The Box from the MSF course...

FOM · 04-26-2009, 11:47 PM

Okay, today I so wanted to go for a ride - didn't get to on Saturday due to weather. Well by the time we got around to going clouds were rolling in, but no rain scheduled - we planned to ride up to my in-laws to show them my bike since they hadn't seen it yet because they are about 30 miles away and I hadn't felt ready to tackle that drive. So we gear up and head out, it was a little windy and it "looked" like it might rain so about 5 miles from the house I signaled to my husband and we turned around - my nerves got the best of me.

So on the way home I decided to stop at the local high school parking lot and work on some slow riding skills, espically after laying my bike down at a slow speed on Friday. Well I also been wanting to try that stupid box thing with my new bike, but so afraid of laying it down....so I tried a few times and just couldn't get it....so I took a break and my husband had a go....he has been riding for a long time and made it look easy, but he was on a KLR which made it easier, so he decided to give it a try with my bike...he made it look easy, again. Anyway, I watched what he was doing, putting his chin on his shoulder looking well into the turn and keeping his head up, he was also staying off the throttle....all things I wasn't doing....anyway, I tried to do what he was doing and by God I was actually doing the box with ease after a few tries....he even setup a figure 8 for me to attempt and I did it with ease! WOW!

Anyway, just had to brag a little because it felt awesome to ride my bike and successfully do the box - which I could not do in the MSF course. It felt awesome to get a feel for what I could do with my choosen ride...it is very helpful to have a husband to mentor me without making me feel like an idiot!

Even though I so wanted to go for a long ride, glad I didn't....

Now we won't discuss the swerve! HA Still need some work on that! But we will.

We also did some quick stops! That was actually pretty fun!

Thanks for listening.....it will be some nice to take the ERC next Spring knowing I can do the box with my bike

FOM

SBright · 04-27-2009, 12:12 AM

Congradulations on doing the box!, and on your own bike, that must feel good. I remember doing the box in the MSF class, we had practiced it several times before testing and everyone was doing it. During the test there was one guy that dropped the bike, I really felt sorry for the guy because he had been doing so good, He had to sit out the rest of testing, but I beleive he got to try it again after we left.

Gaevren · 04-27-2009, 07:51 AM

I did pretty well during the MSF on the box, but those bikes are super light! I feel comfortable riding my own bike in general, but trying to do something like the box makes me reeeeeallllly nervous because it's so much heavier. I need to practice though or I'll never get it

FOM · 04-27-2009, 09:44 AM

the bikes in the course were way lighter, but I had the whole fear of falling over and then would give it too much throttle and go wide...I did okay on the exam but I lost a few points for going outside the line.

Trust me I did not want to do it with my bike, but then I saw my husband do it effortlessly, I knew the bike could handle it, so it had to be me preventing it. Then my husband just talked me through it - every once in a while he has little pieces of wisdom that come in handy. He told me to try it without touching the throttle....I did, it worked, it felt awesome!

I never thought I'd be able to do it with a much heavier bike, but I did...now of course I'll go try it again and won't be able to.....at first!

I now need to really work on the swerving.....that scares me more than the box!!!!

FOM

Dodsfall · 04-27-2009, 10:02 AM

The swerving was the hardest part for me too.

FOM · 04-27-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodsfall

The swerving was the hardest part for me too.

I tried yesterday a little just using lines in the parking lot as obstacles, but it was easier to "chicken out" so to speak - so I just ordered a dozen of the little "cones" they used in the course so I can practice with an actual "obstacle" - just need to practice, but it still scares me even though my brain tells me that it makes perfect sense, you are just leaning the bike....argh....but I know if I can get the stupid box thing down, then I'll be able to get the swerving down....practice, practice, practice....the nice thing about the box is it reinforces, look where you want to go and the bike will go with you and it is okay to lean the bike tightly....

FOM

Dodsfall · 04-27-2009, 11:02 AM

The first time I took the test back in 1983, it was a lot easier. You just had to make a U-turn, shift into second on a straightaway and stop on a line. The tests have gotten a lot more difficult since then.

Gaevren · 04-27-2009, 07:13 PM

Swerving I have zero issues with...the bane of my existence is all the slow speed maneuvers, and I *know* it's an issue with me, not the bike!

My only worry with swerving is that I won't recognize the need to swerve when something happens and I'll just hit the brakes when it would have been better to swerve. That kind of thing.

louturks · 04-27-2009, 07:21 PM

The quick stop was the hardest for me. It seemed I was going about 90 mph when I was really going 15-20 after I got it up to speed, and a short distance to have to stop it. I thought no way this is going to stop in that short amount of distance. But it did

primalmu · 04-27-2009, 08:47 PM

The box is the hardest thing to learn. For one, there's just so much going on for a new rider to try to remember. Don't go too fast, look into the turn, don't go outside the line... For me, the hardest part was managing the throttle while trying to concentrate on everything. It's tough stuff.

