Drivers test

[CatatonicBug]

I also offer a disturbing observation: Many people who I have met who have "taken the course" instead of "doing the road test on the bike they are going to be riding" display poor slow speed riding skills. I haven't ridden with any of the other owners here whatsoever so I cannot speak regarding their abilities. I'm not saying that all people who choose to "take the course" aren't good drivers. Just letting you know what I've found so far.

This is why they have an "Experienced Riders" course, where you ride your own bike. I haven't taken that one, but I hope to next summer. They even have MSF courses for Pillion passengers, to teach them how to ride properly and even how to take control of the bike if the pilot is incapacitated!

[Ivan]

It really trips out some of the long time riders around here that duck walk their bikes into a parking space when I pull straight into one space and U turn in to the next one.

Practicing the slow stuff pays off.

[kjohnson]

Alberta used to have two practical and one written test. You only had to do one of the practical and the written. The one practical test was a skill test where you had to do stuff like :

• walking pace, straight line
• slalom/serpentine, walking pace
• figure 8, walking pace
• figure 8, up to 35kph
• "the box"
• hill starts
• accelerate/shift/decelerate in a curve, both directions
• emergency collision avoidance

You were given a total of 4 mess ups allowed. 3 in a single part = total fail. If your foot touched the ground while doing a part = mess up/fail. Hitting the tester, regardless of how many mess ups you have, instant fail.

The government has decided that since Alberta was the only province to allow licensing based of the skill test, rather than a road test, they would get rid of the skill test.

I figure that is bogus and that while traffic testing should be included, it should not be the only test. I'm all for mandatory safety training. Make the test both the skill test and the traffic test.

[cywelchjr]

Hey, I don't duckwalk my bike into the space, I reverse duckwalk it out. Of course around here in crowded CA, there usually is only a single space available, with the exeption of the motorcycle parking at work, which is conveniently right under my office window so I can keep an eye on my pride and joy. It also drops towards the center of the parking lot, so it's actually easier for me to pull straight in and then just let it roll back when I leave (no need to push, I have to use the brake to keep from going too fast).

[DGXSER]

Here in Ohio we have the same basic test. I alos took the MSF course as an alternate to the test. I did it before I even owned a bike, and did so on a Honda 250 Nighthawk. There were 12 of us taking the course at the same time. All of us passed the test, one was VERY close though (not me, I got 100% tyvm).

We had to weave the cones in a certain tiem span. Then make right and left hand turns within a set of lines/cones. Also had to do a u turn left followed by a u turn right in small box about 15' X 25' I think. Then demonstrate a "quick stop". Then we had to swerve around a parked car (cones) and stop beside it. During the exam we also had to make it to second gear and be sure to downshift to first whenever stopping. Oh yes, also a tight turn/curve within a certain amount of time, many people cam very close to exceeding the time limit on this one. I have since gone back and done all of these test on my XS11. No judges, but I feel confident I can pass on the big pig.

[madmax-im]

I do as Ivan does when parking...no duck walks...The last test i took was in 1990 in Jersey... on a '78 Yamaha XS400 It was a simple straight line- er with a figure 8 at both ends..and no on the road test at all...nowadays its alot more complicated...I have been riding 33 years now...never had the MSF courses...pretty much flew by the seat of my pants...
Tod...its been said that where you look is generally where you're gonna go...also when doing these turns keep your head up...never look down. The gyroscopic effect is true...one needs to keep the rpms at 2500 -3000.

[TDodge7]

i passed the virginia test on my old fzr600 , i watched 2 other guys fail on their dual sports and one other guy fail before the test started because he dropped his ninja . i passed but i cheated , i'd been riding for 15 years before i bothered to get the license . i won't say the fzr600 made it easy tho , low speed weaves weren't it's strong point . they also make you do a super tight right hand u-turn (because that comes up a lot in the usa..... )

[DenyP]

This is an thought provoking thread. I consider myself a good rider, but my slow speed skills on the TimeMachine could be improved.

I took my riders skill test when I was 20 in Utah. This was done on a newlly aquired CB 750 K1 Honda. This bike was heavier then anythig I rode before, and really top heavy. I spent a fair amount of time in a church parking lot practicing before taking the test. I think it is time to do this again.

Deny

[Guy_b_g]

In Oregon, you get either an "under 500cc" endorsement, or a "500cc and over" endorsement. If you want the 500cc and over endorsement, you have to take the test on a bike over 500cc..so no little China scooters allowed.

Best advice I've seen on this thread is the clutch/dragging rear brake method (and practice). It makes for easy control at very slow speeds.

[Rocknroll90]

I passed on second try on my XS Thank You very much

The first time I got 19 points marked off. The second time a week later 3. I had some great help. One man on our fire department works as one of the teachers for the safety class We went and worked one night for an hour then I went back a few times through the week. Monday came and I made the test and got my passing grade on my XS. Then the damn DMV computer was down and it wouldn't spit it out. I had the paper so I went for a ride, I know cops too. Went back later and got the paper version until the real one gets here in the mail. The friction zone is a great thing. Now I get to try and get the wife on the thing Take care two down.

[Larrym]

Winner's Circle

It was all you and your XS out there...doing it the way it's s'posed to be done.

I really wish they would have a bikini model hand us the champagne bottle after passing the skill test. Darned budget cuts!

[DGXSER]

I really wish they would have a bikini model hand us the champagne bottle after passing the skill test. Darned budget cuts!

Carefull what you wish for, Tod may try to make a few extra bucks modeling. This is where you hear the Jeff Foxworthy line about wanting a beer and wanting to see something naked...then..... OH NO, NOT THAT!!!!