[KathyFG]

Hi everyone: This is embarrassing, but I had an awful time at the MSF beginners course this past weekend. Despite my best efforts and two good instructors, I failed the skills portion of the MSF course. I am SO disappointed and discouraged. I thought NOBODY failed this course. I had the most trouble with the slow speed (in the box) U-turns and with turns in general. I think I am still too apprehensive and scared to lean the bike in the turns AND the instructors said I wasn't turning my head enough. I can't believe I could not master these simple skills, but that's the fact. The other beginners seemed to have no problems picking it up. I REALLY tried hard, but could not seem to get the hang of it. I had no problem controlling the bike (a Honda Rebel), although it was quite uncomfortable with those damn boxes cutting into the sides of my legs. If anyone has any recommendations or suggestions, so I can do better next time, I would really appreciate it. I feel like a real loser right now. I have my own Savage 650, but I'm afraid if I can't do it on a 250, I better not practice on my bike. Other than the course and a few parking lot drills, I have no riding experience.

Thanks,
Kathy G
Orlando FL

 

[EvilScooby]

Kathy,

I always thought you could not fail the msf course either, in the books it says no one fails.
I am sorry to hear that. I am sure if you keep practicing you'll get it.

Cheer up :mrgreen:

 

[Louis]

Kathy, don't be discouraged. Can you ask the instructors for some additional with them? The key to turning is really to look where you WANT to go. I was also scared at first, but if you look at the ground this is where you'll go.

If you can't practice with the instructors you could ask your Significant other or someone else who rides to ride you and your bike to an empty parking spot. Ask that person to really keep close to you if your afraid of dropping the bike. Go slow, take your time.

Keep smiling girl, you'll be riding, I'm sure.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Don't think knowledge or skills are your problem, you're obviously very nervous and still uncomfortable on a bike. It's perfectly normal when you get on one for the first few times, it's not as easy as it looks. Some progress faster than others.

As louis said if you know somebody who rides get your bike to an empty parking lot and practice. Don't practice the things that you haven't mastered at first. Just drive the bike in a straight line, take off and stop repeatedly to get the feel for the controls, start with wide turns. Just ride in your comfort zone and as you get more experience you'll widen that comfort zone to figure eights and nice sharp U turns.

Any time spent riding the bike will improve your skills and if it takes you 20 practice sessions or more to get to the level you need/want to be that's no big deal. Way too many riders manage to get through MSF with the help of nearby coaches then forget or ignore what they've learned and just go by the seat of their pants afterwards.

 

[red7eb]

Hey, Kathy:

No, you're not the only one. I failed the first time I took it as well. All because I stupidly TOUCHED the line (not cross, just touched), at the end of the test, at the END of the cornering exercize. I got 100% on the written, then on the riding, I actually had only 4 pts, prior to the cornering. But I wasn't aware until AFTER the test (since they don't bother telling you this), that if you got 10pts. in any one part, then that's automatic failure. So here I was thinking I passed, because I only had 14 pts. total (10 of them in the cornering for touching the line).... and then feeling stupid after I read the "fine print"

And too, I don't know if it's by region or not, but in my first class they told us that there is ONLY a 56% pass rate. So I don't know where you heard that no one could fail, and I had certainly never heard that before I took it either. Half of my first class failed, and then when I retook the class, half failed again.

However, what I did was just retook the entire class. I took it the first time at the end of the season (October), so instead of going back for the retest, I just waited until Spring and signed up again. That time I only got ONE!! point. I was soo, ecstatic!

Just keep your spirits up Kathy, and know that you are NOT the only one, and there is actually a large percentage of those of us that have to retake the tests.

 

[Uncle Bob]

BTW half the riders who passed where in the bottom half of the class.

 

[SuzukiGirl1]

Don't feel bad at all!!! It's actually better that you didn't pass the first time than if you barely passed by the hair of your chinny-chin-chin. There is a reason! :!:

I had a lot of trouble w/ the U-turn box as well...it's not easy. It also took me awhile to fully understand what "looking where you want to go" actually means. I'd be turning my head like they told me to, but I found that I was still looking at the cones...I was so nervous about hitting them, I'd look at them and guess what...I'd hit them! :?

