Safety Course...

[JoeShovel]

So tonight is the first night of my weekend Motorcycle Safety Course here in NC. Was just curios if anybody else here has taken it (I'm sure there are some) and what I should be expecting tonight and througout the weekend.

Thanks

[kustom_flames]

Not there...but you should expect to meet a whole bunch of nice people all with the same interest in mind - ridin!

I still have one good friend I stay in touch with from that course I took 8 years ago...

Enjoy it, and thank you for being responsible! I bought a bike before the course, and only took it around the block in the beginning...never real comfortable in the week or so before the class. After the class, I had that baby out the same day for a couple of hours!

Pat

[FXR2]

Originally Posted by JoeShovel

So tonight is the first night of my weekend Motorcycle Safety Course here in NC.

Where in NC? I took the MSF course at Wake (county) Tech just south of Raleigh in 2003.

I can't say enough good about it or the instructors. Mine was Thursday and Friday evenings, then all day Saturday and Sunday. The first two nights were all classroom and the weekend days were on the bikes in a marked course in the big parking lot. The last couple of hours on Sunday was back in the classroom for final discussion the written test.

Two instructors--both great. One a recent retired state Archaeologist (man) and the other a about 30 or so (woman) newspaper columnist and crotch rocket rider.

You'll get hot on the range, have a blast, learn a lot, do things you first don't believe you can, watch some folks wipe out for no apparent reason, and come away very glad you did it.


[edit to add} MadCity wrote this after I made my post. It also applies to me so accurately I'll repeat it. I rode other peoples' bikes in the late sixties, finally bought my first one in 1974. Didn't realize how many bad habits I had until I took the MSF course five years ago.

Originally Posted by MadCity

As someone who learned to ride on the way home from the dealer (there were no riding courses back in the late '60s, at least none that I was aware of) and as someone who finally took the rider's course when I got back into riding five years ago, you're doing the smart thing. I learned a lot that I should have known, but didn't, back in the day.

[MadCity]

As someone who learned to ride on the way home from the dealer (there were no riding courses back in the late '60s, at least none that I was aware of) and as someone who finally took the rider's course when I got back into riding five years ago, you're doing the smart thing. I learned a lot that I should have known, but didn't, back in the day.

[NJ RIFF RAFF]

Originally Posted by JoeShovel

So tonight is the first night of my weekend Motorcycle Safety Course here in NC. Was just curios if anybody else here has taken it (I'm sure there are some) and what I should be expecting tonight and througout the weekend.

Thanks

I took the Rider's Edge course here in New Jersey at a County College. ($250.00) 3 day weekend course. Best money I ever spent. So grateful I took it. I probably would have killed myself by now without it. My rider friends threatened me they wouldn't ride w/ me if I didn't take the course!
Instructors were great, and befriended a lot of local riders with the same expectations. If I'm correct, you get an insurance discount with the completion too. (Rider's Insurance) Enjoy!, and have fun!

[JoeShovel]

Thanks guys. Yes, I'm looking forward to it. I'm taking it at Johnston County Community College. I live in Clayton about 20min SE of Raleigh. Orginally from NYC so I never wanted a bike as I had a few friends pass on them. Down here the roads are so smooth I cant help but think about how much I will enjoy the cruising. It only cost $110 and it is tonight from 6-10pm and 8-6 Sat and Sun. I have only rode around my block just to get a feel for my bike as it is more of a seasoned rider bike, but got the hang of it pretty good. I know I will come out of here with so much more.

Thanks a lot guys,

[FXR2]

Originally Posted by JoeShovel

I'm taking it at Johnston County Community College.

If your instructor goes by the name "Digger", tell him one of his grads is still out there safe because of him.

Originally Posted by JoeShovel

Down here the roads are so smooth I cant help but think about how much I will enjoy the cruising.

Yep. NC is a great place to ride. I could leave my driveway just north of Raleigh and go to the coast, the mountains or southern Virginia all over lightly traveled, scenic two-lane roads through neat little towns now and then. Never got tired of it. Dang, just thinking about it gets me jealous. Oh well. Enjoy and be safe.

