Take the ERC for $80

[taxonomy]

I like to take the Experienced Rider Course, MSF every year. I don't, but I like to. I've taken the ERC several times though.

The ERC costs $135.

Honda Riders Club of America (HRCA) is $20 to join. I don't currently ride a Honda but that does not matter. You can still join.

They give you a $75 rebate when you complete the course.

$135-$75+$20=$80

I would say there are very few riders that can't benefit from a refresher of the basics. The membership is cheap enough and it actually has some pretty good benefits and discounts. It's almost worth it just for that. There's also usually a members area at events like Aspencade.

Theres probably an MSF course near you. For $80 it's worth taking.

[Doc]

Great post!!

[Kham]

what are some examples you would learn? do they give same tips every year?

[taxonomy]

It's exactly the same course every year. The range exercises are identical.

I find that I may *think* I am looking thorough every turn, I am in fact not. Or I am not keeping my chin up. I also find the panic stop exercises very useful. It's really worth it to have very skilled people take a close look at your riding because you are paying them to do so. I am not talking about going out with your buds here. Every MSF instructor teaching the ERC is a better rider than me, and most have evaluated hundreds of riders.

The feedback is worth every penny of the $80, even if you are doing track days and or other training. The ERC can put your riding under a microscope.

I find for a couple of weeks after the ERC I ride better and probably improve my riding more than in many, many weeks of "normal" riding. The after a year or two old bad habits creep back.

Regular affordable training is a great way to ratchet skills up. I've met a lot of great people at ERC training and had a good time every time.

I think this forum pushes to track days pretty hard. For me, with the cost being somewhere north of $250 and the event usually costing a day of work, plus getting there and camping and whatnot it adds up quick. While I'd like to do one I am not really sure with all my responsibilities that it makes sense for me. I hope to make one this year, or maybe next.

But for most people the $80 to get training a couple hours or likely less from where they live for six hours on a weekend is something that is very doable. Your riding will improve, you'll be safer. Depending on how your insured you can save some money too there. Most insurances give a discount on collision. It's just about the best $80 you can spend.

[Kham]

i refuse to practice panic stop

[MissTwisties]

i refuse to practice panic stop

Why is that? (maybe there is a joke that I'm not getting again...)

I'd like to practice it. I'd like to take the ERC. I've had to "practice" panick stops a few times over the past few years...because I was being forced too. Every single time I've saved it, but nearly had a heart attack. I don't know if it was really the technique of panic breaking I did, but it apparently worked.

I will take that class at some point. There is the military air base 15 minutes away from me...

[MattyC]

Why is that? (maybe there is a joke that I'm not getting again...)

I'd like to practice it. I'd like to take the ERC. I've had to "practice" panick stops a few times over the past few years...because I was being forced too. Every single time I've saved it, but nearly had a heart attack. I don't know if it was really the technique of panic breaking I did, but it apparently worked.

I will take that class at some point. There is the military air base 15 minutes away from me...

ha ha ha. I think most of us have had to do the panic stop a few times, not out of free choice.

With anti-lock brakes being common on cars nowadays, I've been behind people who have seen the traffic lights turn yellow, freaked, and have applied maximum braking power to thier cages, forcing a panic-type stop on the motorcycle beind them (sometimes me). Even when leaving a considerable distance behind these jerks, its still unnerving.

I have never hit them or gone down because of it, but it is unpleasent and it should be legal to drag these people out of their cars and beat them for unnecessarily endangering our lives.

[Doc]

Good thread here. I am currently in the class to become a Rider Coach. I am continuing to learn stuff.

With practice it just gets better. I think panic breaking is a good excuse to learn how to do a stoppie.

[taxonomy]

Any skill that can make you safer can also make you faster.

The techniques taught in this class are the same ones used by the "fast guy" in your riding group (if he is any good) and the same ones used on MotoGp.

Panic Stop skills are just about applying maximum braking when you least expect it. If you are sport riding, you should not only get instruction in this you should practice it. Ride without occasional instruction and you are likely only ingraining bad habits.

I will say that most of us are muddeling through something that we could improve. Honsetly, you will ride better and faster after and ERC. You will be safer too.

Doc is a good example of a guy that becomes a rider coach, he races and rides dirt and street. These guys are almost all genuine fast guys. Tell me where I can go get the attention of someone specially trained to give me pointers for $80? If you're buying "performance" parts for your bike, you should take the ERC.

