Hi,

I was very excited to ride a bike at the MSF course today (I even passed the written exam easily)...but during the day's training, near the end, I just could not keep up with the controls (temp was brutal - 104 F...kept drinking lot of water, but my clothes were drenched in sweat).

I didn't realize how tough this is...my Instructor was awesome, and he gave an honest assessment about my performance.

I can't get to ride the bike properly using 'Friction Zone' (riding in first gear is tough initially, and got my bike engine shut off so many times). Changing gears was definitely an issue...but more importantly - I keep using the front brakes, and not enabling foot brake with front brake together.

The heat was definitely killing me...but what can I do to prepare myself before I retake the MSF course again?

I am based in Arlington, VA -

Help, tips, advice are greatly appreciated....I do not want to fail next time. I can't give up

 

Do you know someone with a dirt bike you could practice on?? Practice is your best friend!

 

Find an empty parking lot and practice starting, stopping, slow speed maneuvers and make sure you turn head/eyes and look where you want to go.

 

Practice, practice, practice. Its not more difficult than driving a car, just different.

The heat is a different story. Ive park my bike the last few days and its WAY to hot for MSF training classes on a asphalt parking lot.

 

Order the DVD Ride like the Pro's. This DVD will go over everything they teach you in the MSF Course....I believe Joe Palidino was the founder of the MSF Course.

http://www.ridelikeapro.com/

Find a parking lot and just practice.

Karsten

 

Practice is the answer. When I went off bikeing I did not need a motorcycle permit. Lot has changed since then and a 250 Zundapp. Got a 1100 and I could not believe I would be able to do the requirements on that small track at the local VA DMV. Since I had a learners I practiced for two week in my dead in circle with chalk marks on the ground. Believe me you do not want out there in traffic until you get the shifting, brakes high beam/low beam, signals ect.... with out thinking or looking. Just like a manual car with a clutch, if you have to look or think about shifting you are an accident waiting to happen and on a bike it's going to be bad. do not be concern with failing, just learning the bike and then you will pass. I probably should have did what you are doing. I'm still learning.

 

Do you own a bike now or were you waiting to pass the course first? If you can get your hands on a small 250 or something similar to practice in a parking lot it would help a lot. Being out on a parking lot in this heat for a full day is pretty tough don't let this get you down.

 

Obviously practice makes perfect. But there are also other things. How old are you? Male or female? Ever ride a moped, minibike? Are you afraid of bikes. I took the MSF course to finally get a licence and after 14 years of not riding I got the highest mark on the road test, a 99. Two girls that never rode before passed. The funny thing was the only guy who failed had his licence already. He took the NYS motorcycle roadtest and passed. Go figure. Keep trying, the heat only makes you sweat. You're not pushing these things. Good luck.

 

maybe its just not for you

 

One technique professional drivers use is what I call dry runs. You can do it sitting in a chair or riding in a car.
Imagine you are on a bike working the controls. Squeeze the clutch, tap your toe to shift to first, twist you wrist and release the clutch. Do it over and over again. Upshift, downshift. brake. It doesn't matter that you aren't actually riding. You brain/body will become accustomed to the motions.