MSF Experienced Rider Skills Plus Course

[Steve_in_Florida]

As my signature states, I used to teach the Air Force version - the Sport Bike course. I instructed mostly with a heavy, long, fast ZX-11 (piece of CRAP). When I was trained as an instructor, the lead instructor was inspecting the bikes and came to mine. He said, "I hope someone GAVE you this bike." To which everyone chuckled. I said, "Yeah, but it's the fastest bike here."

It was a good course we taught. Initially we saw a 40% DECREASE in fatalities in our Major Command (AMC). That's pretty huge! We never got out of second gear, but I stressed to my students that if they put into practice what I taught them, they would notice a BIG difference in handling at highway speeds. It was a big shift in the military mindset. Instead of just saying, "Don't go fast" we taught more about how to handle your bike if you're in that situation. By the way, half the day was spent setting up suspension!

It was a good time. I'd like to think I did my part...

Throughout the 90's in Germany, only the MSF courses were available to us on the base, unless you wanted to pay big bux for one on the economy. I tried to take a refresher course annually, as it increased your skills and you got to meet some pretty cool people.

Regarding the ZX-11 comment. One of my friends had a ZX-11 that I rode a couple of times. Not NEARLY as comfortable as the FJ. I felt like I was _AROUND_ the bike, not _ON_ the bike. I'd rather go a little bit slower on a bike I'm comfortable with rather than one on which I'm miserable.

[movenon]

Good info. I found out many years ago that almost any one can go fast. (not all stop to well)   Its hell of a lot harder to go slow. Thats where skill shows.

[FJ Flyer]

It has literally saved my ass from being bbq'd on one occasion.

Now you have to tell the story.....I don't really care that you were almost BBQ (glad you were not), we all need to know how you avoided it....Some of the ways we all learn is by paying attention to others that have already been there.  I am thankful for others that have shared and shortened some of my learning experiences....

Basic practice of keeping the bike in 1st gear and holding the clutch in while stopped at a traffic light.  I was going to work at about 0530 heading into DC, on a four lane road, stopped at a light at an intersection.  I was in the left lane, about three or four cars back.  Just sitting there in my own world.  Noticed one car on the opposing side.  All of the sudden that car was coming through the intersection with fire spewing from the rear.  It took out the wooden sign post  in the median and hit the side of the first car, and was still coming.  There was enough room between the cars in the right lane and I immediately pulled between them to the shoulder.  It hit the other cars in front of me and came to rest against the car that was behind where I was, engulfing both in flames. 

Turned out another car, guy in a Mercedes drunk off his ass, came flying down the road and slammed into the car stopped on the other side of the intersection.  Poor guy that got hit was a DC cop, just getting off work and heading home so he could take his daughter to school.  He did not survive.  The drunk guy walked away from the wreckage.

[terryk]

Wow, that sounds like a close call.

One of the things that makes CA road laws motorcycle friendly is permission to practice lane splitting. This includes splitting at a traffic light and posting up between two cars at a redlight or stop sign. Using the stopped cars as mentioned previously as a shield and not getting wiped out from behind.

I pulled between a cop car and another car at a red light the other day. No problemo, light turns green and I pulled out ahead of the cop and took the lane ahead of him, just did not exceed the limit.

Sitting ducks are we all at stop lights if we can not shield our bikes by splitting the lane. In fact, we often pull left or right when riding with friends or with other bikes and even ahead a little in the split so others can join us in the shielded area. A good technique is to pull ahead slightly in the split as well to make sure the drivers can clearly see you. My body being ahead of their front tires at this point, often.

Rarely do I encounter a driver who does not know how to behave when the light turns green, people do tend to be cautious when they see the biker.