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[shovelhead71]

contemplating how many of our comrades here have taken riding class's - advanced courses - excape & evasion class's - or just too good to take a class cause you been riding so long and don't need it ? this is not a rude question just so you know - just an honest question

[mfgreen]

doing just that this past saturday when I dumped after being on the bike about four or five hours and the exact maneuver I dumped on about 10 times successfully within that half hour prior to the spill.  I try to take at least one of these annually.

[HUBBARD]

Yeah, 'er 'uh, shovelhead71,
 I've never had any of the classes or courses you mentioned, but, they could only help me improve the riding skills I have attained over the years.  I've been very Lucky in my 35+ years of riding.  That's not to say I have never been down, because I have.  You reach a certain level of confidence with years of riding.  I try to keep the confidence in my riding skills, and the respect for the Motorsickle syncronized.  I recieved this education from UHK!  Later--HUBBARD








 

[Dr. Evil]

I started riding when I was 10...
 
By age 20 I knew it all...  
At age 21 I took a basic MSF class... and then I REALLY knew it all...  
At age 23 I took the advanced MSF... and I REALLY, REALLY knew it all...
At age 25 I took the 2-week police motor officer school and realized you NEVER know it all.

Now I'm 35 and really realize how lucky I was to make it to 25  [smiley=laugh.gif]

[ccr]

Excellent topic shovelhead71.  I rode very small dirt bikes as a child and knew how to fall down without breaking any bones. Which meant I didn't care if bike was dropped or on two wheels and spent no time trying to improve the keeping up skills as the falling was as much fun as the staying up was.  We used to jump what we called as kids, bush piles.  Then when I wanted to really ride a motorcycle about 6 years ago, I took the basic Motorcycle Riders Course and started to ride.  Gosh, I was just awful for a real long time.  I was now old enough to be afraid of falling down and so that would stop me from trying new things except under duress.  Slowly but surely, however, I got braver and braver till Mr.WeCVO and I would regularly ride 250-350 mile days, both days every weekend.  Dropped my bike in a few parking lots and a couple of gas stations, and got better.  Finally got good enough to start moving up in bikes and then really got better.  In the club we were members of at the time there were some folks who had 40-50+ years of riding, one member's Hog number was in the low double digits.  They all took the Experienced Riders Course Every Year!  Mr. WeCVO and I started to do that as well and it really helps to sharpen the mind to realize that you never know it all, there is always a better way to do it and I know for myself, it is very easy to get lazy and fall into the habit of taking short cuts.  Too old to be too smart for my britches now!  And I also practice outside of taking the courses.  I practice at intersections to stop correctly, to depart correctly, take on and off ramps correctly.  Practice and practice while riding. Beiing aware of what I am doing and what others are doing.  Practice always.   [smiley=nervous.gif] [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[JCZ]

And practicing the panic stops, too.  It's something I've always practiced.  But as good as I got, it didn't help when it actually came to practical application (my accident).  I thought that I was pushing it.......in the danger zone.......but pushed it just a little tighter and wham.......the rest, you guys already know. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

[Dr. Evil]

JC, was in LA this week.  And I saw some crazy riding.  I don't recall, was your's a lane-splitting incident.  I can understand the temptation given the traffic situation, but.... [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

[thatrhinoguy]

shovel,

I

[Road_Glider]

Last year I took the Riders Edge course thru Harley and am glad I did.  I recommend the course to anyone with any level riding experience.    [smiley=biggthumpup.gif]

[JCZ]

JC, was in LA this week.

[Twolanerider]

Have never taken a class such as those described.  Not for lacking of interest though.  Until recently (about four years ago) even the basic courses weren't available anywhere within several hours drive.  Now the basic courses can be had local; but that's it.  Have spoken with a few that have taken them to see if it might be worthwhile "just because."  Perhaps I'm wrong but the basic course did seem a bit basic to really learn anything from.  I'd take something up from it in a heartbeat though were it available in the area.

[Cannibus_Man]

 I'm glad to hear about lane splitting..I was going to start a thread on that.
also "goin up the middle" as my friends and i call it. ya know when the traffic light is red and ya weave your way to the front of the long traffic line. sometimes the light turns green and your stuck in the back,, several cars from the front and ya gotta either punch it or squeeze in somewhere.I think i should stop doin this  but it's so tempting.I usually
watch the left turn signal to determine if the light will change on me  but there are times that i get caught. comments on this action is welcomed [smiley=blank.gif]

[Tonys]

I'm glad to hear about lane splitting..I was going to start a thread on that.
also "goin up the middle" as my friends and i call it. ya know when the traffic light is red and ya weave your way to the front of the long traffic line. sometimes the light turns green and your stuck in the back,, several cars from the front and ya gotta either punch it or squeeze in somewhere.I think i should stop doin this

[Darrellh]

I just got back last night from Las Vegas. I was there for the Freddie Spencer Performance Riding School held on the track at the Las Vegas Speedway. I took the beginner level (which is actually beginner racing) and intend to post a review in the next couple of days. It was the best thing I have ever done to date and would highly recommend it to anyone who rides, especially anyone who thinks they are a good rider. I had to learn how to ride a motorcycle all over again and wow what a difference. (As an example we practised emergency stops in the middle of a corner at close to 100mph.) I learnt all about safety gear including getting a helmet fitted right(found out my Arai full face was one size to big). The whole course is about how to ride in full control at any speed. I will say one thing though, you need to be in very good physical shape or you wont make it past the 2nd 12 hr day.

Will post a review later.

[110tHunDer]

Hopefully, no one thinks they've been riding so long or is so good that they don't need a course such as the beginner's or ERC.  These courses are great and if you think you know your bike or how to ride now, then take one of these and see how you feel afterward.  I took the ERC last April and am signed up for it again this May 21.  I only wish it was before Maggie Valley instead of after.

A couple of other excellent resources are: http://www.ridelikeapro.com/, Proficient Motorcycling, and MORE Proficient Motorcycling.  I view and read these resources each winter and right before the riding season starts just to try and keep the rust off for the season.  The ridelikeapro video also has a course you can lay out and practice in a parking lot.  Great for keeping the skills honed from time-to-time!