Wilsons Sandbox

List- Just a reminder as we 'wake-up' the pigs. snort. You left coast boys, go ahead and laugh! You may have all the sunshine, but we got most of the muddy roads. Well, muddy if it would stop snowing! Take a look at your calender and give some thought to 'waking-up' or refreshing your skill sets as well. South Dakota MSF is hosted through our state safety council/foundation. A link provided. http://southdakotasafetycouncil.org/ Our cost is $60 ERC. Your state may/will be slightly different; you get the idea. ie Google: (your state) motorcycle safety course. Most bike shops should also have course schedules posted; some even include the course as part of the purchase. Be sure to ask! My 15 y/o son and I are enrolled (of course, KLR650's) in our local Pierre/Ft. Pierre MSF Experienced Rider Course in May. How about you? The more of you that take this class, the less overtime I have to work. revmaaatin. ps. IRT to kids: Before you pull the trigger on the course date, make sure you carefully check the kids schedule (OR make the reservation and THEN find out your kid is scheduled/double booked 250 miles away on a school activity)

The rest of the USA should follow Pennsylvania's example: The MSF course is free. Unfortunately, despite that, it does not eliminate the need for life flights in the red helicopter (or the blue and white ones) P.S.: Reliable first hand sources tell me that most of the left coast is quite muddy right now. Mike

On 3/24/2011 4:10 PM, revmaaatin wrote: > > List- > Just a reminder as we 'wake-up' the pigs. snort. > You left coast boys, go ahead and laugh! > You may have all the sunshine, but we got most of the muddy roads. > Well, muddy if it would stop snowing! > > Take a look at your calender and give some thought to 'waking-up' or > refreshing your skill sets as well. > > South Dakota MSF is hosted through our state safety > council/foundation. A link provided. > http://southdakotasafetycouncil.org/ > Our cost is $60 ERC. > > Your state may/will be slightly different; you get the idea. > ie Google: (your state) motorcycle safety course. Most bike shops > should also have course schedules posted; some even include the course > as part of the purchase. Be sure to ask! > > My 15 y/o son and I are enrolled (of course, KLR650's) in our local > Pierre/Ft. Pierre MSF Experienced Rider Course in May. > > How about you? > The more of you that take this class, the less overtime I have to work. > > revmaaatin. > > ps. IRT to kids: > Before you pull the trigger on the course date, make sure you > carefully check the kids schedule (OR make the reservation and THEN > find out your kid is scheduled/double booked 250 miles away on a > school activity) > >

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Mike Frey wrote:

> > > The rest of the USA should follow Pennsylvania's example: The MSF course > is free.

Wow! A youny lady living in MN told me her home sate of Iowa charges $250! or MN charges that much.... Is it any wonder they would have trouble getting it done? (Which I think is mandatory for new riders.) Maybe Judd, or the Ioweegan "Horton Here's a Who" can say their cost. m.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote:

> > Take a look at your calender and give some thought to 'waking-up' or refreshing your skill sets as well. >

Answering my own mail-- I failed to make the point of why to look at your state's schedule now: Most of these classes are first come, first serve. Sign up early. When I first took the 2004 ERC, it was full up all summer and I had to take it in SEPT. Still useful, but it would have been more useful in May. revmaaatin.

Here in California, if you take the MSF course you don't have to take the skills test. The skills test here is of questionable value, and is physically impossible to pass on some motorcycles. -Jeff Khoury From: "revmaaatin" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 1:47:25 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR and the MSF

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , "revmaaatin" wrote: > > Take a look at your calender and give some thought to 'waking-up' or refreshing your skill sets as well. > Answering my own mail-- I failed to make the point of why to look at your state's schedule now: Most of these classes are first come, first serve. Sign up early. When I first took the 2004 ERC, it was full up all summer and I had to take it in SEPT. Still useful, but it would have been more useful in May. revmaaatin. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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On 3/24/2011 1:22 PM, Mike Frey wrote: > The rest of the USA should follow Pennsylvania's example: The MSF course > is free. > > Unfortunately, despite that, it does not eliminate the need for life > flights in the red helicopter (or the blue and white ones) > > P.S.: Reliable first hand sources tell me that most of the left coast is > quite muddy right now. > > Mike > > On 3/24/2011 4:10 PM, revmaaatin wrote: >> List- >> Just a reminder as we 'wake-up' the pigs. snort. >> You left coast boys, go ahead and laugh! >> You may have all the sunshine, but we got most of the muddy roads. >> Well, muddy if it would stop snowing! >> >> Take a look at your calender and give some thought to 'waking-up' or >> refreshing your skill sets as well. >> >> South Dakota MSF is hosted through our state safety >> council/foundation. A link provided. >> http://southdakotasafetycouncil.org/ >> Our cost is $60 ERC. >> >> Your state may/will be slightly different; you get the idea. >> ie Google: (your state) motorcycle safety course. Most bike shops >> should also have course schedules posted; some even include the course >> as part of the purchase. Be sure to ask! >> >> My 15 y/o son and I are enrolled (of course, KLR650's) in our local >> Pierre/Ft. Pierre MSF Experienced Rider Course in May. >> >> How about you? >> The more of you that take this class, the less overtime I have to work. >> >> revmaaatin. >> >> ps. IRT to kids: >> Before you pull the trigger on the course date, make sure you >> carefully check the kids schedule (OR make the reservation and THEN >> find out your kid is scheduled/double booked 250 miles away on a >> school activity) >> >> > > ------------------------------------ > > List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com > Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/app/peoplemap/view/map > Group Apps: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/grouplets/subscriptionsYahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >

