Military Sport Bike Rider Course

[dean30]

I'm scheduled to take the Sport Bike Rider Course at Fort Stewart next week. Anybody ever take this class? Anybody want to go to it? There's 4 seats left. It's free, it's one day long, and you need to bring your own bike. I don't think it has anything to do with 'military sportbikes' other than it's on an army base.
I don't think we'll be riding Marine Corps diesel-converted KLRs, though that would be cool too.

[DashRiprock]

I took a class on one of my USAF bases once. It was basically the MSF course rebranded.

This was some time ago.

[dean30]

Originally Posted by DashRiprock

I took a class on one of my USAF bases once. It was basically the MSF course rebranded.

This was some time ago.

Ugh. At least it's free. That and I get a day off work to go ride.

[EVO8 2 FZ1]

Sounds like the course I'm taking on Feb 27 over here in the UK. There's one day course and you don't have to take leave since it's mandatory for military members. Basic Rider Course (3 days) or the Experienced Rider Course (1 day). You can bring your own bike or rent one for the course. I chose to take my FZ1. I hope I don't drop it.

[mikec426]

The MSRC is a fairly recent development. I took it a couple weeks after I took the ERC. It builds on that. Some of the same exercises, but at a higher speed. They get more into making the bike lean and shifting your weight around.

I found it quite beneficial. I was riding not too long ago and starting thinking about some of the things they taught and actually had a better ride because of it.

In one of the braking exercises I did my very first stoppie.

BTW - don't do that, they really frown on raising either end of the bike....

[DubbleRNR]

Originally Posted by DashRiprock

I took a class on one of my USAF bases once. It was basically the MSF course rebranded.

This was some time ago.

New course, Nick I helped develop it. The MSF is supposed to be releasing it to the civilian population. Although I haven't seen it, I've heard good things about it. Looking forward to teaching it...

[dean30]

Originally Posted by mikec426

The MSRC is a fairly recent development. I took it a couple weeks after I took the ERC. It builds on that. Some of the same exercises, but at a higher speed. They get more into making the bike lean and shifting your weight around.

I found it quite beneficial. I was riding not too long ago and starting thinking about some of the things they taught and actually had a better ride because of it.

In one of the braking exercises I did my very first stoppie.

BTW - don't do that, they really frown on raising either end of the bike....

I took the BMSF course last month--pretty much just so I could ride on post. It was decently informative, but not very realistic with the 250 ninja I was on. All I wanted to do was jump curbs and wheelie it--it was so tiny compared to the FZ1. Looking forward to the course, but it's supposed to rain. Oh well. If you're gonna learn to ride a sportbike, you might as well learn to ride a sportbike in the rain.

[DubbleRNR]

Great place to practice being smooth...in the rain that is.

[daddyg]

I took one on post.By the end of the day I was wore out.Be prepared for a long day.Have fun and you will learn alot ,believe me.I tought I knew it all.

[Hayaku]

I teach it. Used my 06 to go through the qualification course to teach it, and for the student demos for class. I think its a fun class. Speeds are higher than ERC.
What I have learned is that for those guys that are sure they will not get anything out of the class, they are probably right. Seen some big time embarassment on the part of some of the chromed Gixxer set. They can wheelie on the street, but that`s about it. Also seen some amazingly good riding by some Busas.

I chose to take my FZ1. I hope I don't drop it

Nothing in the course should cause you to do that.

In one of the braking exercises I did my very first stoppie.

Ska-weez that front brake smoothly and keep applying pressure until you are stopped. It was amazing to me just how fast the bike will stop if you practice.

[pra4sno]

Our KLR's are nothing special. Interesting that we have dirt bikes that run on JB8...but still dont have RCO's for every Marine, and we are confined to using A4's, as not every unit has M4's in their arsenals. What a joke. I bet those bikes see 1500 miles before they end up total'd anyhow.

i'll be taking the riding course soon as well, looking forward to it.

[RavenRider]

Strange firts post, but welcome to the site.

[dean30]

Forgot about this thread. It was supposed to rain the day of the class and, as it turned out, I didn't feel a drop all day. Nice. I showed up at 7:30am, filled out the requisite paperwork, showed the instructors my proof of insurance and registration, and the class started up. Consisted mainly of a death-by-powerpoint morning, followed by riding exercises in the afternoon until about 5. It was a decent reminder of riding strategies, saftey tips, and importance of preventative maintenance. Boring, but neccesary. Turns out it was one of the first of this kind course in the country, apparently, so there were more instructors than there was students (8 students: 12 instructors). Which was good, up to the point where a couple of the instructors became bored, and they distracted slighty from instruction with their mild background shenanigans.

