MSF Class

3777 Views 61 Replies 30 Participants Last post by jameswing, Feb 5, 2009

jameswing

Discussion Starter · Jan 31, 2009

So I took the classroom portion of MSF last night and not once did I hear ATGATT, or the mention of CE.

About half the class had never been on a bike before, and several of those were absolutely clueless about motorcycles in general. We had an exercise where we had to label the controls, and one guy in my group only figured out the throttle in about 5 min.

I have been reading everything I can about gear, mechanics & physics of bikes and riding, and It's like some of these people were "Hey lets go take a motorcycle class" with no research or anything. Nexus242

I'll update after the first riding portion today.

1 - 20 of 62 Posts

tlc4diving

· #2 · Jan 31, 2009

HAHA, realize those people will be riding a bike next week.

BRShooter

· #3 · Jan 31, 2009

Yeah,

One of the guys in the class I took bought an brand new R6 before taking the class. He was one of the two people that failed. Kinda scary.

Dang12457

· #4 · Jan 31, 2009

When I took the MSF class ATGATT came up when the chapter on riding gear/safety was addressed. It was definitely a topic though.

aram

· #5 · Jan 31, 2009

I kind of just took the class on a whim (didn't have a huge interest in riding at the time) and didn't know anything about motorcycles before I took it. The only thing I had ridden was a 50 in someone's backyard a few years before. It's actually not that bad walking in with no idea, keeps your mind ready to absorb information with no preconceived notions.

Nexus242

· #6 · Jan 31, 2009

Understand this isn't an attack on you.

jameswing said:
So I took the classroom portion of MSF last night and not once did I hear ATGATT, or the mention of CE.

They are there to teach you and the others the basics of how to ride a motorcycle and nothing more then that. Watch Tim Gunn's guide to fashion if you want to learn how to dress better.

jameswing said:
About half the class had never been on a bike before, and several of those were absolutely clueless about motorcycles in general. We had an exercise where we had to label the controls, and one guy in my group only figured out the throttle in about 5 min.

I road a moped in high school and never road or had sat on a motorcycle before I took my MSF class. That's why they they have an MSF class so complete noobs like myself can learn about the throttle, brakes, lean angles, control.

jameswing said:
I have been reading everything I can about gear, mechanics & physics of bikes and riding, and It's like some of these people were "Hey lets go take a motorcycle class" with no research or anything. Nexus242.

Unlike college there are no prerequisite courses to MSF or required reading before you take the class. Besides you could read all the books you want to before you ever take an MSF class and NONE of it will matter or make a lick of sense until you've been on a bike for a while to put all those basic elements together and progress. I mean if I wanted to take sky diving lessons tomorrow, or SCUBA class why would I need to read or research about stuff that I have no idea of what it is or used for?? Let alone spend money on gear. Let me learn the basics first, practice and then go and do more research after that.

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mattjmartin

· #7 · Jan 31, 2009

jameswing said:
So I took the classroom portion of MSF last night and not once did I hear ATGATT, or the mention of CE.

Yea, I also found it funny that none of them mentioned the importance of safety gear. I figured that would throw some statistics or something at us to scare us into wearing it, kinda like they did with alcohol.

BRShooter said:
Yeah,

One of the guys in the class I took bought an brand new R6 before taking the class. He was one of the two people that failed. Kinda scary.

That sounds EXACTLY like my class. This kid came in with an RF1000 and a Joe Rocket jacket and said he had just bought an R6. It was obvious he only cared about image. He ended up somehow taking a spill (I wasn't watching) while doing practice laps at the end right before the test and scuffed the whole arm of his jacket and the shield of his helmet!

Clockwork

· #8 · Jan 31, 2009 (Edited)

jameswing said:
About half the class had never been on a bike before, and several of those were absolutely clueless about motorcycles in general.

I would as well expect the majority of the adults taking this course would be clueless at first. Here in Washington State there are two ways of getting your Endorsement. One is going through the MSF course and passing it where that automatically gives your your license. The second course is getting a leaners permit and only able to learn to ride with and experience person with you (Legally) and then taking the written and drivers course at a predetermined time.

When I took the MSF course I was completely clueless in motorcycles, for me the whole idea was fuel economy since gas was at an all time high of 4.57/gal. made me want to learn to ride a bike. The first class night while asking where to locate controls, I completely forgot where one of them was located (cant remember which control it was) so it had taken me two tries to figure it out. :nana:

A couple of guys who were there taking it to get their license had purchased liter bikes and I was totally was like ummm dude that is just nuts in my opinion. To each of his own. ;D

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jay313

· #9 · Jan 31, 2009

I also knew next to nothing when I took the MSF. I knew clutch, brake, throttle, but that's about it. Actually, the worst part of the class was a guy who'd been riding a few years without a license. He got ticketed and ordered to take the class. Anyway, I dubbed the guy "Mr. Motorcycle," because the instructor couldn't tell us anything without this guy chiming in. I'm trying to learn from the licensed instructor, not some know-it-all who couldn't even be bothered to get his license in the first place. By the end of the weekend, it was all I could do to politely keep my mouth shut and not tell him to shut the H--- up!

