How many really do?

[Iamjustifyd]

I've taken the MSF course and have been in a parking lot a few times practicing the cones, u-turns..etc, dumped it over today on a right handed u-turn New bike and getting use to it. Over and over I hear fellow riders giving the advice to new riders to take the course. How many of you guys and gals still practice? If after riding a few years...should you still hit the parking every once in a while? Just curious. How many reading this are going....Yeah, I really should but I don't.

[Obsidian16825]

I don't go back to the lot where the course was, but have been putting some of the maneuvers into practice. When I'm on group rides, invariably we need to make tight turns in parking lots. We had about thirty bikes in a funeral procession today, putting along averaging 25 mph, lots of practice shifting up and shifting down and creeping along using clutch control, then snaking around parking lots, at the staging, church, and gas station next to the cemetary. So, I guess I could say I hit the parking lots for practice, but don't get cones. Instead, I get cars, trucks, and motorcycles defining tight spaces.

[B-Bob]

I went to the local range last month practicing u-turns in the box, high speed turns, turns in the corners, and the S-turn.

[W-P Bill]

I usually take the MSF course about every three years. I also practice about once per year, I guess. I'm kinda spoiled, the Ride Captain of the RC I belonged to in Hawaii was a MSF instructor, about once a month he would make everyone that showed up for the ride do parking lot stuff before we headed out for the day.

I've got some medical issues that knocked me off bikes last summer, and I probably won't be able to ride again until the spring of 2010. You can bet I'll be signing up for the beginner MSF course before I start riding again.

Hmmm... I wonder if showing up for the MSF beginner course on a Harley or a vintage Kwaka is a good idea. Making the transition from either to a 125cc bike might be difficult.

Finally, my usual pitch for the Ride Like A Pro DVD. Its the best $35 you'll ever spend towards riding motorcycles and will really enhance your parking lot sessions.

Welcome To Ride Like a Pro

[Old Gray Beard]

I love to practice this will be my 44th year of riding and it never gets tired I find it relaxing and when I'm done I always feel that I can handle my scooters better than before I did.

[Old Gray Beard]

Originally Posted by W-P Bill

I usually take the MSF course about every three years. I also practice about once per year, I guess. I'm kinda spoiled, the Ride Captain of the RC I belonged to in Hawaii was a MSF instructor, about once a month he would make everyone that showed up for the ride do parking lot stuff before we headed out for the day.

I've got some medical issues that knocked me off bikes last summer, and I probably won't be able to ride again until the spring of 2010. You can bet I'll be signing up for the beginner MSF course before I start riding again.

Hmmm... I wonder if showing up for the MSF beginner course on a Harley or a vintage Kwaka is a good idea. Making the transition from either to a 125cc bike might be difficult.

Finally, my usual pitch for the Ride Like A Pro DVD. Its the best $35 you'll ever spend towards riding motorcycles and will really enhance your parking lot sessions.

Welcome To Ride Like a Pro

OK ok I always agree that ride like a pro is a great video but as often as you mention it are you sure you're not getting a cut of the business??? LOL

[Chaso]

I have only been riding a little over 8 months. I was having problems after the winter with low speed turns. I did get Ride Like a Pro. I practice about once a month early on Sundays Then go out for a ride. It has made a big difference. I like the exercises they are a really good challenge.

[Guitarosaur]

I rode motocross in West Texas in the late 70s, Street bikes in NC in the 80s, and rode a Kawi 750, Virago, Hurricane, and a V-65 Magna in the late 80s here in VA. I rode too fast, too wild, and too carelessly on all of them, but the only time I laid one down was when I took a wrong turn on a MX trail, hit a jump, and came down in a barbed-wire fence. I was fortunate to come away with just a burned caf and some abrasions. The Magna was the last bike to go away in 1986, and now, 22 years later, I've GOTTA have a bike again. I'm shopping for the right one, but in the meantime, I've signed up for the MSF class at the local community college, and will be practicing in an abandoned grocery store parking lot to be sure my skills are up to snuff before I begin riding the bike regularly. I just think it's a great opportunity: pay $80 to spend two days riding someone else's bike that doesn't matter if I drop it, while they pick up the tab for fuel, do all the maintenance, and then watch me with a critical eye and give me valuable feedback on what I'm doing! Taking the MSF course is a no-brainer! In what way could it possibly NOT benefit someone, even someone who has a fair amount of riding experience? Laugh is you wanna, but doctors have to continuously update their education, pilots have to be re-evaluated and "qualify" regularly, and cops & firemen have to do practice drills as long as they're on the force. Why wouldn't one of us sign up for the MSF class, just to set the example for other riders? Who among us is "educated enough?" Knott eye!

