- This topic has 90 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 7 months ago by eon.
MSF School: Waste of time, waste of money, both, or none of the above……Flamers flame on.
-
AuthorPosts
-
September 22, 2008 at 3:26 pm #2130smokeizfireParticipant
I went to 2 classes of MSF school with 1 more session left to attend. Boooooooooring. Maybe starting out riding before the class spoiled it for me. I thought the purpose of the class was to teach beginners how to ride(which they achieved), and not so new riders how to get better(remains to be seen). I learned some things, but I can’t see how anything I’ve learned from the class so far was worth $245. In other words, I rode my motorcycle from school the same way I rode it to school. Did anything I learn help me in traffic on the way home. Ummmmmm…..No! I hope next week will be more fulfilling. Otherwise, I just paid $245 for a motorcycle license.
September 22, 2008 at 4:04 pm #12491ranetteParticipantMan I thought my posts got people upset. Duck!!!!!!!!
Can’t comment myself as I won’t be taking the course until November.
September 22, 2008 at 4:18 pm #12492megaspazParticipantThere’s 2 msf courses. the brc and the erc. If you took the brc as an experienced rider, then yeh, you’ll be bored out of your wits. The brc was designed for complete noobs and noobs who’ve been practicing with there permits. Experienced riders (1+ years) should do the erc course. more challenging. I’ve seen permit noobs fail the msf brc course over here. 2 in my class. so for you it may be boring, but for others, still a challenge.
—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…September 22, 2008 at 4:21 pm #12493smokeizfireParticipantIt still wasn’t challenging for me, nor did I learn anything profoundly new . Next!
HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS
September 22, 2008 at 4:27 pm #12494megaspazParticipantGood for you! yer special.
—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…September 22, 2008 at 5:14 pm #12496TheAbomb12Participantthe class is not made for tools.
September 22, 2008 at 8:28 pm #12510smokeizfireParticipantHE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS
September 22, 2008 at 8:55 pm #12515smokeizfireParticipantI just think I expected more for $245. Or, maybe I was expecting too much. For 1, the instructors weren’t paying attention to me following their directions. When I caught myself forgetting to “clutch in” and brake, 2 or 3 times they were like, “good job.” One of the instructors was macking to the translator who was there for the hearing impaired. Yes there were 3 hearing impaired students in the class as well. I work with people with disabilities. They need special attention, which to me caused the instructors to pay less attention to other students. I’ll just leave it at they got more than their moneys worth.
HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS
September 22, 2008 at 9:05 pm #12517CBennettParticipantThe BRC is for people to learn to ride. The people in the BRC the assume have never been on a bike in their lives and teach it as such. I thought it was fine. Got the basics, got to work on low speed maneuvering and stopping drills. The one you seem to be talking about for people with experience to get even better is the ERC..they said to us to take that after the BRC to do just what you said..get better at riding if you know the basics I dont really think its the MSF course fault that you took the WRONG course..thats on you. you wanted/needed the ERC..they told us take it as soon as you can told us to take it right after the BRC to get more experience(not a year later). They had people in the other group on permitts FAIL the course so(BRC) it needs to stay the same..if your experienced you need the ERC…sorry your out $275 its FREE here in PA..both courses cost $0.00
September 22, 2008 at 9:15 pm #12518smokeizfireParticipant…experienced, who said anything about changing anything. I think 3 weeks is considered a “beginner.” Therefore, I took the “beginner course”. So, I think I took the right course.
HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS
September 22, 2008 at 11:49 pm #12524MunchParticipantOk reading what you stated it just sounds like your time was boring and un educational due more to the Instructors and possibly even the other students then the actual quality of the course. With the responsibility they had for the disabled and hurdles they had for it. It can be understandable that attention to you was not as encompassing as you hoped.
Did you ask questions about situations that may get you to learn more? Did you challenge yourself in the riding portions of the course. I rode excessively before my MSF course…. although the most basic I knew, it gave me a chance to learn and practice slow maneuver turning. Since I drive 90% highway in my daily commute I needed this part of it more then the rest. I practice tight space u-turns so I can keep on top of my game in case on the many many back roads here I get lost I can bang a U-ey and head back with no worries. Parking lots have become less a concern also. Go in with “the mind of a child” and listen and learn. Even if the information seems mundane try to find situations that you may want to learn about and ask questions about it. They have a set curriculum they have to follow as certified instructors…. the course would be infinitely longer if they had to try and cover every situation you may come to . Track what your commute is and what you would like to do on your bike…… then ask questions playing the “What If” game in your head.