The skills test is the same as Ga. and it tests, the riders ability to stop quickly, stop at a designated point, swerving competencies, limited space maneuver proficiencies and starting from a stop. The turn from a stop is a right hand turn; often, untrained riders, will start a right hand turn from a stop, and run wide into oncoming traffic, or they will fail to use their front brake because some veteran rider told them to never touch it, because; it will throw a rider over the handlebars. Swerving? If a rider doesn't understand counter-steering, or the techniques used in collision avaidance manuvers, they will hit it almost every time. A limited space manuver, or slow tight turn that requires a degree of counter weighting to mantain balance, may seem trivial, but many riders fall in parking lots, with the bike landing on them and causing injuries. True, some bikes, like radical choppers and three wheeled machines, like a Volkswagen trike would be hard pressed to find the room to pass this test, but I have done it on everything from pocket bikes, dual sport, full dress, standard, non-radical choppers, like the fury and many others. In fact, I have done it on all of the bikes (not the pocket bike) with a passenger and passed it. Then again I am a MSF, RiderCoach Trainer, with 17 years of rider education experience and 43 years of riding experience. I was very involved in the development of the Rider Skill Test used in CA. and GA and can personally state that it does test the skills, that if lacking, get most riders into trouble. The test, tests skills that are part of everyday riding. Thomas J. Komjathy, BS/P, MS/P DSK L.L.C. dskllc@... ________________________________ From: Jeff Khoury To: revmaaatin Cc: DSN KLR650 DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thu, March 24, 2011 4:52:00 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR and the MSF Here in California, if you take the MSF course you don't have to take the skills test. The skills test here is of questionable value, and is physically impossible to pass on some motorcycles. -Jeff Khoury From: "revmaaatin" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 1:47:25 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR and the MSF

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , "revmaaatin" wrote: > > Take a look at your calender and give some thought to 'waking-up' or refreshing >your skill sets as well. > > Answering my own mail-- I failed to make the point of why to look at your state's schedule now: Most of these classes are first come, first serve. Sign up early. When I first took the 2004 ERC, it was full up all summer and I had to take it in SEPT. Still useful, but it would have been more useful in May. revmaaatin. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

They may have changed it recently then. When I took it, there was no turning from a stop, stopping at a certain point or any of that. There were low-speed circle rides and a cone weave. Oh, and demonstrating where the controls were. I went to practice a couple of days before I took the exam. I took two bikes: My KLR and my brother brought his YZF-R1. It was a piece of cake on the KLR, but the R1 with the handlebars turned to lock could not be pushed around the circle without going some 3 feet wide of it. I can tell you that with 26 years of being licensed and riding pretty much everything that rolls on two wheels, I could not have passed that test on the R1. It's physically impossible. The first test I took in Oklahoma in 1984 was much more comprehensive, with accelerate to xx MPH, start braking at the line and stop with your front tire in the box, etc. And none of the California material covered proper lane selection, avoidance of manhole covers, painted lines in the wet weather, cracks in the road, how to deal with a "tank slapper", a rear-wheel slide or anything else that you really need to know. -Jeff Khoury From: "Thomas Komjathy" To: "Jeff Khoury" , "revmaaatin" Cc: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 3:35:13 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR and the MSF The skills test is the same as Ga. and it tests, the riders ability to stop quickly, stop at a designated point, swerving competencies, limited space maneuver proficiencies and starting from a stop. The turn from a stop is a right hand turn; often, untrained riders, will start a right hand turn from a stop, and run wide into oncoming traffic, or they will fail to use their front brake because some veteran rider told them to never touch it, because; it will throw a rider over the handlebars. Swerving? If a rider doesn't understand counter-steering, or the techniques used in collision avaidance manuvers, they will hit it almost every time. A limited space manuver, or slow tight turn that requires a degree of counter weighting to mantain balance, may seem trivial, but many riders fall in parking lots, with the bike landing on them and causing injuries. True, some bikes, like radical choppers and three wheeled machines, like a Volkswagen trike would be hard pressed to find the room to pass this test, but I have done it on everything from pocket bikes, dual sport, full dress, standard, non-radical choppers, like the fury and many others. In fact, I have done it on all of the bikes (not the pocket bike) with a passenger and passed it. Then again I am a MSF, RiderCoach Trainer, with 17 years of rider education experience and 43 years of riding experience. I was very involved in the development of the Rider Skill Test used in CA. and GA and can personally state that it does test the skills, that if lacking, get most riders into trouble. The test, tests skills that are part of everyday riding. Thomas J. Komjathy, BS/P, MS/P DSK L.L.C. dskllc@... From: Jeff Khoury To: revmaaatin Cc: DSN KLR650 DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thu, March 24, 2011 4:52:00 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR and the MSF Here in California, if you take the MSF course you don't have to take the skills test. The skills test here is of questionable value, and is physically impossible to pass on some motorcycles. -Jeff Khoury From: "revmaaatin" < mjearl@... > To: "DSN KLR650" < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 1:47:25 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR and the MSF

