I passed the test.

[White Horseradish]

I just finished the MSF basic rider course and passed the riding test. All I need to do now is take the approved permit to the county and I will have the full motorcycle license.

I am so glad I took the course instead of just going for the test.  Totally worth it and fun, too.

Now, to put the bike back together...

[vaskidmark]

Have you signed your organ donor card yet?

I know the danger comes more from cagers than from riders doing dumb things, but either way ....

stay safe.

[Jamie B]

Have you signed your organ donor card yet?

I know the danger comes more from cagers than from riders doing dumb things, but either way ....

stay safe.

I rode many years ago.

The nurses living down the road call all riders organ donors also.

Yea, the cage drivers suck.

[White Horseradish]

My mom tried and failed to talk me out of it...

[sumpnz]

I rode many years ago.

The nurses living down the road call all riders organ donors also.

Yea, the cage drivers suck.

I've heard them referred to as donor-cycles.

[Nick1911]

Well, now that all that negativity is out of the way...

Excellent.  Good on you for taking the class.  Riding motorcycles can be a dangerous activity.  But, you have taken active steps to train yourself not only in the proper operation of a motorcycle, but proper emergency maneuvers.  Like any activity, you can not fully eliminate risks; but you have taken effort to mitigate and manage risks you can control.

Even after you get your license, remember to practice and hone your skills.  You are more vulnerable, which means you must be more vigilant.  

Keep the rubber side down!  

[Regolith]

Yea, the cage drivers suck.

FTFY.

The percentage of motorcycle drivers who suck are probably about the same as "cage"  drivers. You just see way more people driving normal vehicles than motorcycles.

[Nick1911]

The percentage of motorcycle drivers who suck are probably about the same as "cage"  drivers. You just see way more people driving normal vehicles than motorcycles.

On the other hand, it's mighty hard to talk on the cellphone, play with the GPS, put a CD in the stereo, apply makeup, shave, eat a cheeseburger, yell at the kids, spill your latte, read a book, etc while running a motorcycle...

[Regolith]

On the other hand, it's mighty hard to talk on the cellphone, play with the GPS, put a CD in the stereo, apply makeup, shave, eat a cheeseburger, yell at the kids, spill your latte, read a book, etc while running a motorcycle...

No, but it's a lot easier to split lanes, do wheelies, speed through heavy traffic, etc. with a motorcycle. 

You can do stupid *expletive deleted*it with any vehicle, and there ain't no population devoid of idiots.

[Hawkmoon]

On the other hand, it's mighty hard to talk on the cellphone, play with the GPS, put a CD in the stereo, apply makeup, shave, eat a cheeseburger, yell at the kids, spill your latte, read a book, etc while running a motorcycle...

Pffft.

You simply lack hand-eye coordination and multi-tasking capability. Anyone can text and drive ...

[Fitz]

Well, now that all that negativity is out of the way...

Excellent.  Good on you for taking the class.  Riding motorcycles can be a dangerous activity.  But, you have taken active steps to train yourself not only in the proper operation of a motorcycle, but proper emergency maneuvers.  Like any activity, you can not fully eliminate risks; but you have taken effort to mitigate and manage risks you can control.

Even after you get your license, remember to practice and hone your skills.  You are more vulnerable, which means you must be more vigilant.  

Keep the rubber side down!  

As an MSF instructor, I approve this message, an have this to add

Always assume that everyone around you is an idiot and prepare accordingly...

Your broken and mangled body won't care whose fault it was. Remover the Rider Radar video and take it to hear. Constant scanning for and reacting to threats is key. Always have an escape route.

Riding safely is about managing risk and removing unnecessary ones. 35 percent of fatal head injuries are to the chin area, so wear a full face helmet. Also, armored motorcycle jacket, etc. if its too hot for gear, buy better gear or a cooling vest. Rising in t shirts is like screwing a hooker with no condom. Might feel pretty good until your skin ends up cracked and bleeding later.

[geronimotwo]

unfortunatly the really good gear costs as much as a fair bike.  my wife has a nephew with a sport bike.  he spends more on the armour for that bike than on nis own gear.  i tell him his priorities are misplaced.

[HankB]

. . . Riding safely is about managing risk and removing unnecessary ones. 35 percent of fatal head injuries are to the chin area, so wear a full face helmet. Also, armored motorcycle jacket, etc. if its too hot for gear, buy better gear or a cooling vest.

Easier, safer, & more comfortable to fasten your seatbelt and turn on the A/C in your car.

[BryanP]

The percentage of motorcycle drivers who suck are probably about the same as "cage"  rolleyes drivers. You just see way more people driving normal vehicles than motorcycles.

On the other hand, it's mighty hard to talk on the cellphone, play with the GPS, put a CD in the stereo, apply makeup, shave, eat a cheeseburger, yell at the kids, spill your latte, read a book, etc while running a motorcycle...

Can we all agree that the ones we notice are the morons, no matter how many wheels they happen to have under them?

I see people in cars pulling stupid @#$% every day, and I see cyclists being idiots.  Those of us who just get out there and try to safely get to our destinations don't show up on anyone's radar.

[RevDisk]

Pffft.

You simply lack hand-eye coordination and multi-tasking capability. Anyone can text and drive ...

...

How did the driver even manage to accomplish that?

[BryanP]

...

How did the driver even manage to accomplish that?

I'm going to go with he was an idiot speeding down the shoulder of the road and didn't see the semi parked there.

