Well I just failed my MFC lol

[alazar14]

Thanks guys

I would re-take it asap but the problem is I am quite busy until the winter brake. I maybe able to make sometime next Sunday just maybe, but I am not sure. They said that I could attend the 2nd class AND take the test for free once more. I think I am going to just loose points instead of actually doing it at the speed they want just to make sure I get done with it.

[alazar14]

Im considering just buying a used 250 Rebel or something that I can find some what cheap (round the $1800) range and just learn on that. Maybe forget about buying from a dealer all together since now I know im more than likely going to drop it a ton of times.

Learn on my own @ parkinglots or something when I have some time. I can just take the bike in my truck there and back.

[alanmcorcoran]

I think you are leaping to conclusions about your future propensity to fall off. You might drop a bike again, but it's not "more than likely." With a GZ or a Rebel, its possible, but not probable. On the other hand, if you can get a cheap used bike to learn on, there is nothing wrong with that.

You'll find three or four hours in a parking lot will make a huge difference, as will your first 50 miles, your first 100 miles, you first 1000 miles etc. If you plan to teach yourself in a parking lot, pick up a copy of Proficient Motorcycling.

Good luck.

BTW, someone on here from SD was selling a used '08 GZ (as am I, although I'm asking a little more than $1800.00)

[Water Warrior 2]

WHOA THERE. Don't beat yourself up. Yes, your confidence is shaken up but this isn't the end of the world as you know it. Everyone drops a bike, no exceptions. The fact that you drop it and will learn from it is a bonus(trust me on this)especially while you had a professional there to tell you what you did wrong. Although you seem to have figured that out on your own. Best time to drop a bike is in a controlled environment with help readily available. The drop is only a set back not a complete failure to realize your goal. Stick with the original plan and make adjustments to get your testing done soonest.
Think of it this way. Now you have a story to tell future newbies when they get discouraged.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by JWR

break

Spelling police? You missed the lack of apostrophies! :whistle:

[dhgeyer]

Originally Posted by alazar14

Im considering just buying a used 250 Rebel or something that I can find some what cheap (round the $1800) range and just learn on that. Maybe forget about buying from a dealer all together since now I know im more than likely going to drop it a ton of times.

Learn on my own @ parkinglots or something when I have some time. I can just take the bike in my truck there and back.

I, for one, think that this is an excellent idea. I don't think you'll drop it a ton of times, but there is much to be said for learning on a bike that you feel free to make mistakes on. My first bike was an 8 year old piece of shit. I paid $110.00 (1963) dollars for it. I was 16, and that's all I could afford. But, looking back, I think it was a blessing to have that beat up, slow, ugly old thing to learn on. If something bad happened, or was about to happen, I didn't give a second thought to the bike, and saved myself. And something that old didn't lose much value when I went to trade it in, so it's financially smart also, compared to buying a new bike and damaging it.

Just be careful to assure yourself that everything is working on the beater you buy. The pitfall is that you can buy a $1500.00 bike that ends up costing $3000.00 after you get into sound condition. I've made that mistake, too.

[dhgeyer]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

They probably ought to stress what will happen if you use the brakes at the wrong time on that one a little more. I think in my case, they mentioned that it's best to brake before (as in "ideal") but not that it could really hurt if you brake during.

I never took the course in CA, but, assuming they follow the MSF curriculum, this point is actually stressed over and over again, both on the range and in the classroom. The mantra is "Brake or swerve, but don't do both at the same time.". On some exercises they specifically say "Brake, then swerve.". They also take off points if you brake and swerve at the same time. The instructors are trained to watch for the brake lights during the test.

This is also stressed very strongly in David Hough's 3 books on riding, which are, as far as I am concerned, the collective bible of surviving out there.

I can understand someone not remembering this from the course, so please don't take this as a criticism. One of my biggest criticisms of the course is that it is so time compressed, people do tend to forget a lot of what they learned very quickly. My daughter was 16 when she took the course, and did very well on it. She's a very smart young lady, now 21. From conversations with her, I know for a fact that she had forgotten at least half of what she learned within a couple of weeks. Five years later she doesn't remember any of it as far as I can tell. What she knows about riding is what she learned from me on an ongoing basis.

One study showed that there was a significant improvement in accident statistics among riders who had taken the course as opposed to those who had not. We would expect that. What they also found out, which is disheartening, is that that advantage disappeared after about 6 months. In other words, after about 6 months, BRC trained riders weren't any safer than non-BRC trained riders. Now, there's some food for thought.

The real lesson here is, don't assume that the course teaches you to ride. Go back on a regular basis and reread the course material. Practice the exercises, either in a parking lot somewhere, or on an actual state range when it's not in use. Get David Hough's books and read them, every year during the Winter is a good way to do it. About the time you think that you have no more to learn, or that you ride "as well as you need to" is a real good time to stop riding and give it up. My opinion of course.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by JWR

:??: :??:

The guy is pissed off, bummed out and probably a bit depressed and YOU..........have to jump his ass about a spelling/grammar mistake.

I'm sure it just MADE his day.......NOT.

Under the circumstances, I think it was rude and inappropriate.

Clear enough ?

Did I spell anything wrong ?? :roll:

[JWR]

:shocked: :bong: :roll: :yawn:

[mrlmd1]

And here we go again. :popcorn: :jo: :puking: :facepalm: