See where you can find an MSF near you - if you take it, or you take it again, let me know down below how it goes! msf-usa.org/ Follow this playlist to see the other course reviews: bit.ly/RidingCourses
I'm an MSF instructor and I'm glad you took the course a lot of people don't think they will learn anything and here in CT its mandatory so make sure you come and see us it would be cool to help your channel.
What do you think - can I complete all these courses this year, all while working part time at my office job, and already almost out of my PTO only 3 months into the year, AND build relationships with motorcycle companies to make videos that'll be a good resource for you? See where you can find an MSF near you - if you take it, or you take it again, let me know down below how it goes! msf-usa.org/ Get notified of when the gaiter for the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride goes live www.subscribepage.com/dgr_gaiter
You should really take a motorcycle racing school. It will change everything for you as it did for me. You don't need to want to become a racer to reap huge benefits from it. I rode for my whole life and I learned more in 1 day of motorcycle racing school than I did in 15 years of previous riding. I cannot emphasize this enough. Most I've talked to think I'm crazy for suggesting it. However any friends I've convinced to do said after the fact I was 100% correct. You need to do it!
I think you're not alone in that once people pass the MSF course, they don't practice, or that the things they were able to do on the MSF bike, they aren't on their own bike. I'm glad you're sharing your journey with us and that you're honest with where you need work. Shoot! I know I still do. Lol!
How refreshing to see a very honest youtuber confess to their fears, failings, and limitations. Very well done young lady. I have just subscribed to your channel to get the real scoop.
Doodle, you're so much further along mentally with the right "attitude and mindset" than most riders will ever be. Anyone can point a bike down the road and twist the throttle. Slow speed skills take time and lots of continuous practice. Doing a U-turn on a sport bike is even more challenging. They don't have the low end torque that V twins do. Throttle control is more challenging and the handle bars are shorter so input has to be more controlled. Don't sweat what other people say. Take all the classes you can and keep practicing until you're happy with your skills. My wife and I bought a little Honda Rebel 250 just for practicing slow speed skills. If I fall over on that I could care less (and I have, sometimes hard to stop laughing when I do). Those skills do translate to the sport bike. Keep doing what you're doing, you're an inspiration to many of us.
Anyone willing to admit they don’t know everything is the kind of person that can grow... I’m hoping you are brave enough for a road trip this year to meet some of the other amazing women you’ve met and gain even more confidence.
Doodle, I love your channel! Woman rider here and I really appreciate the class you show, the topics you talk about and your “realness! I’m looking forward to seeing what you do next!
I've taken the msf course 4 times. first to learn how to ride, second to get on base riding privileges, third cause I hadn't ridden in years and wanted a refresher, and fourth with my ex-girlfriend for her to learn how to ride properly after I taught her how to ride improperly, ;-). And I was planning the advanced course before covid hit and will be looking for that again soon. And I too wish it was mandatory for a license, cause it really is a life saver.
For me, fear of dropping my bike came from the fact that I still had in my mind how much I paid for it and not because I lacked the skills. There is a real fear of messing things up that keeps us from pushing through limits. I was able to overcome this by getting a bike that I was confident of it's crash protection and just working through the drills and once I got comfortable, I was able to transfer those skills to my main bike.
I've taken BRC classes 6 times in the last 3 yrs. Also a Total Control class. Training is fun!! Because I just bought a bigger bike, I need to really practice a lot this year.
good on you for wanting to expand your knowledge base. the more skill you have as a rider, the more fun you'll have and you'll be safer as well. as always, ride your own ride and let the other say/do what they want. good luck with leaning your bike and getting comfortable with it!
oh yeah! p.s. lol. for me, slow speed maneuvering has always felt different. when making tight turns, i feel like i have to use the handlebars more than just leaning the bike with my weight shifting. maybe this will help, but feel like you're sitting up a little straighter when you do a u-turn and when you turn the bars, feel like they are beneath you instead of in front of you. that helped me a lot and now I have no problem making tight turns.
