Did the MSF course!

EngrNewf · July 26th, 2009, 01:11 PM

So I did the course! Never road before and was only on the backseat once in my life. I got a sunburn and it poored most of the time and there was a couple of really slow people so we were doing stuff till dark. There was 9 of us and 3 quit. I really can't comprehend why everyone was so nervous. I loved it. The instructors kept pulling me off the course first during the practices which made me kinda sad and I asked why and they said I was catching on quick and there was no problem to tell I was smart (ha, fooled them). They went around telling each person how they did and what they could improve on and if they were fit to go on the road. He got to me, told me I did absolutely fantastic and that I came off the ground during the emergency breaking and handled it really well and that I was 100% ready to go on the road! I was really surprised, apparently I was doing better then I thought!

One thing I was kind of dissapointed in is that they didn't show us how to handle hills. I live in a really hilly area and if I leave to practice I have no idea how I'm going to get back up!

rockNroll · July 26th, 2009, 01:23 PM

Congrats!!!!!

ally99 · July 26th, 2009, 01:34 PM

Yay! Good job! I really enjoyed the class when I took it back in June. I had been riding a couple of months, but I still got a lot out of it.

Soooo, do you already have a bike? :-)

Sound Wave · July 26th, 2009, 02:01 PM

congrats. yeah, they didn't teach us how to start from hills either. our class was in a flat huge parking lot. find the smallest inclines you can and practice with those first. i was practicing in my condo's parking structure.

EngrNewf · July 26th, 2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ally99

Yay! Good job! I really enjoyed the class when I took it back in June. I had been riding a couple of months, but I still got a lot out of it.

Soooo, do you already have a bike? :-)

Green Ninja 250 Special Edition

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sound Wave

congrats. yeah, they didn't teach us how to start from hills either. our class was in a flat huge parking lot. find the smallest inclines you can and practice with those first. i was practicing in my condo's parking structure.

The thing is I have to go up a big hill with stop signs to get anywhere...

Sound Wave · July 26th, 2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EngrNewf

The thing is I have to go up a big hill with stop signs to get anywhere...

maybe you can have someone, who has been riding for a while, take your bike to a safe area with some hills. you can meet them there with your car? or they can pack you? then you can practice in a safe environment. idk. just throwing out ideas.

g21-30 · July 26th, 2009, 03:51 PM

Congrats on passing the MSF. See about getting the video "Learn to Ride the Easy Way" and maybe later "Ride Like a Pro V". It will teach you the hill starts, etc.

noche_caliente · July 26th, 2009, 04:04 PM

I used to be terrified of stopping on hills - still don't like it, but it's totally mental... one trick I used was not actually stopping - I would come really close, but was basically creeping, barely enough to keep the bike from stalling, and ready to stop if I had to - don't know if traffic is light enough for you to be able to do this - but where I was the stop signs were more for decoration anyway

dimeified · July 26th, 2009, 04:21 PM

I did msf this weekend too! I'd have to say the hardest part of the course was when a selected few people were scared of the throttle and kept making traffic for the course. It was difficult to manuever through some of the obstacles at slow speeds that were designed for higher speeds. When the instructor says 12 to 18 miles per hour it is for a reason!

ally99 · July 26th, 2009, 04:22 PM

Another option is to keep your foot on the rear brake pedal on the hill. Keep it on the brake as you find the friction zone and turn up the throttle. As you feel the bike wanting to go, slowly release the rear brake, and then you're on your way forward without any roll-back! That's how I did when I first started on the Ninja, but once you intimately learn the friction zone, you won't even have to use the back brake on a hill.

Good luck! Congratulations once again!

Snake · July 26th, 2009, 04:30 PM

Congatulations on passing the course.

OldGuy · July 26th, 2009, 05:10 PM

Congratulations on passing the MSF. First big step. Have fun and ride safe.

CANTFUNCTION · July 26th, 2009, 06:07 PM

Congatulations on passing

Quote:

Originally Posted by g21-30

Congrats on passing the MSF. See about getting the video "Learn to Ride the Easy Way" and maybe later "Ride Like a Pro V". It will teach you the hill starts, etc.

