MSF Basic Rider Course: what to expect, suggestions???

[Mojoman]

I am signed up for my Basic Rider Course this weekend at a local community college.  But I don't have any information about how the course will be taught, just class times (Firday 6-10PM. sAT/sUN 8-5pM) and what to wear (weather forcast is 70s and sunny!!!).  I assume there must a book or handouts that go along with the class?  I am sure traffic safety will be emphasised, but I am also very interested in learning proper riding techniques (slow speed maneuvering,  plus road speed braking, cornering).  I am particular intimated by the "counter steer" turn initiation.  I have tried it on my bicycle and it is very unnerving for me.

Any insight into the class or suggestions for a newbie?  I have been a good boy and kept my new (to me) 750 NH parked until I finish the class get my license.  (PS: I am a 56 year old kid looking for a new hobby).  I have ridden trail bikes as a teenager and a couple short rides every decade or so on friend's street bikes, so Ive got lots to learn this weekend.  Your comments and suggestions would be appreciated.

[Burgi]

If it is like my course you will spend Friday night in a class room, Saturday divided between class room and range and Sunday on the range.
We were all dead tired Saturday night and sore as could be Sunday morning. 
There is a written test on the things you learn in the classroom as well as a riding test. The coaches will explain it all and as long as you follow through you will be fine.
I had a good time at my class but I was sure glad when it was done.
Enjoy your weekend!

[coffee_brake]

Mojo, just bring a helmet if you already bought one. They should have some on hand but they might not fit so well. Also gloves. Also layers of long-sleeved shirts, so you can stay comfortable, and some water. You probably won't even get on a bike Friday.

Don't over-think it. You will be going so slowly on Saturday that you will not be actively counter-steering. Believe it or not, you do counter-steer on a bicycle but it is so slight a motion that you don't realize it...and if you TRY to counter-steer a bicycle you might dump it!
So I would not be trying to counter-steer, or even think about counter-steering, at this stage. It will come naturally.

You don't need to clog up your mind with technique. The MSF instructors will be well in control of getting you the information you need.

One thing, though, that is a very real problem with new riders in this class: target fixation. It is rare that a student gets on the little 250, pops the clutch and runs hard into a building or fence, but it does happen. This happens because of target fixation: you will go where you look. Your instructors will tell you over and over to keep your head and eyes up, look where you want to go. Not at them, not at the curb, not at the cones, not at the other riders. Look where you want to go, and the bike will go there. I would not encourage you to clog your brain with much else except what the instructors are teaching.

Oh, and you're going to have a LOT of FUN with this class! Enjoy it!

[marriedman]

I took the safety course after riding for a year. I wanted to make sure that I didn't learn any bad habits - that and I wanted the discount on my insurance!

Coffee gave the best advice, and the most important. They will say it over and over in class. My advice though is simple:
1 Don't be afraid to mess up.
2 If you have a question, ask it. Everyone else wants to know it too but they are afraid of looking stupid.
3 You are in the perfect place to get tips on how to do things properly. Take advantage of their knowledge and experience.

Ih, and have fun with it. Those 250's are a hoot to ride.

[allstresdout]

+1 To the class being fun.

I learned a lot and really made me sure I knew I had chose a fun hobby/mode of transportation. They really make it very difficult to fail if you are paying attention. No one in my class failed, and I nearly scored perfect on the test.

Don't forget that after the class your learning doesn't end, every day is a chance to learn something new!

[NHPep]

I took the MSF class at 48. Enjoyed it. You'll do fine.

Long legs on a 250 rebel killed my hips though.  Get there early and find a standard.  Maybe a Suzuki TU250 if they have one.

The real learning starts once you have your license.  My instructor reminded us "You are now licensed to ride 20 mph in a parking lot with painted lines and cones. Keep learning, be careful." 

It is rare that a student gets on the little 250, pops the clutch and runs hard into a building or fence, but it does happen.

Finally, in my view, remember the clutch is your best friend.

[LOKi]

Never took the class so no advice there. But the counter steering thing....you have done it. You said you have ridden a street bike or two. If so and you have taken it above 15mph and didn't ride directly off the road then you have done it correctly. It's not a choice thing it's how bikes turn at speed.

BTW  to the forum.

And whats up with the gender thing? and Mojoman don't fit. I thinks you clicked the wrong button for gender on your profile.   

[Mojoman]

And whats up with the gender thing? and Mojoman don't fit. I thinks you clicked the wrong button for gender on your profile.   

Whoops.  Time for a quick sex change.  Or perhaps I get better feedback to my posts if I remained a female?

[ginmqi]

Hey there fellow rider, I am a new rider too and just finished my MSF a couple of months ago.  My weekend went like this: Friday (started at 6pm and we rode until sunlight was out, then classroom until 10pm), Saturday (all day riding, finish up class near the end at around 4pm), Sunday (finish up riding exercise, final riding skills exam at the end)

Obviously bring your gear.  And something useful that I thought would've been great is a lawn chair (the parking lot where we rode was a good 3-4min walk from the classroom building where we had water fountains and bathrooms) and also bring a case of water.  Get plenty of sleep the night before and prepare to be sore on Sunday morning. 