Afternoon riding was pretty fun. Braking excercises (didn't realize how much my size 15s dominate that rear brake pedal. Instructors nocticed, and then I really learned the power and importance of MAXIMUM BRAKING. Went from dragging the rear wheel without noticing, to busting stoppies, or endos, at will--which is highly frowned upon), turning, turning and braking, swerving, swerving and braking, changing lanes with other riders, and emergency stopping and quickly pulling away.

There's not enough to be said for having an experienced instructor/rider watch your every move, and give you totally honest, constructive criticism/critiquing. That, and it's a good opportunity to meet other sportbike riders in the area who are actively seeking to improve their riding capabilities, and also to check out all the different bikes. All-in-all, it was a good experience, and I would highly recommend this course to anyone who has it available to them. Especially when it's free.



Questions?

[sparky80]

I too took the sportbike course and was not very thrilled bout it.

I asked our squadron's sportbike representative what a sportbike was defined as and there is no definate answer. It's pretty much up to the descretion of the instructor. An FZ1 is a sportbike by defenition as well as a ninja 250, but a hypermotard or monster... both of which are much more capable than a 250 are not.

In taking the class, they teach you how to "get off the bike" at speeds of 15-25 mph. Looks funny and I've yet to find any public road in the United States that you NEED to "get off the bike" to go at the POSTED SPEED LIMIT. Basically the instructors are giving the "go fast tools" to very unexperienced riders.

The course, IMO is more suited for those at beginner racers schools... where they teach the mechanics of going fast. However, in talking with people that have been to the course... they all seem to like it. Sure beats the basic MSF course that teaches you to brake with all 4 fingers on the lever.

Too many new airman, soldiers, marines and seamen are clueless and want to impress their friends by buying the biggest and baddest bike they can. If there was a way to teach them that looks aren't everything and being "cool" doesn't always have to come first then maybe our casuality rate wouldnt be so high.

[EVO8 2 FZ1]

The FZ1 did very well on the course. I ended up getting no discrepancies a perfect score! There was another guy on a Kawi cruiser of some sort that scored perfect also. Had one accident on the course, a young guy that manged go over the handle bars during the testing phase which means automatic failure for a bike drop. He messed up during the 20 mph braking porting of the test. He locked up the back, bike went side ways and he went over the top.

This course was easier than what I thought it would be. Some things were the same as what you do for the basic course. I would do it again if I got another bike just to see how it handles. I do have to take the course again in 3 years, as per AF regulations here in the UK.

[Skypilot]

I'll keep watching for that one to show up at Ft. Bragg, I know I can always benefit from some more good instruction and ya gotta love the price we have to pay for it

[dean30]

Originally Posted by Skypilot

I'll keep watching for that one to show up at Ft. Bragg, I know I can always benefit from some more good instruction and ya gotta love the price we have to pay for it

Chaplain,
They still only have the basic and experienced rider courses on the schedule at Bragg. The Ridercoaches told me it's very similar to the ERC, but I haven't taken that one. And the prices; yeah, you can't beat it.

[mikec426]

Originally Posted by dean30

Went from dragging the rear wheel without noticing, to busting stoppies, or endos, at will--which is highly frowned upon), turning, turning and braking, swerving, swerving and braking, changing lanes with other riders, and emergency stopping and quickly pulling away.

Told you so.

Originally Posted by sparky80

I asked our squadron's sportbike representative what a sportbike was defined as and there is no definite answer. It's pretty much up to the descretion of the instructor. An FZ1 is a sportbike by definition as well as a ninja 250, but a hypermotard or monster... both of which are much more capable than a 250 are not.

In taking the class, they teach you how to "get off the bike" at speeds of 15-25 mph. Looks funny and I've yet to find any public road in the United States that you NEED to "get off the bike" to go at the POSTED SPEED LIMIT. Basically the instructors are giving the "go fast tools" to very inexperienced riders.

Maybe it's different for the Navy. They have a very specific description of what constitutes a sportbike. A Hypermotard and a Monster would definitely qualify.

How to "get off the bike" - The new version of "layin' her down?" I'm not sure it was the MSRC you were taking...

Originally Posted by EVO8 2 FZ1

There was another guy on a Kawi cruiser of some sort

Not sure you were in the MSRC either...

Who knows? Different commands tweak things as they see fit, I suppose. I thought courses were run by the MSF so things should be standardized...

[EVO8 2 FZ1]

Originally Posted by mikec426

Who knows? Different commands tweak things as they see fit, I suppose. I thought courses were run by the MSF so things should be standardized...

The course was given by MSF instructors. You can take either the BRC or the ERC here on base.

[dean30]

Originally Posted by mikec426

Who knows? Different commands tweak things as they see fit, I suppose. I thought courses were run by the MSF so things should be standardized...

Yeah, it is definately an MSF thing, There were instructors there from all over the country, from different branch bases. And they give you a card that says "Military SportBike RiderCourse" on the top of it. I don't know why, they make you show them your BRC card when you get there. I guess it's good free advertisement for the MSF if you lose one.