Liscence

[Magua]

Well on Sunday I went out and found a bike, a 2000 gn125, looks like it's just out of the shop it's great. A family friend with his liscence will be riding it over to the North Shore from some Place in the Waitakeries on Saturday morning. Got my gear, got my helmet, but no liscence. Now I went for a biking course at Passrite in Penrose last Saturday, I didn't finish it so I'm booked in again for the 17th of January but I'd like to go for my liscence earlier than that.

I guess the question I'm getting at is do I need to attend one of these courses to get my liscence or is this just a great help seeming that I get a certificate saying that I am capable at riding?

[Jackrat]

Mate any training you can get is worth while,but only you will know when you are ready for the test,If I were you I would do the training.I still do a bit of practice emergency braking and direction changing in car parks now and again.A lot of guys go to open days at race tracks to try to improve their road skills.These
are the guys that are still alive after twenty or thirty years riding,still others take to the dirt for the same reasons,Plus it,s damn good fun.
Do the course mate,it might just save your life.
Cheers.

[bungbung]

Hi Magua,

There are three components to a learners licence:

A certificate of completion from an approved 'basic handling skills' course.

Passing 25 scratch and win questions about the rode code (general)

Passing 5 scratch and win questions about the rode code (about bikes)

I think you'll need to complete the course.

[Magua]

Ok thanks for the advice guys, I'll just stick to my driveway untill the 17th.

[Coldkiwi]

and for once, I'll agree with jackrat! :)

the more training you get and the more practice you do, the better you'll get and I'm pretty sure, the more enjoyment you get from knowing what you're doing. won't make you invincible but will probably prevent a lot of pain and cash outlay on the way!

[jrandom]

One caveat. The 'training' the guys at Passrite give you is mediocre, if you can even call it 'training' (as you probably noticed first time round). If you turn up with no bike riding skills they'll just boot you back out without a cert, and you only get one free second go before you have to pay them again.

If I were you, I'd partner up with a friend who rides, go down to an empty parking lot and get your handling skills up to scratch on your bike so that the next time you go down to Passrite it'll be a formality. Otherwise it's a gamble whether or not you'll get the basic handling cert, and you'll end up waiting who-knows-how-long before you actually get your hot little hands on a bike license.

If you really want that bike license soon, you can always kiss goodbye to the cash you gave Passrite and book in somewhere else for the handling cert ASAP (AFTER you've got yourself up to scratch with a mate in that parking lot!) followed by a booking at an LTSA office to do the scratch 'n' win.

[riffer]

Yeah, good idea jrandom. It's funny, kids don't seem to have the same access the dirt bikes that we had when I was younger (early 80s). I guess all the Trail Snails have finally died - TS185s for those who weren't there. I learnt a lot of my riding skills long before I even got near the road.

This site has some interesting articles to read on riding skills:

http://www.survivalskills.clara.net/rskills.htm

A parking lot is a great place to learn great skills like countersteering and how to brake as hard as you can without locking the front wheel, both of which are vital to know if you intend to spend any time amongst the cages on the road.

Try and set up a course with slalom cones (use whatever as long as you can ride around it), and mark out some braking areas and such.

 

[bikerboy]

Why wait until the 17 of Jan., find someone else to get the certificate. The guys at AMPS recommended a guy for mine and it was really easy. Then get the learners and practice during the holidays when all the idiots are away at the Coromandel. Roads are empty and traffic is much calmer. Good practice time.

Sorry but that so called "training" isn't really training, its more like can you stay on the bike, stop the bike and turn the bike around. A couple of trials in a carpart to build skill and confidence and you'll be ready.

If you want training do a few sessions with an instructor after you get your learners on your bike at your comfort level, rather than an assembly line certificate factory. It's not cheap but not too expensive ..$40 per lesson... once a week or month till you feel confident is better value I think.


My two cents.:o

[bungbung]

The "basic handling skills certificate" is a competency exam, not a training course.

If you want training, that'll be a seperate event like a 'learn to ride' course.

[Rocket]

The "basic handling skills certificate" is a competency exam, not a training course.

If you want training, that'll be a seperate event like a 'learn to ride' course.

