MSF in NH that lets you use your bike
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 10
From: Orange VA
Rider coaches have it. You'll do fine. If not, you know where you need to focus. Either way you have reinforced confidence in knowing what your skill level is relative to where you think it is and where you want it to be. But at the end of the day you really have to be unsafe or work at it to fail the course.
DSnoopy's comment about not imagining doing the box and fig 8 on his own bike emphasizes the mental point. It is unlikely he is incapable of doing the box and fig 8 on his own bike, he just can't imagine doing it. It's a mental thing. Your bike will do it. It's just a question of the rider allowing the bike to do it.
I have had the ability to do the BRC and ERC on my own bikes. Done the box, fig 8, and everything else on a Springer and a Deuce. Stay in the box with room to spare.
It's a slightly different dynamic for new riders vice someone with miles under their belt but in both cases the fundamental limiting factor to their performance is mental.
Good luck.
DSnoopy's comment about not imagining doing the box and fig 8 on his own bike emphasizes the mental point. It is unlikely he is incapable of doing the box and fig 8 on his own bike, he just can't imagine doing it. It's a mental thing. Your bike will do it. It's just a question of the rider allowing the bike to do it.
I have had the ability to do the BRC and ERC on my own bikes. Done the box, fig 8, and everything else on a Springer and a Deuce. Stay in the box with room to spare.
It's a slightly different dynamic for new riders vice someone with miles under their belt but in both cases the fundamental limiting factor to their performance is mental.
Good luck.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee area
I'm 6'4" and 290#. I did the BRC on a class provided 250 enduro with bad shocks. Some of the stuff can be intimidating, especially on a big, heavy HD, the first time. Consider which of the following scenarios would be worse: squeezing yourself on a small bike or dropping your HD? Do it on their bike.
On the other hand, I've seen Goldwings and Ultras do everything required for the BRC.
On the other hand, I've seen Goldwings and Ultras do everything required for the BRC.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 733
Likes: 65
From: Reading, PA
Long story short, had to get new licenses here in NH last year. Have had a MC endorsement since '74. Some unpaid tickets (thanks ex) from the 80's caught up to me and the license I had traded in for my NH license back in the 90's was declared invalid. I had to take new Auto and MC tests. Ran to Concord, took the written and road test and was given a new license. Got back in line and took the MC permit test and got my permit. Came up here to Tamworth to Troop E and took the skills test on my Road King. I ran down the day before and looked at the painted lines and ran the course in the State Police parking lot. The day of my test there were 4 of us, 3 guys on metrics, 2 of the around 400cc or less and one on some 800 chopper looking thing. They were all laughing saying I should borrow a small bike from someone for the test, I would never pass on a touring bike. 2 of them failed and the guy on the chopper thingy passed along with me. The cones are only about 6" tall, which makes it a whole lot easier than regular cones like I was expecting. I even put my foot down after the last one, no problem though, the tester was cool. He knows if you have the skills to ride or not. It isn't as hard as it looks.
Jeff
Jeff
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: Port Deposit, Md
I took 1 day course last sat. It was on a 250 nighthawk. It was like riding a mini bike compared to my bike. Was'nt bad at all the 8 was the hardest because every time I turned left all the way the bike would stall. I let the instructor know about it, I passed it anyway. After the test he told me he knew that the bike did that, had a problem with the choke cable. Anyways got my endorsment on tuesday, all legal know.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Portland Maine
My 2c's
Just finished the course yesterday in Maine at the Old Orchard Beach High School Parking Lot.(Motorcycle Rider Ed of Maine)There were 12 in the class,4 riders had never been on a bike b-4.Bikes were 250 c.c's and mostly Hondas and Suzukis.Total of about 4 Hours in the classroom(Bus lol)andand about 16-18 hours on the bikes,They went through quite a bit,emphasizing awareness,control,Head up LOOK WHERE YUR GOING.lol UR bike turns where u look.Swerving.Stopping on turns,weaving and yes that dreaded DAMN BOX.
I had 8 points added on which i thought was pretty good,Now if i had taken this test with my Ultra i know i wouldnt have done that damn box.lol
I guess what im saying is that we all passed,Yes even the people who had never ridden a bike b-4.2 days class and u get yur license and a discount on insurance(Depends on company u choose)
Hopefully u can at least find a little bit bigger bike to test on,yull see what i mean when u start some of the trials,,,,,Good luck
I had 8 points added on which i thought was pretty good,Now if i had taken this test with my Ultra i know i wouldnt have done that damn box.lol
I guess what im saying is that we all passed,Yes even the people who had never ridden a bike b-4.2 days class and u get yur license and a discount on insurance(Depends on company u choose)
Hopefully u can at least find a little bit bigger bike to test on,yull see what i mean when u start some of the trials,,,,,Good luck
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 628
Likes: 1
I decided to take the MSF course along with my wife. I was just going to ride their bikes for the heck of it but the wife insisted on using her brand new 250cc scooter. The first person she met was a woman who turned out to be one of the instructors. This woman talked the missus out of using her own (bike?) because she said a lot of the students run into other students ...better to take a hit on a school owned bike.
My wife wound up being hit seven times while just waiting in line, by people who couldn't find the brake or the handlebars. I took two or three hits, one from a guy that claimed to be "expert". He failed the course.
Because of the very real possibility that, through no fault of your own you will be t-boned by a bone-head, you might want to just use the school bikes.
Three weeks after the course my wife bought a Softail Deluxe. Know anyone who wants to buy a scooter?
My wife wound up being hit seven times while just waiting in line, by people who couldn't find the brake or the handlebars. I took two or three hits, one from a guy that claimed to be "expert". He failed the course.
Because of the very real possibility that, through no fault of your own you will be t-boned by a bone-head, you might want to just use the school bikes.
Three weeks after the course my wife bought a Softail Deluxe. Know anyone who wants to buy a scooter?
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