Pulling the trigger on the MSF

[Shortie]

The application is folded nicely and tucked away in its envelope next to my deposit. All it needs is a stamp and a prayer. I am hesitatnt to disclose the exact dates I chose as I'm a little superstitious, but I will tell you that I'm looking at completing the course (hopefully successfully) in July.

Did any of you fail the first time? I'm so afraid to do something stupid and flub up... I need to get this thought out of my head! I want this so damn bad!

[somegirl]

I dropped the MSF bike first time across the parking lot, I was concentrating so hard on the clutch and the brake that I forgot to put my feet down when I got to the end and stopped.

(Funny, I remember doing the same thing first time on a bicycle as a little kid too. )

You can actually get a few things wrong on the test and still pass, so if you make a mistake on one part, don't let that affect your concentration for the rest of the test.

Good luck and keep us posted!  I'm sure you'll do great.

[jdubbs32584]

I didn't fail but I was INCREDIBLY nervous. You'll do great hon. I had about two hours of actual riding experience in a parking lot (i think 30 minutes was spent on the ground) before the MSF and passed with flying colors. The bikes that we had were small, very easy to maneuver cruiser types that sat so low that even I could flat foot them without a problem. The exercises we did actually ended up being the same exercises in the road test at the end. You end up practicing those exercises god knows how many times so by the time you get to your test at the end, you're golden.

You'll be awesome!

[dolci]

I didn't fall but I did take an excursion down the hill and over the grassy knoll; learned I was (am) terrible about target fixation!     I didn't pass the first time (passed the written with 100% but just missed the ride) but passed the second time through.

[Taz Duc]

I won't say I did just fine as I was always the slowest one on any drill and I did drop the bike once.  What irritated me the most was the darn bike would die on me if you even looked at it and that must have been 100 times in two days.  But I was determined to pass so I talked myself through each test, with cuss words when needed.    I past with no problem and even nailed the figure 8 which I had the worse time learning that morning.

This experience was tons better than my first MSF I took 20 years eariler when I failed the riding part by 2 points.  The instructors lack of encouragement to a woman back then and not having a bike where my feet I could touch the ground, pretty much drove my decision not to bother to try again. But I was happy to learn when visiting a motorcycle dealership last summer that things had change and the odds of me actually learning and passing was now in my favor.

Don't give up on yourself. Know going into it that the coordination skills take time for your mind and body to learn.  Just do what you need to do to pass and then you can practice, practice, practice until those skills become second nature.

Keep us update! 

[lauramonster]

Had a friend fail - because she raised the visor to her full faced helmet!!!  She even had eyeglasses underneath, but they failed her. 

The instuctors were cool at the MSF course (Pennsylvania).  They went over what was an immediate failure (dropping the bike) and what points were deducted for each flub up.  I didn't want to drop the bike on the figure eight, so I went outside the box and lost 2 points.  Needed to lose 5 to fail.  It took the pressure off the worst part of the test for me, and I could just ride the rest and know that I still had a few points to spare. Maybe they'll go over it for you too!!  (If not, you can ask them privately at break or end of class!!)

Relax and pay attention to the tips the instructors give you and you'll do fine.  Keep us posted!!

[DesmoDiva]

I failed the skills test the first time.  Got a 100 on the written test, go figure.

I had trouble with the figure 8s.  And the said my speed was too low in one of the manuvers.  I knew I failed, I wasn't the only one though.  One guy failed cause he road his own bike to the class.  In NY you are not allowed to ride alone, need to be accumpanied by another licenced rider on his/her own bike.

I was devistated.  I cried like a little girl.  The instructors were great though,  said I should practice more and I would pass with no problems.  I also was a bit distracted, as the local SCCA was having Solo races in the next parking lot, and so wanted to be over their racing B's STI.

I retook the 2nd day of skills training and the test a couple weeks later, and passed. 

They go through the test real thoroughly, ie told us everything we needed to do.  Even hinted to which direction we were going to have to swerve too.

Don't worry you will do fine.  I actually found taking it twice helped.  Just keep a positive attitude.   

[Ducatista]

You'll do fine.  Just keep your head on straight and have fun with it.  My best friend was laughter.  I didn't drop the bike at all, but came close in the stop in a turn drill.  I had never touched the handlebars of a bike before and didn't lose any points on either the written or the skills test.  It's okay to booger some things here and there, but the most important thing is to make sure that you have fun!     Congrats on the decision and kick some tail!

