Topic: MSF Course Completed

[mscuiletti]

I finished my basic rider course over the weekend. It was 28 degrees Sunday morning, warming up to 35. I had no idea how sore I would be from the Saturday/Sunday 8-7:30ish lessons. My hips, knees, and even hand obviously are not used to riding, so hopefully those muscles become stronger. I also found a few hot spots in my helmet that need to be taken care of, as this was my first time wearing it for longer than an hour.

I am much more confident in my abilities (but still very cautious), and had an absolute blast, even as cold as it was. I will be practicing the lessons on my own bike once i take my completion certificate to the SOS and get my endorsement, and hopefully build good habits. I also realized how nice my bike apparently is compared to the beaten training bikes.

What a great time!

[BobbyR]

Congratulations! It was time and money well spent. If you follow what you were taught, you have have fewer close calls on the road.

[Stev-o]

Congrats.   What bikes did they use, Rebel 250?

[ekpent]

 Since your on the forum what is going to be your ride ? Congrats on passing the course and run that by your insurance company also. Mine gives a discount for having taken a course.

[Stev-o]

Since your on the forum what is going to be your ride ? Congrats on passing the course and run that by your insurance company also. Mine gives a discount for having taken a course.

You took the course?!   How many moons ago was that, Eric??

[Kevin D]

Hey there M, where did you end up for your MSF class?
28f is a little cold for riding, hope your gear is good, but we ARE on a steady warm up. I'm looking for 60f or thereabouts. April 15-November15 +/- is riding season.

I am much more confident in my abilities (but still very cautious)

That's good, overconfidence can get you in trouble. Being comfortable with the brake/throttle/clutch/shift is a good start.
You bike is looking nice.

[dave500]

yeah and good on you for taking the course,if you've never ridden much before its the best idea,a lot of riders started out young as kids on bikes and have a little more feel for riding than people just learning,if your work doesn't involve much physical activity and you had sore muscles from a bike ride you can do some easy excercises or god forbid join a gym,buy some lighter hand squeeze spring things they'll toughen up your grip and forearms,do some simple wall push ups standing further away from the wall as it gets easier,well done and keep your 360 vision and expect the unexpected,that dog way ahead on the sidewalk IS going to run into your path,that light truck in front with a load going to the dump IS going to have something blow free into your path,that car next to you full of high school kids aint bothered about #$%* and WILL change into your lane suddenly,im sure your instructor has been through that stuff?

[BobbyR]

Since your on the forum what is going to be your ride ? Congrats on passing the course and run that by your insurance company also. Mine gives a discount for having taken a course.

The course also qualifies an a defensive driving course for your car insurance.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Yep. Good course to have even if you have been riding for a while. Had a few seasoned riders in my class when I enrolled and they said they learned some things they were doing wrong.

[mscuiletti]

I went to Advance Cycle Training as it was listed on the Michigan Sec of State website. I figured I wanted to learn good habits from an experienced instructor rather than have random people giving me pointers or create bad habits by learning myself. We rode Honda Nighthawk 250's. The instructor has over 300k miles ridden, and had a ton of real-world examples from his own experiences. Things he thinks of while riding had not even occured to me. I definately believe it was money well spent, I just wish I had waited until April or had lucked out and had a nice sunny 50 degree weekend. At least it's done so now I can legally ride to lots to practice. I am just about wrapped up with a 76 CB550K which has been a terrific learning experience. Just needs gauges and for me to keep checking the plugs and getting it tuned in.

[Yamahawk]

Yep. Good course to have even if you have been riding for a while. Had a few seasoned riders in my class when I enrolled and they said they learned some things they were doing wrong.

Had a MC Sheriff Deputy tell me after riding for 30 years that he took the MSF course, and actually learned something from it also! I thought, cool they are teaching useful stuff to keep people safe. That's a good thing.
Charlie

[Bailgang]

My wife is scheduled for her MSF course sometime in April and she will have 3 bikes to choose from. A Yamaha V-star 250, an XT 250 or an HD street 500.

[Don R]

 A friend just took his test to keep his m license at 75 years old. He practiced on his big Kawasaki and didn't think he could do it. He rented a smaller bike and breezed through it. Not sure I'd feel good about that.