[JoeShovel]

Well, I took it and passed . However, I was little shocked on how strict they were with the riding portion of the test. Only 65% of my class passed. It's a good thing too, because I was watching those who failed all weekend and they need some serious help. For anyone wanting to do this I would strongly suggest it. Just know it is very, very tiring. You will need to make sure you get your rest. I had unruly ones in my class though that caused a lot of slowdowns and pauses throughout the day.

Thanks again,

[acbacb]

Money and time well spent. They teach how to ride correctly. It might even save your life.

[SkootchNC]

Originally Posted by FXR2

If your instructor goes by the name "Digger", tell him one of his grads is still out there safe because of him.

I had "Digger" too... also in '03 at Wake Tech... I see him around at various events. And I always thank him... I learned a lot over the years, but his class taught me what I was doing right... and what I wasn't

He said his greatest reward, was seeing his students years later, and hearing how much they learned, and enjoyed his class

Frank
Raleigh

[Nazzdak]

Hello-

I've taken the MSF-BRC ( basic riding course), the MSF-ERC ( experienced riding course), as well as the Harley Davidson Police Motorcycle School ( which was taught offsite to myself and 2 other civilians by a certified instructor).

Thus, I can tell you from experience that the breakdown reads something like this.

Less than 40% of the riders on the road today have had ANY professional instruction. Not some, ANY. Of the 40% that have had professional instruction, less than 10% of those riders go on to the ERC level. Less than 2% of those riders go on to the Police Level. Thus, graduates of the Police Motor School ( which also has a 35% failure rate) represent a tiny fraction of the general public, in terms of skill level.

What does this mean when you're riding with a group of friends, or hear of a motorcycle accident on the news or internet? Simply this.... a staggering 60+% of the riders on the road today, do not know how to....

a. Successfully negotiate their motors within the parameters of a 18x36 foot figure eight box.

b. Come to a complete stop at 40+mph in less than 72 feet.

c. Pick their motorcycle up, unassisted, if it were laying on its side.

d. Make a successful left or right turn, from a dead stop, with only 6 feet of available space in front of them, without dragging their feet.

e. Use the rear brake.

f. Understand the basics of counter-steering

g. Are unaware that the front brake is responsible for 90% of a motorcycle's stopping power under emergency conditions.


Thus, I am not at all surprised that there was a 35% failure rate. Basic motorcycling, which is what these are examples of, is extremely DIFFICULT for most people. In failing, the instructor probably saved their lives.

David

[JoeShovel]

I agree with everything you said 100%. I wont lie I sucked at the box especially when they made it smaller. What happened was I was not trusting the bike enough, and I was not looking ahead. The people that failed in my class deserved to fail. They were a danger to themselves and to everybody else on a closed course. Dont want to know what they would be like in traffic.

Good news is last week I went and took the DMV written test and only got 1 wrong. So now I'm a fully licensed biker . The MSF basic course is something all new and maybe even some seasoned riders should take. I'm thinking about taking the Experienced course but want more seat time on my bike as that is the bike I will have to use for the course.

Thanks again,

['05Train]

I've been riding for 30 years (dirt bikes first, then street bikes for the last 20) and just took the BRC and got a license last June. It was, to say the least, a humbling experience. There is no question that I'm a better, safer rider now, and there's no question that the nearly half of my class that failed deserved to do so.

Good on you for doing the right thing.

[Nazzdak]

Train-

You should take the next step and take the ERC course. I took both the BRC as well as the ERC courses back in 2005. The ERC is basically the same thing. The only exception is that you're doing the exercises on your own bike, instead of the Suzuki 250's.

It sounds like MSF has raised their standards somewhat since I took the course, because everyone in both of my classes passed.

David

['05Train]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna do the ERC this spring or summer. I was the only rider in my class to lose no points on the box, and I'd like to give it a shot on my bike.

I recall years ago that both the BRC and Rider's Edge programs were sure-fire passes for anyone who spent the money. I can tell you that the BRC I took at HCC in Columbia was a completely serious, for-real class.