I acommpanied my wife to her motorcycle safety course just to cheer her on. (I had been riding for 25 plus years at the time.) I was stunned at how awesome it was and how much I learned. So much so, that a couple of years later I took it myself. I can honestly say that it reminded me and sort of highlighted just how sloppy my riding had become over the years. The fundemental skills taught there are definitely awesome.
This is one of the best videos I have seen you do. I have been riding for 40 years I have taken the MSF class 5 times or more it gets tougher each time I take it It is very difficult for a so called experienced ride to admit their short comings Keep riding and be safe
I've been riding motorcycles for about 60 years and have documented over 300,000 miles, and I didn't start documenting the mileage till about 30 years ago. I made it a practice to take the advanced rider course every 2-3 years, its a nice refresher and you almost always learn something new. You apparently have taken the basic rider course multiple times, in my experience you don't really learn to be a better rider unless you challenge yourself. Go ahead and learn something new by taking the experienced rider course, it will make you a better rider.
I also finished and passed my basic course last year and maybe I will try to retake it or go straight to advanced course, but watching DDFMs videos also helped me about awareness when riding my motorcycle.
Doodle, I really appreciate your channel. I started riding 8 years ago at age 52, just before you. Like you, I started with no history with motorcycles, and for years I viewed bikes as death traps, mainly because I judged motorcyclist by the most irresponsible riders I saw on the road. You know the ones...the guys cutting in and out of traffic, they guys with obnoxiously loud motorcycles, the guys ripping down the interstate at 110 mph doing wheelies. Your site and your videos represent the majority of riders, or those that want to be riders, riders like me. Your pursuit of education is admirable, as I have chosen a similar path. You have chosen to become educated in slow speed maneuvers, yet I have chosen to educate myself through RU-vid videos, reading, and doing track days. I do 2-3 local track days a year and go to the California Superbike school for one weekend every year. I find classes to be great education as they push hard for you to ride within your skills, educated you on the physics and design elements built into your bike, and to not ride based on ego. Ego riders are the worst amongst us. Keep up with the great content! Your stories resonate with my experiences.
What a great idea taking the course again. Personally I make a habit of going to a open driving lot and practice the basics every few weeks at a maximum to keep it up. I do most importantly a few emergency braking practices (almost every spring I end up locking up or nearly locking up the rear on the first go), a few rolling out quick from a stop (incase rear end coming), u-turns, and u-turns from a stop. If you don't practice it regularly you won't execute it properly when needed. Also never forget any information is at your fingertips with your phone. You could have google or youtubed how to pick your bike up. :)
Revision of the basic skills is always a benefit for anybody. Good on you for going back and seeing if you have kept the good habits, and if you need to pull up on any bad habits you have picked up over the years.
I have actually been thinking about taking the basic course again too. The first time I took it I had literally never been on the front of a motorcycle. I had only ridden on the back of my dad's back in high school. So I was VERY shaky and unsure of myself in the class. I actually didn't pass the riding portion the first time but I was so close that the instructor gave me one more chance at it after everyone was finished. I'm glad you are encouraging experienced riders to take the course again. Slow speed skills are integral to being a safe rider.
You never stop learning 😊and more/refresher training is never a bad idea. Slow riding is one of the most difficult things to do and least practiced - my slow skills suck! Practice makes perfect though!
Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to do the right thing. U-turns and tight turns are the hardest things to learn to do consistently. When a motor officer starts his patrol he should always do a warm-up. If they have a course to practice on great, if not warm up in a parking lot. All you can do is the best you can do. You're doing the right thing for the right reasons.
It absolutely pays to exercise again and again. For us who have seasonal riding, it is vital even, because if you have 4 or more months in between rides, you just won't be able to handle the bike as well. Heck, even when I re-watch the twist2 movie, I spot something new every time.
Great video Doodle. Every new riding season I go out and set up a cone course to get "back in the saddle". I take every motorcycle I own through it. You'll be surprised how rusty you can get just over a few month's of not riding. What is funny (to me) is that I have a harder time with my bobber than I do with my land barge bagger.
