On April 12th, 2009 the Sandollar Motorcycle club attended the Military SportBike RiderCourse "The Super ERC" at Navy Pensacola. The following are some of their thoughts, comments and photos:
Personally, I really enjoyed the class today, Mike's teaching approach
was great, I was dog-tired and he kept it entertaining. I don't know
much about the class, how it came to be, or why it's called "The
military sportbike class" Although he did say its name will be
changed and will be offered all around, I don't know why it hasn't
been offered before. From what I saw today, with the difference in
people, their skill levels, and the various types of motorcycles present,
I don't know why this class hasn't been offered to the public before
(unless it has?) I caught myself applying some of the techniques taught
today while riding home, and honestly felt good about them, and felt
it made me a little bit better of a rider. I hope we can get to do
some more of these in skills (now if I can just make it to more skills).
To put it one way, now that I've been through it, but if I hadn't and
were just some regular Joe on the street, if I would happen to find
out about this class, I definitely would pay whatever the cost to take
the class. Mike and Wanda are both great instructors, and I am grateful
of them for taking the time to give us this class. Mike B |
Mike B |
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George please tell Michael that I thought the course was well organized. Robert W |
Robert W |
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I really appreciate and enjoyed this class that Michael and Wanda put together for us. The instruction that we received was outstanding, I thought the way it started with the “be honest about your riding” (form 2 and the Zuckerman inventory) was a great way to set the tone for the class for the rest of the day. The classroom instruction was good, it showed what you were going to learn before you got out on the pavement. The course exercises were fun and challenging. To paraphrase Michael “you know how to ride, we’re going to get you to challenge yourself to be a better rider through these skills” and that’s exactly what all of us did. Excellent course, I think it should also be open to cruisers, not just sportbikes. Fred ( Wheet ) |
Fred |
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Mike, Wanda and George First, let me say thank you for letting me participate – Thanks! 12 people are hard to manage on a course, I cannot even think about trying to manage 19 bikes. Mike and Wanda made the classroom and riding on the range look like it was easy. Very smooth transitions between four groups of riders – I am truly amazed how you two managed that many bikes. Mike did an outstanding job of managing so many people in the classroom and keeping us focused on the task (of learning). Not only keeping us focused, but also explaining the braking, riding on the curves, and advance skill riding, “COW”. At first I was thinking, this is really going to be hard for me, as a MSF instructor, I have been telling everyone to Slow, Look, Press and Roll; and now I am being told, “there is a better way”, trail braking and COW. The card trick was also great, a picture is worth a thousand words – you made your point in less than five minutes. Because Mike took the time starting with introductions and then moving smoothly into cornering, braking, COW, and trail braking; it all came together on the range – the way it is suppose to. Taking the time to fully explain all of the above was the key step for our understanding. At the range, Mike’s and Wanda’s demo rides showed us the correct technique, which obviously helped in us practicing the correct way for braking, cornering, COW and trail braking. It is obvious to me, having “mentored” sport bike riders and seeing three bikes going down in one year, the cause were: too fast of an entry speed and the lack of experience. I have also experience that car making the left hand turn in front of me and I definitely know the importance of MAX braking and/or the option to swerve. I was happy with the current braking part of this course – I think MSF nailed it with this course. This is the first time I have truly had the opportunity to perform max braking with this HD in a safe environment. Mike’s constant coaching was terrific and kept reinforcing me to improve my MAX braking with the front brake. Also the comment on just setting your foot on that back brake; I believe this is also important especially with Harley’s, with that big old pedal and leverage arm, my foot was being forced down harder during stops (i.e., me pressing down and my body weight pressing down at the same time); I now understand a little why and how to mitigate some of that unwanted rear braking. Using the COW and trail braking was new, but the pictures and descriptions in class and then actually getting in the curves, I could feel I was leaning less but still making an aggressive move, I liked it. I really enjoyed this class and I know, it has helped me in being a better Rider. Mike and Wanda (you too George) THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!! Joe T Editor's note: COW stands for the Chin Over Wrist technique taught in the class. |
Joe T |
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GREAT WAY TO SPEND THE DAY! Getting to spend a day learning new techniques, relearning older ones
and getting rid of old habits is hard to beat. When you have the quality
of instruction we did for the sport bike class, it makes it even better! SpectreSteve |
Spectre Steve |
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On 12 April 2009, I attended the MSF Military Sport Bike Rider Course
at Corry Station, Pensacola, FL. Jerry G |
Jerry G |
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Sand Dollars Lead the Way
BH (Cris B) |
Mary Ann & Chris B |
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Sunday April 12, Super ERC motorcycle class was fabulous! Although we have our own Skills Sunday once a month, it never hurts to have professional training updates. This Sunday I found especially useful the COW maneuver during turns and placing the foot on the rear brake and letting weight transfer during braking apply the rear brake without lock up amazing. No more rear brake lock up! Thanks M2 for the professional classroom, great teaching, I actually learned new things, see above. Amazed Munchkin (David B) |
David B |
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Sport Bike Class-----My Thoughts Since I’m not overly confident in my ability to ride my current bike well enough for this class, I asked M2 if he thought I could handle the class before starting. I’m really glad he said yes and I believed him. The classroom was a real eye opener and I think the way it was presented really made you think about your surroundings and what you think and how to react. I really got into the C.O.W. I did not think I could make really tight corners but I kept taking out the cones on the inside. After the class, I think I might be ready for the dreaded BOX, my all time nemesis. Thanks to M2 and Wanda, I’m like the little train that said “I think I can, I think I can and now I know I can. Thanks to both M2 and Honda Wanda. You’re the best. Sam |
SAM |
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The course.....big enough to feel safe to do maneuvers. Skwirrel |
Skwirrel |
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Had a great time attending this course! |
Joejoe |
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Joe I am humbled that an experienced and knowledgeable motorcycle
instructor such as your self thinks we did a good job. That's a strong
compliment and I appreciate it. Wanda and I have worked together for
years and I love working with her. I've learned some neat things from
the Honda woman. She's a dear friend and a wonderful coach who helps
me be a better coach myself. Editor's note: M2 was the lead instructor this day |
M2 |
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You definitely summed it all up for me too M2 :) Editor's note: Honda Wanda was one of the instructors this day |
Wanda |
Last revised: June 6, 2009 |
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