yeah im planning on the ERC maybe this summer depending on work but for shure next summer around this time, and Tex i was wondering about do the EFC every 2-3 years i had thought of that as well but didnt know if anyone else thought it was a good idea

 

I took the MSF course here in WA a few months ago and I can say it was well worth it. We rode some little Honda 125s from the 80s. Some nice things about taking the BRC course is you can start trying out things you might not have tried or wanted to try on our own ride.

To be honest. I thought it would be a waste of time but I'd been riding long enough without my endorsement and figured it would be the best/easiest way to go through the course and get my endorsement from 'em.

First time getting on those Honda 125s .... well lets just say there is a HUGE difference from those bikes to my '07 ultra. I sat on the saddle and thought I might break the bike in 1/2. It was so lightweight I thought this isn't gonna be any good. No forward controls. Turn signal switch only on the left side. No EFI. I felt back in the stone ages.

I enjoyed the class because I was able to do things I wouldn't normally do on my ultra. I got some really good swerves going on with that 125 and the hard braking was especially good. Feel those front forks load up and then really squeeze 'em down.

Passed the class without issue (Ok.... I did miss a total of 5 points in the class as my tire did stray over the line in the figure-8s portion of the riding test).

We spent quite a bit of time on hard-braking and felt I had that down really well.

Well low and behold 2 months go by and we were in a ride with an inexperienced rider. He took off on his sport touring bike like a rocket from a light (this is kinda on some back-roads). My bud was in the 2nd position and I was in 3rd (4th and 5th behind .... all running in stagard formation). 2nd postion and myself took off as well and I took about 1 second to look in my side-view to look for the 4th postion rider to see if he was coming up on me. I looked back up and that Sport touring was coming up to me really fast. (Found out he hit 70 in 1st gear and didn't know he could skip gears so he just throttled off as he didn't want to have any issues trying to get it into second... don't even ask). He had probably already slowed down to 35mph and I had still been accellerating to catch-up to him and was probably doing about 75-80mph. The Oh S@#t came out of my mouth and I hit the brakes. Unfortunately with the little bit of adrenaline rush flowing at the moment I pushed down a bit too hard on my rear brake... and so goes the story. I was locked up on the rear with plumes of white smoke coming out the a$$ end of the bike. Learning in class to NOT let up on that rear-brake helped a lot. I finally got the front forks to start loading up pretty good and began the good squeeze. Finally the rear stuck and I downshifted a few gears and all was well. No laydown of my ultra and no injuries. The more inexperienced leader should have just 'clutched in' and tapped his brakes to signal he was slowing down but instead he just did a hard-engine brake resulting in the situation I was in. Part was also my fault for taking my eyes off of the situation.

On a side note ........ after this happened My engine started to CLANK. No rhythm to it just would clank here and there. Was a very strange sound. I heard it and could really feel it in my right footboard but not my left. Immediately I was concerned about something got messed up in my CAMs. We were < 5miles from home so I finished the ride. The sound was no worse/better by the time I got home and the 'tinking' noise/vibration was very un-nerving. Had my bud listen to see if he could determine where the sound was coming from but at the time he wasn't able to pinpoint it, although it was coming from the lower area. Put the bike in the garage and we all talked for a little about the experience.

20minutes later I rolled my bike back out of the

 

I took an ERC course and was really happy with all the information that I learned from it. I will most likely take on in another couple of years. I never know so much that I can't learn something new.

 

I took the Adv MSF course after I sold my Sportster and bought a 2003 Road King.
The course really help me adjust to the differences of the RK's handleing.
I need to take it on the FLHX now to help me get a better feel for this one.

Thanks for the reminder

 

Troy, Congrats,
Like so many, I had ridden years ago. Then got into racing midgetsand loving the Sat. nite free for alls, for about twenty yrs. After the kidswere gone, decided to look at riding again. Took the BRC with 7 women and4 men. Had a great time, would recommend to everyone. Bought a Heritage, put 21,500 on it in 15 months, sold it and bought an 07 Ultra. Now its the wife and mine's weekend get away.

 

I took a course 21 years ago when I started riding and still remember and use the tools I picked up. The wife is thinking about getting a bike. And actually her mother is giving her her old Yamaha to start off on. So, yesterday when we were out and about, we went to the dealer and checked on the course. She freaked when she saw it was $250. Plus the times would not work at all with her/my schedule. They start early on the weekends, and she doesn't get off work until 10am. The state offers a course as well, taught by the same instructors. I need to check in on it for her. She says she would just get a license and avoid the course because she doesn't want to spend the money. I made it real simple for her. She WILL take a course of some type, OR, she will never ride a bike. PERIOD, end of discussion. She just doesn't understand how much good information she will learn and it will be good for both of us. She can give me information I may have forgotten over time. Although, my mind is now shot, I still remember everything about the course I took. I guess we remember what is most important to us. Just don't tell the wife what she says I DON'T find that important.

 

stand firm PT, the 250 is cheap compared to what you learn, it was only 150 here for the wife and since she just bought a new honda they are picking up 50 percent of the class

 

When I took the BRC course, I think it was $175.00. The ERC course at the ralley last year was $35.00, the year before it was free! I think they are going to charge $65.00 this year. To me, it is worth the money.

 

as of may07 here in oklahoma the BRC was $150, the ERC $75.00 and the Co rider was $35.00, dang cheap for what you get out of it