Teaching newbies to ride.

[the chi]

Ya know, while I recommend the MSF to everyone, I dont understand this automatic response everyone has to the dreaded teaching a loved one the basics.

Im the kinda person who appreciates knowing how the damn thing works before Im expected to just do it so I cheated and learned ahead of time on my own, but I have taught a couple boyfriends and my current hubby how to ride, the basics if you will and never had a single issue with it as well as giving some newbie friends some pointers before MSF. Never once have I had the poor reactions "everyone" talks about. Granted im not the woman being taught, but if you are level headed, patient and manage to hammer the important bits in her head before letting her take over I dont see why you'd have an issue.

Teaching my hubby was as easy as taking him to a parking lot, telling him what everything did (tho he already knew), explaining how much of him would be smeared if he decided to get froggy and not gently cltuch, brake and move and letting him practice a few lil things like finding the friction spot, slowly moving forward, braking, moving forward, harder braking, and mostly alot of the stuff the MSF teaches. After he was good in a straight line and slaloming slowly I explained the "you go where you look" process and let him loose riding huge circles in the parking lot. He did great and immediately went to the MSF the happier for having at least some basic usable knowledge.

Granted, the females I've helped out tend to be slower on the uptake usually but I've done the same with a few friends and they did fine. Obviously they arent ready for street riding or getting out in a group, but ya gotta start somewhere.

If she refuses to take the MSF and wants to street ride, get her out in some VERY quiet neighborhoods and let her lead you around at her own pace till her skills improve and she's ready for a more fast pace.

[karl_1052]

Originally Posted by julie j

MSF for sure. Sometimes it is easier to learn from someone who is not your BF/spouse. It will be less stressful for both of you.

This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wildchild]

Originally Posted by The Chi

If she refuses to take the MSF and wants to street ride, get her out in some VERY quiet neighborhoods and let her lead you around at her own pace till her skills improve and she's ready for a more fast pace.

I'm glad somone else does this. I see so many guys bring their wives home from MSF and then hop on bikes and say "honey follow me" then proceed to take off like a bat out of hell. One guy left his wife behind in the mountains in Tenn in the rain on a ride we were on. I wound up riding down with her just to make sure she made it. I think trying to keep up is one of the major causes of newbie accidents.

[Apoc]

Originally Posted by The Chi

Teaching my hubby was as easy as taking him to a parking lot, telling him what everything did (tho he already knew), explaining how much of him would be smeared if he decided to get froggy and not gently cltuch, brake and move and letting him practice a few lil things like finding the friction spot, slowly moving forward, braking, moving forward, harder braking, and mostly alot of the stuff the MSF teaches. After he was good in a straight line and slaloming slowly I explained the "you go where you look" process and let him loose riding huge circles in the parking lot. He did great and immediately went to the MSF the happier for having at least some basic usable knowledge.
.

Hehehehe, your hubby was taught by a girl!

A wise man once said, 'Its better to die trying, then to learn from a woman'.

That wise man was me. Today. In this thread.

[the chi]

Asshole.

One other thing Avatard, show her the gruesome nasty pics and vids of other spazzing folks that tried to ride.

[Trip]

I have two reasons why I recommend the MSF

1) I don't want to teach anyone

2) Insurance discount

Otherwise it doesn't make a damn difference. You aren't prepared to ride street after MSF. You still need to be taught a lot of shit and someone is still going to have to teach you. Why not just let that same person just teach you the basic shit too? (just as long as it's not me)

Hell 50% of the stuff in MSF isn't very applicable to a sportbike anyway. It's generic for everyone, well mostly cruiser folk.

[Rangerscott]

Get her on the bike. Slap that bitch on the ass and yell Yee Hawww!

[Full Throttle]

Originally Posted by Trip

I have two reasons why I recommend the MSF

1) I don't want to teach anyone

2) Insurance discount

Otherwise it doesn't make a damn difference. You aren't prepared to ride street after MSF. You still need to be taught a lot of shit and someone is still going to have to teach you. Why not just let that same person just teach you the basic shit too? (just as long as it's not me)

I dont mind teaching someone how to ride but i def would recommend the MSF either way.

1. You get your licence when you finish. Cant beat that.
2. Like Trip said Insurance discount.

Hell 50% of the stuff in MSF isn't very applicable to a sportbike anyway. It's generic for everyone, well mostly cruiser folk.

I second that. Not one person was there to ride a sportbike when i took my MSF course. The instructors both rode Goldwings and tailored the course around the people there to ride cruisers.

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Full Throttle

1. You get your licence when you finish. Cant beat that.

I forgot about that one, not having to wait too long at the DMV to take the stupid tests is another good reason to go to MSF. Make that my third reason.

[Rangerscott]

Just teach her yourself. She'll get frustrated and give up in 10 minutes. Every woman I've tried to teach does this. Then they want someone else to teach them and they get mad at the other person.