Licence questions

[Deviant Esq]

I suppose this thread is as much for anyone else who wants to know as it is for me... I'd like to know what's involved in each licence test along the way. I'm on my learners, been riding since the start of the year (see my profile for a pic of my bike), and soon I'll be thinking about going to do my restricted test. But I just realised, I have no idea at all what's involved. Can someone please enlighten me? And since I'm no doubt not the only one wondering, what's involved in the full licence test as well? Perhaps we could make this a licence F.A.Q. stickied for newbies into the future...

[Sniper]

drop it off sometime.I have a LTSA booklet explaining everything. I'll f

[Stevo]

Restricted Test: When you pay your hard earned $$ they give you a time and place for your appointment. In some cases it is not a traffic cop, but just a private contract. Need to put your L plate back on, and be on a 250 or less bike. (Of course). The tester will tell you a route for your test, which usually doesn't go on the open road. Simply follow their instructions and you will be absolutely fine. No need to fear the test.
Tips: Check mirrors regularly
Look over shoulder if changing lanes, or before pulling away from curbs. (May be easier to leave your neck scarf or whatever behind to make easier)
Be sure to indicate the minimum 3 seconds etc.
Be sure you can do a U turn on narrow street with feet up. (remember to look over shoulder etc)

Tis not fearful, but if you feel tense just take a few deeep breaths and slowly exhale. They are looking at your technique, eg the looking over your shoulder thing to make sure you're not going to get cleaned up by some unobservant cage. Exaggerate the checking your mirrors, ie. be sure to turn your head, not just flick your eyes, as the tester cannot tell if you are checking them. As with most things it is common sense. Good luck!

PS: I never sat my full licence as such as I did a CBTA course.

[Stevo]

It can't be that difficult! Look at how many idgets there are on our roads :rofl:

[OMG]

PS: I never sat my full licence as such as I did a CBTA course.
My full licence test is pretty much the same as what Stevo described for the restricted (did it about a month ago) - I didn't do the restricted test cos I did the CBTA for my restricted.

[Blairos]

Here is the LTSA take on whats in the test...

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/motorcycle/motorcycle-r-practical.html#what

[Ixion]

There has been very recently (beginning of this month I think) a major change to the Restricted test, which now follows a similar format to the full test. The effect of this will probably be more marked in the case of cars than bikes, which testers always have trouble with anyway. But, be prepared for it to be a bit tougher than it may have been for some in the past.

As others have said, follow the rules, exaggerate, and (IMHO) look "competant". I suspect that this latter is what they look for in a bike restricted, since they cannot really see what you are doing as they can in a car when they are sitting beside the driver. Basically, don't make them think "O-err is he going to fall off" , nor "O-err he's a bit hairey ".

Don't forget to make sure all your lights and such work, they check that, and that you have a WoF.

Unless you have really bad luck and get a ratbag tester you are sure to pass, very few people ever seem to fail the bike tests (as compared to quite a few failing in cars).

Good luck

[Stevo]

My full licence test is pretty much the same as what Stevo described for the restricted (did it about a month ago) - I didn't do the restricted test cos I did the CBTA for my restricted.
Cept they definitely go on the open road for the full I think. I am not sure whether you are supposed to do 100 or 70 on the open road when sitting the restricted????? I asked my tester and he said don't worry we'll be just in town. If the tester's route includes a bit of open road or 80 km/h it may pay to ask. Technically if you pass then you can 100 on the way home even though prior to that you're only sposed to do 70 max. May depend on the tester (I don't know).

[cowboyz]

i did my full test a little while ago. Had to borrow a GSX250 to do the test on. went for a little ride round town and then spent about 10km out of town. At least I didnt have to worry about speeding cause for a while there I wasn't sure the gsx250 could do the speed limit let alone exceed it. Make all your moves *very* obvious and all is good. And don't forget the stupid roundabout signalling rules. They like to moan about stuff like that.

[OMG]

Cept they definitely go on the open road for the full I think. I am not sure whether you are supposed to do 100 or 70 on the open road when sitting the restricted????? I asked my tester and he said don't worry we'll be just in town. If the tester's route includes a bit of open road or 80 km/h it may pay to ask. Technically if you pass then you can 100 on the way home even though prior to that you're only sposed to do 70 max. May depend on the tester (I don't know).
I only had to go on a 70kph road (not a 100kph), but I'm sure it depends on what roads are convenient to where you are sitting your test.

[Rosie]

Cept they definitely go on the open road for the full I think. I am not sure whether you are supposed to do 100 or 70 on the open road when sitting the restricted????? I asked my tester and he said don't worry we'll be just in town. If the tester's route includes a bit of open road or 80 km/h it may pay to ask. Technically if you pass then you can 100 on the way home even though prior to that you're only sposed to do 70 max. May depend on the tester (I don't know).

I think you'd have to go at 70, because you are still on a learner licence, and only allowed to go 70, even in a 100km/h zone.
I'm interested to know how strict they are with your speed during the test. I read somewhere that you are supposed to be within 5km/h of the speed limit, but must never exceed it, or you'll fail. My speedo only gives a vague approximation of the speed you are travelling at, so if they are going to be strict about the speed you travel at, I could be in trouble.
But I've got until August to sort it out.

[Ixion]

-10 to +5 eg 40 to 55kph in a 50. But it's not so bad on a bike, cos it's hard for them to match your speed exactly. Only danger is if you or the tester have speedos that are well out.

[Rosie]

-10 to +5 eg 40 to 55kph in a 50. But it's not so bad on a bike, cos it's hard for them to match your speed exactly. Only danger is if you or the tester have speedos that are well out.

I have a speedo that is way out. It reads 120 when I'm doing 95-ish. I have a general idea if I'm doing 50/70/100 km/h, but not sure if that is accurate enough for a test.