[Kham]

just kidding about panic stop. try panic stop when you're down on the edge of the tires.

do these fast guys teach how to drag knees on street or just common sense stuff? wouldn't it be less safe to be fast on street, not to mention the people who wants to jail you for speeding?

the only thing i want to practice at close course is wheelie. whee!!!

[taxonomy]

If you want to get a knee down you should have the basics of looking through a turn and should have a very good idea of how to stop quickly when leaned over.

It's not a stunt or race school but my guess is that many riders don't have some of the basics down pat every time.

A~

[Doc]

Doc is a good example of a guy that becomes a rider coach, he races and rides dirt and street. These guys are almost all genuine fast guys. Tell me where I can go get the attention of someone specially trained to give me pointers for $80? If you're buying "performance" parts for your bike, you should take the ERC.

Whooah! Thanks for the compliment BUT...

Doc is an example of a COMPETENT rider. I think I take instruction well and I am a good student. I think this also makes me a good teacher.

I don't really think of myself as a "Fast Guy" I have ALOT to learn.

[Doc]

just kidding about panic stop. try panic stop when you're down on the edge of the tires.

do these fast guys teach how to drag knees on street or just common sense stuff? wouldn't it be less safe to be fast on street, not to mention the people who wants to jail you for speeding?

the only thing i want to practice at close course is wheelie. whee!!!

They teach COMPETENCE. Like how to do things more effectively. PRACTICE and evaluate to help learn. With practice comes understanding. Panic breaking, counter steering, scanning, throttle control, low speed drills... All these things help your riding and make it more enjoyable.

[taxonomy]

Whooah! Thanks for the compliment BUT...

Doc is an example of a COMPETENT rider. I think I take instruction well and I am a good student. I think this also makes me a good teacher.

I don't really think of myself as a "Fast Guy" I have ALOT to learn.

For most of us street riders anyone that's racing is genuinely fast. I would also go so far as to say that most street riders have pretty big holes in their riding.

Someplace around here I have video of me repeatedly riding my CB1 up the tail of a CBR and then them disappearing on the straights. So, I am sure Joe CBR got to the next intersection quicker.

Anyhow, I generally mean fast as able to corner quickly and safely, handles side to side transitions well etc. There's a lot of ways to define fast and only a few matter to me. Fast, to me, is the corollary to safe.

[MissTwisties]

Good thread here. I am currently in the class to become a Rider Coach. I am continuing to learn stuff.

With practice it just gets better. I think panic breaking is a good excuse to learn how to do a stoppie.

Well maybe I'll be in the same boat as you Doc, I went to class and to the range today to shadow an MSF class myself. I was invited to attend by TBOX, I'm glad I went. I helped around and had a blast! It gives you a whole different perspective to observe the students. I understood how they felt, why they were nervous, etc. and was thinking of myself 6 years ago. I was very proud of all of them, they all passed with great scores. The instructors do a GREAT job to help the new riders learn all the basics. I wish at some point to be able to return the favor and help others as well and teach them how to ride.

Good luck with your class Doc, I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun, and like you said, you still learn a lot!

[Kham]

With practice comes understanding. .

don't you try to get some idea what to practice first by reading or listening to others, then practice? you then understand the idea and practice more and it becomes second nature? sounds like a refresher course for those who hasn't ridden for awhile and got rusty or for noobs.

[Doc]

Your saying you can't learn anything?

[Kham]

Your saying you can't learn anything?

where did you get that idea? i didn't always know how to ride the bike or write english.

[Doc]

sounds like a refresher course for those who hasn't ridden for awhile and got rusty or for noobs.

Are you saying here that you are neither a noob nor someone that has not ridden in awhile? And that you don't need to take the course?

Or am I just reading into it?

[Kham]

Are you saying here that you are neither a noob nor someone that has not ridden in awhile? And that you don't need to take the course?

Or am I just reading into it?

that's right but i also said the course sounds like. if i understand the description, it's mostly comon sense about "safe riding, including managing risk, and increasing visibility. This course also provides valuable information about protective gear, rider responsibility, motorcycle inspection and care, and the effects of alcohol and other drugs on riding..."

i would take the course only because im curious individual.

[markbvt]

For the record, ERC pricing varies by state. Here in Vermont, the ERC Skills Plus course is $60. So if you join the HRCA and get the rebate, it's only $5.

--mark