Jan 18 2009
Suggestions that make your motorcyle class easier
Get your motorcycle license.
Here are a couple of things that I want to repeat here that you will probably not pay attention to when you are at the class. These are very important.
I will repeat some things over several blog entries. They must be very important. Please take care of yourself on the range. Use sunscreen, drink water, go to the bathroom on breaks and eat snacks on breaks. This will make the class more comfortable for you and it will prevent delays for others.
Bring layers of clothes so you can adjust your temperature. Remember, you must be covered head to toe while riding. This includes long sleeves and gloves. You must also be completely geared up BEFORE you get on the motorcycle. Don’t get on the motorcycle and then put your gloves or glasses on.
There are times between exercises when one instructor reads to you while the other is setting up for the next exercise and getting ready to demonstrate what you will be doing next. So sometimes you find it easier not to take all your gear off since you will be back on the motorcycle in less than ten minutes. You can take your helmet off to get some air across your scalp. DON’T SET IT DOWN. If you must set it down, don’t put it on the motorcycle. Put it on the ground next to the motorcycle (neck hole down). I has less distance to fall then. Keep it in your hand and ready to put back on. When you are on break, pick it right back up as soon as you are done taking care of yourself. So if it isn’t on your head it should be in your hand ready to use.
If you have a full faced helmet that you want to use, you may. Here is the thing about them for this class. We are not moving all the time like you are on the street. It does get hot inside there. A lot of folks like to use the visor as eye protection (did I mention very hot inside there?). If you are on the motorcycle you must have your eyes protected. You can ride around with the visor up if you have glasses inside. A lot of students just end up borrowing a helmet the second day. We use all three quarter helmets. If you are going to use your helmet at the class, here are some rules.
1.NO novelty helmets. They MUST be Department of Transportation approved
2.Most courses do not allow ½ helmets since they tend to come off in a crash.
3.It MUST fit snug WITHOUT ball caps or bandannas inside.
It may seem like the instructors are in a hurry. They want to make sure that you get as much riding time as possible. We ALWAYS take time for safety. If you don’t understand an exercise after you have heard and seen it ridden, ASK. Nothing is more exciting then a student who doesn’t understand and exercise riding into traffic. Not good. If you didn’t get it, some other people probably didn’t, too. ASK. If you don’t feel able to ride an exercise, tell the instructor. It is better that you call it good for that weekend then to crash or not get anything out of the exercise. As trained instructors we look for fatigue and see when people are stretched (in most cases). We feel time is best spent on a little longer break. Communicate, communicate, communicate. In the first classroom session as you introduce yourself we ask your expectations of the class. Mine are always 1. To make sure you get your monies worth 2. To have a fun time. These little tips will help meet both. Classes taught the MSF way.