[Qwack]

I took my MSF course in the pouring rain...it was cold too.  In between riding in drills myself and another lady jumped into one of the instructors trucks to warm up.  All the men stood outside...like men    It was probably the best experience,as I'm not terrified to ride in the rain since I did a lot of it over 2 days 


As said several time already in the thread Have Fun, and you will be fine 

Good Luck.

[mcgalinmd]

Hi there...I am a MSF instructor and I want to tell you now....don't be afraid!  The bike knows you are and it will respond accordingly!!

Really, I teach a lot of females to ride.  You have to be relaxed, calm, and somewhat serene.  The instructors will give you all the directions and skills you need to pass the class.  I often see women (and some men too) come in and just go right to "meltdown status" almost immediately.  Way, way too much over processing, thinking, etc.

And who cares if you drop the bike, that's what they are there for.  Better the training bike than your own.  Just go in and pick a bike that's already "custom modified", i.e. beat to s@#$#.  That way you won't feel bad if you do have an unscheduled dismount.

If you have ANY questions about the course, drop me a PM or email.  That goes for ANY other gals or guys out there.  I want to see everyone take this class as it might just save your life. 

[empress duc]

first of all... YAY! 

you've got way more guts than the average human,
first off, for even getting on the back of a motorcycle,
and second, for considering taking the MSF course.

it takes an incredible amount of courage to overcome
the fear and do it anyway.  we won't love you any less
if you chicken out and stay true to your handle.

if you do, indeed, take the course i volunteer to lead
a cyber-vigil at the beginning of June so that you have
access to the positive support and vibrations whenever
your dates come up.

the most helpful thing i did during the course was do
everything EXACTLY what the instructor said.  i was the
only woman in the course and the big burly bearded
MSF instructor said i was riding the pants off of all the
guys in the course and making them look bad.

just stay focused and it's actually fun once you get going.

with support,
  ~ empress ~

[Shortie]

Thank you for all the positive words of support gals! I can be kind of a worry bug sometimes (ok, a lot of the time) so I'm just trying to forget about the fact that I even sent in the application, that way I don't obsess over it until July.

I guess the thing I worry about most is putting too much pressure on myself. I want it so bad- I drive in my car and I imagine being on a bike instead, looking through turns and reading every driver around me. I ride with my beau and look over his shoulder so all I see is the road in front of me, and sometimes I pretend he isn't even there  . I see bikes on the road and immediately get giddy. I feel it in my bones and that is precisely why I am scared to fail.

I taught myself how to drive a stick 4 years ago, and it was hard. Sometimes it was frustrating, but in the end it was so rewarding. It's so much fun driving a stick, and those are the kinds of things I try to think about.

As soon as my bike is together Tony and I are turning our attention to my little 1972 80cc dirtbike. The brakes need to be done but other than that it's ready to go, and hopefully I can do some decent time in the saddle on that before I take my MSF course. I'm hoping that will ease my anxiety a bit.

Thanks again ladies! Keep the stories coming... it really does help!

[mbalmer]

There was a guy in the class I took that was a bit of a show-off. He flat out crashed. He pulled on the throttle when he went for the break. He was very humble after that. He did well in the test and passed.

My daughter dropped her bike twice during the course, but passed in the end. I am surprised by the comment on the face shield. We didn't even have to have full helmets. We were required to have at least 3/4 helmets. Face shields were not used by anyone. It was August, in a parking lot.

I didn't have any special issues during the class, but I remember being exhausted each day. Good luck. You will be fine. If you don't pass the first round there is no shame in that. Plenty of people take the class twice. I even had an instructor who took it twice, years ago.

[Hooligal]

Go for it!  I was very very nervous taking my class.  I aced the classroom but then despite being a passenger for years, was literally shaking when I first got on the bike.  Boy am I ever glad that I "made" myself do it though.  I managed to keep my cool (even when I was the last person to get how to duck walk across the parking lot), and did just fine.  No dropping and passed the test at the end.  It took a while for me to settle in to driving on my own, but now I love it, and I know that the tiny bit of butterflies I get when I first take it out after the winter is really just me being excited to have it back.

Best wishes!

p.s. I know other people around here (MA) that have failed for having their face shield up.

[BikerGoddess]

I flunked the course last summer. I'm still gun-shy and cash-poor, so taking the course again may be a ways off (unless anyone wants to donate $$?!). In the meantime I'm happy riding my stinky little 2-stroke scooter around town with just a learner's permit.