Hey I respect your desire to work on consistently working on improving your skill sets. You will continue to be safer. Slow speed skills are essential. Bike riding is like Akido white belts practice is beneficial for upper belts also. Your heading in right direction. Stay safe
I get flashbacks from the license test here in Finland listening to you talk about learning to do U-turns. Here you need to be able to execute an emergency swerve, using counter-steering, to get your license. It's rather simple really in theory, you just jerk the steering to the opposite side you want to go, the bike leans in the other direction and automatically does the swerve for you. But, you need to be going like 50 km/h for it to actually work, and jerking the steering at that speed takes some faith in the process. It's also almost invisible when you watch somebody do it, so basically you have your instructor telling you "hop on that bike, do 30 mph and violently jerk the handlebar one way or the other". Took me hours to get it right while training for the exam, luckily everybody struggles with this so the examiner usually lets you have a couple tries to get it right.
Loved seeing this was posted on the first day of my first ever MSF Course. I am the only female. I was also the only one asked if I am afraid of the bike. (Still kinda feel some kind of way about that.) Thank you for showing the learning doesn't end.
Just to let you know, I did the uturns great in practice, but failed them on the test too! I PASSED though. Gonna practice more before I get out on the busy roads of my town.
Smart girl. Always lvl up them skills. Better a little at a time then trying to do it all at once. There's nothing worse than going past your skill level on a motorcycle.
Riding for 54 years. Taken MSF 4 times. Learned something new and found bad habits that had developed each time. I think the classes are great. I am planning on another class, but my last one was canceled last spring due to the ccp virus scare. The best thing about the classes are seeing experienced riders taking it for the first time and finding out how much they didn't know or understand. My first time I'd already been riding 21 years and felt like a complete fool. Still one, but not complete now ;)
I was a MSF Rider Coach for 10 years. We had a student who would sign up for the first available basic course every year just to prepare for the riding season. As an instructor, I felt teaching the class kept my skills sharp. Some of the worst students were the 'experienced' riders. The course is a starting point on your career of riding.
I totally believe it should be a requirement to take the MSF course at the very least. If not more. My daughter took the MSF course and got her endorsement this last summer. She is 23. We just signed up to take the intermediate course this year together. And we plan to do the Advanced and Expert courses also. And you are never to old to take them. I'm 55. I totally believe in them. Good for you and a nice video on showing that we do lose some skills over time. A refresher is good.
Just a point on your MSF course and license requirements; it varies state to state like most things in the US. It's required here in Oregon to get a license. I'm real happy I took it, I just took the advanced class recently. Will be hopefully signing up for my first track day this year as well, the learning only stops if you stop it :)
For the record; petite, not scrawny. Learning is life long even on motorcycles. Every spring my first ride (after 50 years of bikes) is in an empty parking lot doing slow speed maneuvers and practicing tight turns and figure 8's.
I Feel ya deeply on the fear aspect, had a tremendous Cornering Anxiety ever since an accident > arm fracture the previous year due to cornering on a slippery road and ever since then every time a sharp corner comes up im like "!!!!!!!" It's important to go back to the basics, and get a nice good hold of that fear. NO SHAME IN IT
Doodle You did the Smart thing! Always make sure you master the basics. I do myself! I have cones and me and my business partner always do basic skills courses every spring. We have been riding for over 40 years each!! I use a lot of the courses laid out by MotoJitsu!! He is great and a detailed course setup for all of his riding skill courses. We always head out to an abandoned parking lot and set up our cones. Practicing skills is way more fun than just going for a ride sometimes!! Working on slow speed skills is King especially for me with a new bike like my Tiger 1200. Great video Doodle!!! It's great to see you are always trying to be a better rider!! Peace Lady! 👏🙌👍🖖✌👌🤙🌹
@@DoodleOnAMotorcycle WHAT ctually works better than cones is cut in half tennis balls. I'll send you a bunch! They pack light, cheap and if you run over them they just go flat. I will contact you. 😉 Peace Lady and Ride SAFE and BE Safe! 👏🙌👍🖖✌👌🤙🌹😁
Great video Doodle! I’m taking a motorcycle safety course in May. In Ohio, we have state sponsored motorcycle safety courses. I took BRS-1 (Basic Rider Safety course 1) last year when I started riding. This May I’m taking BRS-2. You’re an inspiration for my “perfectionist tendencies”
Dirt riding is a great way to hone your skills, you deal with the bike being out of control and how to correct it. I recommend all new riders to spend 1 year in the dirt before ever riding on the streets.
