| Author | Message | ||
     Zane |
This weekend I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider's Course. It was worth the time and money 10 times over. Lots of good safety information, technique on how to ride safely and more efficiently. For anyone like me who is just starting out I can’t urge you enough to take this course. Nice thing about taking it from an independent instead of a Riders Edge class is that there was no sales pitch to get this Harley or that Harley. Just a lot of good information presented in a fun and interesting way. The student/instructor ratio was very low, for my group just over 2 students to each instructor. All were patient and upbeat with no “attitude” at all. While every exercise we did was great fun, everything was rooted in real world riding issues. Biggest thing to come out of the course for me? I rode a little Honda Nighthawk. It was a fun little bike but riding it really confirmed what a good choice I made with the Blast. At one point I was doing a little slalom course and caught myself wishing I was on my baby. While I was there a lady who took the class and failed a week or two ago came for re-testing. She got there on the back of her boyfriends HD Lowrider, chromed out like you wouldn't believe. She wanted to use one of the little bikes from the school for her testing session, but boyfriend insisted (demanded really) that she use his Harley. During the test she laid it down. She wasn't hurt but did at least a couple of grand damage to the bike. Boyfriend couldn't even be mad at her cause he was the one that wanted her to use his bike, not her. It was the perfect example of the ego being bigger than the brain I've seen in a long time. But back to the original point for this post: If you’re a low time rider like me, invest in a basic rider’s course. It’s a great way to spend a weekend. You’ll come away with a lot of good information, have a flying three ring circus of fun and meet some good folk too. Oh, and I did I mention I love my Blast? | ||
| Doerman |
Can't agree with you more Zane. Back in '96 when my wife decided to ride she went through the MSF course. And I, being the supportive husband that I am, decided to take it with her expecting to learn nothing. After all, I had been riding for 30 years already. Well silly me, I learned a lot. Well, let me correct that. I unlearned a lot that I had taught myself over time. Well worth the time and effort for anybody. As (un)luck would have it a couple of weeks later I got to put to good use how to ride over and obstacle in the road that you cannot avoid. I was following a construction truck and the ladder fell off. I came away from the experience riding through it and staying upright thanks to the course. The front wheel rim needed to be replaced though. | ||
| Zane |
Wow Doerman, That would have scared the holy livin' crap out of me! Glad you came thought that one ok. You're right though, there is tons of stuff to learn in a course like that. | ||
| Rainman |
Congrats, Zane, as a Riders Edge instructor and MSF coach who rides a Blast everyday, you made a great choice. It's also fun being the only RE instructor who pushes Buell to the class (You don't want JUST a Harley, you want a BUELL: Harley with an ATTITUDE!!!!! I love my Blast as well. | ||
| Zane |
I talked one lady student into looking at the Buells. Her boyfriend wants her on a 600cc class bike so she can "keep up". I described my Blast to her and she said it sounded exactly like what she was looking for. The boyfriend on the other hand may be out the door pretty quick. I gave her Scott Zampach's card and told her how good the Fletcher's people treated me so I think she's gonna go check them out. I was surprised, of all the instructors, there was only one on a Harley. Most had Gold Wings and one guy had some beast of a KZ. | ||
| Cruisin |
What is it with MSF instructors and Gold Wings? I'm working on my MSF RiderCoach certification and two of my instructors (one is the program director for the state course) have wings. | ||
| Bobr |
Good job Zane! I took the MSF course with my wife just like Doerman and had the same experience of learning/unlearning. Fortunately did not have the real life application opportunity with a ladder. Glad you're enjoying the Blast. A very fun and practical bike, especially for these days. | ||
| Zane |
Yeah, I'm hoping that never happens to me like it did to Doerman. Something like that has a pretty high pucker factor. Two days later and I'd still be able to whistle "Dixie" from my wahzoo! | ||
| Rainman |
Cruisin: Gold Wings and MSF instructors? Beats me. I rode a Wing for six of the eight years I've taught MSF...and a Blast for the past two. Funny, but students always gave me respect for doing the "small box" on the Wing but they give me none for doing it on the Blast. | ||
| Teddagreek |
Congrats Zane.... I guess the same guys are down there in St. Pete.. I think its mandatory if you must teach MSF to have Gullwing... | ||
| Nevrenuf |
glad to see you go through the coarse zane. hope you enjoy the blast. the wife seems to enjoy hers and we're looking at doing some upgrades to it to make it more comfortable for her. next time i'm back in town i'll give you a shout. nice to see a nother bueller in the tampa bay area. if you ever get a chance, get out to lakeland for their monthly ride, you'll enjoy it quite a bit. | ||
| Zane |
Teddagreek, Yeah, this was down at the Allstate Campus of St. Petersburg College down in south St. Pete. Saturday and Sunday were both beautiful days but 6 hours on that asphalt about did me in... Nevrenuf, yeah give me a shout when you're in town next. I'll come over and soak up some knowledge from you. Now I just gotta get out there and practice, taking lots of small baby steps. (Message edited by Zane on May 05, 2008) | ||
| Azxb9r |
The MSF course is the best accessory that I have purchased for my bike. Definately recommended for anyone. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Loved the class, took it years ago and things I learned there saved my hide a number of times. I was so impressed I went back for another a few years later, then another, then took the instructor course after that. Practice those. Many of the same skills translate to the race track - learning to turn my head and look through turns slows everything down, making it easier to keep up with the fast guys. Teaching gives lots of opportunity to practice basic maneuvering skills and swerving and braking exercises are real life savers. Glad you took the class, please continue to recommend it to your friends. Too bad that lady crashed her dudes bike, I'm actually very surprised they allowed her to ride it for the test, doesn't seem prudent to me. I know I wouldn't let a [beginning] student ride their own bike on the range unless it was a small bike like the ones we teach on. The Experienced Rider course is a whole nuther thing though. | ||
| Rainman |
I try to keep husbands/boy friends/wives/girlfriends off of the course until the day is over. I find it just makes the spouse nervous (woman) or inclined to show off (man) and get hurt. When someone asks me if their husband/wife can I watch I either categorically say no or ask the entire class if it is OK. I'd never let her do it on a bike she hadn't ridden for the weekend. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
The boyfriend on the other hand may be out the door pretty quick. I gave her Scott Zampach's card and told her how good the Fletcher's people treated me so I think she's gonna go check them out. So did you write your number on the back of that card? | ||
| Zane |
Nope. I'm slightly grizzled 53 year old curmudgeon. She is 25 years old max. It would be like dating my daughter. She was a cutie though. I did give my number to a more age appropriate lady, with the offer that she could ride my Blast to see if she liked it. | ||
| Buell_nm |
What is it with MSF instructors and Gold Wings? I'm working on my MSF RiderCoach certification and two of my instructors (one is the program director for the state course) have wings. Here in NM most (I'd say 80%) of the coaches for MSF and Riders Edge have BMWs. About another 10% have harleys. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Nope. I'm slightly grizzled 53 year old curmudgeon. She is 25 years old max. It would be like dating my daughter. She was a cutie though. Tell that to Hugh Hefner. | ||
| Doerman |
Half your age plus 7... perfect! | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
I took the Beginners Riders Edge course too. It was worth it. Matter of fact, I'm going back to take the Experienced Riders course two weekends from now at our BWB sponsor Central HD. Looking forward to it. |
