MSF Course...And such...

#1. Congrates :biggrin:

#2. Wish there was the MSF when I started, but there wasn't anything for many many years.

#3. only available many years later was the Cali SuperBike school & that was a performance school & I did all levels.

#4. Every perf/track/racing school available I took them.

#5. finishing up my MSF Rider Coach school now (Mid May).

#6. State Farm Insurance, although the cheapest one can get with a good driving record, they "DO NOT" give discounts for MSF schools or the like.

#7. pertaining to #6 doesn't mean one shouldn't do the MSF (BRC, ERC,) to better themself.

#8. you never stop learning no matter how old you are:wink: , as to why the MSF Rider Coach school & my 2nd trip to Freddie Spencer school for this Spring/Summer.

 

Taz:

Brother, your second Freddie Spencer school...that rocks!

Post some pics when you finish if possible.

I've told my wife thats my ultimate goal to go through his school!

BZ

 

KC:

I actually bring this same point up in class just more motorcycle related. I bring up how people will not blink at the price of a full exhaust system for their bike, no matter what model, but when you talk about training they scoff at paying 300 bucks for a cornering school.

Most students seem to get the point once you make them aware of what many motorcyclists start with mods instead of focusing on skills and purchasing gear.

BZ

 

Thanks for the congrats Taz.

I agree that is seems silly how people will spend a whole lot of money on gear or aftermarket add-ons. But won't pay for any training to help save their life and probably protect the bike which they have been pouring their money into...

So far the only mods I've done on my bike were to replace the turn signals...they were duck taped on...the guy I bought it from I think probably laid the thing down more than once...lol. Umm...I'm trying to think of anything else...I spent the whole winter repainting the thing...I nkow that is has been painted at least twice before I got it...black and then Red when I picked it up...but the title still said it was black. So I just painted it black again. The red he did...was...let's just say that I'm not a professional painter by any stretch of the imagination...and my paint job didn't turn out perfect...and I only used duplicolor spray paint, and krylon enamel...but it turned out about 75% -80% better than his paint job...and he used a spray gun thing...and had all the stuff to mix together...but whatever.

But I still love my bike. It's my first one, and I would like to keep her for as long as I can...and from what I've been reading I think that when I am ready for a new one...I will probably try for a newer VFR. I think I'm kinda liking the 1997...if I could find one in good cond.

 

KC I know people who wontpay full price for a helmet. I bought an AGV helmet recently and a coworker said "Oh mr Big bucks oooooooohhhh!!!"

I asked him how much his melon is worth?

This guy rides has been in 2 accidents wear a half hemet ona cruiser and says I'm the dangerous guy for riding a sport bike and wearing "All that gear" After his last accidenta group of us volunteeed to pitch in money and send hime to an MSF course... Even if he did'nt pay for it he would not go....

So I hear what your saying but I also wonder if it is not "Pride" that people think "I know how to ride I don't need anyone to show me how to ride." When I took it I had to unlearn a lot of bad habits I had aquired but I think it made me not only a better Motorcycle rider but I think it made me a better Cage driver as well....

 

I see this too & believe it is the most commen reason I've heard.

The classes I observed (part of my Rider Coach home work) I'm often asked to stand & tell how long I've been riding & how many bikes I have, & ad to say that not one day that passes by that I don't learn something to better myself as a rider, & that classes, even the BRC that I observe, I p/u new things.

Got to admit though that I have some habits that I have from racing, & growing up in SoCal splitting lanes was tough to seperate from what I have to do & teach in the class/range, but I have & noticed that my track/race skills are used on the track & seperate my street riding techniques easier now.

I actually see some wear on my rear brake pads now on the street bikes, because I never used my rear brakes b-4(street or road racing), except on my dirt bikes, & tt racing.

 

I'm teaching the first BRC of the year today & tomorrow. All of the guys in the class are pretty sharp & I don't forsee anyone failing. Fortunately in the military, the course is free so no one has any reason NOT to take it.