There's learning about throttle control and traction in a parking lot...and then there sliding a dirt bike sideways through a mudhole! Fun times! Granted, that skillset doesn't quite directly translate to a street bike, but I think it does take the panic out of the equation to some extent if you do lose traction on the street.
Hi Doodle, very nice video, you got right to the heart of the problem: afraid to lean. I had the same problem, like most people. Robert Simmons channel on youtube really helped me. He has a training course (in Pooler GA) which has an excise called "Trust and Believe". This is the excise that help me the most, along with "Load it and keep it loaded". Robert was most helpful for me, I hit like and subscribed to his channel.
That’s awesome for you to share your experience!! I would do some courses with you 😁 when you go. I’ve only completed one MSF course at Harley Davidson.
Doodle, I’m a firm believer in refreshing from the beginning. I studied Martial Arts for almost 25 years. Quite frequently I went back and took classes from the beginning. I did the same thing with my dog and obedience classes. We both refreshed the fundamentals. I believe you’ll do very well at all the courses you are going to take.
I'm going to ask it again - how can anyone put a thumbs down to this video or any of Doodle's videos? They are entertaining and, more importantly for me, informative. Great job, Doodle. Thank you.
Perfect getting knowledge is whut life's all about sharing it, an growing,.. it's all about the care the quality of care the fun an growth of life thanks Doodle your a great inspiring humongous asset towards eny new an inspired enthusiasts
I once read somewhere that advanced techniques were the basics done correctly. Having said that August of last year I retook the MSF course because I stupidly allowed my license to expire (we ever meet at a motorcycle event I’ll explain in detail). I took the class with my niece because she asked me to teach her but I knew she would learn more taking the class. Besides the instructors I was probably the most experienced rider and I had a blast and learned my slow speed maneuvering needs A LOT of work. I probably would not believe it had I not taken the class again and I had skin in the game because I wanted my license back but I learned because I decided before the class I was going in empty and filling my knowledge cup with what was offered Long story long, beginner classes are where it’s at. With some practice I will take on Jerry Paladino
Little brown friend. Love it. It's always good to get training. I think about ways to improve my riding skills and challenge myself every time I ride. Love your channel.
I started riding last year at age 60. In the UK, you have to pass a 1-day compulsory basis trading. This allows you to ride a motorcycle up to 125cc. There is then the option to get a full licence for unrestricted engine size. The course for this is typically 5 to 7 days costing hundreds of pounds. You do the theory test, MOD 1 and MOD 2 tests and if successful, you get your full licence. After my CBT I got am Yamaha YBR 125. That bike thought me a lot. ( thanks to Motojitsu). Six months later after I passed my test I got a Suzuki sv650s. I plan to take some more courses this year including how to carry a pillion.
Here in Denmark, you wont get your motorcycle license unless you can demonstrate that you can brake over a short distance, can maneuver the bike around while standing next to it, do u-turns from full stops and do an emergency evasive maneuver or counter-steering at speed. Also you need to have driven a required amount of hours in public traffic with an instructor.
I remember doing the figure 8's and U-turns for the first time in my life. I had been riding MX for several years, but thought I'd take the basic course instead of just testing so I could ride legally finally on pavement. I was so freaking tense on the turns that I actually began to cramp up in my shoulders. It was maddening at first. Something my brain said should be so easy, and here I was on a little TU250 almost flunking basic turns. Geesh :)
In my state in Australia the basic motorcycle course is called M.E.T.A.L Motorcycle Education Training And Licensing and is run by Dept of Motor Vehicles.
When I took the course the person that impressed me the most was the girl about your size that dropped the bike at least 5 times. You could tell she was very distraught over it. But every single time she got right back on the bike. During the final test she did not drop it and barely passed but barely counts. There were 3 of us that made no errors yet she was the one that impressed me the most because she never quit. You remind of that girl. The fact that you are so open and honest and share your mistakes and struggles for the benefit of others is the reason I'm subscribed.
