Taking the MSF 3-Wheel Course.

[JimVonBaden]

I know this is technically a rule violation, but my wife isn't big into forums, so said I could post for her.:lecturef_smilie:

I'm very proud of Mrs. JVB for her graduating the three wheel MSF class with a nearly perfect score! Not only that, but she did the first full day in the storm from hurricane Matthew! Awesome job honey!

By the way, in VA you have two different MSF classes, the regular one and the three wheel one. My wife took the three wheel one because a regular bike is difficult for her 24" inseam. Note that there were four women in the class, and all did great. Better than several of the men. :clap:

My wife is the lady in pink, 51 years old with zero motorcycle experience. (She didn't say I could say her age, but I think it is important to encourage all ages to take the class if it is available to you.)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/JimVonBaden2000/Dina/MSF/1008160752.jpg
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Jim

PS Here she is as a passenger on my bike:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/JimVonBaden2000/Dina/20150705_152745.jpg

[tmcquain]

Looking good !! :thumbup::congrats::2thumbs::firstplace::riding:

[Vader]

:clap:CONGRATS!!!!

[murphybrown]

And hubby big kudos to you for support and bragging on "the lady in pink". I personally would like to see everyone take that course...invaluable IMHO. Hope to see you on the "trail"...:yes:

[Marcy]

:welcome::congrats:

I attended the same course in May and bought my bike the end of June. Since then I have almost 5K miles, rode to Maggie Valley Spyder Adventures and while there rode the tail of the dragon. There were several women in my class that now ride together. Some with a lot of 2 wheel experience some with none, like your wife. PM me if you have any questions and I'd be happy to help you and your wife any way I can. There are a bunch of us riding this Saturday meeting in Fairfax and taking back roads to Winchester, stopping for lunch, and whatever else we want to do. Its all about the ryde. :-)

[JimVonBaden]

Thanks Marcy! I sent Dina, my wife, this thread. She loves that other ladies are into the sport. I suspect that, once we pick up her Spyder, she will have questions. I hope to encourage her to participate here.

[Marcy]

If you don't have a lot of experience with Spyder's I highly recommend you do much of your research on this Forum. There are good and bad points with just about every bike and the folks here are very knowledgeable. My only advise is make sure she really likes it and is comfortable or she won't ride it as much. Good Luck. :D

[JimVonBaden]

If you don't have a lot of experience with Spyder's I highly recommend you do much of your research on this Forum. There are good and bad points with just about every bike and the folks here are very knowledgeable. My only advise is make sure she really likes it and is comfortable or she won't ride it as much. Good Luck. :D


I am obsessive about new stuff, so you can count on it. I also do maintenance videos for BMW motorcycles, and have nearly half a million motorcycle miles. My wife is counting on me to make sure she is comfortable and safe. I take that very seriously!

Thanks for your help, and I am sure she will come out with your group once she gets enough practice to be comfortable and safe on the Spyder.:thumbup:

[daveinva]

Glad you could find the good folks over here, Jim... Dina will love her Spyder, I'm sure of it. :thumbup:

[PrairieSpyder]

:congrats: to Mrs. JVB.

(And I don't think you violated any rules.)

[JimVonBaden]

Glad you could find the good folks over here, Jim... Dina will love her Spyder, I'm sure of it. :thumbup:

Thanks for the reference Dave! Seems like a great place!:thumbup:

[JimVonBaden]

:congrats: to Mrs. JVB.

(And I don't think you violated any rules.)

Thanks! Mrs. JVB didn't mind the post, even mentioning her age! :opps:

[Liecha]

I envy you that you had a course where you live. There is not any in upstate NY:(. Anyway, I got my Spyder this past March and I am loving every minute of it:ohyea:

[JimVonBaden]

I envy you that you had a course where you live. There is not any in upstate NY:(. Anyway, I got my Spyder this past March and I am loving every minute of it:ohyea:

Definitely lucky! The class made it possible for my wife. I'm not sure either would have survived me trying to teach her! :banghead:

[JimVonBaden]

My wife doesn't play around. We drove 185 miles to NJ to pick up this 2013 Spyder ST-S from a forum member. David was great, and even replaced the battery and filled the tank for us!

195 miles today, mostly me. 5 near misses, like I was invisible. Never seen anything like it. One nearly mashed me between himself and the Jersey barrier at 60 mph.

It took me all of 5 minutes to get reasonably comfortable with it, a half an hour to settle in. Upwards of 80 mph on the open road. The bike ran great. Pieces of advice I received that worked were, loose grip, 90% fixed any issues. Find the brake, the one really near miss I was hunting for the brake. Push the bar opposite the turn. This took practice to get smooth, but really worked.

Once we got home Dina jumped on the back and we went to the MSF range for a few minutes. She mastered it almost immediately.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/JimVonBaden2000/JVB%20Productions/2013%20Spyder%20ST-S/2013%20Spyder%20ST-S%201.jpg
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http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/JimVonBaden2000/JVB%20Productions/2013%20Spyder%20ST-S/2013%20Spyder%20ST-S%2011.jpg

[Marcy]

Very Nice :spyder2::congrats:. PM me when she feels ready to meet the ladies riding group. Where are you guys located? We are all over NOVA, if she is more comfortable just local riding with someone I'm sure we can make that happen. Welcome to the family. You guys will have tons of fun.

[JimVonBaden]

Very Nice :spyder2::congrats:. PM me when she feels ready to meet the ladies riding group. Where are you guys located? We are all over NOVA, if she is more comfortable just local riding with someone I'm sure we can make that happen. Welcome to the family. You guys will have tons of fun.
Thanks Marcy. Local is likely for a short while. Maybe you and her could meet an talk?

We live a block from the Alexandria campus of NOVA.

[crafty]

I took the 3 wheeled MSP course in PA this spring. As a PA resident it is free. It was 2 days classroom and 2 days on the course. It was great experience and I highly recommend it! At age 55 and being a newbie I had a lot of fun and learned a lot. There was a guy who was 76 years old in my class! A few things they teach you in class such as sudden stop and swerving has been important to me as I had to use them in real life riding. CONGRATULATIONS! A side note, I took the class and if I passed I got my motorcycle endorsement on my drivers license with a 3wheeled exemption (yes I passed:clap:)

[Ron2andia]

:congrats: On the course and the new bike!:yes::thumbup: