Have MSF figure 8 ?????

Feelininvincibl · 09-15-2007, 12:33 PM

OK I took the wifey out for a little practice session in a parking lot. We have laid out the msf course a piece at a time for her to practice. She is doing great. Today we tried the figure 8 in the box. Yeah I couldn't even do it on her bike. She has an R1. I even power walked the bike and it wouldn't make the turn.

So who took the MSF course on a sport bike? How did you complete the figure 8 without crossing the lines?

The MSF course outline for the box is 20' X 60'. There is also a dotted line outside that dimension. That dotted would make the box 4' wider. What is that extra line for?

slickwill · 09-15-2007, 12:55 PM

I'm going to have to go measure out a course and try now. I have done some pretty tight figure 8's on my F4i but I'm pretty sure it will turn tighter than an R1. You have me curious now about the actual dimensions of mine.

Rider · 09-15-2007, 8:34 PM

Any bike can make a tighter turn, than power walking, if you can lean it in the turn, but feels very strange at such low speeds, no to mention dangerous since a tire can easily slip sending you down.

Takes lots of confidence and good grip from tires/road.

CBR929RE · 09-15-2007, 9:14 PM

you really have to lean the bike over and get up on top of it. what's it called, counter weighting or counter balancing? something like that. You also have to turn your head further than you think your head will turn.

sheepofblue · 09-15-2007, 9:22 PM

So why would I want to 'learn' this? It seems to have no practical application that there is not a easier and safer solution for.

CBR929RE · 09-15-2007, 9:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

So why would I want to 'learn' this? It seems to have no practical application that there is not a easier and safer solution for.

they say its to teach you how to do tight slow turns such as you might have to in a crowded parking lot.

slickwill · 09-15-2007, 9:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

they say its to teach you how to do tight slow turns such as you might have to in a crowded parking lot.

I went out a few months ago and worked on doing really tight turns and figure 8's by counter balancing. I got pretty good at it. Got to the point that I could just put it in gear in first or second and let the bike idle and make the turns with just one hand with either hand. I do it here and there just to see if I still can. However if I was in a really crowded parking lot I would probably put a foot down or three point the bike.

CBR929RE · 09-15-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickwill

However if I was in a really crowded parking lot I would probably put a foot down or three point the bike.

me too. I was just saying thats what they told me when I took the course.

dr_love · 09-15-2007, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

So why would I want to 'learn' this? It seems to have no practical application that there is not a easier and safer solution for.

u turns

Feelininvincibl · 09-16-2007, 6:24 AM

I agree. I see no real application. In a crowded parking lot you'll probably just power walk it anyway. And or multi point turn. It is part of the course so she has to do it. I took my course on a 225 yamaha. It was perfect! I have her convinced she needs to take her course on something a little easier to handle. Now I just need to find something to rent or borrow.

HondaGalToo · 09-16-2007, 9:09 AM

Is she taking the beginner course to obtain her license? If so, don't they provide 250cc or so bikes? They do at least in NJ.

slickwill · 09-16-2007, 2:06 PM

I think he is in the Azores or something like that. I can't imagine them having the loaner bikes.

dr_love · 09-16-2007, 2:10 PM

yeah i took mine on a little buell blast that they provided.

CBR929RE · 09-16-2007, 2:29 PM

I thought all the beginner courses provided the bike but gave you the option of using your own. I've wanted a Rebel 250 since I took the course. not really sure why, I probably wouldn't have as much fun on it now as I did those few days.

Feelininvincibl · 09-17-2007, 3:08 PM

The course is taught by a military rider coach. The course is free, but you have to provide the wheels. I'm looking for a place to rent a dual sport. I think she'll do great on one of those.

wander81 · 09-17-2007, 4:27 PM

Have you tried aksing your local bike shop if they know ?

Lone Wolff · 09-18-2007, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

So why would I want to 'learn' this? It seems to have no practical application that there is not a easier and safer solution for.

It's a lot easier to keep a bike upright at speed. Much more difficult at speeds under 5mph. If you can pass tests driving slow, like the figure 8 in a box, they figure you are better prepared to handle the bike at speed where it takes less technical skill, but more situational awareness.

I took the MSF on a 2003 Rebel. The box wasn't easy, but I did it. Stayed between the lines, no foot down. I had to put my entire butt on the opposite side of the bike to get enough counter steering.

In the real world, I'd just put my foot down and walk it in tight situations like a parking lot. Seems safer to me as well.

Lone Wolff · 09-18-2007, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feelininvincibl

The course is taught by a military rider coach. The course is free, but you have to provide the wheels.

Most of the basic skills courses are opposite. At least around here at the community colleges. They give you the bikes to ride, but you gotta pay for the course. After you pass the course, you can get your motorcycle endorsement for your operators licsence without any further testing. FWIW it runs $150 here.

Lone Wolff · 09-18-2007, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feelininvincibl

The MSF course outline for the box is 20' X 60'. There is also a dotted line outside that dimension. That dotted would make the box 4' wider. What is that extra line for?

The dotted line is used for practice/skills development session of the safety course.
During the testing portion of the course, you have to use the solid line.

Takes a lot of counter steering and throttle/clutch control. Keeping it revved fairly high, but moving fairly slow. Not easy.

mcseman · 09-18-2007, 3:30 AM

I took the MSF Basic course on their little Rebel 250 and the ERC on my Yamaha FZ6. There was someone in the ERC on a R6 and he had his bike almost sideways counter balancing. Neither bike was dropped. The concept behind the fig 8 was explained as 2 U turns, one left and one right.
perhaps next year I'll try it on my 07 1K

Does anyone know which insurance companies give discounts for completion of these courses? Thanks.

mcseman

Juggernaut · 09-18-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcseman

I took the MSF Basic course on their little Rebel 250 and the ERC on my Yamaha FZ6. There was someone in the ERC on a R6 and he had his bike almost sideways counter balancing. Neither bike was dropped. The concept behind the fig 8 was explained as 2 U turns, one left and one right.
perhaps next year I'll try it on my 07 1K

Does anyone know which insurance companies give discounts for completion of these courses? Thanks.

mcseman

Not Progressive.

wander81 · 09-18-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

Not Progressive.

I got gieco.

Juggernaut · 09-18-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wander81

I got gieco.

They wanted more per year than I paid for my bike.

wander81 · 09-18-2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

They wanted more per year than I paid for my bike.

so what company do you have?

CBR929RE · 09-18-2007, 1:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lone Wolff

Most of the basic skills courses are opposite. At least around here at the community colleges. They give you the bikes to ride, but you gotta pay for the course. After you pass the course, you can get your motorcycle endorsement for your operators licsence without any further testing. FWIW it runs $150 here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lone Wolff

The dotted line is used for practice/skills development session of the safety course.
During the testing portion of the course, you have to use the solid line.

Takes a lot of counter steering and throttle/clutch control. Keeping it revved fairly high, but moving fairly slow. Not easy.

I just want to make it clear here, what you guys are talking about is counter balancing not counter steering as you said. counter balancing is done at very low speeds while counter steering comes into play with a little bit of speed.

mcseman · 09-18-2007, 1:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

Not Progressive.

Geico wanted over 3k for my 5 bikes (2 sport, 2 cruiser, 1 dirt) and 3 riders on the policy. They wanted over 2k for just the 07 1000rr. Progressive has me in at $1700 which I still think is high since I am 37 w/ 0 points and no tickets. I have Geico for my cars and they are the cheapest but the lady started laughing when I told her the bikes I wanted to insure.

mcseman