- This topic has 17 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 5 months ago by RobM.
My first day of MSF…
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October 25, 2008 at 4:11 pm #2294DaggerParticipant
This weekend is my MSF class.. The schedule was supposed to be:
Friday 6-9pm Classroom
Saturday 11:30-4:30 Riding – 5-8pm Classroom
Sunday 11:30-4:30 RidingWell at about 8pm last night they informed us that they planned on doing all the classroom part in one night.. So at 10pm we finally finished the manual and took our tests.. (100% btw) So this morning I’m on my way to go for the first half of my riding portion…
As for the classroom section.. Pretty basic stuff..I paid close attention to the breaking section.. You know why if you read my other thread.. lol Picked up a couple pointers.. But mostly just review for anyone who’s spent any time on a bike.. Hopefully today goes well.. Will add to this when I get home tonight..
Dagger
October 25, 2008 at 9:14 pm #14302Sangria7ParticipantDagger – what city do you live in? That MSF schedule looks familiar.
October 25, 2008 at 9:24 pm #14304razorParticipantThey did the same thing when I took it. Saturday was riding all day. I remember after that first day I almost couldn’t walk straight for a few hours because it felt like I was still riding. That despite having ridden offroad for 12 years, it’s just that I had never spent 8 hours on a smooth course doing maneuvers. Was fun.
The MSF course was one of the best experiences in my life. Made me a better car driver. Really bonded with a few of the people, met a girl even. Wow, I just calculated it has been 17 years since I took the class, I should probably take it again.
October 26, 2008 at 2:45 am #14307DaggerParticipantWell I survived day 1 of riding.. Over all the riders in the class were pretty good.. There were maybe 3 students out of the 12 that were having some problems.. No.. I wasn’t one of them.. Everything went pretty smooth.. Only things I had some troubles with were the weaves and the emergency stops.. Which you know if you read my other post, was something I wanted to work on..
I had a couple problems with the weaving.. First off.. The people in front of me were going really slow.. So I was constantly worried about running into them.. Secondly, I was riding a Suzuki GZ250.. And the break pedal was so high it was almost right above the foot peg.. So to use the foot break I had to completely relocate my foot to be able to press on the pedal.. We didn’t really get much time practicing it unfortunately.. So if anything.. That’s what I’m gonna mess up on tomorrow on the exam..
As for the emergency stopping.. I still was pressing too hard on the rear brake.. Would have rather just used the front break but they wanted us to use both breaks.. I got to practice it about 6 times and definitely improved by the end.. So I think I’ll be fine with it tomorrow..
Sangria.. I’m taking the class in Santa Clarita at the College of the Canyons..
Anyways.. Will update at the end of tomorrow and let ya all know how I do..
Dagger
I just want to make it out of this life alive…
October 26, 2008 at 3:57 am #14310MunchParticipantGood luck fingers are crossed for ya
Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h
October 26, 2008 at 2:31 pm #14312SpoolParticipantDon’t stress it over the weave, it’s not part of the test anyway. They only test you on the U-turn box, the swerve, the emergency stop, and a 135 degree turn.
October 27, 2008 at 2:40 pm #14327CandiceParticipantI took it in one weekend as well and it was great but I felt so exhuasted! Hope all went well for you!
October 27, 2008 at 7:41 pm #14332Clay DowlingParticipantThey offer an Experience Rider course that reviews the same material, but you take it on your own bike. Supposed to be excellent.
October 28, 2008 at 5:12 pm #14356DaggerParticipantSorry to take so long to get back to you all.. I passed barely… Lost 8 points on the U-turn box.. I really wish they had let us practice that more and given us better instruction on it.. Oh well.. Lost another 5 on my quick Stop for supposedly not down shifting.. Which I actually did.. But the bike I was on kept down shifting into N instead of 1st when I did them.. So when I had to down shift again into 1st to pull out he thought I hadn’t down shifted.. *sigh* As for the other 2 points it must have been on the turn but I’m not sure why.. Either way.. I have my card! Was definitely a good experience though I wish they had spent a little more time on a few of the exercises.. We ended up getting out early each day.. Seemed like they were cutting back on our practice time to shorten the class..
So that’s that.. Just waiting on the paperwork so I can head back to the DMV and get my license..
Dagger
I just want to make it out of this life alive…
October 28, 2008 at 5:50 pm #14358MunchParticipantDon’t sweat the box…..hardly anyone gets it in testing…. I got it in practice consecutively after the second time and I got the feel for it…. but in testing…. broke plane once…. testing is always different.
I hat the whole down shifting thing on the quick stop I did it fine…heck even stopped way short of what was expected…. but in a real moment….. your already death gripping the clutch and brake after the end….. and then taking time to do a personal systems check before even riding on. Oh well…. practice practice practice… I am sure its in there for good reason. So I keep doing it for just in case.Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h
October 28, 2008 at 7:39 pm #14362CandiceParticipantCongratulations! That u-turn box was hard, I kept messing it up in practice, wishing we had more time to keep practicing and then during the test I did my best one and I still crossed the line once so I got docked for that. I got points off on my quick stop for not stopping in short enough distance and I got a few points off on my turn but like you, still passed. So good job!
October 29, 2008 at 6:07 am #14368rayngefinderParticipantYup, the u-turn/figure-8 drill was t-o-u-g-h. I ran the front tire over the line on the exit side and didn’t use both brakes prior to entering the turn. Those were my points.
October 29, 2008 at 3:42 pm #14396Clay DowlingParticipantI’ve had to use the u-turn a few times in real life. It lead to my only spill so far, when I stalled it. No damage to the bike, but not good for the ego (which is probably good for my hide). Last weekend I needed it again, pulled it off without a hitch.
October 29, 2008 at 4:05 pm #14401DaggerParticipantI have to use it every day when I come home.. I live on a dead end street and have to u-turn to park in front of my house.. Still putting my foot down but getting better at it.. Haven’t dropped it yet…
Dagger
I just want to make it out of this life alive…
October 30, 2008 at 12:22 am #14438T-RoyParticipantThe turn gave me trouble during practice because there were no cones on the outside of the turn, so when approacing the turn and looking through it I couldn’t tell whhere the outside of the lane was. Messed it up about three times but nailed everything on the test except got -1 point for time. Maybe I went a little to slow on the turn. The box gave me a little trouble too but I found that as long as you turn your head all the way, it really isnt that hard. I was also 1 of 2 in my class that got 100 on the written. Now I just need to get some money saved up for my bike.
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