[Old Gray Beard]

Originally Posted by Guitarosaur

I rode motocross in West Texas in the late 70s, Street bikes in NC in the 80s, and rode a Kawi 750, Virago, Hurricane, and a V-65 Magna in the late 80s here in VA. I rode too fast, too wild, and too carelessly on all of them, but the only time I laid one down was when I took a wrong turn on a MX trail, hit a jump, and came down in a barbed-wire fence. I was fortunate to come away with just a burned caf and some abrasions. The Magna was the last bike to go away in 1986, and now, 22 years later, I've GOTTA have a bike again. I'm shopping for the right one, but in the meantime, I've signed up for the MSF class at the local community college, and will be practicing in an abandoned grocery store parking lot to be sure my skills are up to snuff before I begin riding the bike regularly. I just think it's a great opportunity: pay $80 to spend two days riding someone else's bike that doesn't matter if I drop it, while they pick up the tab for fuel, do all the maintenance, and then watch me with a critical eye and give me valuable feedback on what I'm doing! Taking the MSF course is a no-brainer! In what way could it possibly NOT benefit someone, even someone who has a fair amount of riding experience? Laugh is you wanna, but doctors have to continuously update their education, pilots have to be re-evaluated and "qualify" regularly, and cops & firemen have to do practice drills as long as they're on the force. Why wouldn't one of us sign up for the MSF class, just to set the example for other riders? Who among us is "educated enough?" Knott eye!

I took MSF for the first time at age 50 I have been riding 44 years now and a friend of mine became an instructor so I was in her first class it was still good to remind me of all the things I should be doing Versus what I do do!
I have also taken the Police riding classes (another friend of mine teaches those) It is never bad to brush up on things.

[W-P Bill]

Originally Posted by Old Gray Beard

OK ok I always agree that ride like a pro is a great video but as often as you mention it are you sure you're not getting a cut of the business??? LOL

Would that were the case.

Unfortunately, no. Even worse, I've given away my copy a couple times, so I'm actually taking a loss. But I figure $35 every now and then is a cheap price to pay if it'll keep a good friend alive.

[W-P Bill]

Originally Posted by Chaso

I have only been riding a little over 8 months. I was having problems after the winter with low speed turns. I did get Ride Like a Pro. I practice about once a month early on Sundays Then go out for a ride. It has made a big difference. I like the exercises they are a really good challenge.

Hey, Grey Beard! Maybe we can pass the "Get the Ride Like a Pro DVD" mantle to Chaso, here.

[Old Gray Beard]

Originally Posted by W-P Bill

Would that were the case.

Unfortunately, no. Even worse, I've given away my copy a couple times, so I'm actually taking a loss. But I figure $35 every now and then is a cheap price to pay if it'll keep a good friend alive.

Just checking lol
It is one of the best how to videos.
Definitely beats those "How to Buy Real-Estate With Somebody Else's Money" videos

[Scrambler81]

I got my first bike in February. I have not taken the MSF course but not because I didn't want to; With two little kids and a wife that works weekends, it's pretty much impossible to get three days to myself to take the course. I did get the "Ride Like a Pro" DVD, and I picked up 16 little cones from Wal-Mart, so I can go up to the high school and practice. I'm due for another session with my cones, but I do use what I've learned every day, as getting out of my parking lot at work can be a pain in the neck. I'd still like to take the course, hopefully in the fall things will settle down a bit.

[VrUoLcCkAsN]

I've taken two MSF courses in the past 16 years and an advanced skills course about two weeks ago that's run by three local MC cops. I think it's something every rider should do at least every 5 years.

I don't really go out and actually setup cones in a parking lot to practice. I do find that I use those skills on a fairly regular basis on nearly every ride I go on though. Real life situations in parking lots with cages as "cones" really forces you to concentrate on what you are doing and brings home to you how much you need to keep those skill honed.

[cmptrmn.1]

I practice my emergency stops once a month in parking lots along with u-turns and slow riding. I practive my emergency swerves all the time when riding to work. Man hole covers are fun to swerve around. Drivers behind really wonder what the heck I'm doing.

[daniel2002p]

I did and still do w my 500, only been riding for a month so I wanna know that I can do what I did at MSF with my bike... makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.. and no its not because its 100 degrees in texas

D

[alstensby]

I'm lucky in the fact that I have a course just up the road from me. Wife and try to hit up every Spring after we pull the bikes out of winter storage to freshen up.

[Jake '53]

I have a 20x60 box marked in the cul-d'-sac we live on and a large church (only busy on Sundays) parking lot for braking practice less than 1/4 mile away.

[jeffwomack]

edit due to rational thoughts......

[Old Gray Beard]

Originally Posted by W-P Bill

Hey, Grey Beard! Maybe we can pass the "Get the Ride Like a Pro DVD" mantle to Chaso, here.

I think the time has come to make him a Jedi