I've been meaning to get down to the local MSF parking lot and try my hand at the box and some offset weaves on my new bike. I've also been meaning to do some work on finding the sweet spot of the friction zone. Just gotta find the time!

Regarding leaning the bike, I still have issues with "trusting my tires" as I call it. It doesn't freak me out at all to actually lean, but after having crappy Dunlop tires on my first bike I haven't yet managed to really start trusting my Pirellis. I am starting to get back in the groove of looking through the turns, though. I've got a favorite little road that I think I'm gonna start practicing on, with the aim of reducing the length of time it takes for me to get from one end to the other.

j2look · 04-27-2009, 11:13 PM

Congrats FOM from the lows on Friday to the top on Sunday

Dodsfall · 04-27-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by primalmu

Regarding leaning the bike, I still have issues with "trusting my tires" as I call it. It doesn't freak me out at all to actually lean, but after having crappy Dunlop tires on my first bike I haven't yet managed to really start trusting my Pirellis. I am starting to get back in the groove of looking through the turns, though. I've got a favorite little road that I think I'm gonna start practicing on, with the aim of reducing the length of time it takes for me to get from one end to the other.

The bottoms of my pegs are ground flat from leaning. I still have about 1/2 inch of chicken strip on the back tire though.

daw840 · 04-28-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodsfall

The bottoms of my pegs are ground flat from leaning. I still have about 1/2 inch of chicken strip on the back tire though.

LOL, I just learned what "chicken strip" is and yes, there is a lot on my front tire. As a matter of fact, the little rubber spikey things are still there too.....

NoRegrets78 · 04-28-2009, 01:29 PM

I hate the box with a passion...its the only spot on the test I flubbed. Just got nervous and didn't get off the saddle like I was supposed to.

Tried it this weekend with my new 900 Custom. Flubbed a few times but got the hang of it eventually. Such a PITA.

FOM · 04-28-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoRegrets78

I hate the box with a passion...its the only spot on the test I flubbed. Just got nervous and didn't get off the saddle like I was supposed to.

Tried it this weekend with my new 900 Custom. Flubbed a few times but got the hang of it eventually. Such a PITA.

I referred to it as the "STUPID Box!" for days after my MSF class....but I decided I needed to master that skill with my bike....I haven't been out since Sunday to try again, I plan to when the weather lets up - I am sure I'll call it stupid once again!

Also doing lots of slow manuvering drills....it seems that is where I have the most issue.....

FOM

Dodsfall · 04-28-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daw840

LOL, I just learned what "chicken strip" is and yes, there is a lot on my front tire. As a matter of fact, the little rubber spikey things are still there too.....

My front tire is worn evenly to the edge across the treads. The back one is a little wider. Maybe that's why it has untouched tread still.

blaxx · 04-29-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daw840

LOL, I just learned what "chicken strip" is and yes, there is a lot on my front tire. As a matter of fact, the little rubber spikey things are still there too.....

Those, my friend, are called tire titties!

(that what I call em anyway)

04-26-2009, 11:47 PM	#1
FOM Verified Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fountain, CO Posts: 91	The Box from the MSF course... Okay, today I so wanted to go for a ride - didn't get to on Saturday due to weather. Well by the time we got around to going clouds were rolling in, but no rain scheduled - we planned to ride up to my in-laws to show them my bike since they hadn't seen it yet because they are about 30 miles away and I hadn't felt ready to tackle that drive. So we gear up and head out, it was a little windy and it "looked" like it might rain so about 5 miles from the house I signaled to my husband and we turned around - my nerves got the best of me. So on the way home I decided to stop at the local high school parking lot and work on some slow riding skills, espically after laying my bike down at a slow speed on Friday. Well I also been wanting to try that stupid box thing with my new bike, but so afraid of laying it down....so I tried a few times and just couldn't get it....so I took a break and my husband had a go....he has been riding for a long time and made it look easy, but he was on a KLR which made it easier, so he decided to give it a try with my bike...he made it look easy, again. Anyway, I watched what he was doing, putting his chin on his shoulder looking well into the turn and keeping his head up, he was also staying off the throttle....all things I wasn't doing....anyway, I tried to do what he was doing and by God I was actually doing the box with ease after a few tries....he even setup a figure 8 for me to attempt and I did it with ease! WOW! Anyway, just had to brag a little because it felt awesome to ride my bike and successfully do the box - which I could not do in the MSF course. It felt awesome to get a feel for what I could do with my choosen ride...it is very helpful to have a husband to mentor me without making me feel like an idiot! Even though I so wanted to go for a long ride, glad I didn't.... Now we won't discuss the swerve! HA Still need some work on that! But we will. We also did some quick stops! That was actually pretty fun! Thanks for listening.....it will be some nice to take the ERC next Spring knowing I can do the box with my bike FOM Last edited by FOM; 04-26-2009 at 11:49 PM..

