Not the best start to a new MSF teaching/riding season.

[Momz]

A few weeks back my wife was doing her MSF rider training with one of the chief instructors, when he had a temporary lapse coordination, dumped a trainer bike and broke his ankle.

Two weeks ago my wife was teaching (a group of tweleve students) on the range when a female student lost control during a braking excercise, dumped the bike and broke her leg. Only five of the tweleve completed the course.

This weekend she was teaching a dozen students (four of whom have crotch rockets and were stopped and found not to be endorsed). My wife had just completed an excercise and was setting up for the next when a student wasn't paying attention, dumped the clutch, went straight for my wife. The student hit my wife, knocked her to the pavement, dropped the bike on her, and then fell on the bike that was already on my wife. She was pinned down by a running bike on her!

She has scrapes and bruises as well as a few aches and pains. But she will live to teach again.

The student and his daughter (also a student) quit the class, citeing that motorcycles are too dangerous!!!

[Detn8er]

"motorcycles are too dangerous!!!"

Apparently they are for some peeps.

[Gryphon Rider]

I am convinced that some people simply should not ride motorcycles.  Every so often I have had students that I hoped wouldn't pass their road test or would give up before they did.  I'm also convinced that many car drivers passed their licence test by the skin of their teeth or by fluke, then refused to improve their driving afterwards.

[olddog1946]

Motorcycle's ridden by brain dead and apparently breeding, fools are indeed dangerous. The bad part, aside from the injuries suffered already, is that in a week or so that same fool will be out riding his dangerous motorcycle again.

[Willow]

Sounds like a little more classroom time may be in order.

I hope it gets better for them.    

[FloridaValkRyder]

When I took my course, I had already been riding for quite awhile. But, following all the rules, I went to the course, in my car and took all the instructions and actually learned some things. But, there were 5 or 6 students out of 13 who took the course and just did horribly. They crashed the bikes, ran over an instructor, ran into the bike shed and never stopped until they hit the wall in the back... you get the idea. ALL of them passed the course. I complained to the instructors and was advised "they show some skills and hopefully will improve". So, they are out there, motorcycle endorsement and all, among us!! Be afraid..be very afraid..

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I agree there are some people who may not be coordinated enough to ride or whose attention span is just too short to maintain concentration.

But, from a selfish standpoint, would you rather have these people on two wheels or driving a 4000lb 4 wheeled nightmare beside you on the road?

Be that as it may, I sure hope your wife gets through teaching without getting hit again and that things get better from the instructor standpoint.

My thanks to those of you who take the time to teach people how to ride. There is not a doubt that you save a certain number of people from meeting an early death. Even those that don't continue to ride may wind up being better cagers because of the training.

[solo1]

Some yeas ago, My brother-in-law at the time decided that he was going to start riding motorcycles at age 75.  He knew that I had always rode bikes and it was no big deal (He said)

He bought a used GW, had it delivered to his home,  and dropped it twice moving it in his garage.  I finally persuaded him to take a beginners bike course.  He complained that he'd been driving for xxx years and WTF is so hard about riding?  He started the beginners course, dropped the tiddler three times  the first day and was kicked out of the course.  He blamed me for it and never spoke to me again.

[FPG52]

Well Solo.. One less Christmas present you have to buy. 

I am a salesman and on the road (albeit in a car) every day doe Thirty years...consider myself a good driver.  I took the course 6years ago when I began to ride... Taught me much more than riding with a buddy but quickly realized it was only the beginning of my training. 

Yes those people who appeared not to be competent with a bike still passed... However the accident they eventually get into will more than likely hurt them; the multiple numbers of less than capable auto drivers who get a liscense because they can execute a K-turn will more then likely hurt others. 

Add my thanks to the teachers and effort they give to do the right thing
FG

[fudgie]

Wow!  Hope she feels better soon!

[Momz]

Sore as Pam may be, she just left to train what students are left.

A guy's gotta love a gal like that.

[solo1]

You have a gem, Momz.  Hope that she get over her soreness soon. 

My wife never rode and I couldn't persuade her.

[Phil57]

That's a tough job she has. Hopefully she is better soon.

[Oss]

George any gal that can look at you and not run away screaming is a keeper

I oughta know I have one such here at home

Damselfly is a real keeper for sure

Wishing her a full recovery.... but her eyesight you should hope stays the same    

Oss

[Fudd]

In my younger years I managed a skydiving club.  Through 12 years of instructing new jumpers, I had a few that had no business ever putting on a parachute.  Luckily most of them figured that out themself.  Occasionally, I would have to sit someone down for the little talk.  Face it, some people just don't have the awareness or the coordination for adventure sports.  They can kill themselves or worse, kill others.

I kept a stack of business cards in the top drawer of my desk.  I did, on a few occasions, give out a card for another drop zone in an adjacent state.  I tactfully wished them good luck there.  To my knowledge, no one took me up on the referral.  I also had a card for a nearby bowling alley, but I never had to use that one.

I'm looking into becoming a MSF "rider coach" in Louisiana.  I'm on the waiting list for the instructor's class and understand that it won't be held until January.  Does anyone know if MSF or anyone else offers a study guide for instructors?  I want one to sharpen up on the material.

[Valker]

I've been teaching MSF classes for 20 years and have been training the Coaches for 9 years. There are some interesting stories floating in my head.....

[~ Timbrwolf]

. ...Glad she is okay, that was a definite close call. Tell her that Chili and I are glad
she came out of it okay, and that she is in our thoughts.

[Momz]

Pam appreciates the good thoughts.

All the remaining students stood up and gave her a round of applause when she came to class this morning.

[Lyn-Del]

When I took my course, I had already been riding for quite awhile. But, following all the rules, I went to the course, in my car and took all the instructions and actually learned some things. But, there were 5 or 6 students out of 13 who took the course and just did horribly. They crashed the bikes, ran over an instructor, ran into the bike shed and never stopped until they hit the wall in the back... you get the idea. ALL of them passed the course. I complained to the instructors and was advised "they show some skills and hopefully will improve". So, they are out there, motorcycle endorsement and all, among us!! Be afraid..be very afraid..

When I took the MSF beginner's course, I had had my MC license for 25 years.  No one else in the class had ridden more than about 5 miles.  Everyone was saying how lucky I was, but I had a quarter century of bad habits to unlearn.  On the other hand, pass or fail, I still had my license!  I rode the Triumph Rocket to and from class - one of the instructors tried it out after class - the other one sold me her late husband's Valkyrie I/S!

Now in Texas, you have to have the class to get a license, so she's had guys in there who have been riding for 40+ years, some not very well.  And young folks who think they know it all.  Wizard and I used to go out to the range and practice during breaks in the class - gave the new riders the information that even licensed riders need to practice maneuvers.  And I helped talk a nervous girl through the class -  and helped a few other folks as well.  Mostly they just needed to relax!

My friend always told them (she're retired now) that they were now qualified to ride a small motorcycle at speeds up to 15 mph in a closed parking lot.