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Apr 7, 2022 | 09:58 AM

#21

MilsurpShooter

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 10,186

Likes: 17,837

From: In a van down by the river

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Harper

My wife wants to be good at something before she even takes a class..

I get where she's coming from with that. I had the same thought before I took my MSF class.

However, in my case? Made a stupid mistake which resulted in a severe loss of confidence in myself. Also add in about $1,000 to fix said stupid mistake had me second guessing just about everything I did when I was on the bike. Was focusing so much on my screwups and every little thing that I wasn't getting too far in learning by myself (granted, was by myself, didn't have anyone with me to teach/help so the fact you're helping her gives her a leg up).

But when it comes to the MSF courses? Something to be said about a little 50cc Honda that's dinged up and dented and someone teaching you what and what not to do to build back the confidence. Beginner or seasoned you're all starting from square one in those courses. From walking it through a parking lot all the way too "Go in a circle at 30mph around these cones and we're gonna throw a 2x4 in your path from time to time".

Nothing wrong with having a basic understanding before the course, but at the same time you don't need to be Evel Knievel going into it either.

Apr 7, 2022 | 04:10 PM

#22

Uncle G.

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 9,332

Likes: 3,873

From: Upstate New York

Quote:

Originally Posted by RET_SCPO

Every new rider should take the MSF course. Good job getting your wife started on the right foot. Your daughters boyfriend will have a good head start since he rides dirt bikes. I might be biased but folks who grew up riding dirt bikes make the best street bike riders.

When I got my license back in '81 there was no MSF course (at least not that I knew of). I did have several years of experience riding dirt bikes though, and that training saved my hide a couple of times over the years in the days before ABS. I learned how to control a bike in a slide from years of dirt riding.

Apr 8, 2022 | 05:57 AM

#23

Brian15

Tourer

Joined: May 2019

Posts: 444

Likes: 305

From: Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajun4x4

. I can't count how many "experienced" riders couldn't corner or brake properly with X amount of years of riding.

One of the examples shown in the MSF class I took was to see all the guys who rode down the wrong street to get to the dealership (dead end during MSF classes), and they couldn’t manage a U-turn on a 2-lane road. The instructors would stop the class so we could watch them duck walk a 3-point turn, and point out how embarrassing it was to not be able to make that turn.