Lee510
Nov 3rd, 2007, 11:30 pm
First of all, I'd like to thank Joseph and Ron for being such kind, yet firm, Rider Coaches. Joseph rides an LT, lurks here some, but doesn't post much. Watching him pilot the LT around the various courses, while dragging hard parts, was something to see and hear. Ron rides an Electra Glide, but we won't hold that against him. He worked setting up the range and did it all as a volunteer. You can't buy that type of dedication to the MSF organization or to us, the students he coaches.
Nine of us, including 2 Coaches and 1 passenger, braved the mid-30 degree temps this morning to gain some knowledge. While it appeared to me that everyone else was doing well with the exercises, I decided it was time to act like I had never been on, or maybe even seen, a motorcycle. :o I'm glad I couldn't hear what Joseph was thinking. He kept giving me pointers and encouraging me to keep practicing. For all who witnessed the dragging of the knuckles, I passed the BRC in '06 and didn't lose that many points. Honest!
Once we completed the low-speed, tight manuevers, we moved on to exercises that used more range space. What a relief. The ninth and last exercise was where we really had to lean in the turns. I know John and I scraped hard parts (feet of the centerstand). Not sure if Kirk and Charlie did. The first time mine scraped, I went wide in the corner. There was no loose feeling or loss of control. The sound of it was what got to me. I scraped a couple more times and was able to maintain my line each time. :)
One important exercise was activating the anti-lock brakes. If you've never done this, and I hadn't, it probably is a good thing to do. You'll know how the bike will handle and what the anti-lock system feels like when working. Going straight, 2nd gear, 15-20 mph, roll off the throttle, and apply front AND rear brakes, HARD. She'll stop, quick.
Joseph said time and again, "We're going to have some fun with this exercise." I think what he meant was, "Your eyeballs are going to pop out and I'm going to laugh at you!" Seriously, the class was fun. Tough, but still enjoyable. For anyone not having taken the BRC or the ERC, consider signing up for one or both. You'll be a better rider for it.
Nine of us, including 2 Coaches and 1 passenger, braved the mid-30 degree temps this morning to gain some knowledge. While it appeared to me that everyone else was doing well with the exercises, I decided it was time to act like I had never been on, or maybe even seen, a motorcycle. :o I'm glad I couldn't hear what Joseph was thinking. He kept giving me pointers and encouraging me to keep practicing. For all who witnessed the dragging of the knuckles, I passed the BRC in '06 and didn't lose that many points. Honest!
Once we completed the low-speed, tight manuevers, we moved on to exercises that used more range space. What a relief. The ninth and last exercise was where we really had to lean in the turns. I know John and I scraped hard parts (feet of the centerstand). Not sure if Kirk and Charlie did. The first time mine scraped, I went wide in the corner. There was no loose feeling or loss of control. The sound of it was what got to me. I scraped a couple more times and was able to maintain my line each time. :)
One important exercise was activating the anti-lock brakes. If you've never done this, and I hadn't, it probably is a good thing to do. You'll know how the bike will handle and what the anti-lock system feels like when working. Going straight, 2nd gear, 15-20 mph, roll off the throttle, and apply front AND rear brakes, HARD. She'll stop, quick.
Joseph said time and again, "We're going to have some fun with this exercise." I think what he meant was, "Your eyeballs are going to pop out and I'm going to laugh at you!" Seriously, the class was fun. Tough, but still enjoyable. For anyone not having taken the BRC or the ERC, consider signing up for one or both. You'll be a better rider for it.