MSF Basic Rider Course

[Jaynnus]

It sounded more to me like the student mis-understood the exercise

[klp]

It sounded more to me like the student mis-understood the exercise

Yeah Joe got this one back asswards...

This was number nine that he was talking about. Errr eight - long weekend in the sun!!

I will publish his score for all to see if Joe approves.

As an instructor I tend to not dwell on the numbers as it often becomes a pissing contest. As someone pointed out earlier by the end of the class most have a pretty strong idea of what they are good at. And not so good at.

[jcrawford]

Approved I don't care who see's even if it was a failing number

[Degsy]

it's just a number. tested again, you would probably get a different score. The price of admission was worth it for the advice on not covering the brake.

[jcrawford]

Yep I was ill advised by a friend who said a lot of riders cover the front to save that split second. It wasn't until klp explained it that it is that split second you want to avoid because your body goes into "oh shit mode" and you will want to squeeze aggressively and not progressively. That's what I got from it, hopefully that's what he meant

[klp]

OK so I don't really remember but it was in the single digits. Call it a 8. I remember a few points from braking and also some elsewhere. We run double ranges and by the end of day two your head is about to explode.

The scoring works so lower is better, you start with zero. -20 passes, +20 does not.

[Mike Qube]

here is a satellite view

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cycles...src=6&t=h&z=19

Looks pretty standard to me. I believe the MSF sets the size requirements for ranges and they have to be what they say.

[Degsy]

Looks pretty standard to me. I believe the MSF sets the size requirements for ranges and they have to be what they say.

Mike, that's a half size range. There are many different configurations usable. MSF approves on an individual basis.

[Degsy]

Yep I was ill advised by a friend who said a lot of riders cover the front to save that split second. It wasn't until klp explained it that it is that split second you want to avoid because your body goes into "oh shit mode" and you will want to squeeze aggressively and not progressively. That's what I got from it, hopefully that's what he meant

Not to mention you have much less throttle control with two fingers out off the throttle.

[OreoGaborio]

The scoring works so lower is better, you start with zero. -20 passes, +20 does not.

Yup.
And to put it a little more precisely, 20 or less passes... 21 or more doesn't.

I had one failure yesterday... Hate it when that happens, especially when they come SO CLOSE to passing
They came LITERALLY within 1/2 an inch of passing... but just barely clipped one of the cones in the swerve, which is worth 10 points. Woulda had a 13 if they didn't clip it.

I might have "overlooked" that, but I wouldn't have felt right giving them their completion card... they really did need more practice. The other coach and I strongly recommended they call Joe, come back, get one more day of practice and give it another go. I'm gonna check with Joe in a week or so and see if they followed our advice.

[Mike Qube]

Mike, that's a half size range. There are many different configurations usable. MSF approves on an individual basis.

Ah. It looks about the size of the modified range in the front lot at Streetwise.

[Jaynnus]

Yup, definitely a modified.

[jcrawford]

OK so I don't really remember but it was in the single digits. Call it a 8. I remember a few points from braking and also some elsewhere. We run double ranges and by the end of day two your head is about to explode.

The scoring works so lower is better, you start with zero. -20 passes, +20 does not.

oh god yea i seemed to lock up the rear on the 250 every time it seemed really touchy and I found it hard to adjust to the brake in a short time for some reason. Not sure if I lost points for locking up or just how long it took me to stop overall. I personally did not feel very well with the results of the stopping evaluation, I knew I didn't stop that quick

The only other places I could think I would have lost points is covering the brake (very bad I know now) and maybe some in the box as I noticed I looked late in the turns. I did well during a few practice runs with looking but was so nervous that it was evaluation time that I remembered to look later than I would have liked though I don't believe I put a foot down or went out of the box but that would be better observed by klp who was watching. As bad as I wanted to look that head up got me

[OreoGaborio]

No points off for locking the rear.

