I just listened to the recent V-Twin Journal podcast. This week's podcast had an interview with a journalist, Wendy Moon. It was an interesting interview...
She did an article about the MSF, or as she writes... the M$F. She did a comparison on motorcycle safety courses offered in the US, UK, and Canada and compared the knowledge/experience gained as well as the fatality/accident rates for those who take the classes offered in these countries.
Her conclusion is that the MSF in the US stinks comparitively. She believes this is due to the MSF itsself, and the way it's structured and it was founded.
Basically, there were too many motorcycle accidents in the 60s and 70s. The US government wanted to put all sorts of rules and regulations on motorcycling, but the industry banded together and the government let the industry fix things. The MIC, which runs the MSF (as I understand it) is operated by the motorcycle manufacturers, as well as the accessory companies. The MSF is run by just the manufacturers.
As Moon puts it, the MSF is in it for the money. States, like Oregon and Idaho, felt that MSF was inadequate. Oregon developed their own courses. Idaho is using (or will be using) Oregon's system. Colorado is thinking about changing as well, but the MSF is threatening law-suit.
I know that I've had friends take the MSF recently (never before riding), and I rode with them afterwards. I was scared for their safety and mine.
This just interested me....
Anyway... if you're interested... listen to the podcast at:
http://vtwinjournal.com/
Read the article that moon wrote at:
http://moonrider.journalspace.com/?cat=MSF