Wife and her friend registered for the MSF basic course, and on a whim I walked into the day of class registration with them to see if there were any open spots. Figured that after 38 years of bad habits, might be good to learn some good ones and maybe snag an insurance discount. Was able to get an open spot, and settled in for two nights of classroom/written test (5 hours total) and two days of practice and skills evaluation on a bike (10 hours total) running from Thursday through Sunday. Took it here in Pa., and it was free as $5 from every motorcycle license fee in Pa. goes toward the course.
Classroom time was spent finding and discussing the practice questions, watching associated videos and some discussion. Test was kinda easy, much easier than the practice questions. Class was a very diverse mix of gender and ethnic origin, and it was actually fun. One of the young guys told me he asked his wife about buying a Sportster, and she said no. When she came home from work that night, it was in the garage and he said she would not talk with him for 5 days.... go figure!
Bikes were provided, small Suzuki or Kawasaki 250s, with one dual sport for taller riders. All mirrors and turn signals were removed as they would not survive if left on. Couple of additional students joined the class for the practice ride days as they did not pass the skills the first time. Started very basic, and there was one guy that had never ridden before. He dropped his bike very early, and after that was fantastic and actually passed and earned his license. Skills included bike pre-ride inspection, operation of all controls, starting the bike, rocking it with the clutch, walking it with the clutch, all quite a bit before actually riding. Riding skills included riding, shifting, turns, stops, weaves and the first try at the two-U-turn-box, which is similar to figure 8.
Day two included weaves, swerves, lane changes, obstacles, tight turns, stops in turns, etc. A skills test followed, with an explantion of the test and where penalty points could be given - must score 21 or less points to pass. Dropping your bike or an unsafe act during the test is an automatic fail. I scored 8 points, took 4 feet too long on the quick stop test, two points just outside the box one time on U-turns, and a two point addition for coasting into a turn when I was supposed to be set up and under power going in.
The skill I learned and appreciate the most was counterweighting, and I will practice that more. The instructors Glenn and Terry were first rate. They talked with me about taking the experienced rider course on my "trike". There is a MSF trike course although it is not offered in Pa. yet.
Wife and her friend accumulated a couple too many points, so they will get to do the two skill days again. Found out wife can use her own bike (Honda Rebel), so it may be a little more familiar. In the last 20 years I can count the hours she has ridden on one hand, with a finger or two left over. We can also practice the test skills a little more...
Bottom line - I had fun, learned new skills and refreshed old skills. It was a good assessment of my ability in the year following my stroke, and would recommend this course to all. Funny note, the guy with the Sportster came up to me and ribbed me about training wheels. Told him that at least my wife still talks to me..... We had fun all weekend.
Anyone else take this course?
I read online the U-turn box is 20 feet wide, did not get the length. Anyone know before I drive back to the local Community College and measure it?
Denny
Classroom time was spent finding and discussing the practice questions, watching associated videos and some discussion. Test was kinda easy, much easier than the practice questions. Class was a very diverse mix of gender and ethnic origin, and it was actually fun. One of the young guys told me he asked his wife about buying a Sportster, and she said no. When she came home from work that night, it was in the garage and he said she would not talk with him for 5 days.... go figure!
Bikes were provided, small Suzuki or Kawasaki 250s, with one dual sport for taller riders. All mirrors and turn signals were removed as they would not survive if left on. Couple of additional students joined the class for the practice ride days as they did not pass the skills the first time. Started very basic, and there was one guy that had never ridden before. He dropped his bike very early, and after that was fantastic and actually passed and earned his license. Skills included bike pre-ride inspection, operation of all controls, starting the bike, rocking it with the clutch, walking it with the clutch, all quite a bit before actually riding. Riding skills included riding, shifting, turns, stops, weaves and the first try at the two-U-turn-box, which is similar to figure 8.
Day two included weaves, swerves, lane changes, obstacles, tight turns, stops in turns, etc. A skills test followed, with an explantion of the test and where penalty points could be given - must score 21 or less points to pass. Dropping your bike or an unsafe act during the test is an automatic fail. I scored 8 points, took 4 feet too long on the quick stop test, two points just outside the box one time on U-turns, and a two point addition for coasting into a turn when I was supposed to be set up and under power going in.
The skill I learned and appreciate the most was counterweighting, and I will practice that more. The instructors Glenn and Terry were first rate. They talked with me about taking the experienced rider course on my "trike". There is a MSF trike course although it is not offered in Pa. yet.
Wife and her friend accumulated a couple too many points, so they will get to do the two skill days again. Found out wife can use her own bike (Honda Rebel), so it may be a little more familiar. In the last 20 years I can count the hours she has ridden on one hand, with a finger or two left over. We can also practice the test skills a little more...
Bottom line - I had fun, learned new skills and refreshed old skills. It was a good assessment of my ability in the year following my stroke, and would recommend this course to all. Funny note, the guy with the Sportster came up to me and ribbed me about training wheels. Told him that at least my wife still talks to me..... We had fun all weekend.
Anyone else take this course?
I read online the U-turn box is 20 feet wide, did not get the length. Anyone know before I drive back to the local Community College and measure it?
Denny
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