The only things we look for when we're scoring you in the quick stop are: anticipating the stop (starting the stop too early. I think you get two attempts?), going too slow (you get two attempts) not downshifting to 1st gear, and going beyond the standard stopping distance for your speed (we use a stopwatch to get a speed estimate just before the cones).

Is that it? Don't have my range cards in front of me.

[Degsy]

oh god yea i seemed to lock up the rear on the 250 every time it seemed really touchy and I found it hard to adjust to the brake in a short time for some reason. Not sure if I lost points for locking up or just how long it took me to stop overall. I personally did not feel very well with the results of the stopping evaluation, I knew I didn't stop that quick

The only other places I could think I would have lost points is covering the brake (very bad I know now) and maybe some in the box as I noticed I looked late in the turns. I did well during a few practice runs with looking but was so nervous that it was evaluation time that I remembered to look later than I would have liked though I don't believe I put a foot down or went out of the box but that would be better observed by klp who was watching. As bad as I wanted to look that head up got me

Looking down in the box doesnt get you any points, neither does locking up the rear brake. Must have been braking distance, anticipating on a second try or failing to shift to first. Covering the brake wont give you any points either, funnily enough.

[Degsy]

Ah. It looks about the size of the modified range in the front lot at Streetwise.

a full size range.

http://g.co/maps/qscbt

[jcrawford]

not sure if i anticipated or not but I might have, I do know that i did not stop in the optimal time. I believe I heard 8.03 but could not be certain.

overall I think I did well and it was more for the learning and to convert to my license without taking the registry test on my bike, I figured it wouldn't hurt to spend the money to learn
anything I didn't already know and as Jaynnus pointed out the money was well worth the tip on not covering my brake.

Do I have a lot more to learn? Hell Yea.

I am thinking that it will probably be the season after next but I want to pick up a cheap track bike and run it to learn more and more. If I dump the 1-2k track bike it will bother me less than dumping my bike

[Degsy]

not sure if i anticipated or not but I might have, I do know that i did not stop in the optimal time. I believe I heard 8.03 but could not be certain.

overall I think I did well and it was more for the learning and to convert to my license without taking the registry test on my bike, I figured it wouldn't hurt to spend the money to learn
anything I didn't already know and as Jaynnus pointed out the money was well worth the tip on not covering my brake.

Do I have a lot more to learn? Hell Yea.

I am thinking that it will probably be the season after next but I want to pick up a cheap track bike and run it to learn more and more. If I dump the 1-2k track bike it will bother me less than dumping my bike

Sounds like you did pretty well to me. Especially if you were the "go to" rider for leading exercises.

.83 could have been your braking timed distance. I believe that means we would expect you to stop in about 14 feet or so (can't remember exactly). Any more than that is a point per foot.

[jcrawford]

Anyway I would like to thank klp and ask that he pass the thank you on to the other instructor it was a great time

[ThisBitch]

Cool race report, dude.

[Degsy]

Cool race report, dude.

I have seen worse race reports and I have also seen racers who wouldnt pass an MSF test if their life depended on it.

[jcrawford]

i'm so wet behind the ears I didn't get that joke

[ThisBitch]

I have seen worse race reports and I have also seen racers who wouldnt pass an MSF test if their life depended on it.

Wish I'd been on NESR when I took my MSF. 2 days in November in 42 degree pouring rain. Was so cold by an hour or two in that I couldn't squeeze the brake or clutch. I could have written an epic, shit to rival the Odyssey.

But, I got perfect scores on both parts of my tests

[j4eric]

i have 3 friends that took the MSF course and passed on their first try. 1st one dumped his brand new cruiser 3x the first day he took delivery....the other 2 to this day i will not ride with them as i think we scare each other off...lol....my point is....get more seat time...that is the best way to learn....experience points.

[Degsy]

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Wanna be scared of a rider? Come to day 2 of any MSF class and see how people are doing after a full day of instruction. I challenge anyone to say that the MSF class is not an absolute necessity for most new riders.