These are great video. My boss let me borrow Ride Like a Pro IV. So bought Ride Like a Pro V.

Cali619 · July 26th, 2009, 08:38 PM

congratulations on passing the course, hills are tough but you will get the hang of your friction zone and throttle control

addy126 · July 26th, 2009, 09:25 PM

Congrats on passing the MSF... and I was surprised that they don't deal with "hilly" stop and starts. Kind of ridiculous when in traffic situations I think. Anyway... its just like driving "stick" friction zone in clutch, I use right hand brake with thumb pushing gas a little at a time, then off the brake push the throttle more and I'm off. I'm not a fan of balancing on the right rear brake pad when balancing on a hill with only my left foot down... enjoy

emt250 · July 26th, 2009, 11:06 PM

Congrats on passing

andrewwoo · July 27th, 2009, 09:44 AM

yay! congrats!!!! lets ride!

BlueTyke · July 27th, 2009, 10:42 AM

Yay!! congrats!!

See if you can snag a few people (Like SypderGirl) who live/work in San Francsico. I bet they have some hill stopping tips/tricks

komohana · July 27th, 2009, 06:24 PM

HEY!
be proud of yourself for passing the MSF course. am sure you'll find a way to gain some meaningful experience stopping/starting on a hill. using the foot brake properly helped me in this regard. gear up, ride safe & enjoy

Rayme · July 27th, 2009, 06:57 PM

Congratulatoin..did you pass the lisense too?

ironglory · July 27th, 2009, 09:02 PM

Congratulations on this great course. I'd suggest getting comfortable with the friction zone & just increase the gas as you get off the stop position. Just do the first part of the course - finding the friction zone.

Enjoy riding! Be safe!

EngrNewf · July 29th, 2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewwoo

yay! congrats!!!! lets ride!

Come on over to NL

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueTyke

Yay!! congrats!!

See if you can snag a few people (Like SypderGirl) who live/work in San Francsico. I bet they have some hill stopping tips/tricks

Why San Francisco?

Quote:

Originally Posted by komohana

HEY!
be proud of yourself for passing the MSF course. am sure you'll find a way to gain some meaningful experience stopping/starting on a hill. using the foot brake properly helped me in this regard. gear up, ride safe & enjoy

I well, thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rayme

Congratulatoin..did you pass the lisense too?

I have my permit now

EngrNewf · July 29th, 2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ally99

Another option is to keep your foot on the rear brake pedal on the hill. Keep it on the brake as you find the friction zone and turn up the throttle. As you feel the bike wanting to go, slowly release the rear brake, and then you're on your way forward without any roll-back! That's how I did when I first started on the Ninja, but once you intimately learn the friction zone, you won't even have to use the back brake on a hill.

Good luck! Congratulations once again!

Thanks for the advice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dimeified

I did msf this weekend too! I'd have to say the hardest part of the course was when a selected few people were scared of the throttle and kept making traffic for the course. It was difficult to manuever through some of the obstacles at slow speeds that were designed for higher speeds. When the instructor says 12 to 18 miles per hour it is for a reason!

Agreed, the only nervous part about that course was the amount of people who would accidently accellerate or stop or fall in front of me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by g21-30

Congrats on passing the MSF. See about getting the video "Learn to Ride the Easy Way" and maybe later "Ride Like a Pro V". It will teach you the hill starts, etc.

Thanks, I'll look into it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by noche_caliente

I used to be terrified of stopping on hills - still don't like it, but it's totally mental... one trick I used was not actually stopping - I would come really close, but was basically creeping, barely enough to keep the bike from stalling, and ready to stop if I had to - don't know if traffic is light enough for you to be able to do this - but where I was the stop signs were more for decoration anyway

That's pretty much what I'm doing starting off on the side streets...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sound Wave

maybe you can have someone, who has been riding for a while, take your bike to a safe area with some hills. you can meet them there with your car? or they can pack you? then you can practice in a safe environment. idk. just throwing out ideas.