I am in the same situation as this young fella. I am kinda looking for a place that is going to give me a lesson or two then allow me to sit the basic handling cert after the training. But i am looking for some first hand recomendations. Can anyone provide this? This could be a nice addition to the webpage as well i think, help us newbs out alot.

So, can anyone recomend any company / business? Auckland area, pref city / newmarket. <_<

[Coldkiwi]

So, can anyone recomend any company / business? Auckland area, pref city / newmarket. <_<

Craig Wiffen of Auckland Motorcycle Club would be my punt. taught me to ride and gave me the comptenecy test at the same time ie. "now you're going to learn how to slalom between cones" *do this a few times before getting it right with his help *. "ok... good, you can do that (ticks box). "right, lets learn how to do hill starts" (some hours later, a box gets ticked!)

he's good value and a very helpful instructor. look them up in the yellow pages

[Rocket]

Craig Wiffen of Auckland Motorcycle Club would be my punt. taught me to ride and gave me the comptenecy test at the same time ie. "now you're going to learn how to slalom between cones" *do this a few times before getting it right with his help *. "ok... good, you can do that (ticks box). "right, lets learn how to do hill starts" (some hours later, a box gets ticked!)

he's good value and a very helpful instructor. look them up in the yellow pages

Nice one cheers. Might give him a ring! I presume they supply the gear, bike?

[Yarg]

Another instructor is John Wright Ph: 025 227 5766. my son got his certificate after 1 lesson ($40)
Good luck.
GD

[Big Dog]

I agree with bikerboy, getting training is a little pointless and expensive if you do it before you can stop, start, change gear and turn.

It is a little pointless paying someone good money to teach you how to start your bike.

I reckon most bikers will be happy to show you free of charge the basics. Having done it several different ways with my different licences (classes 1-6 d&f) prior knowledge allows a degree of confidence you can't get any other way.

[Rocket]

well its basically the diference before getting your license first or bike first isnt it. So we need some good opinions here :)

[wkid_one]

I know plenty of people who got their bikes first and license second (road bikes that is)....the actual risk of being pulled over is small (only been pulled over for speeding on the bike - my own fault).....however the penalties without license are huge.

I did mine through Passrite - and have to agree with the comments. Did it on the tennis courts of Royal Oak School - got in to second gear once (I think) and never went over 25kph. Hardly inspiring to then go on the road.

Basic Competence essentially means you can start, stop and steer the bike.......

Rider training is worth while after your licenses. In all honesty, I had NEVER ridden a bike before I did my test (actually one in a drive way one way)...and it wasn't hard at all. If you can ride a bike - you should be able to pass the test. The theory is harder than the practical.

After that - I agree with the others - find people to ride with who are prepared to help you and seek rider training if you feel like it.

[marty]

crikey it's a 10 minute $70 job to get your 6L. a decent blow-job costs more than that. compare that against a $400 fine for wrong class or no licence, plus if you don't have any licence at all you may be forbidden to drive anything and subsequently risk having your vehicle impounded.

pay the $70 and get your licence for goodness sake. if you can't get into a busy auckland licence place, go rural - waiuku/pukekohe/wellsford/warkworth - even dargaville. the licence shop in my home town never has any queues, and if you ask nicely they may even help you with the questions. if you don't think that you can pass the learners, for god's sake don't even THINK about sharing the road with me.

[bluninja]

Craig Wiffen of Auckland Motorcycle Club would be my punt. taught me to ride and gave me the comptenecy test at the same time ie. "now you're going to learn how to slalom between cones" *do this a few times before getting it right with his help *. "ok... good, you can do that (ticks box). "right, lets learn how to do hill starts" (some hours later, a box gets ticked!)

he's good value and a very helpful instructor. look them up in the yellow pages
You do the training in a closed car park below the club rooms in Ellerslie on 100cc Kawasakis...maybe this is where CK got the passion for kwaks:) The bikes will pull 2 up wheelies and get both wheels in the air at the top of the ramp (though I don't think Craig teaches this:buggerd: ). Try calling Craig on Phone 09-444-6261 (from AMCC website)

[Rocket]

crikey it's a 10 minute $70 job to get your 6L. a decent blow-job costs more than that. compare that against a $400 fine for wrong class or no licence, plus if you don't have any licence at all you may be forbidden to drive anything and subsequently risk having your vehicle impounded.

pay the $70 and get your licence for goodness sake. if you can't get into a busy auckland licence place, go rural - waiuku/pukekohe/wellsford/warkworth - even dargaville. the licence shop in my home town never has any queues, and if you ask nicely they may even help you with the questions. if you don't think that you can pass the learners, for god's sake don't even THINK about sharing the road with me.

