I'm In!

[Shortie]

12 days 'till my endorsement! (positive thinking... positive thinking... positive thinking...)

 

[jdubbs32584]

*sending positive thoughts*

You're almost there!! 

[TiNi]

sending good juju your way
keep practicing on the 80!

[Kyna]

Thinking good thoughts for you.  Less than two weeks and you'll be cruisin' the roads. 

[mcgalinmd]

If you do have ? about the class, feel free to post or PM; i've been teaching for 5 years now (I think starting on my 6th) and i'll give tips to anyone.  I've been riding for over 15 years total.  I should have a good pointer or two. 

[Shortie]

If you do have ? about the class, feel free to post or PM; i've been teaching for 5 years now (I think starting on my 6th) and i'll give tips to anyone.  I've been riding for over 15 years total.  I should have a good pointer or two. 

I can't think of anything at the moment, but I'm just going to try and do exactly as the instructors say and hope for the best!

Maybe the only thing I'm curious about are drills that I could possibly do on my dirtbike to practice, but I realize an 80cc dirtbike and a street bike are two totally different things. Haven't yet dared to move around on my 400.

[Kyna]

You just need to build up your confidence a bit before you try out the 400.  I'm predicting that the day after your MSF course you are motoring around your streets on that baby.

Practices turning your head and looking through turns.  Also, shifting smoothly.  Those are big aspects of the class IMO.

[Shortie]

One thing I do on the 80 is try to keep my feet on the pegs as much/as long as possible. It's tempting to take a foot off in a tight turn, especially a slow one, but I usually just try to look where I want to be, downshift before I start the turn and moto through it at a consistent pace without adjusting my speed/throttle much. Not sure if this is really going to do anything for me in terms of the class or street riding, but basically my main goal when I get on the 80 is to stay as smooth and stable as possible at all different speeds, in both straight line and turn situations.

I hope that being able to step up from my 80 to a small road bike in class, and then to my 400 will take away some of the butterflies instead of just jumping from the 80 to the 400.

I really can't imagine what it must be like for people who want to learn but have NO experience with bikes whatsoever. It must be terrifying!

Think it would be a good idea for me to practice just putting along really slow to work on balance? Would doing U turns and things of the sort in the road at slow speeds help? (it's a dead end with NO traffic) I haven't bothered because I wasn't sure if it would be even remotely the same on such a light bike with nubbies.

Damn that bacon icon - it makes me hungry!
 

[Kyna]

I had never driven a motorized bike of any kind before the class, only been a passenger and it was only frightening for the first 30 minutes or so.  Once you get the balance and speed controls in your head it's not so bad.

I say working on balance while at slow speeds would be good.  I've never been on a dirt bike so I can't vouche for how similar the exercises will be, but anything is better than nothing right?

[duqette]

One thing I do on the 80 is try to keep my feet on the pegs as much/as long as possible. It's tempting to take a foot off in a tight turn, especially a slow one, but I usually just try to look where I want to be, downshift before I start the turn and moto through it at a consistent pace without adjusting my speed/throttle much. Not sure if this is really going to do anything for me in terms of the class or street riding, but basically my main goal when I get on the 80 is to stay as smooth and stable as possible at all different speeds, in both straight line and turn situations.

Yes! You flunk the test if you put a foot down. At least, that was the case for me, in CA. Steady and smooth and look look look through the turn is the key. Watch some of that amazing police motorcycle derby stuff that is available on youtube.... When they're making a tight turn, their heads are turned right around looking back over the shoulder. It's amazing.

I had never ridden a motorbike (except as a cupcake) before the class, and I loved every second of it. From the moment I sat on that cute lil 250 and fired her up I was gone happy. Hook, line, and sinker. 

Practice can't hurt, but doing with a teacher would be better, so you don't accidentally pick up any bad habits.

[mcgalinmd]

Ok, in MD you can not accrue enough points in the "box" to fail, but it really puts you behind the curve so to speak.  You've got to be "acceptable" on the rest of your skills, no more than a few off in any.

If you've ever mowed grass on a hill, and you lean way uphill to keep from feeling like you are going to fall off the mower, that's the same technique you need to use in the box - - lots of counterweight (bike leans into the turn, you lean out away from the bike), all your weight on the outside peg, massive head turn (like the excorcist) and turn the darn handlebars and point the tire where you want to go.  Maintain the friction zone (clutch) and keep the motor "Humming": you can't idle through it.  Control speed with your rear brake.  If you try to use front with the handlebars cranked like you have them....you'll be looking up at the sky. 

It all sounds complicated, but head turn and tons of friction zone are most important.  Don't beat yourself up about the box, true technique comes with way more practice time than the class allows.

[TiNi]

the mower on the hill is such a good analogy 

there is some great advice here!

biposto, it won't hurt any to practice this drill on the 80...

[mbalmer]

I took the class not knowing how to start a motorcycle, let alone ride one. I was given a Honda Rebel and thought it was so big and scary. All I could do was stare at it until I took the class. I was so confused at the figure 8, but by the time we did the test I was okay with it. The hardest part and the only part I lost points on was cornering. I still have confidence issues with cornering. I really like counter-steering but don't feel comfortable really leaning. I just slow down before turning and then lean a little.

If you put your foot down or drop your bike it won't disqualify you until you are taking the skills test at the end. My daughter dropped her bike twice during the course and did fine during the skills test. Some guy actually crashed during my class, but passed the skills test.

Have fun with the class.

[mcgalinmd]

I read somewhere to keep the RPM's (how fast the engine is running, not speed) at 2,000 exactly, control speed with the rear brake and friction zone.  Training bikes don't have tachometers, so a good rule of thumb is to just twist the throttle about 1/8 a turn and hold it.

If you are going to practice this on a dirt bike, here's a good one....if your driveway is bordered by lawn/grass (non-squishables) on either side, drive up on the far right and turn to the left, staying on the asphalt.  Do 5-10 that side, and then switch - drive up on the far left and turn right.  The class consists of one turn in each direction, or a figure-8. 

Remember, wicked head turn, turn the darn handlebars, friction zone.

BTW, the better you get at the figure-8, you'll get exponentially better at the cornering.  It's all about head turn.  Pretend you are looking for  at the corner you just came from.  LOL

[Ducatista]

I really like counter-steering but don't feel comfortable really leaning. I just slow down before turning and then lean a little.

Something that might help you with this is to lead your turn with your shoulders.  Get your shoulders to the inside of your bike when you turn.  The lean won't seem so scary.  I know it seems counterintuitive, but just try it.  I'm assuming that you always look where you want the bike to go, not just with your eyes, but with your whole head.