Lee Parks' clinic or MSF course

[wantingaduc]

I have about 15 years of riding experience, with some track time back in my younger days, but I've just come back to riding for the last 3 years. I'm a street rider, both commuting and Sunday backroads, and I'm thinking that it would be beneficial to take some formal education to try and improve my skills.

I'm looking into taking an advanced street riding training course this summer and I was trying to decide between the MSF experienced rider course and Lee Parks total control advanced riding clinic.

I was wondering if anyone out here has had experience with either or even both and could give me some feedback on the pros and cons of these courses.

jimi

 

[DesmoDiva]

Lee Parks, hands down.   [moto]

I took levels I and II last summer and was very impressed with his teaching style and learned tons.

There a few of us on here that have taken Lee's class.  Reviews can be found here

Also pick up his book, Total Control.  All of the drills he teaches in the clinic are in the book.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions about the class.

[ScottRNelson]

I took about ten years off from riding, then got back into it in 1997 when I purchased my first Ducati.  I signed up for the ERC as soon as I could get in.  I felt that the classroom part taught me some useful things, but I'm not sure I learned much from the range exercises.  I already knew how to control a motorcycle in all combinations of turning, swerving, and braking.

Overall, I think I've learned more useful information about being a safe rider from reading the two Proficient Motorcycling books by David L. Hough.  I've also read Total Control by Lee Parks a couple of times and tried all of the exercises in there.  Those have been useful as well for fine tuning my riding.  I've been through A Twist Of The Wrist II (don't bother with book 1) a couple of times as well, and that wasn't nearly as useful, but helped me understand a bit more about keeping balance of traction while riding.

I expect that the Lee Parks clinic would be of considerably more value than the ERC.

One other good online resource for motorcycle safety is http://www.msgroup.org/

[wantingaduc]

Diva,

I looked at the link you provided, great info there thanks.
I'd like to ask, overall how complicated were the field exercises, and did anyone drop or tip over during your class day.?

Scott,
Your library sounds like mine.
I agree that Twist II is MUCH better then I.
I've also read the Proficient series, Lensnatch's book and the MSF street skills books.
I was in the habit (and are back into it) of taking one aspect of my riding, throttle control , lines, body position, braking, etc. and working that all season.
But now I'm thinking I might like to get some instructor based training to put those theories into more concrete terms.

[DesmoDiva]

Diva,

I looked at the link you provided, great info there thanks.
I'd like to ask, overall how complicated were the field exercises, and did anyone drop or tip over during your class day.?

I felt the field excerises were easy and I have only been riding for a couple years. 

All of the exercises are outline in his book, except for a visualization exercise (off the bike) and static body positioning/lean exercise (on the bike).

Nope, no one dropped/tipped over. 

I'll dig up a couple photos I have from my class. 

Picts added:
Here is B on his ST4s



Me on a borrowed MSF bike, my ST4 was feeling under the weather.

[Monster Dave]

The TC course is amazing and will teach you so much about riding that you'll wonder why you didn't take the course sooner!

It was really a fantastic expirence - worth every penny!!!

[OT]

I feel the MSF basic courses are very good at teaching awareness (defensive driving), especially in the classroom.  The range drills are helpful in learning to control a motorcycle as a motor vehicle in traffic.  I got back into riding after a nearly 30-year hiatus and took the MSF basic course (Penna uses it as one means to award MC rider licenses).  I was surprised to find out how much of a better automobile driver I could be by applying the things MSF made me (re)aware of.

If you're looking to get your head into riding on the street (and avoiding accidents, unsafe conditions, etc.) then MSF might be the better way to go.

Reducto ad absurdum, there's likely something useful to be learned in all these classes and books....

[nfwb11]

+1 on Lee Parks.  I took the Level I class in Irvine, CA. a few weeks ago and loved it.  I've only been riding for a couple of years but found the detail and instruction to be pretty easy to understand.  Lee and his guys take the time to give you the personal attention that I found the MSF class to be lacking.  Nobody pushes you... everybody was able to run through the exercises at their own "pace" -- whatever made the rider most comfortable -- and it didn't appear as if anyone was out of their element. 

DesmoDiva steered me toward Lee a while back as I had similar questions to yours.  Having recently completed it, I can't recommend it enough.  I'll be taking Level II when Lee comes back to SoCal in September.

PS - Buy the book as well.  Some of it might not make that much sense before the class, but it all comes together after seeing it put into practice.  I've been consulting it ever since.

[DesmoDiva]

Glad to hear you had a great experience.      [moto]