Got a letter from the VA DMV

[Jess from VA]

Congratulating me for being a motorcyclist, and urging me to take VA rider safety courses. (that's new)

The letter reported that 76% of motorcyclists involved in crashes had never completed rider safety courses (but one wonders how they would know that).  Moreover, many motorcycle accidents involve being hit or rear ended by cages, and I'm not sure rider safety courses would help with that. 

The letter also reported that one in four riders in crashes aren't even legally endorsed to ride motorcycles on VA roads.  (so criminals  )

The letter went on to list the VA rider safety courses available, and urged me to take them.

When I got my first motorcycle, there was no separate MC license endorsement in MI.  When they did get one, all I had to do was claim some mileage on bikes, which I did.

When I joined the USAF, I was dismayed to be told I could not ride on base (where I lived) without an MSF course (so you'll be pushing it to the gate lieutenant).  So I took the base MSF course (on our own bikes only), and smoked it so well (riding and classroom), I was asked if I would help them and become an instructor, which I did for the rest of my tour at Maxwell AFB AL (after getting permission from my boss).

Training courses are a good idea, for new and old riders.  I ride little in winter weather, and every Spring I tend to do a little brushing up on my own, doing tight maneuvers like in the famous MSF box.  Also shaking down the old bikes to make sure they still run and stop like they should. 

What I never do is practice laying them down and lifting them back up.  The hell with that!! 

[Oldfishguy]

Looks like your local VA is doing a nice job of pointing you in a direction for safety training.  Good for them.

I’ve sat as a volunteer on our state task force on motorcycle safety for nine years now, next year will probably be my last.  We try to lower death rates and accidents through marketing and training programs.  So far, in my tenure, statistics remain stable while ridership is decreasing.  Kind of dispiriting over time.  And yes we have access to a lot of data.  The 76% referred to by Jess is probably the state sponsored training programs (That are undoubtably heavily subsidized by motorcycle licenses tab renewals).

And we are dealing with the 1/4 of motorcyclist deaths are not endorsed as well.  One does not need a permit or endorsement in MN to purchase and title a motorcycle.  Not being able to change that law has been my greatest frustration.

I have determined to make varying levels of training available in the state and to market it has best as money is available  and be content with that.  The substantial amount of funds are aimed at getting the initial endorsement training throughout the state through local tech colleges.(Again, heavily subsidized by renewal motorcycle license tab fees).  A much lesser amount is for advanced training one day programs.  I do one of these courses every spring; it is simply a fun and challenging day on the bike.  And with the higher level of these courses the speed increases.  One has to master the parking lot maneuvers before winding the bike up a bit.

We’ve noticed another trend is for folks to test out of the training and just test for the endorsement.  Not something I like to see but our price for training went up the last few years and I think that is impacting that decision by students.  We simply needed to start updating the training fleet of motorcycles a little at a time (300 plus machines total).

I’ve done a few track course too with the Valkyrie; think short course with 15 turns in 3 miles and just one small stretch to wind the machine up to 75mph or so if aggressive.  I pick up something on each one of these courses.  On that particular track course I learned down shifting to slow the machine is worthless and dangerous when needing to slow fast.  The rear tire will hop bacause the constant friction to slow is interrupted.  Just use maximum breaking, and you don’t know where that is unless it is practiced occasionally.

Take a class folks, I’d like to hear about on this thread.  Thank you Jess for starting it.

[Oss]

Took beginner and intermediate msf   wish I was pulling the trailer for the 2nd one.

Ive been practicing the 1% braking increasing on the bmw during turns until I can see the exit and then
giving more throttle,  if its a long turn I try to stay on throttle as much as possible  Never downshift during a turn but may before I enter the turn

I have found I am movin thru the turns more quickly and my confidence in the bike is increasing

Have not been on the Valk since August except for a few miles here and there as I am still trying to fix the electrical gremlin

I dont care who sees my brake lites anyway except to slow the cage behind me  Thanks to Thom for bearing with me coming back from that lunch ride at the Athens Inzane when I almost had to bail for home the day after I arrived  Man I was a wreck that day

[da prez]

  My last three accidents were rear end.  It doesn't seem to matter what kind of lighting , blatant colors that are worn. The norm is "sorry , i didn't see you.  P U T down your damn phone.

       I am all for safety courses.  The I D I O T S in cages need safety courses!

                                                 da prez

[MarkT]

  My last three accidents were rear end.  It doesn't seem to matter what kind of lighting , blatant colors that are worn. The norm is "sorry , i didn't see you.  P U T down your damn phone.

       I am all for safety courses.  The I D I O T S in cages need safety courses!

                                                 da prez

The problem in WI, the cagers brains are clogged up with cheese.  I was nearly killed by a left-turning bimbo there, while evasive manouvers to avoid crashes were a daily happening.  "He came out of nowhere.  I thought I hit a dog." Totalled her 1970 Buick ghetto sled and my Ducati.  This one.



  SO GLAD to leave.

[Jess from VA]

I've never been hit by a car.

But I will never forget having some idiot come across the center line right at me (2-lane) and just riding off the road right through the ditch and into the woods (bouncing and dodging trees).  I got stopped and turned around and went after that person to get a plate number and report an attempted murder, but by the time I got back on the road, they could not be found.  I never knew if it was intentional, accidental or what.  (Pre cell phone)

I also had someone come over the center on a (2-lane) mountain curvy road, and swerved left to pass them on the inside, over in their lane.  They weren't using it.   Ha ha ha, missed me.  

Any time there's a sudden "all stop" on the road, I get way right and prepare to ride up beside the car ahead, if the guy in my rear view mirror keeps coming.  I live in the mirror in all sudden stops.

[Robert]

Two times had people next to me not care that I was there just tried to move over and push me off the road. One was on the turnpike and we came up on a state Trooper and I laid on the horn. Nice to see him come out and tag the woman.