04-27-2009, 10:02 AM	#5
Dodsfall Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 15,820	The swerving was the hardest part for me too. __________________ 2008 XL1200R To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-27-2009, 11:02 AM	#7
Dodsfall Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 15,820	The first time I took the test back in 1983, it was a lot easier. You just had to make a U-turn, shift into second on a straightaway and stop on a line. The tests have gotten a lot more difficult since then. __________________ 2008 XL1200R To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-27-2009, 08:47 PM	#10
primalmu 2005 Bandit 1200S Join Date: May 2008 Location: Starkville, MS Posts: 4,303	The box is the hardest thing to learn. For one, there's just so much going on for a new rider to try to remember. Don't go too fast, look into the turn, don't go outside the line... For me, the hardest part was managing the throttle while trying to concentrate on everything. It's tough stuff. I've been meaning to get down to the local MSF parking lot and try my hand at the box and some offset weaves on my new bike. I've also been meaning to do some work on finding the sweet spot of the friction zone. Just gotta find the time! Regarding leaning the bike, I still have issues with "trusting my tires" as I call it. It doesn't freak me out at all to actually lean, but after having crappy Dunlop tires on my first bike I haven't yet managed to really start trusting my Pirellis. I am starting to get back in the groove of looking through the turns, though. I've got a favorite little road that I think I'm gonna start practicing on, with the aim of reducing the length of time it takes for me to get from one end to the other. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by primalmu; 04-27-2009 at 08:50 PM..

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04-27-2009, 12:12 AM	#2
SBright Verified Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dripping Springs, Tx Posts: 99	Congradulations on doing the box!, and on your own bike, that must feel good. I remember doing the box in the MSF class, we had practiced it several times before testing and everyone was doing it. During the test there was one guy that dropped the bike, I really felt sorry for the guy because he had been doing so good, He had to sit out the rest of testing, but I beleive he got to try it again after we left.

04-27-2009, 07:51 AM	#3
Gaevren Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 242	I did pretty well during the MSF on the box, but those bikes are super light! I feel comfortable riding my own bike in general, but trying to do something like the box makes me reeeeeallllly nervous because it's so much heavier. I need to practice though or I'll never get it

04-27-2009, 09:44 AM	#4
FOM Verified Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fountain, CO Posts: 91	the bikes in the course were way lighter, but I had the whole fear of falling over and then would give it too much throttle and go wide...I did okay on the exam but I lost a few points for going outside the line. Trust me I did not want to do it with my bike, but then I saw my husband do it effortlessly, I knew the bike could handle it, so it had to be me preventing it. Then my husband just talked me through it - every once in a while he has little pieces of wisdom that come in handy. He told me to try it without touching the throttle....I did, it worked, it felt awesome! I never thought I'd be able to do it with a much heavier bike, but I did...now of course I'll go try it again and won't be able to.....at first! I now need to really work on the swerving.....that scares me more than the box!!!! FOM

04-27-2009, 07:13 PM	#8
Gaevren Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 242	Swerving I have zero issues with...the bane of my existence is all the slow speed maneuvers, and I know it's an issue with me, not the bike! My only worry with swerving is that I won't recognize the need to swerve when something happens and I'll just hit the brakes when it would have been better to swerve. That kind of thing.

04-27-2009, 07:21 PM	#9
louturks Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: VA Posts: 1,367	The quick stop was the hardest for me. It seemed I was going about 90 mph when I was really going 15-20 after I got it up to speed, and a short distance to have to stop it. I thought no way this is going to stop in that short amount of distance. But it did

04-27-2009, 11:13 PM	#11
j2look If you wait, all that happens is you get older Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 442	Congrats FOM from the lows on Friday to the top on Sunday

04-28-2009, 01:29 PM	#14
NoRegrets78 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 285	I hate the box with a passion...its the only spot on the test I flubbed. Just got nervous and didn't get off the saddle like I was supposed to. Tried it this weekend with my new 900 Custom. Flubbed a few times but got the hang of it eventually. Such a PITA.