I would look into taking the class again...or going to just the testing day again. It usually costs about $50 and you get to practice all the testing elements again before you take the test.

Don't worry...you'll get it!! :wink:

 

[wafflehouse]

after you get over the fear of leaning the bike and looking where you want to go instead of where you are going you will be a great rider just take your time and practice in parking lots

-wafflehouse

 

[DrBob]

I failed it the first time too . I had the skills, but was scared stiff that people were watching and evaluating me. :shock:
Keep your chin up, practice, relax, and take it again. No big deal...

 

[smith_scotr]

it's ok...

Don't worry...it's probably a blessing...the course is designed the way it is for a reason...you're probably not quite ready yet so the MSF did it's job...keep practicing, you'll get it...and when you do, you'll know you're ready for the roads...

 

[dmdan]

I think I may have one simple suggestion, It appears as though balance is your nervous point. That is how you described the problem (low speed, u-turns, stopping on the line). I would say, try riding a bicycle with your helmet on. Practice balancing on it at low speed without putting your feet down, gain confidence with your balance points and your turing radius at slow speed. I am sure it may be just as good to keep practicing in a parking lot, but you may fear dropping the bike on yourself. Just gain confidence that the bike isn't going to lurch down to the ground, both of them, .... just a thought.

 

[wavyredlaurie]

At least half my class didn't make it. Some never came back after lunch the first full day. One poor woman dropped the bike on the first exercise, and just walked off the course, bawling. Quite a few didn't make it through the skills test, and one woman flunked the written test, for trying to cheat.

Passing the course was rough. Every person in the class had trouble with at least one part of it, and several of the best riders just choked when they were getting tested. And as noted before, the least experienced riders dropped out. The rest of us in the middle of the pack sweated it.

I wouldn't be embarassed or discouraged. Go back and kick butt the next time around. You will, you know.

 

[SDSUsnowboards]

Wow, don't feel bad. Ride a bike (like Bob said I think) and that should get you comfortable in no time flat I hope.

But with all this talk of half the class failing I am starting to have my own fears surface as my msf class date nears. I have rode a bike since I was 5 or a little younger. I dirtbiked for about two years and am very comfortable with both kinds of Bikes. My question is (to those that know): is riding a heavy motorcycle similar or the same as riding a dirtbike?

I know the center of gravity is lower on a street bike and they wieght a bit more, but I would think if one can handle a dirtbike precisely then a street bike in the msf course shouldn't be a thing, only different. Can anyone testify to this?

 

[TL chris]

Street bikes are not quite the same as dirtbikes. Yes they are heavier and in addition to having a lower center of gravity, they sit quite a lot lower. It's different ergonomics too. Sportbikes obviously are way different. They give you some time with the bike to get comfortable with it, before you get scored on your performance.

 

[wavyredlaurie]

I'm sorry, didn't mean to be negative. They started out letting us literally walk the bike (mine was a Honda 250 Nighthawk), just to get the feel of it. Many of the class had never ridden before.

I was riding a scooter, and I "got" it, and the bike's balance was different, and I'd not done a clutch and gears before. In general, the guys didn't seem to have problems like the women, except for one or two who came in knowing little, but thinking they knew it all. These guys seemed to have too much confidence, whereas the women seemed to struggle with not enough. I think all of us were nervous. But most of us managed just fine, and got excellent help from the instructors. The drills were really helpful, and did get you ready for the skill tests.

Really try to enjoy it, and absorb everything you can. It goes a lot better if you can just relax and ride.

 

[inspiron]

@KathyG - You took the course, but you didn't pass the test ... okay. But you didn't FAIL!!!

First, you learned some valuable lessons - you know that there are alot of skills that you need (or will need in an emergency) that you have not yet mastered. You know that you need more practice. If you have accepted these facts - then you didn't fail. You learned ... all you have to do now is practice.

(Remember the old joke .... "Q: How do you get to Carnigie Hall? Answer: Practice, Practice, Practice!")

