we all agree we are still here and healthy because of the 80% Rule.

[tbone]

that is a great course even for experianced riders!!!i ride very regularly,my fxr lowrider is my main transportation,other than a work truck. ride safe!

[Franksmith]

Best advice I ever got for riding a motorcycle was in 78' I was in a Navy safety course so I could bring the bike on base and what he said is this

Just assume that every car you can see is going to pull out in front of you and try to hit or kill you. Since you are assuming this... plan your evasive measures well in advance as soon as you see the vehicle.

That has already saved my hide not only on motorcycles but on Bicycles and cars too.

Also as the Puttster was saying.... learn to handle the bike in every type of possible situation.... wet, dirty, dark and learn to stop fast in all of them. Make sure you drift the rear wheel a few times so you know how it feels and then you will not panic if it happens at a less opportune time.

Good luck and PAY ATTENTION in your safety course!

[Jeff]

Safety in riding a motorcycle is all about defensive driving. I've found out that most people in cars have zero respect for motorcycles on the rode. There have been more than a few times where I've executed a proper turn at an interesection and nearly got hit head on because the oncoming vehicle wasn't paying attention for the possibility of a motorcycle.

Many drivers fail to see you or consider your priority on the rode to be that of a bicycle. The skills you learn in that safety course will be invaluable.

[LasciviousXXX]

Pretty much what everybody else said. I took the course and its really helpful for low speed manuevers and turning which is where you would most likely dump your bike. Learn how to do low speed control manuevers and you'll be set. Work on that Clutch control!!

Oh yeah and to add to what FrankSmith said, ride like every 4th car is actually TRYING to kill you, you'll realize that after riding the bike for awhile your driving will improve in a car as well.

Good luck and keep riding.

[Nathan]

One of the best classes out there. It will teach you alot. It seems like it is just slow speed stuff but it is applicable anywhere. You know how you can tell a good rider from a bad? The both ride the same on the freeway but a good rider can manuver in a parking lot with ease. A bad rider cannot. It is all important. Have fun!