Relax, no one said anything about driving on the road. I was thinking more about actually being able to get on a bike and be familiar with the basics, turning it on, braking on a driveway, actually sitting on one. Before spending 80 bucks on something that u havent done before and possibly failing and waisting cash. Hope you see where i am coming from here.

[marty]

it's actually about $40 to apply to sit the licence, then another $40 to sit it - if you fail then you just pay another $40. it's really not that hard, and i would encourage you to do it. one reason you should - no licence - no insurance. 3rd party F & T on a GN125 would be naff all, but could save you a packet if you bump the back/side of a lexus. there is NO ride test to get your 6L, just a written/oral. get your 6L, then take the bike out for quiet sunday rides around town, out in the country etc, then in 12 months go for your restricted (6 months if you do a ride course).

just a note to all learner licence holders................when the new rules come out, if you are caught speeding above 110kmh on the open road, your speed limit is always 70k regardless, so you will be exceeding your limit by more that 40kmh, and will be suspended immediately - it happens now with learners over 120k, so will happen then too. the same goes for driving a car on your learners.

[k14]

I am pretty sure that with a car learners the speed limit is the same as the posted limit. It is only with bikes that there is the 70kph limit. It is so stupid anyway. I had my learners for 4 years and only got a L plate for my restricted test and always did the posted limit on the open road and never got any tickets for that.

In my opinion it is more dangerous to do 70kph and let cars pass you than it is going 100kph and keeping up with the flow of the traffic.

[jrandom]

In my opinion it is more dangerous to do 70kph and let cars pass you than it is going 100kph and keeping up with the flow of the traffic.

Oh yes, of course. I did however once get pulled over for a 'random check' after carefully sticking to 100kph down the motorway in front of a cop - he followed me off and pulled me over. At the time I was on 6L with no yellow plate... he could have stuck me for $800 ($400 for no plate, $400 for exceeding 70kph) and 50 demerits. And I hadn't actually being doing anything that would normally invite a pullover.

So be careful and just *avoid* the cops, don't happily cruise around in their vicinity thinking you won't get pulled over if you don't do anything dumb.

[marty]

I am pretty sure that with a car learners the speed limit is the same as the posted limit. It is only with bikes that there is the 70kph limit.


yes you are right. my mistake. the reason is because a learner bike rider is riding on his own, whereas a car driver (should) have an overseer. here's a question - can a learner biker have a pillion with a full licence?

[jrandom]

can a learner biker have a pillion with a full licence?

well no, but it'd be handy if you could, wouldn't it?

I suppose the rationale is that having an experienced rider on the back doesn't help a learner much, since they can't really communicate or grab the controls or whatever like when sitting beside a car driver.

[k14]

yes you are right. my mistake. the reason is because a learner bike rider is riding on his own, whereas a car driver (should) have an overseer. here's a question - can a learner biker have a pillion with a full licence?

Yeah, that is a good question. I would probably tend to think that you arent allowed any pillions at all, even if they have had their full licenses and everything.

When i did my restricted it was so funny. The instructor had to drive his 1970 piece of shit datsun ute. It struggled to do 50 and i had to go through some 70 areas. Had to pull over a few times to let him catch up :D

[bungbung]

Marty - "there is NO ride test to get your 6L, just a written/oral"

There is not an oral test anymore, just multiple choice scratch and win (30 questions). If you show up without a basic handling skills certificate, you will get told to come back when you have one. So there effectively is a ride test, but it is run by ride schools.

Because the clientele of these classes don't already have a 6L licence, training can not occur on the road, hence 25km/h carpark action.

If the price is right, post 6L training on the road more be a more useful-to-real-life event.

[marty]

well there you go. shows you how much i really know (and to think i thought i knew everything!). it's a long time since i sat my 6L (i think it was called an 'A' class back then)

and hows this for a laugh - rode the aprilia up the main street of cambridge today dressed in a santa suit - with no helmet! santa can get away with anything man.