On Sunday, I took the Experienced Rider Course offered by Motorcycle
Ohio.  This is the MRF course.  It was an all day event, with us
meeting at 7:30 a.m. and leaving at 6:00 p.m.  The first half of the
course was discussion and films and the second half was riding…with
everyone using their own bike.

As it turns out, I managed to get into the class with a group from AMA.
 There was only one other guy there who didn’t work there.  A write-up
of the course, I'm told, is going to appear on their web-site, so there
was someone taking pictures as well.  One of the riders was Will Stoner
(of Swap Meet fame).  He was riding a very cool looking Triumph Tiger.
The only other HD rider there was on a 2000 Super-Glide, which looked
to be mostly stock.

The ride in was a clue as to how the day would go – it was 35 degrees
and sprinkling rain.  Fortunately, the heavy rain finished up while we
were inside.  It never really got past 40 degrees though, and the water
never dried up.

The discussion part of the course covered all aspects of riding, with
emphasis on curves (finding the right path) and traction management.
The riding half stressed stopping (emergency, on a curve and skid
control), swerving (swerve and brake, brake and swerve) and turning
(offset cones, SLLR), all done on wet surface.  This was followed by a
riding skills evaluation, which included aspect of all areas covered,
and a written test.

Will Stoner came over told me how much he liked Sportsters, and that he
was PAINFULLY aware of their inner-workings, having just helped a
friend restore a '74.  Another guy, on a Suzuki, told me he likes
Sportsters 'cause they have so much character – and that he loved just
sitting behind me in line, listening to my bike.  Made me feel better
for having the most obnoxious pipes of the bunch.

All told, I found out that I have a heavy right foot.  I kept locking
up the rear on our emergency stops, but at least I handled it
correctly, never letting it get the best of me.  Still, that's
something I'm going to have to work on.

-tom
'95 hugger


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When it's time to die, no one exclaims, "I wish I had spent more time in
the office."
-Lama Surya Das