[White Horseradish]

Riding safely is about managing risk and removing unnecessary ones. 35 percent of fatal head injuries are to the chin area, so wear a full face helmet. Also, armored motorcycle jacket, etc. if its too hot for gear, buy better gear or a cooling vest. Rising in t shirts is like screwing a hooker with no condom. Might feel pretty good until your skin ends up cracked and bleeding later.

After trying about a dozen helmets on I wound up buying the HJS IS-MAX BT




I think I made a good choice - wearing it for the four hours of the class was no problem on any of the three days, even when it was hot and humid. The sun shield works really well, especially since I wear glasses.

Don't have a jacket yet. A friend of mine says his riding buddy wears this, apparently it kept his injuries to a few bruises after taking a pretty good spill. I'm not sure I'm up for something like that just yet.

I can't figure out how people manage to ride in flipflops. Isn't shifting uncomfortable or them?

[Fitz]

unfortunatly the really good gear costs as much as a fair bike.  my wife has a nephew with a sport bike.  he spends more on the armour for that bike than on nis own gear.  i tell him his priorities are misplaced.

I tell people, body protection first... Bike protection second

[Fitz]

Easier, safer, & more comfortable to fasten your seatbelt and turn on the A/C in your car.

Maybe, but also lame

[Tallpine]

Wow!  That semi-trailer is going to need a new license plate bracket 

[RoadKingLarry]

After trying about a dozen helmets on I wound up buying the HJS IS-MAX BT




I think I made a good choice - wearing it for the four hours of the class was no problem on any of the three days, even when it was hot and humid. The sun shield works really well, especially since I wear glasses.

Don't have a jacket yet. A friend of mine says his riding buddy wears this, apparently it kept his injuries to a few bruises after taking a pretty good spill. I'm not sure I'm up for something like that just yet.

I can't figure out how people manage to ride in flipflops. Isn't shifting uncomfortable or them?

HJC makes a good lid. I like the slide down sun shield on mine and it was even tolerable in 114 degrees last summer with the internal vents and a little water poured over our heads before putting the helmet on it was almost cool for a few minutes.

[gunsmith]

Lane splitting is not dangerous, it looks dangerous but really,it isn't.

I do it a lot less now due to it being illegal in Nevada, and due to there is a lot less traffic out here in the boonies.

I feel much safer lane splitting and getting away from a flock of road turkeys then I do being surrounded by a bunch of folks who cant use their turn signals and only use their mirrors to change lanes.


BTW

Congrats on taking the course, you now have an efficient way to save on gas and have a little fun

[gunsmith]

HJC makes a good lid. I like the slide down sun shield on mine and it was even tolerable in 114 degrees last summer with the internal vents and a little water poured over our heads before putting the helmet on it was almost cool for a few minutes.

that's a good idea - the water thing- I often even pour water on the helmet ...

http://www.revzilla.com/product/alpinestars-t-breeze-air-flo-jacket

get a jacket similar to this, do not ride in a tshirt, flip flops, sneakers, or without gloves.

I have summer gloves with all the protection, got it on sale a few yrs ago at cycle gear for 70 bucks, have had an alpine mesh summer jacket for yrs-well worth it.

for boots I wear steel toe hikers I got on sale, I would rather wear real mc boots but cant afford them and they are not comfortable for walking. You always need a protective jacket, gloves, boots.

You'll find that spills happen far more often going slow, like when you stop at a stop sign or if you happen to drive over some gravel... wearing a jacket/gloves will mean a difference between annoying and painfully annoying, the difference between picking up your bike and going and looking for a first aid kit and water to pour over your road rash..Bay Area Riders Forum has some great tips/links to cheap(er) safety gear.

[MillCreek]

As an MSF instructor, I approve this message, an have this to add

Rising in t shirts is like screwing a hooker with no condom. Might feel pretty good until your skin ends up cracked and bleeding later.

I thought this was hilarious.  I read it to my wife who said 'Eeew'. 

I am pretty much all the gear all the time.  I don't always wear boots for my work commuting.  But when I am commuting to work, dressed in a suit or sportcoat, I am wearing a high-viz Olympia Phantom suit and a bright yellow Zeus modular helmet.  For fun riding, I have two piece Olympia gear, but I am always suited up.  My experience as a paramedic taught me the value of good gear.  When it gets hot, I have an Olympia Stealth mesh suit.  On the rare occasions that it reaches 90 degrees or above in Seattle, I drive instead.  The stop and go traffic on our freeways is just too brutal in 90 degree weather on the bike.

Because of the gear, I consider myself safer on the motorcycle than on the bicycles.  Where as I have said before, I am essentially wearing spandex underwear and a styrofoam ice bucket on my head. 

[White Horseradish]

get a jacket similar to this, do not ride in a tshirt, flip flops, sneakers, or without gloves.

I don't even walk in flip-flops. I don't own any. :D I've worn nothing but boots for years and only bought low-cut shoes after I couldn't pull boots on after breaking my leg.

You'll find that spills happen far more often going slow, like when you stop at a stop sign or if you happen to drive over some gravel... wearing a jacket/gloves will mean a difference between annoying and painfully annoying, the difference between picking up your bike and going and looking for a first aid kit and water to pour over your road rash..Bay Area Riders Forum has some great tips/links to cheap(er) safety gear.

I got a pretty good illustration of that. The two people who dropped their bikes during the class did it either when stopped, stopping, or when doing a slow turn.

I have light gloves, they are cheap, but they have double palms and knuckle guards. Pretty decent as far as comfort.

I'm working on the jacket, trying to fit it into the budget.