When I took the exam for my motorcycle license two years ago, I had a fear of some of the maneuvers, like the figure 8 and the slow riding lane. I failed the first time I took the test, and passed it on the second try. Then I took some safety courses ... but it took about 2 years before I really had the feeling that I am comfortable using the clutch, brakes and throttle for slow manuevers. Now, I acutally find those maneuvers kinda fun!!!

I'm still trying to get comfortable with the twisties ... how the hell am I supposed to be on-throttle when taking a steep downhill hairpin turn :?:

 

[KatanaMatt]

I passed my MSF course with flying colors. In fact, my whole class did. But you know what? There are some in my class that SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED!!! The MSF is designed to get you familiar with a motorcycle's controls, the weight of the bike, the balance, the feel, etc. If you have not mastered these by test time, don't sweat it. Just take the course again. And again. And again, if necessary. Get to the point where you feel comfortable and safe operating your bike. I know that the MSF class I was in passed two people that were so wobbly and uncomfortable looking in the slow turns, weren't turning their heads to look into their turns, and didn't stop within the recommended stopping distance. I have a very bad feeling that those two riders are going to get out onto the road and get into an accident. I hope not, but their confidence in riding their bikes comfortably was NOT demonstrated. I have my motorcycle license already, and I just took the MSF course not three months ago. I'm going to take it again in March of '05. And '06. And every year that I can afford to. It helps to refresh what you think you already know... So keep your head up, and keep on pluggin!

 

[zleviticus]

I think some areas are harder than others.. ours did not take off for head turns and crap like that.. In fact they showed me the testing stuff and I could not find anything about points off for head turns... just touching lines and crossing.. my instructors said you can get a maximum score of 10 pts off for each test but it did not fail you only if you got over a certain # of points you failed.. there was only two people who failed in my class.. one failed the written and one dropped the bike during the test and failed.. then there was one girl who should not have passed but did... basically the instructors in my calss were like you can screw up one test section and pass but screw up two and you fail... I plan on doing the ERC class next... that way i can do the same thing but on my bike instead of theirs...

 

[red7eb]

It sounds like many of the classes are set up the same, but not judged completely the same. Meaning, not all instructors stick to the rules. I still have my skills test sheet (as a souvegnir of my 1 point :roll: :lol: ), and the scoring is very clear. Now mind you, mine was 2 years ago, so possibly things have changed, but the object is the same - stay below 16 points.

I do remember that the instructors said there were only TWO parts to the 4-part test that can fail you: The emergency stopping, and the corning exercizes - those are the only 2 excersized you can get 10 pts and 10 pts in any single section is automatic failure. The only other thing that's auto fail is dropping the bike during the test.

Part 1 - Double U-Turn: 3 pts for the first time you put your foot down, 5 pts. (total), if you put it down more than once. 3 pts. for going OVER the line (touching is ok), 5 pts (total) if you go over more than once. However, the MAX points you can get in this entire section is only 8 pts.

Part 2 - Counter Steering: Max is 5 points

Part 3 - Emergency Stopping: Unlimited points. The points you acquire is 1 point for every foot past your ideal stopping distance, based on your speed.

Part 5 - Cornering: Max points = 10. You will get points for not looking, not being in the proper gear, not breaking before entering the curve, and for not going fast enough. However, you will automatically get 10 points if you touch or go over ANY of the lines.

My fist time around, I touched the inside of outter (left) line, right at the corner end of the exit opening. :banghead: Can you imagine!! I was so mad - mad at the instructors and myself. I was mad at the instructors, because they were like "You were perfect in class - what happened?" So I'm like, well then pass me anyway, damnit! :evil: Then I was mad at myself, because BEFORE I was actually out of the turn, I relaxed (as in "yay, I'm done - I did it!!!!"), and that slight let up on the press caused me to drift slightly outwards. That was all it took

But I'm kind of glad I retook it overall, cause I get to brag about my 1 point

 

[racerx929]

Well i did not fail the MSF class. I got kicked out because I was really sick the day of it and could not stay awake.