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10-05-2008, 07:59 PM | #1 |
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MSF Training
Well, just finished a two day beginners training class. Took it with my wife who has not driven a motorcycle. Was a good time and did learn a few bad habits that I have and hopefully have them temporarily fixed. The instructor was excellent.
The wife passed. She did the figure 8 better than most, even me. The instructor was standing next to me and said "I can't believe that she can go so slow without dropping the bike." Me, well, didn't miss a question (common sense) on the test and only had one issue on the driving test. Keep looking thru the corners idiot. Would suggest that anyone who hasn't taken it to take it. Also planning on taking the experienced course next year if I can.
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Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16 Login or Register to Remove Ads |
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10-05-2008, 08:26 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Jun 2008
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MSF Training
Great to see you both did it. I took the "intermediate" course. Out here they only have beginner + intermediate.
I thought I knew it all...but after taking the course I was shaking my head wondering how I got by with all my bad habits. Especially not keeping my head up and looking way ahead into corners. Now I practice it all the time....what a difference + confidence booster. One guy in my class had been riding for many years...had a brand new V Strom....he dropped it doing figure 8's during the test...automatic fail. We all felt bad for him.
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VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina |
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10-05-2008, 09:49 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Haysville, KS
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Took the beginner course last December, great experience for sure. Trying to get the wife to do the beginner course too. Have to look into the intermediate one.
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Ron "Coach" Allan, Haysville, KS 1999 Nomad Wine and Red "KawaTanker" 2009 BMW R1200RT 2003 BMW K1200LT "Magic Carpet" DOA 11/7/2015 VBA #00291 IBA # 41995 DS #320 '08 Elkins, WV; '09 Helen, GA; '09 Custer, SD; '10 Stanton, VA; '11 Maggie Valley; '12 Townsend, TN; '13 Estes Park; '13 Blairsville, GA; '15 Eureka Springs; '16 Helen; '18 Custer, SD |
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10-05-2008, 10:18 PM | #4 |
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Good going Waterman, on all accounts. Congrats to your wife. Now, get her a bike and let's ride.
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10-05-2008, 10:47 PM | #5 | |
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Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16 Login or Register to Remove Ads |
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10-07-2008, 07:45 AM | #6 | |
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---- One good thing I figure about Hell is, you can probably just pee wherever you like. |
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10-07-2008, 08:10 AM | #7 | ||
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My wife really liked parts of the driving exercises and had fun. When we do go on longer trips she has said she wants to be the passenger. Why? So I can just sit back and enjoy the views. Not a problem there.
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Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16 |
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10-07-2008, 08:52 AM | #8 | ||
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Denver, CO
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Quote:
Another point is, if the rider has a medical emergency, and the passenger knew what to do, they could reach around the rider and take the controls and bring the bike to a stop. They might drop it once it gets stopped, but rather than going out of control at 70mph they would be dropping it at 0mph. But that only works if they know what to do once they do reach around. All they need to do is pull in the clutch and either coast or brake to a stop; but if you don't know how to counter-steer, it won't likely work. |
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10-28-2008, 12:13 PM | #9 |
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Hey Dan,
Moving along at highway speed...that would be one hell of a passenger to first: realize anything is wrong with the driver and two: be able to reach around the driver , take the controls (including the pedals) and bring the bike to a stop of any kind. All within what...2-3 seconds. cell phone: 911 works good. vin |
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10-28-2008, 06:26 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Denver, CO
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So if you were a passenger, and all of a sudden the rider went limp and slouched onto the tank, would you be pulling out a cell phone and calling 911, or reaching around and pulling in the clutch and steering to a safe stop :) If you could do it, it would be wise for all passengers to know how to do it. My wife can't; taking the MSF class and learning what you would learn there would be enough for her to have a good chance of safely doing it. The alternative is the rider slumps and the passenger has a very bad ride off the road, or into the barrier at speed. A site I used to go to had a video of a rider faking it, and the passenger doing just what I describe. Little woman, big rider, on a Goldwing. Perhaps even with an MSF class on a few could do it, but they'd have a lot better ride than the alternative. |
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10-29-2008, 11:16 AM | #11 |
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I didn't misread it. I'm trying to envision it and don't come up with your conclusion or suggestion.
As far as the demo you describe. It's always easier when you're expecting it to happen. That's one of the reasons I recommend that students I teach do things like practice braking on a regular basis. When you're not expecting it, it happens much faster. The more you practice the more prepared you are. I just can't imagine a passenger being able to do what you stated, especially when they weren't aware the driver had something going on. It only takes a second or two for the bke to go down. vin |
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11-06-2008, 02:30 PM | #12 | |
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I'm saying the logic is just as valid on a bike. The difference is that more passengers are adept at grabbing the steering wheel in a car, than they are at knowing how to counter-steer a bike to a stop. As I stated, there is a video out of a demonstration of a woman reaching around a simulated rider on a gold wing who passed out, and she takes the controls. That gets us to awareness and time. A rider who passes out will go limp and it will be very apparent that something is not right and they aren't really just changing lanes. That takes care of awareness. That leaves time. I went out on my bike on an empty stretch of freeway and let go of the bars and didn't use my body to steer at all. I moved out of my lane in 4 seconds, and was in danger of going off the freeway in 9 seconds. Look at your second hand and picture the rider going limp, would you reach around and grab the bars during that 9 seconds? It is all for not if the passenger freaks out when they try to go left and the bike goes right. But if they understand how a bike steers, all they have to go is reach around to the bars and pull in the clutch, then coast to the side of the road and let it drop. I've been a passenger for about 5 minutes total, so I'm not likely to be in this situation, but if I was a passenger and the rider passed out..............I'd reach around and steer to a stop. Same as I would in a car. If nobody else wants to, they don't have to. But it can be done. |
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11-06-2008, 03:52 PM | #13 |
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I would like to clarify my opinion on this subject. My opinion is: I doubt that if a driver was to become unconscious or incapcitated to the point of not having the ability to control the bike and could not communicate that to their passenger ,then the time it would take the passenger to assertain the situation and then react to it would not have enough time to get hold of the controls and slow the bike down to the 1-2 mph mentioned. I think it is possible for the "one in a million" to happen also. I have not looked at the video but I know I could accomplish this if I knew in advance it was going to happen and the fact that I'm a driver. I doubt a passenger could do it if they had no idea of what was happening.
This is of course my opinion. I hope everyone understands. thanks vin |
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11-14-2008, 10:03 AM | #14 |
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MSF Training
I managed to get in a class this weekend.
Looking forward to it |
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11-14-2008, 10:33 AM | #15 | |
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Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16 |
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