NO......

MSF, WTF, how many of those MSF guys do you go out and ride with?? Most of your MSF and DMV crap is geared toward your commuter/cruiser, it is to teach you the basics, thats it.....The only thing I took from MSF was my certificate, the only thing I took from DMV was my license.....It is easy to sit in a classroom and "learn how to ride" and it is another thing in the real world....MSF is a curriculum based coarse nothing more, those guys are there to teach you from a set of standards created by a company that is more than happy to take your money and give you a 10 cent card sayin you can ride....I mean seriously you brought MSF in to this?? You dont get over 25 mph....thats cool if thats all the faster you plan on ridin your scooter.....

 

well, again, that's personal opinion. just because the msf says something, doesn't make it 100% set in stone the correct thing to do.

in theory, i know what your saying makes sense, in reality, it just pisses off the faster riders that are trying to go out and ride a faster pace.

on alot of the bigger group rides we did a few years ago, we actually set 2 groups, a faster group, usually led by whoever was feeling froggy that day, and a slower group, usually led by one of the middle-paced riders. it worked. when we got to a twisty road, the fast group took off, did thier thing, and waited at the end of the road. the slower group did thier thing, and everyone was content.

as far as the newbs trailing behind when at the back of the pack, and trying to ride beyond thier limits to catch up, that is exactly the whole reason that i tell the group (when i was leading) that i wouldn't change roads without making sure everyone had caught up. i was trying to let the newbs know that they don't have to push themselves, we're not gonna leave them. the main problem isn't where in the pack the newbs are, it's usually people riding like they have to prove something to the rest of the group. everyone wants to be the fast guy, THAT'S where the majority of the problems stem from, i.m.o.

and i'll agree with you about the lack of organization. usually it ends up being every man for himself, only slowing down every now and again to let the rest catch up and do a head count. that seems to be the norm no matter who i'm riding with.


for the record, all this started because of my post, and i just want to set the record straight, i wasn't even riding with the group that pissed me off, i just happened to come up behind them while out on a ride by myself. i was more pissed about the guys' riding style than anything else. i really could care less about thier own way they set up their group. i was just trying to get past them without scaring anyone, and continue on my ride.

 

exactly.

the msf is geared towards the lowest common denominator, just like every speed limit in the world. they teach you the basics, that's it. the fact is SOME people can't operate but at a slower pace than the rest of the world, so the bar has to be set low to accomodate those individuals. think of the lil old lady in the cadillac, she can only go but so fast safely, so the rest of the world has to be set at her pace, so not to have her hurt herself, or anyone else around her. that's life. if you wanna go "by the book" and do exactly what everyone else tells you is the "proper" way of doing things, so be it, but not everyone is like that.

a little common sense goes a long way. use your head when you ride, don't JUST go by what some class taught you. the msf is not even remotely geared towards the sport rider. they base the class on the assumption that everyone out there is obeying every single vehicular law, and we all know that's not the case.

 

haha, chiiiill guys chiiiiiiiiill, lol, yeah I know exactly what you guys mean, I was just stating what they said in the MSF class, lol, I assumed you heard it at the same place, cuz personally, I've never seen any group rides go that way, (Experienced leader, Noobs, Others) we usually just find a spot in the group that we feel most comfortable in, usually slower guys in back and faster in the front

ahahahaha, thats reminds me of some ppl that I rode with a while back, it made me LMAO, like seriously, cuz everyone would just gun it, lol, no formation, no set leader, jus gun it, aaaaaaaahhh the good ol' days, LOL

oh btw, i'm not arguing or anything, lol, just stating my .02 and assumptions

 

this thread is very entertaining!

hey seriously though, get whatever bike you feel comfortable on in a riding position, powerwise is up to you, so long as you respect the bike and ride within your limits even as a new rider you'll be ok, just RESPECT THE BIKE!!!!

and as far as group rides, I'm with skrooz on this one, newer riders in the twisties should be in the back......... otherwise they'll forget to zip up their pockets or something and start throwing phones your way.......... lmao!

 

bahaha... yeah, that was awesome. shoulda seen your eyes pop out when i tapped you on the shoulder at 80mph

i really should get a horn.

 

lol, that's the norm! i do kinda miss the days when i actually rode with the same people all the time, at least then i could predict what they were going to do (to a point). not many of those guys left it seems. hell, the only ones i ever see any more are ray, skiv, alvin, and a couple others. nowadays there's just so many new riders all over the place, you just never know who's capable of doing what.

 

hahah good old days, you need to get ur ass another bike.

but yea to the thread starter, i started off with a F4i, you will be fine if you ride at ur own pace, don't dont' over do it and practice.

 

thanks everyone for the input and........tips

 

yeah man, sorry for thread jacking.