If you can believe it, the other coaches actually made fun of me for showing up in my JR Speedmaster leather jacket & Icon TiMax pants. I guess I take the statement, "You are supposed to be ABOVE the example at all times.", too literally.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

wow... MSF classes are only $25 bucks in Michigan... they are funded through the states licensing and registrations fees. It's great. $25 bucks for a weekend class, weeknight class, OR weekday class. Includes use of their motorcycles as well. It's nice. You can take classes at dealerships...especially harley/buell dealers for right around $200-350 bucks.

 

Sad statement KC.

We only have one coach who acts like that and he's a social retard.

BZ

 

Of the 11 in the class that finished today, only 1 did not suceed. It really sucks to tell someone they did not pass when you know they can ride & are giving 100%. Thankfully, he was not angry & he'll be back. I hate to do that to people but that's part of being a coach.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Hi StormHorse, Did you take it at Angola or at Williamsville? I took the BRC with Ride With Pride in May at the Angola airport. How long did it take you to get your road test waiver card? They were saying up to 8 weeks at the class but it came in three weeks (though it seemed like an eternity waiting for it haha!)

I agree it was a good course and I learned a lot. I see they have the experienced rider course too which should be good to get practice on your own bike rather than their loaners.

I got a free year membership in HRCA when I bought my bike, and they had some coupon on there for a $75 rebate for taking a MSF course.

The course is cheaper in some other states because the state may be subsidizing part or all (i.e. it's free in PA) of the cost.

 

Don't neglect to call your insurance company. Progressive and many others give a pretty fat discount for those of us who take the initiative to take a rider training course.

My guess is that statistics show that those who are serious enough about riding to have taken a course probably have much more interest in riding and get in far fewer "incidents". (vs the sandals, baseball cap and wraparound sunglasses crowd)

 

MSF BRC $100.00
courses are sponsored by the LA Dept. of Education. they issue a certificate upon completion of course. the day you finish the course. you take it to the DMV when you take the written test and they will waive the driving test.
I have ridden dirt bikes for most of my life (51Yrs) first bike was a mini bike. Didn't ride s street bike until after I moved out of my childhood home. My pop was a surgeon told us all if he caught us on the road with any of our bikes we would need sugery to have it removed from some part of our anatomy which would be painful. goin in and comin out. His reason was that he spent too many hours in OR's patching people up or notifying families of deaths.
I ride today because as an adult I believe that when it's your time it's your time. May as well do things you enjoy. I try to be as safe as possible when I ride. I continue to educate myself and practice my skills.

 

Hey porcupine,

It took exactly a week for the road test waiver card to come for me... I took the course in Angola.

And you have the bike that I've been eyeballing for a while...Although I want to check out a 5th gen sometime too.

 

Hi StormHorse. That's cool, a week is pretty quick. They must be quicker at the beginning of the training season and then start to get backlogged. Yes there are so many viffer choices available out there! I saw an '04 silver I think it was for sale in Orchard Park on craigslist a few weeks back. I got the '07 RWB from Hamburg Honda about a month ago, they didn't stock it so they ordered it for me. They said they had sold another one a few weeks prior; I have seen it a few times by Fuhrman blvd.

 

yeah, I really like some of those new viffers...but would probably want to drive a couple different bikes before I buy something new. Currently the only one I've ever driven is my 85 vf700. Which I really enjoy. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks it will be going in to the shop for some tuning up and inspection time... Can't wait to see how runs when the carbs are set up properly.

Orchard Park eh? Have you ever checked out Ray Laks Honda Center? It is on Walden...I think in Lancaster. It's pretty nice. They have had an 07 red, white, and blue, sitting on their floor for a while now...I go in and drool over it once in a while...lol.

Hey if you live that close...(I'm in Akron.) We should get together and ride sometime.

 

Hi StormHorse. I hope the tuneup goes well! I stopped by Ray Laks Thursday. Wow you're right that place is pretty nice. The '07 RWB is still there. They have a nice selection, seems like at least one of every current Honda model, whereas Hamburg Honda seems to stock only the most popular bikes.

Yes I don't live too far from Akron (Eden area) so maybe we could set up a ride sometime!

 

Yeah I really like that place... (Ray Laks) I just stopped in there on Thursday too. At a little after 2:30 before I went to work.

 

Hm...probably just missed you, I was there around 3:15PM or so.