MSF Basic Riders Course

[dragonchef]

So I live and work on a military base in Seoul, Korea. Requiement is either to take the experienced rider or basic rider course to get the stamp on the license. As is typical with gov'ment orgs, there were different versions of info, one guy said my expired California motorcycle license was ok, and to take the ERC, while the other guy said no go. I really wanted to do the ERC (5 hours) as I did not want to burn 20 hours on the basic. Well no-guy won, and boy am I glad he did. It was an eye opening experience, especially "the box".

Now I used to ride a GS750, but it was 17 years ago. Since then it is small bikes on small islands in the gulf of Thailand, a couple of weeks per year. I am at Tminus 36 days for picking up my FJR, and now I am wondering if I done the right thing....especially since I am picking up in Texarkana TX, and driving the 650 mile R/T to Austin and back, before packing and shipping it....

Anyhow, long story longer, if you are a long term lurker/dreamer like me, TAKE THE COURSE.....if anything, you will truly have some open eyes while you walk in to this...

Oh yeah...I passed the written (50 Q's) 100% and scored -6 points on the driving test (you need under -21 to pass).....I KNOW ... IT MEANS NOTHING W/650 lbs and 145HP.....like my daddy said...inertia = weight x speed squared....

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

Congratulations, Chef, and thanks for sharing the story. I'd like to say your story is unique, however, the truth is the overwhelming majority of experienced riders that find themselves in a BRC come out of it feeling the exact same way. That's why I encourage everyone who's not taken the course, no matter how long you've been riding, to take the BRC. It's simply the best 22 hours you can invest in your riding skills.

We'll be looking for a follow-up post in about 37 days on that new bike!

 

[radman]

MSF is only as good as the people teaching it. Their skills are severely lacking here, to the degree my wife will never get on 2 wheels again, rider or passenger. Oregon is also having some interesting issues as well.

 

[dragonchef]

MSF is only as good as the people teaching it. Their skills are severely lacking here, to the degree my wife will never get on 2 wheels again, rider or passenger. Oregon is also having some interesting issues as well.

OK so the REST of....the.....story......

The course is operated by a contractor for the Army. The head honcho had a bad repas a teacher...so many stories, I was imagining the absolute worst....but then....0800 on the first day, he introduces our teacher, Scott, a retired warrant officer with 20+ years riding and 5+ years teaching (really coaching) the course. He was really fantastic...! He road every exercise, expertly. He had 2 assistants (for 5 class members) who were also excellent (they are members of the local riders club). Scott puts on 10K plus a year going on rides, here in Korea..!!

Needless to say, this added to my overall depth of impression. This guy was absolutly no BS, do it right or get back in line and do it 3 more times(that's why I studied my a** off on the test.....I needed this stamp....the wheels are in motion by brothers).

Radman you are so, so very right, as with any education, the teacher can make or break the experience, and man, I am so luck and thankful....and a bit worried about it as well, but I guess that's the point....

MSF is only as good as the people teaching it. Their skills are severely lacking here, to the degree my wife will never get on 2 wheels again, rider or passenger. Oregon is also having some interesting issues as well.

OK so the REST of....the.....story......

The course is operated by a contractor for the Army. The head honcho had a bad repas a teacher...so many stories, I was imagining the absolute worst....but then....0800 on the first day, he introduces our teacher, Scott, a retired warrant officer with 20+ years riding and 5+ years teaching (really coaching) the course. He was really fantastic...! He road every exercise, expertly. He had 2 assistants (for 5 class members) who were also excellent (they are members of the local riders club). Scott puts on 10K plus a year going on rides, here in Korea..!!

Needless to say, this added to my overall depth of impression. This guy was absolutly no BS, do it right or get back in line and do it 3 more times (that's why I studied my a** off on the test.....I needed this stamp....the wheels are in motion my brothers).

Radman you are so, so very right, as with any education, the teacher can make or break the experience, and man, I am so luck and thankful....and a bit worried about it as well, but I guess that's the point....

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

MSF is only as good as the people teaching it. Their skills are severely lacking here, to the degree my wife will never get on 2 wheels again, rider or passenger. Oregon is also having some interesting issues as well.

I see MSF rider education, lately, going through a sort of 'shake-up'. What started out, decades ago, as a somewhat grass-roots concept of experienced riders teaching riding skills to new-comers has, looks like?, deteriorated (in many places) into a bureaucratic morass -- where state program controllers want it to look good on paper to lawmakers and politicians (or, whoever's looking?). It's become, in many places, a financial program where anyone who claims to be a motorcyclist can be trained to teach the MSF curriculum; standards lowered instead of raised; and a general focus on quantity versus quality.

Still, whatever exists is certainly better than no formal training -- and, if you're lucky enough to get a knowledgeable instructor/coach, there's hardly any better way to learn. If, somehow, the motorcyling community can prevail upon MSF (and, those in charge of state programs) to "up their game" (higher standards for trainers/coaches along with proportionate compensation) we'd all be the beneficiaries.