BRShooter

· #10 · Jan 31, 2009

jay313 said:
I also knew next to nothing when I took the MSF. I knew clutch, brake, throttle, but that's about it. Actually, the worst part of the class was a guy who'd been riding a few years without a license. He got ticketed and ordered to take the class. Anyway, I dubbed the guy "Mr. Motorcycle," because the instructor couldn't tell us anything without this guy chiming in. I'm trying to learn from the licensed instructor, not some know-it-all who couldn't even be bothered to get his license in the first place. By the end of the weekend, it was all I could do to politely keep my mouth shut and not tell him to shut the H--- up!

There must be a "Mr. Motorcycle" in every class - ours had been riding for 30 yrs (yep, grey old Harley dude) without a license. But, he wasn't the worst. We had a Mr. Busa as well as Mr. Motorcycle. Mr. Busa was there in his wife beater talking about how he was riding his Busa at 160 mph on one of the local freeways the week before. He must have been compensating for sumptin.

frick

· #11 · Jan 31, 2009

Hey, at least they decided to take the class! Seriously, many people don't even bother with that.

latigid

· #12 · Jan 31, 2009

my msf instructors were pretty **** lax. we had a guy drop a bike during the figure 8 and he still got endorsed.

Tarpoon

· #13 · Jan 31, 2009

I thought all the MSF classes were basically geared to the same lessons. I know for sure we covered it, and specifically the laws in your state. My instructors said anyone not wearing the bare mins. was just asking for it. Gloves, helmet, boots and at least textiles.

SVstryker

· #14 · Jan 31, 2009

like nex said, it's not a personal attack on you, there are some people that just don't know anything about a motorcycle. that's the purpose of the MSF, educate future riders from the ground up. me personally, i have never took it, but my friend told me they make it VERY basic, almost as if a person has never touched a motorcycle.

it's kinda like those safety briefings on an airplane, exit is here, oxygen masks here, use seat as flotation device, etc.....they make it very basic (not to mention mandatory) and will conduct it as if no one has flown before.

briderdt

· #15 · Jan 31, 2009

That's completely different than my experience. Most of us in my class had been on a motorcycle before the class, or rode a moped regularly. At least 3 people in the class had been riding for years but needed the MSF class to be able to ride/park on a military base. BUT... There was a LOT of emphasis on gear in my class. They even went through equipping yourself for a minimum amount of money. And they basically said that a full-face helmet is the only type worth the money.

jay313

· #16 · Jan 31, 2009

latigid said:
my msf instructors were pretty **** lax. we had a guy drop a bike during the figure 8 and he still got endorsed.

Mine were even more lax. We had a middle-aged woman who dropped the Rebel 250 on the first turn she attempted. She couldn't figure out how to use the clutch to shift. They put her on a scooter. She dropped that on the figure 8. I spoke to her, and it turns out she'd never even ridden a bicycle before! What planet was she from? She passed.

Nexus242

· #17 · Feb 1, 2009

latigid said:
my msf instructors were pretty **** lax. we had a guy drop a bike during the figure 8 and he still got endorsed.

jay313 said:
Mine were even more lax. We had a middle-aged woman who dropped the Rebel 250 on the first turn she attempted. She couldn't figure out how to use the clutch to shift. They put her on a scooter. She dropped that on the figure 8. I spoke to her, and it turns out she'd never even ridden a bicycle before! What planet was she from? She passed.

Guys think back to when you took your drivers ed course, you passed the class but by no means did that say you were a competent driver. You knew the basics to operate a car and nothing more then that.

I think some of you are expecting MSF to be more then is was, is or will ever be.

raab02

· #18 · Feb 1, 2009

I think the OP's point is that it's a good idea to do all the research you can. I know i'm the type of person that read everything I could before I bought my bike(s) or took my MSF course.

I guess some people just don't have that desire.

briderdt

· #19 · Feb 1, 2009

jay313 said:
I spoke to her, and it turns out she'd never even ridden a bicycle before!

In the class information for the one I took, they state that being able to at least ride a bicycle IS a prerequisite.

Skimball

· #20 · Feb 1, 2009

I learned a lot from my MSF class and had excellent instuctors. I had a few dirt bikes and enduros before but I did not realize that I pressed left to turn left. I did it unconsiously of course but when I read it I couldn't really believe it.

Everyone passed the test in our class. We did have one lady drop her bike 4 times in 2 days but she didn't drop it on the test.

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