I don't know anyone who rides

I just took her out for a spin tho and there was a bunch of guys sitting in front of a house next to a bike so I stopped and popped off my helmet and bounced over there and asked them to teach me stuff haha. They taught me a couple things and one of them told me he'd take me out on the weekend

July 26th, 2009, 01:11 PM	#1
EngrNewf Geeket Name: Terri-Lynn Location: Newfoundland Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: 175	Did the MSF course! So I did the course! Never road before and was only on the backseat once in my life. I got a sunburn and it poored most of the time and there was a couple of really slow people so we were doing stuff till dark. There was 9 of us and 3 quit. I really can't comprehend why everyone was so nervous. I loved it. The instructors kept pulling me off the course first during the practices which made me kinda sad and I asked why and they said I was catching on quick and there was no problem to tell I was smart (ha, fooled them). They went around telling each person how they did and what they could improve on and if they were fit to go on the road. He got to me, told me I did absolutely fantastic and that I came off the ground during the emergency breaking and handled it really well and that I was 100% ready to go on the road! I was really surprised, apparently I was doing better then I thought! One thing I was kind of dissapointed in is that they didn't show us how to handle hills. I live in a really hilly area and if I leave to practice I have no idea how I'm going to get back up! __________________________________________________ bike++;

July 26th, 2009, 01:34 PM	#3
ally99 Ninja chick Name: Allyson Location: Athens, GA Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 4 MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15	Yay! Good job! I really enjoyed the class when I took it back in June. I had been riding a couple of months, but I still got a lot out of it. Soooo, do you already have a bike? :-) __________________________________________________ Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson

July 26th, 2009, 04:04 PM	#8
noche_caliente ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kim Location: mundo de ensueño Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 250 Posts: A lot.	I used to be terrified of stopping on hills - still don't like it, but it's totally mental... one trick I used was not actually stopping - I would come really close, but was basically creeping, barely enough to keep the bike from stalling, and ready to stop if I had to - don't know if traffic is light enough for you to be able to do this - but where I was the stop signs were more for decoration anyway __________________________________________________ Progrip tank pad, blue rim stripes, blue Pazzos, Roaring Toyz lowering kit, Puig DB in dark smoke, Cortech sport tail, super mini tank, and saddlebags, OES swingarm spools and Intuitive frame sliders

July 26th, 2009, 04:22 PM	#10
ally99 Ninja chick Name: Allyson Location: Athens, GA Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 4 MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15	Another option is to keep your foot on the rear brake pedal on the hill. Keep it on the brake as you find the friction zone and turn up the throttle. As you feel the bike wanting to go, slowly release the rear brake, and then you're on your way forward without any roll-back! That's how I did when I first started on the Ninja, but once you intimately learn the friction zone, you won't even have to use the back brake on a hill. Good luck! Congratulations once again! __________________________________________________ Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson

July 26th, 2009, 05:10 PM	#12
OldGuy Live Life Name: Don Location: Lincoln, NE Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Green SE Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.	Congratulations on passing the MSF. First big step. Have fun and ride safe. __________________________________________________ - ATGATT - Scorpion EX700 Hi-Vis Helmet, First Gear MeshTek 3.0 Jacket, TourMaster Transition 2 Jacket and Flex Pants, Sidi Doha boots

July 26th, 2009, 01:23 PM	#2
rockNroll . Name: rock Location: greenville, south carolina Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): black Posts: A lot.	Congrats!!!!!

July 26th, 2009, 02:01 PM	#4
Sound Wave Ramen Rider Name: Gary Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2015 BMW R1200R, 08 Honda VFR800A (sold), 09 Ninja 250R (sold) Posts: A lot.	congrats. yeah, they didn't teach us how to start from hills either. our class was in a flat huge parking lot. find the smallest inclines you can and practice with those first. i was practicing in my condo's parking structure.

July 26th, 2009, 03:51 PM	#7
g21-30 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sam Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R 2009 Posts: A lot.	Congrats on passing the MSF. See about getting the video "Learn to Ride the Easy Way" and maybe later "Ride Like a Pro V". It will teach you the hill starts, etc.