I hope you know this comment means the world to me ❤️ proud of that girl too I’ve never met and thank you for appreciating the vulnerability that I am always nervous to do
I am happy to hear she was permitted to continue. In many locations two or three drops results in not being permitted to complete the class. The reason for this is insurance, liability and avoiding slowing down the class too much for others. What most people fail to think about is that a Honda Rebel for a very small woman that doesn't do physical work is like a Honda Goldwing to a large physical fit guy. Imagine doing a BRC on a Goldwing.
I've been considering retaking the beginner's rider course, especially since the local school discontinued the intermediate course. Good to know that it's worthwhile. :)
Motorcycle riding is not a sport that is mastered, it is a sport that has to be practiced. Having been an MFS coach and now a coach for GWRRA I understand your feelings and lack of confidence that will affect your enjoyment of the sport. I applaud you for the understanding that you needed to go back to the basics and refreshing your skills. Now go on to the ERC and turn you head...lol
Speaking of lifting bikes. If there's two of you or you find another person to help out. Try the monkey lift. So fun. Ive done it a few times. Makes it super easy. Just have one person be the monkey hanging off the bike and basically becoming a counterweight. Works well with heavy adv bikes too.
Doodle the best (safest) practice you can do that will help you ride a motorcycle better is, bicycle riding, and even better these days you can get an electric assist (but definitely not necessary, and if you really want to learn about lean angle not the best to be dropping) if you don't have a mountain bike hard tail or similar, I suggest you try to find a nice inexpensive one, (even a bmx bike would work) put on some protection, and go for a ride, a take note of how you turn the bike as you speeds increase (you don't turn your handlebars, you lean on them just enough) it's a game of balance, and movement is your friend to help you balance on two wheels, once you get a good feel and understanding of this push/lean movement to turn at speed, find a safe place that has a fast corner with nice grass runoff and practice going thru this corner as fast as you can increasing your speed as you get more and more comfortable leaning over further to make the apex of the corner, you will start to learn how to set up your speed for the amount of push/lean you need to hit the same apex at different speeds, and once you have your speed set for the apex, you ride smoothly thru the corner, making only miner speed adjustments (if needed) until your heading out of the corner, then you can increase your speed as you please. you will also learn how your feet also help with the balance of the bike when leaned over. (to the point if your doing it correctly and going thru your corner fast enough with good control and hitting the apex, you won't be able to pedal because the inside pedal would hit the ground, and you might notice your knee is pointed outward towards to corner to help with balance and control of the bicycle) As you get better at doing this on a bicycle, I guarantee you will improve your skills on your motorcycle.
Ive been riding 40 plus years and never took it. If you feel you benifited in some way it was definitely worth taking for you, especially if you want manufacturers to let you ride there bikes. Im sure you can accomplish anything you set out to do!
I just took my MSF course a couple weeks ago in Wa state and it was intense, a lot of information and not enough time to practice but I pass. I did try to memorize the exercises to practice on my own.
U-turns.....turn your head and look in the direction you want to go. Throttle and friction zone control. Don’t worry about “leaning” the bike. You are going too slow to lean. Stay off the front brake!!!
You have the right attitude keeping your skills sharp , thinking I should have some training as not had any for nearly 40 years now. In the UK roads can be quite narrow so maybe I u-turn more often than American bikers have to . I think your riding skills are great but as you are a perfectionist you make the mindset to always improve which is great .
Bunny paws! Doodle, thats what you need, a loose hold on the handlebars..A tight hold, as you've probably found out is a No! No!... Shifting your body posture is... ( watch racers) the way to go. You don't have to move about to extremes as they do but transferring your weight makes a big difference. Avoid 'target fixation', learn to look where you want to be... Actually watching GP racers is very educational. ...I grew up on 'old fashion tyres' where extreme leaning was pretty damn dangerous..Nowadays, because of the design, the compounds, modern tyres are far better in terms of grip so don't be worried about leaning the bike a little more....Enjoy your riding Doodle.... Greetings from España
After riding for probably longer than you've been alive, I took the MSF Beginner Course 2 years ago. It's never a bad idea to have a professional evaluate your skill set. The instructors taught me some new things, and more importantly, helped me break some bad habits I had developed. And let's be honest. We all say we're going to practice the basics, but how often do we really do it? Keep up the good work, and have fun!
