ZXWUT?

I don't really care one way or the other.

LEM9192

I agree.............

sschering

Just like drivers Ed isn't going to teach you how to respect a corvette the MSF class isn't going to prepare you for a liter bike or even a 600..

What I took away from the MSF class was better clutch control, slow speed skills and avoiding target fixation.. No it's not going to prepare you for a big bike but like drivers ed you have the basics.

As for the cone weave. I didn't feel that it's about maneuvering.. It's about learning not to target fixate and trust the bike to go where you are looking.

If the tierd system were brought back it should be like the European system based on age and HP ratings. Altough that does lead to odd offerings from manufactures like the 33hp Kawasaki ZZR1100 and de-tuned HD sporsters targeted at limited license riders.

Well no matter what you do someone will find a way around the system and get in over their head.

AcXr50

I thought the ride test was a bit easy. I do think they should make it alot harder on the written end and the test ride. I know some shady ass people who passed and should not be on the road.Like myself.

Shaney_G

I don't agree with this. Just because you are a certain age doesn't necessarily mean you are more or less skilled than someone older than you.

If they started using the tiered system than it should be based on individual skill level and not on age.

Toucan

In theory, yes. Displayed skill should count for all. In reality, maturity and its relation to age should (is) taken into account. Its not fool-proof, nor completely accurate, but there is some relationship between age and the ability to make sound, lower risk decisions/choices. It shows in insurance actuarial tables. I know I took many more risks at a younger age than I do now. I ride better now than then, so experience plays a lot into it, as it does for most folks...

most of the tiered systems I know of are based more on time with bike size and testing to move up versus strict age requirements. Seems the most effective are a combination of both, more focused on skill/time than age.

Bouncer

E-Z young buck!

ebmasott

Guess that makes me an anomaly?

your mom

i think the government "protecting" us from ourselves is turning the us into a bunch of bitchy whiny never take responsibility for ones self bunch of full size children. if more people were forced to take care of them selves instead of relying on someone else to do it for them it would make the worl a better more responsible place

Bouncer

sounds like guilt....

rpappi

thats not fair. then us young bucks would only be stuck with 1200cc harleys and ninja 250's

1balisong

Motorcycle ownership should be based on operators skills. Yes racing on the racetrak is a different license, I know I took a week course with Reggie Pridmore years ago. I know i can do a figure 8 inside a 20 foot box on my Busa. As a former MSF Instructor skill is the key to survival.

monique

agreed there. there should also be in-depth info regarding motorcycles for Driver's Ed. Regardless of whether any high school kid every rides a motorcycle, they should all be fully aware of riders and the hazards riders face.

Stew

Every Driver Ed school is required (by RCW) to provide 1 hour of motorcycle awareness training (currently that's the MSF "A Common Road" module). It's the only choice of materials they have and it's been approved by the Director of DOL (after recommendation from my office). There is a new one out there but at $50 for 267 Driver Ed schools, I'm trying to figure cost/benefit for the $13350 (or subsidy for over 100 students).

Stew

The weave and u-turn have nothing to do with real world situations but have everything to do with how well you control the bike, do you use mulitiple controls to complete a task (like someone that has a clue) or do just try to force the bike through it.

Also how about the quick stop and swerve part of the test? Why don't folks say how useless and unrealistic that is?

Snarl

When the cost is monetary and the benefit is in the form of lives, I'd say it's worth giving it a shot.

Stew

Good point but from which direction? Are the lives saved due to training riders to think and therefore stay out of trouble (60% of fatals in WA are bike only; only 15% of the fatals have attended training so it appears to work at some level) or is it from talking with teenagers in Driver Ed who often have the attention span of a gnat?