July 26th, 2009, 04:21 PM	#9
dimeified ninjette.org guru Name: Lucas Location: Pompton Lakes, NJ Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Blue 250R Posts: 446	I did msf this weekend too! I'd have to say the hardest part of the course was when a selected few people were scared of the throttle and kept making traffic for the course. It was difficult to manuever through some of the obstacles at slow speeds that were designed for higher speeds. When the instructor says 12 to 18 miles per hour it is for a reason!

July 26th, 2009, 04:30 PM	#11
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	Congatulations on passing the course.

July 26th, 2009, 08:38 PM	#14
Cali619 Giggity Giggity Name: Ryam Location: San Diego Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 ninja 250R aka Hiryu Posts: 481	congratulations on passing the course, hills are tough but you will get the hang of your friction zone and throttle control __________________________________________________ Facebook DY Fender chop, Danmoto CB slip-on w/baffle, Airbox removed, Kleen-air removed, shimmed needles, Mikuni #117.5 Main jets, K&N RU-1822 air filter pods

July 26th, 2009, 09:25 PM	#15
addy126 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: addy126 Location: Tx Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Kawasaki N-250 + '09 Vulcan 900 Classic Lt Posts: A lot.	Congrats on passing the MSF... and I was surprised that they don't deal with "hilly" stop and starts. Kind of ridiculous when in traffic situations I think. Anyway... its just like driving "stick" friction zone in clutch, I use right hand brake with thumb pushing gas a little at a time, then off the brake push the throttle more and I'm off. I'm not a fan of balancing on the right rear brake pad when balancing on a hill with only my left foot down... enjoy

July 26th, 2009, 11:06 PM	#16
emt250 2 Wheel Newb Name: Scott Location: Sacramento, CA Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2007 250r Posts: 218 Blog Entries: 1	Congrats on passing __________________________________________________ "Always remember, your mind is like a parachute. It works best when not being eaten by zombies" -Someone

July 27th, 2009, 09:44 AM	#17
andrewwoo WHEE! Name: Andrew Location: VA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Black Kawi 250R Posts: 91	yay! congrats!!!! lets ride! __________________________________________________ 2009 Metallic Diablo Black Ninja 250R 6000K H7 HIDs \| Targa Fender Eliminator Pazzo Levers \| PROGRIP Tank Pad

July 27th, 2009, 10:42 AM	#18
BlueTyke So slow I'm first! Name: Sunny Location: San Jose, CA Join Date: Oct 2008 Motorcycle(s): 06 Kawasaki Ninja EX250 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 10	Yay!! congrats!! See if you can snag a few people (Like SypderGirl) who live/work in San Francsico. I bet they have some hill stopping tips/tricks __________________________________________________ Learn from the mistakes of others, you cannot make them all yourself. Save yourself the trouble and Learn.

July 27th, 2009, 06:24 PM	#19
komohana ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Steve Location: Kekaha, Kauai HI Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 GSX-R 600 2003 EX250: Woodcraft Bars, Levers, Mirrors, Shim'd Mixture, Synthetic, '08 Rear Shock Posts: A lot.	HEY! be proud of yourself for passing the MSF course. am sure you'll find a way to gain some meaningful experience stopping/starting on a hill. using the foot brake properly helped me in this regard. gear up, ride safe & enjoy __________________________________________________ Remember when sex was safe and motorcycles were dangerous?

July 27th, 2009, 06:57 PM	#20
Rayme ninjette.org guru Name: Remy Location: Moncton Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '04 sv650s Posts: 438	Congratulatoin..did you pass the lisense too? __________________________________________________ There's 2 types of people in this world, those who complain and those who act.

July 27th, 2009, 09:02 PM	#21
ironglory ninjette.org member Name: Mhilz Location: Earth Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2005 ZZR600 Midnight Blue Posts: 114	Congratulations on this great course. I'd suggest getting comfortable with the friction zone & just increase the gas as you get off the stop position. Just do the first part of the course - finding the friction zone. Enjoy riding! Be safe! __________________________________________________ A mind is like a parachute, open it up & enjoy the view.

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