Be wary of broad stroking dissatisfaction of a program due to variables of reason that made your experience not what you expected. I to paid the $200+ and even though I knew most of what the planned course covered we asked plenty of questions, myself and fellow students, to get more information from the experienced instructor. I also got to experience the tighter turns at the risk of dropping their bike and not mine…….bonus!
When you go back… try to make the experience better for yourself and others…. don’t expect…. move it into that atmosphere. Ask questions, try to push yourself to tougher standards then just what they are looking for…. slow crawl lane….instead of the standard 8 seconds push for 10 or 12…… “figure 8” see if you can nail it in the confined box every time or tighter. Improvement comes from you pushing yourself , they are there to help you with the tools.Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h
September 23, 2008 at 12:35 am #12528ReindeerParticipantWell, look at the bright side… you’ll get your money back in the form of lower insurance premiums from the discount they offer for taking the MSF course!
Also don’t know what your state is like, but here in Oregon, passing the MSF course means automatic endorsement for your driver’s license. Otherwise it means taking the DMV riding test, and from what I have heard from a few experienced bikers, its pretty tough and most people fail.
That to me would be incentive enough to tough it out.
September 23, 2008 at 1:28 am #12530smokeizfireParticipant…movie that everyone said you should go see. You go to see the movie not expecting anything, except that it is going to be entertaining. I mean, that’s why you go to see a movie in the first place. To be entertained! The movie ends and you are left thinking, is this what everyone was talking about. Further, I have never been on the highway with my GV250. Don’t plan on it my friend. LOL Californians drive too fast and crazy out here. I always hear of crashes involving motorcyclist, more than I’d like to. I’ve heard motorcyclist say, it’s not if you’ll crash, it’s when. Well, when for me will not be on the freeway. I’m not permitted to ride on the freeway anyway with just a permit. I’ll attend the class in hopes of a better tomorrow compared to yesterday. Maybe I need to challenge myself more as you said. My question is, did I need to pay $250 in order to do so. Anyway, I had time to think about everything and realized that my dealer will wind up eating the cost of the course anyway. They offer a $300 rebate after completion. So, I guess the best way to look at it is, Cycle Dragon via Hyosung is paying me $55 to learn. I still just wish I would have learned more. Oh well.
HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS
September 23, 2008 at 4:36 am #12536dcJohnParticipantI just finished an MSF (Rider’s Edge) course, and because of all the reading and practice I did before the class, I didn’t really hear anything from the instructors that I didn’t know before. But I’m still glad to have had the experience. During the classroom time I got to meet some great new riders that I expect I’ll be going on several group rides with in the future. And on the skills course I got a chance to really focus on practicing my skills. I pretty much aced the skills test at the end of the class (-1), and I suspect I also would have aced the skills test if I’d taken it before the class, but I also know I’m a better rider for having spent a good two days really focusing on my riding and slow-speed maneuvering and technique.
And here’s something for you… ** I’m about to take the exact same class again, just a little under a month from now, and I suspect I’ll still come away having improved my riding **
I originally signed up for an MSF class in late October with a good friend who’s also getting into riding–it was the earliest date we were both free and we could find an open class. But I ended up getting my bike early, found myself riding every day, and quickly realized I better get fully licensed sooner rather than later. (I had a learner’s permit, but here in Maryland a learner’s permit still requires you to be supervised during rides.) So I managed to slip into an earlier course. I can’t back out of the original course I signed up and paid for, and even if they let me, I wouldn’t, because I committed to taking it with my buddy and I’m looking forward to helping him out, practicing together, and enjoying the fun. And I’m still sure that the class will be worthwhile again.
September 23, 2008 at 4:42 am #12537RabParticipantLooks like you’re bitchin’ more about the cost of the course than anything else.
If you haven’t completed the last session, then aren’t you a bit premature in dissing the whole course?
Maybe you’re just a know it all
Sorry your experience of *your* MSF course wasn’t what you would’ve wished, but be aware that you’re probably in the minority, as you’re the only person I’ve ever heard saying that they didn’t think it was any good.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.