MSF Experienced Course Question

[ThomasJ]

After 6 months of planning for my new (to me) bike acquisition and having lots of help from the group here I brought a 2001 R1150GS home last week...beautiful bike and great riding...my plan was to take an Experienced rider safety course next weekend then begin commuting maybe once or twice a week till the rain and frost comes. I found out today that the course instructors require 6 months or 3000 miles on the bike before taking the class. I understand that they want to limit the number of bike drops but in another sense its kinda like the ol cart before the horse. I put 3000 miles on the bike without advanced (potentially life saving) skills training so I become qualified for the training.

 

Does anyone have thoughts about this? Perhaps I should keep to the back roads on weekends until my street skills are more honed...its been a few years since I have done much street riding; lots of dirt though.

Thanks,

Tom

[StuGotz]

PM sent.

 

MB>

[Twisties]

Take the beginner course. They'll supply you a small light bike and run you through all the drills. They'll talk you through a lot of the street hazards. The riding portion probably won't challenge you with your experience, but you will learn a lot, make a friend or two, and have some fun.

 

Really as far as street safety the book portion of the BRC is what you want anyway.

[moshe_levy]

I understand that they want to limit the number of bike drops but in another sense its kinda like the ol cart before the horse. I put 3000 miles on the bike without advanced (potentially life saving) skills training so I become qualified for the training.

 

If you go to a math course, they're not going to show you calculus if you haven't yet had experience with adding and subtracting. If you go to a martial arts school, a new white belt is not going to be training along side mid or high level students with years of experience. And so on.

 

Likewise, if you've been off the bike for a few years, you need the basic course, and then some experience, to be able to gain anything from the so-called "expert" course.

 

-MKL

[ThomasJ]

Thanks for the advice...I have just signed up for a beginners course for this weekend. Looking forward to it. I'm sure my new bike will be happy to hear it.

Thanks,

Tom

[Mister Tee]

For what it's worth, the Tee had over 20 years of motorcycling experience, including over five years of track experience when he had to apply for an original M1 endorsement on his California license since he didn't carry it over from his previous license. The Tee opted to go the MSF Basic Rider course route in lieu of the DMV riding test, and found the course to be informative and worthwhile even for a seasoned rider.

[Axe]

If you have never had any formal training the BRC is a good place to start. I imagine in the early exercises you will find it very very basic and most likely get bored. Hang in there as the day progresses it will get better. Remember it is a basic learn to ride a motorcycle course for a complete novice. I like teaching the BRC when there are some experienced riders enrolled, I ask them to help motivate and encourage the others who are having problems. Although it is a basic motorcycle operations course I have taught some very experienced riders who had no problems in telling me they learned a lot. Have some fun with it, your going to see all kinds of things.

[RTP'er]

Not to hijack the thread, but...

 

I have dozens of years of experience but a long lay off and hadn't renewed my license either. Every once in a while I take my RT into the DMV lot and I still can't quite do the tight circle they require. The BRC might be worth it just to get the endorsement renewed with a lighter bike.

 

I feel all my riding skills have come back but the RT is just not easy at slow speeds. I don't know if your GS is similarly difficult to ride at slow speeds.

[Joel]

Thanks for the advice...I have just signed up for a beginners course for this weekend. Looking forward to it. I'm sure my new bike will be happy to hear it.

Thanks,

Tom

 

Good for you.

 

Do yourself a favor and pick up copies of David Hough's Proficient Motorcycling books, read 'em over the winter, and then take the ERC in the spring.

 

On the subject of dropped bikes, yes, they can become a distraction during the course. There was a guy on a brand new (still had the paper plate on it) FJR in my class last spring who dropped it at least 4 times. He wasn't hurt, but I felt bad for him, and for the paint on his formerly shiny side cases. Beyond that, he hadn't learned to pick it up by himself, so someone had to dismount and help him each time, which slowed everything down and made it hard to get in a rhythm.

[motorman587]

Not to hijack the thread, but...

 

I have dozens of years of experience but a long lay off and hadn't renewed my license either. Every once in a while I take my RT into the DMV lot and I still can't quite do the tight circle they require. The BRC might be worth it just to get the endorsement renewed with a lighter bike.

 

I feel all my riding skills have come back but the RT is just not easy at slow speeds. I don't know if your GS is similarly difficult to ride at slow speeds.

 

Not to start an argument, but the RT is one of easy bikes to ride at slow speeds. Not that I do it everyday however.........

 

We train once a month and I am a big believer in training. Take the BRC/ERC, whatever but get trained. Riding is a skill and to keep those skills sharpe you must train.

[RTP'er]

Not to hijack the thread, but...

 

I have dozens of years of experience but a long lay off and hadn't renewed my license either. Every once in a while I take my RT into the DMV lot and I still can't quite do the tight circle they require. The BRC might be worth it just to get the endorsement renewed with a lighter bike.

 

I feel all my riding skills have come back but the RT is just not easy at slow speeds. I don't know if your GS is similarly difficult to ride at slow speeds.

 

Not to start an argument, but the RT is one of easy bikes to ride at slow speeds. Not that I do it everyday however.........

 

We train once a month and I am a big believer in training. Take the BRC/ERC, whatever but get trained. Riding is a skill and to keep those skills sharpe you must train.

 

I will take your word for that. But from what I read on this site people seem to think it has a very high center of gravity, is heavy, and people seem to drop it a lot even standing still.

 

It is the heaviest bike I have ever ridden and every time I come to a stop I have to watch myself. Anything over 5 mph and it is the easiest bike to ride, I would agree.

[wbrissette]

Sounds like you already have it worked out. I got my motorcycle license two years before I got my car license. Even after getting my car license, I never owned a car for another couple of years, it was motorcycle only for me. However, once I got married, I ended up selling my bike and didn't pick up another one for quite some time (over 15 years). I only once let my motorcycle license drop from my drivers license (because I had to take the riding test again in NJ, and didn't own a motorcycle at the time), but fortunately I was able to keep my Canadian driver's license and when I returned to Texas, was able to turn in my Ontario license (complete with motorcycle endorsement) over in exchange for a new Texas DL.

 

When I bought the RT however, I knew I needed a refresher course (even after picking up the RT and riding it 800 miles home), I talked with the MSF course people and they recommended I take the basic course over the advanced course. I did have to wait another 3 weeks for an opening and by then I really did feel comfortable on the RT, but went anyhow. I was informative, but I probably could have gone with the advanced course. Regardless, it was worth the time and money, and I would recommend the course to anybody especially those with little experience or those people who haven't ridden in a while.

 

Wayne