As for riding specific skills, do not be intimidated by the fancy term of "counter-steering."  My friend and I did it on our bicycles and its not nearly as stable bcause you dont go as fast as a motorbike and a bicycle is very very twitchy because it is sooo light weight.  But I'll tell you a secret tip:

So the biggest and the one thing that I think is the most important point to take away from the entire weekend of MSF regarding riding in general and the super secret tip is this: Look at and turn your head towards where you want to go.  That's it.  It's that simple.  That I believe is fundamental in nearly every single exercise.  Do NOT look at the ground, keep your head up eyes up and look to where you want to go.  You'll see what I mean.  Your body is incredible intelligent and your bike will go where you're looking.  Looking down?  Well you are more likely to go down too. 

Of course there is a little process they teach you to start counter-steering (Slow, Look, Press, Roll) and you can read all aboutthe physics and whatnot....but if you just always always remember LOOK where you want to go and keep your head up!  Do NOT look down.

You actually do it on a bicycle naturally without even realizing it.  When you are at speed ona bicycle and you turn and you feel yourself leaning into the turn...that's counter-steering. 

One of the most insightful thing that our Rider Coach told us that all these skills we're doing on a motorcycle is the exact same as a bicycle....they are mechanically and fundamentally the same thing....only difference is motorcycle goes faster and heavier and you have an engine instead of legs to move the rear wheel.  So you've been counter-steering on your bicycle all your life and it's the same fundamental principle.  But since it's a big heavy metal motorcycle everyone gets scared and forget what they've already naturally know from riding bicycles. 

So, don't be intimidated go out there, be safe and have fun!

[Mojoman]

Years ago I  attended a  Z car sports car clinic at Road Atlanta (I also have an 1973 240Z).  There was a Nissan facory driver at the event who I spoke to. I asked him for some high speed driving tips and he said the most important rule is "look where you want to go".  I have relied on this many times.  simple words but oh so true.

[Tstang429]

Just make sure you are well rested each day and pay close attention to everything they say.

[nhktroup]

I just finished my course this last weekend. I had no idea what to expect either. I came out at the end of the weekend a lot more aware of things to look out for. I also had to try and unlearn some of my bad riding habits.  My girfriend took the class with me and she has NEVER ridden a motorcycle. She did better than I did.  If you are over 5'7".... get ready for some sore hips. I'm 6'3" and got a massage Sunday afternoon because the bike was too tiny for me. 

I had a Thursday night class, where we talked quite a bit about types of motorcycles the basic controls and the gear that you should wear.

Saturday morning was range time. I was lucky enough to ride the only Nighthawk 250 in the class.  We started at 6:45am learning how to start and stop a motorcycle engine, how to "walk" your bike, how to "power walk" the bike in gear. We also learned u-turns while walking. We finished up range time time with shifting from 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. Saturday afternoon, we talked for another hour about drugs and alcohol and some evasive manuevers.  We took a written test that will help prepare us to take the DMV written test. 

Sunday was all range time. We played on the bike for a little, warming them up by riding through the gears in a giant oval. We worked on quick stops and swerving. We also rode over "objects" in the road. Lastly we did our evaluations with cornering, switchback uturns and quick stops.  I had a great time on the course and I learned more in the class than I would just trying to teach myself on the street.  It was worth the money in my opinion.  I feel more confident as a rider because I had next to zero riding experience before.  Go in and have fun. You are riding motorcycles and learning at the same time. 

[talespin]

I took the MSF class at 48. Enjoyed it. You'll do fine.

My instructor reminded us "You are now licensed to ride 20 mph in a parking lot with painted lines and cones. Keep learning, be careful." 

I took the MSF class at 61. That instructor's reminder is right on. There's a world of difference between poking around that perfectly flat parking lot, and riding a public street with stoplights, hills, curbs, vehicles, pedestrians, dogs, etc., and dealing with all that is where maybe 90% of your learning will occur.

After you complete the class, it's important to recognize how much you don't know, and work at filling that void with stuff that will enhance your enjoyment and keep you alive.

That said - read the materials, listen to your instructors, do your best, relax, and - most importantly - have fun. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and don't be afraid to make mistakes.

Be a sponge, grasshopper.

[PolarBZ]

I just finished the MSF here is Washington State about a month ago and everything that's been said before is true.  I would like to add that it helps to remain calm and confident in what you are doing.  Even if you feel a little pressured about screwing something up, just keep a clear head and stay focused. 

We had the Rebel 250s (must be the bike of choice for these classes) and while we were first on the range learning about how to use the friction point my cluth cable broke and it took all of 30 feet for me to figure out why I was still in gear and then hit the engine cut off.  Expect the unexpected.  From what I hear, the pass rate is pretty high in MSF classes, but in my class 7 people took the test and 2 passed (thankfully one of them was me).

Good luck!

[intothemystic]

There were two areas where people struggled in my class:  the first was making slow, moderately tight turns in a rectangular box painted on the ground, which requires staying calm and REALLY turning your head and not looking at the ground (this is where bikes went down and/or drove out of the box), and the other was getting the hang of a swerve/stop maneuver which went like this:

Start off heading straight, shift into 2nd, signal to change lanes, change lanes, turn off your signal, downshift to 1st, come to a stop.  When it's your first time on a bike- and there were also a few who'd never used a clutch before- it takes a while to get the hang of it all.