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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: DanH on September 21, 2019, 03:19:45 PM
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I still consider myself a new rider. It took the MSF to let me know where my weaknesses are. So, I created a practice routine for weekends (empty mall parking lots) using eight cones, a piece of rope and and anchor point. These all fit rather snugly beneath my seat.
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The string has knots tied at 12', 13' and 14'.
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Using these three items, I am able to recreate a few of the MSF rider exercises: Swerve between cones, the Box, and the Circle.
For the circle, the T-Wrench is used as an anchor point.
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Any other suggestions for practice. I was weak at emergency breaking in a straight line. And I was troubled by the exercise where we had to countersteer to avoid an object in front of us (swerve left to avoid, then correct by swerving back to the right).
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As I recall one of the hardest moves in the MSF course was one in which you roll up to a stop and then immediately turn to the left or right without touching with your feet. It requires you to balance and steer at the same time. A lot of folks failed on this one. They would either stall or fall over! I got through it OK but it is difficult. I think it's actually harder on a scooter because of the auto clutch.
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Great way to practice. See if you can find a Gymkhana to participate in. It's even better practice as the courses are sometimes much harder than the MSF course.
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As I recall one of the hardest moves in the MSF course was one in which you roll up to a stop and then immediately turn to the left or right without touching with your feet. It requires you to balance and steer at the same time. A lot of folks failed on this one. They would either stall or fall over! I got through it OK but it is difficult. I think it's actually harder on a scooter because of the auto clutch.
With enough practice EVERYTHING in the MSF course is easy. I did the MSF experienced rider course about 14 years ago because I was able to take it for free and it seemed like it would be fun. It was fun but nothing in the course was even remotely challenging. It's all a matter of practice.
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Hmmm. Well, OK then Klav..
I tested & passed on a tall Yamamahammer dirt bike.
I failed at keeping inside the rectangle while doing figure 8's.
Made it miles home safe today in a downpour....but after 30,000 miles of scooter riding I still avoid painted rectangles.
(https://i.postimg.cc/9FqT3DJs/P1090028-4.jpg)
Whatever works for you Dan.
Stig
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... I still avoid painted rectangles ...
In SoCal, the Box (figure 8's in a rectangle) is not part of the MSF course. We didn't practice it, so it wasn't tested. I overheard the instructor say he can't think of a reason a rider would have to ride a figure 8 inside a rectangle when street riding, so it was optioned out.
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That logic may make sense on the surface, but it's a good exercise for learning control of the bike,
especially at slow speeds in tight spaces.
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No argument there - do practice it if you need it - but I like the instructor's logic.
A slow tip over is not high on my riding worries out there with the deer, tree limbs, wet leaves and cars.
Stig