MSF Safety Course

[rgk]

I decided to take an MSF course last week because I had not done so in many years. It was for inexperienced riders...my mistake. I remain perplexed by the following exercise. Driving on an oval course, accelerate the 250cc Honda up to 2nd gear, brake and slow for the turn, enter the turn, and at the apex of the turn, upshift to 3rd gear. Then downshift to 2nd gear, and repeat. By the time that one slows and enters the turn, the upshift at the apex results in a lugging, stumbling bike.

I am curious to hear an explanation of the purpose of this exercise. While much attention was given to basic operation, an aspect of riding that most attendees understood, little was given to situational awareness and/or accident avoidance.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Send PM to Cptjam. He is an MSF instructor!

 

[Illinois Boy]

I hate to say this, but there is inconsistency in these courses due to the instructors... Believe me.

A dear friend is certified to teach all courses by the MFS, Harley's Riders Edge, and motor police. He has agreed.

There is a curriculum for each to be followed, however some instructors skip parts of it. I witnessed this and turned the guy in for it.

According to to my pal there is likely nothing to come of it unless there were endless complaints about the same instructor.

I have taken several courses over the years and find them to be valuable, however one time in an advanced course the instructor told me to lay-off the rear brakes on my big bagger in slow maneuvers.

I argued with him on the fact that is how you are taught to handle a large bagger in slow maneuvers. He said he had never heard of that before. Come to find out, the only bikes the guy ever rode were lighter BMW's, so of course he wouldn't have heard of it, but that did not mean it was wrong. I even referenced the Ride Like A Pro video series taught by a former motorcop instructor.

So, before signing up for a course, find out who is teaching it and see what you can find about them. It might make a difference in your experience.

 

[Dan_Ashley]

In my MSF course they had us do the same nutty maneuver. I asked why? This is dumb? The instructor said the purpose of it was to teach you what the bike felt like when you make gearing mistakes, and how to keep the bike under control when you goof up. He said that it is guaranteed you will goof up, so this is a good exercise. I thought the instructor meant well, but he was wrong. Of course, all I said was "OK. Thanks."

 

[Oldmanzues]

I would repeat the idea to talk to former students of that instrutor. I never was a MSF ,but teach ATV for years. I also taught School bus driving and teen driving class and road trips.
A friend came up and said, his daughter went to a different teen school becuase her friends did. He questioned on one bit of advice they got in class. the advice was if you are stopped by the poloice, immediately get out of your car and run back to the police vehicle to show you care. I said, that was asking to get shot for real. Mine. Stay in your car with hands in sight, dome light on night, in park, might turn car off (some say alway). D nothing else the Police ask/tell you to. PLEASE
Oldmanzues

 

[mtdoragary]

I would think a hack course would be of more use to you. The Spyder handles more like a hack than like a two-wheeler. I have a Masters degree in Traffic Safety Ed (back when it was offered at Montevallo), and our motorcycle course was geared toward motor officers. But that was nearly forty years ago.....

 

[rgk]

I would think a hack course would be of more use to you. The Spyder handles more like a hack than like a two-wheeler. I have a Masters degree in Traffic Safety Ed (back when it was offered at Montevallo), and our motorcycle course was geared toward motor officers. But that was nearly forty years ago.....

Thank you all for your comments. The reason that I went was to obtain a better discount on my insurance and perhaps a bit of knowledge. I will get the discount but I was surprised by the inadequacy of the course program.

My experience prior to the Spyder was many years of happy and safe 2 wheel operation. The Spyder was as close to an impulse purchase as one can get. I went to the dealer in a foul mood, fed up with my BMW dealer and tired of the BMW vision of innovation for the sake of innovation without regard to reliability.

I took the Spyder out for a brief spin and couldn't believe that it was so much fun. I took the demo back and bought a brand new one and have enjoyed every minute on it. After about 1000 miles I am getting an understanding of how to maximize my ability to operate the Spyder properly.

 

[PMK]

Good timing on this topic...The wife, who is no two wheel moto girl, but can rip at times on a mountain bike off-road, has signed up for the course.

I offered her an open field on my KTM250, but she made a lot of reasons why it was a bad idea.

I doubt she will ever drive the Spyder, but with luck she can if needed.

Just finished a few open questions as we ate dinner. Without reading this, I asked a question similar to the upshift to 3. She understands it now, work the clutch throttle and downshift to get things dialed in.

I have also been instilling into her, do not chop the throttle closed in a corner, work the clutch.

I tok the course a few years ago because it is required to obtain a license. I just dealt with the practical exercises. Some were kind fun, like turning insde the box, and going over the 2x4. Tried to float the front wheel but 15 horsepower and all that weight the Honda said no.

Wish her luck.

PK

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I'm glad to see this discussion of safety training. That is one aspect of the Goldwing Road Riders of America I have grown to appreciate. They push rider education hard. I think we should start encouraging the Spyderfest planners to add a couple or three rider education sessions at next year's Spyderfest. It would be well worthwhile. There's lot more to safe riding than knowing how to handle the bike.

One example of what I have learned from GW RE dvds. The greatest singlemost cause of trailer towing incidents is the coupler coming loose off the hitch. ALWAYS use a pin of some sort to keep the coupler locked closed on the hitch ball.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I decided to take an MSF course last week because I had not done so in many years. It was for inexperienced riders...my mistake. I remain perplexed by the following exercise. Driving on an oval course, accelerate the 250cc Honda up to 2nd gear, brake and slow for the turn, enter the turn, and at the apex of the turn, upshift to 3rd gear. Then downshift to 2nd gear, and repeat. By the time that one slows and enters the turn, the upshift at the apex results in a lugging, stumbling bike.

I am curious to hear an explanation of the purpose of this exercise. While much attention was given to basic operation, an aspect of riding that most attendees understood, little was given to situational awareness and/or accident avoidance.

If I remember right from when I took the MSF new rider course a few years ago, that exercise is about practicing riding curves. You are to roll on at the apex and go to 3rd, then drop down to 2nd again to prepare for the next curve. In my class, we often had the same issue you did because we got bunched-up and went too slow.

 

[Bob Denman]

The quick (And Dumb!) answer for this exercise?
Dive in fast enough for that 250 to be able to pull third gear from the apex!

 

[PMK]

The quick (And Dumb!) answer for this exercise?
Dive in fast enough for that 250 to be able to pull third gear from the apex!

...and they told me, they were certain I knew how to ride, honestly I was just having fun.

The turn inside the box exercise was the best, I wanted to do that more. Too many years of riding dirt bikes in tight woods, throttle held steady and abuse the clutch. Leaned over a lot, steering on full lock, all my weight on the outside peg, steady throttle and work the clutch. Easily within the box and not a dab. That exercise was a hoot.

I did get spoken to about the use the front brake and stop within the cones. I went exactly 18 MPH as instructed, braked as hard as possible without skidding. Could not stop within the cones. The guy came over and gave me the "look", said you must use the front brake or you will fail. I explained nicely, the brakes were done, but if he adjusted them they might work better. He asked how can they be "done". I explained that stop from 18 mph I had the lever 4 fingered and pulled to the grip. I displayed what I did, mentioned there were no front brakes. He walked away. The main guy came over, he said I know you applied the brake, saw the front dip. Just go 15 instead of 18, again he was sure it was not something I needed to learn.

I would not mind taking the advanced course, but doubt my two stroke KTM would be welcome.

I heard one of the Orlando Fl instructors is a Spyder rider, maybe they offer an advanced course on the Spyder.

I hope the wife does well.

PK