Bikes and Bros.

[dmmcd]

As some of you know, my brother bought a 2009 XF200 from Zug, and he has been putting the miles on it. I convinced him to take a MSF course, and I said I would do it with him. I took the ERC (experienced rider course) a few years ago, and so I thought this would be a good experience for him. They now call it the BRC2 (basic rider course pt. 2), but it is the same thing.

We met at my house early in the morning and set off for the class site, which was about 45 minutes of great traffic free twisty back roads. A very nice ride. The course is all parking lot instruction and drills. We never got out of 2nd gear, but they are good skills to learn. They go over basic maneuvering, weaving, that sort of thing. We did various radius turns, obstacle avoidance, quick braking, and other things like that. At the end of the course, they do an evaluation, and if you pass, you get your license. I already had my license for 8 years, and I already completed the course a few years back, but I still got another course completion card with no points deducted (perfect score!) My brother also got a perfect score and got his license.

The XF200 is the perfect bike for that sort of parking lot work. It handles amazing, can easily do a figure 8 in the small box, stops super quick, and is very light to throw around. We had a lot of fun, and I think my brother learned some good skills. The instructors were very impressed with our bikes and asked what they were. After telling them, they asked where they could get one... There was another guy in the class with a Suzuki DR200, and we were comparing the bikes. The engines look VERY similar.

Awww, aren't they cute...




At the course: (The dealer has invested heavily in the CanAm Spyder line...)

[2LZ]

Dude....that is SOOOO cool! You and your bro...bikin' together!
My middle brother and I were a scant few years apart and used to spar on the local dirt tracks nightly after school, growing up.
No better "Sibling Rivalry".....to be sure. I'm very happy for you, still being able to do this.
....and yes....the Q's are really nice bikes for CB's. Mine does everything well.....ESPECIALLY for the money.
You may hear complaints and gripes how "They don't stand up to the Japanese counterpart"....but they also cost 1/2-1/3 as much.

Like I tell my neighbor...."As opposed to the all the Japanese bikes I owned in my youth, the Q always starts, doesn't foul plugs, doesn't leak, doesn't break and isn't going to need a top-end rebuild after every season".
An excellent value! 8)

[SpudRider]

Thanks for posting the great photos, DM! Both of you were very wise to take the rider safety course.

Spud

[dmmcd]

I have 4 younger brothers (and 1 older sister). We grew up riding dirt bikes and racing around the yard. We had pocket bikes for a little while, and those were always fun to race. I don't get out riding much anymore, but I hope now that this brother is riding on the street I might have an excuse again. It was definitely a fun day.

His bike is running a bit rough now, but it has 2600 km and I don't think the valves have ever been checked. He is not the most mechanically inclined, but I'll try to teach him how to properly care for his bike. My XF has 1500 km, and runs great!