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Originally Posted by Bugman
Sad day when you have to criticize MSF for not teaching performance riding... get real asshole.
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I don't know why I'm going to dignify a comment like this with a response, but here we go anyways...
I specifically said I don't expect the MSF to teach performance riding. Apparently you missed that part. What I do expect the MSF to teach is the correct way to control all bikes so everyone can have the best shot at a safe ride. If you group everyone under the same generic instruction then you are going to be shortchanging some group of riders on many points.
Taking all performance riding out of the equation, you do not operate a 900lb Harley with no brakes or agility the same way you operate an R6. Sorry, you just don't. If you are going to offer bikes from different genres with different capabilities in your stable of test bikes then don't expect them to be ridden the same. And then to try to reteach someone who is displaying correct riding technique to fit the generic curriculum shows a real lack of understanding from the instructors themselves.
Having someone negotiate a course the way the diagram shows in your book and passing them doesn't get the job done. If you want people to be safe riders they need to understand why one thing is done over another way and under what circumstances. If I'm going to stop short of the car that just pulled out in front of me or turn the bike for all I can to avoid that road hazard, I need to know the optimal way to do it unless I plan to never leave the comfort of the MSF cone course. Trail braking is something most people won't even hear about until they take a race school, but why? The MSF will tell you to brake in a straight line which is great advice under normal conditions, but what about when Joe Motorcyclist is out for a ride and runs into a scenario where his only option is to brake while cornering? He took the MSF and all he knows is "don't". A better MSF might have shown him in an exercise how the bike will react if he brakes while leaning. Joe has been playing around with that technique a little since he heard about it in the MSF, and he was able to use that knowledge to avoid a crash.
The less a rider understands about how to control a bike, the more likely they are to get hurt or hurt someone else. Laying the foundation for a well rounded skillset for all riders should be the ultimate goal, and with minor changes to the course they could be much closer to achieving that.