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , "revmaaatin" wrote: > > Take a look at your calender and give some thought to 'waking-up' or refreshing your skill sets as well. > Answering my own mail-- I failed to make the point of why to look at your state's schedule now: Most of these classes are first come, first serve. Sign up early. When I first took the 2004 ERC, it was full up all summer and I had to take it in SEPT. Still useful, but it would have been more useful in May. revmaaatin. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Same here, despite our free MSF courses. You can go about getting your license in the "traditional" way, riding your own bike around a tiny parking lot, with cones and "S" turns. But, it's not easy on a sport bike or big dresser like a Harley. I have two nephews who are skilled riders. One asked to use my 250 Super Sherpa, but ended up using his Ninja 600RR instead. In his words "I passed - barely". The other took the MSF route, where they use 125s and 250s. He passed easily. Both of my kids went with MSF and passed. They were both in their 20s and it was quite a surprise to me since they showed no interest in motorcycles as teens. My wife, a legal CA resident, somehow got the Motorcycle endorsement eliminated from her license at some point during her non riding years, but can't pass the test on my 2nd KLR that is headquartered out there. It's just too tall for her. She used to ride a Norton 750 and her dad's Yamaha XS650 with no problem, but dual sports have become much taller in the past 30 years. DMV says they'll put the MC endorsement back on her license if she can produce an old one that shows it - but she can't find one. Mike

On 3/24/2011 4:52 PM, Jeff Khoury wrote: > > Here in California, if you take the MSF course you don't have to take > the skills test. > > The skills test here is of questionable value, and is physically > impossible to pass on some motorcycles. > > -Jeff Khoury > > From: "revmaaatin" > > To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > > Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 1:47:25 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR and the MSF > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > , "revmaaatin" wrote: > > > > Take a look at your calender and give some thought to 'waking-up' or > refreshing your skill sets as well. > > > Answering my own mail-- > I failed to make the point of why to look at your state's schedule now: > Most of these classes are first come, first serve. > Sign up early. > When I first took the 2004 ERC, it was full up all summer and I had to > take it in SEPT. Still useful, but it would have been more useful in May. > > revmaaatin. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >

Perhaps Canada, or at least Nova Scotia should take notice as well, may daughter took the basic course before she got her license last summer for which I paid $455 and possibly taxes for. Good idea to take the course for a basis on which to build her street learning but at this price I wonder how may people skip it. She rode Z50's for a few years when she was younger so she had some skills but I'm glad she took the course. On the plus side I had my 1st ride of the year on her nice new 250 Ninja this week taking it home from the dealer and she was smart enough to ask me to ride it because she recognized the pavement was cold, dirty from winter, not to mention pot hole riddled and her experience especially riding on the street is at this point very limited......Greg ________________________________ From: Mike Frey To: revmaaatin ; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thu, March 24, 2011 5:22:45 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] KLR and the MSF The rest of the USA should follow Pennsylvania's example: The MSF course is free. Unfortunately, despite that, it does not eliminate the need for life flights in the red helicopter (or the blue and white ones) P.S.: Reliable first hand sources tell me that most of the left coast is quite muddy right now. Mike

On 3/24/2011 4:10 PM, revmaaatin wrote: > > List- > Just a reminder as we 'wake-up' the pigs. snort. > You left coast boys, go ahead and laugh! > You may have all the sunshine, but we got most of the muddy roads. > Well, muddy if it would stop snowing! > > Take a look at your calender and give some thought to 'waking-up' or > refreshing your skill sets as well. > > South Dakota MSF is hosted through our state safety > council/foundation. A link provided. > http://southdakotasafetycouncil.org/ > Our cost is $60 ERC. > > Your state may/will be slightly different; you get the idea. > ie Google: (your state) motorcycle safety course. Most bike shops > should also have course schedules posted; some even include the course > as part of the purchase. Be sure to ask! > > My 15 y/o son and I are enrolled (of course, KLR650's) in our local > Pierre/Ft. Pierre MSF Experienced Rider Course in May. > > How about you? > The more of you that take this class, the less overtime I have to work. > > revmaaatin. > > ps. IRT to kids: > Before you pull the trigger on the course date, make sure you > carefully check the kids schedule (OR make the reservation and THEN > find out your kid is scheduled/double booked 250 miles away on a > school activity) > > ------------------------------------ List Sponsors - Dual Sport News: http://www.dualsportnews.com Arrowhead Motorsports: http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok: http://www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Member Map: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/app/peoplemap/view/map Group Apps: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DSN_KLR650/grouplets/subscriptionsYahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]