Congratulations on passing,in the UK we have to do something similar as part of our test,riding around/though cones making numbers 8s,it may have changed as I did it donkeys years ago but having broke my foot when I dropped my tracer 900 a couple of years ago when trying to turn right it certainly messed with my confidence & I could have benefitted with re doing training,its interesting you mention youre doing it with a bigger sized engine this time round as its certainly harder ,I did my training on a 125,huge diffrence,anyway good luck with the rest of it & look forward to see whats next
Advanced Rider Course is an excellent course. While I'm sure every class is different and it changes with different instructors... Mine would take time when he saw something not right and correct it and we ran through every exercise more than a few times (and my bike went through about 3x more than I did.. I had a little suzuki savage little single cylinder cruiser that every sport bike rider in the class was just fascinated with.. like.. "awww thats cute, can I take it through once?" ..... and then they came back saying it was a blast lol..." Anyways... The instructor was great about helping us with the fundamentals...
I've been riding street for almost eight years now and feel the same about u-turns on my R1. Coming from my 600rr which I put 100,000 miles on myself. I would say confidence is key.
Hey Doodle just want to say, what you experienced with you dropping your bike is very similar to a first accident... im sure your instructors mentioned this many times but coming into a corner too fast can make you panic and freeze. Often it's the limitations of the rider far more than the bike but that deer in the headlights freeze causes so many to go off road and have accidents. All that said, anything that gets you second guessing your skills is a reminder we all need to practice the basics... your honesty is so welcome in a day and age where so many try to hide their "flaws" if you will. It made me want to go practice again... one thing you mentioned about taking the off road course... best thing you could ever do... when first riding on road I came from 4 years of dirt bikes prior and the stuff you learn off road will be heaps of info for you to process and transfer to the road... it will help in all aspects of your riding. Best wishes... always enjoy your content!!! Keep it up!
I drop my bikes all the time it just happens. Recently I got an adventure bike and was doing some off-roading. One of my latest adventures I biffed it at low speeds in a tire rut. I ended up breaking my plastic hand guard, clutch lever, and knocked off a fog light. All and all not a big deal but it's still scarry. I've had to pick that bike up alit recently and the one thing I've learned is that the bike will be ok I can fix anything that gets messed up it's just a slight inconvenience. Maybe if you did some practice drills of picking your bike up it would help with the fear of dropping it? That kind of what I've done more of by mistake then anything else but I know regardless of where I am I can get back up and keep going.
@@DoodleOnAMotorcycle protection, protection, protection... and there is a reason some high end products costs more than others. You can also dress your motorcycle with protection, if you think you might drop it a few times.
The u-turn was the most difficult thing for me, but I took classes and practiced a lot and now I don't stress about them at all. I don't practice as often now and I can feel my fin skills have eroded a bit. Never considered taking MSF again, but it seems like a good idea.
I ride both sport and cruiser. Sport bikes are so much harder to do low speed maneuvers on because the center of gravity is much higher and it feels unnatural if you don't practice regularly. I've done the BRC, BRC 2, ARC, and ( when it was not part of the ARC ) the Sportbike course. This definitely makes me wanna take them all again though.
It''s been almost 3 years, a couple thousand mile, and several week long trips since I took the MSF BRC, and....I've been thinking of taking again (if posssible, on my own bike), along with some advanced courses. The advanced rider class, well... to improve. The BRC, because I am aware that I haven't been practicing the basic skills.
I signed up to take a class for the same reason (classes last year were cancelled) I am scared of u turns and I dropped my HD 883 and couldn’t pick it up by myself I had to get a neighbor to help me out. My class is next month so I hope once I learn the proper technique I don’t have to be nervous about it anymore.
Great vid and info..Have you ever ridden a MX bike or dirt bike off-road..it can teaches you so much about riding aspects with are great for riding on the road..