[JimO]

was booked in for the test, turned up and the cop said "where is your car" i said im here for a bike test he said " well im not following you around in a car so piss off around the corner" he walked around to where i was , made me do a figure 8 between the gutters without putting my feet down then i had to do a emergency stop, that was it ..took 5 mins yeha

[JimO]

ooooh yea duff man never dies

[MSTRS]

that was in 1975 people
it was tough back then eh....
I did mine in 1973 and had to go thru some roadworks on a Triumph Tigress (scooter with little wheels for you yunguns). Testing Officer said that'll do me, here's your licence. Hand written booklet in those days. Oh yeah...and it was one of those 'lifetime' jobbies as well. Yea right

[JimO]

and you could ride any size bike you wanted a mate got his on a suzuki waterbus

[Stevo]

I think you'd have to go at 70, because you are still on a learner licence, and only allowed to go 70, even in a 100km/h zone.
I'm interested to know how strict they are with your speed during the test. I read somewhere that you are supposed to be within 5km/h of the speed limit, but must never exceed it, or you'll fail. My speedo only gives a vague approximation of the speed you are travelling at, so if they are going to be strict about the speed you travel at, I could be in trouble.
But I've got until August to sort it out.
Silly though isn't it? 5 mins after the test you can do 100 all the way home. You'd think they want to observe you at that speed or something to evaluate your performance (does the rider drift wide on a corner at 100km/h) before they let you loose. It seems not:doobey:

[MSTRS]

Silly though isn't it? 5 mins after the test you can do 100 all the way home. You'd think they want to observe you at that speed or something to evaluate your performance (does the rider drift wide on a corner at 100km/h) before they let you loose. It seems not:doobey:
Valid point. :first: Don't think I've seen this mentioned by anyone else ever...guess these tests etc are not based on logic.

[bert_is_evil]

Can someone please tell me what a CBTA is?

[Ixion]

Valid point. :first: Don't think I've seen this mentioned by anyone else ever...guess these tests etc are not based on logic.

The new restricted test, introduced a month or so ago, requires a part of the test to be in a 70 -100kph area. Which will now address the speed issue for cars. But bikes, as noted, have a problem. They CAN'T test you at more than 70kph, because to do so would require you to break the law - you still have only a learners licence. I rang LTSA and asked them about this. They said "um ah, hm , yeah , uh, waffle waffle go away".

I imagine they will deal with it as they deal with the full test requirement to identify hazards - works in a car but on a bike, if you identify them , how do you point it out to the tester? Those radios they use are one way only! So, basically they ignore it.

The tests for bikes are a bit of a joke, it is pretty hard to fail them I think unless you do something baltant like going through a stop sign. Query - has anyone failed their full class 6 licence? Or know of someone who has ? My impression is that they tend to figure that if you've hung round long enough to get through the learner and restricted stages and are still riding, you can't be too bad (cos if you were you'd be dead, or frightened off bikes). So they just follow you round, watch that you don't do blatant no-no stuff

[Deviant Esq]

Cool. All I really wanted to know was what was involved in the test, what was actually required of you, how much it costed etc, all the rest is pretty well common sense. I've been through all the tests for driving a car already (though it was about 6 years ago that I passed my full), so don't worry, I won't be playing silly buggers on my test when it comes around! All good advice just the same though :)

Can anyone tell me exactly what the course is called that shortens the necessary wait between each step in your licence? Advanced Motorcycle Handling Course or something?? And, would anyone know how much it'd cost, and who I'd go and see in Christchurch about doing it? Damned if I want to wait for 18 months until I can sit my full. Whether or not I keep with a 250 remains to be seen (somehow doubt it), but I'd like to be able to have the choice to get something bigger if I feel the need.

[OMG]

It was the CBTA course that allowed you to shorten the wait, but they've been canned now, sorry you're gonna have to wait the 18 months :(

[Stevo]

It was the CBTA course that allowed you to shorten the wait, but they've been canned now, sorry you're gonna have to wait the 18 months :(
The Doity Fookin Busteds:angry:

[Danboy]

Can someone please tell me what a CBTA is?

CBTA = Competency-Based Training and Assessment

Quoted from LTSA Website.

"The land transport safety authority (LTSA) and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) are starting an initiative for new riders of motorcycles that looks at a different approach to driver licensing. This scheme is called Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA). This initiative is for a limited period and is restricted to approved riding instructors.

CBTA involves new riders undertaking specified courses with specifically approved riding instructors. The instructors will give riders training and progressive assessments to ensure they consistently demonstrate safe riding skills. On successfully completing the course, the new rider will be able to pass to the next stage of their license without having to sit a practical riding test."

Cheers,

D.

[Ixion]

Unfortunately, the CBTA trial has now been stopped, and the CBTA licence route is no longer available.

It appears that some of the providers need to update their websites.

[mdb]

I think you'd have to go at 70, because you are still on a learner licence, and only allowed to go 70, even in a 100km/h zone.


I know of 2 guys who were failed on their full test because they did more than the 70km their license permitted when on the open road! Lucky they both did it in the weeks before me so I didn't have any issue with it.

A trick I would recommend is go to a license centre outside of your local area (I lived in Welly and did my test in Upper Hutt. This meant the cop only gave me directions a couple of blocks at a time. It also let me say to the cop (who thought I was a little apprehensive at times), that I wasn't familiar with the area or the intersections (which he believed and was true)!

[Rosie]

I know of 2 guys who were failed on their full test because they did more than the 70km their license permitted when on the open road! Lucky they both did it in the weeks before me so I didn't have any issue with it.

A trick I would recommend is go to a license centre outside of your local area (I lived in Welly and did my test in Upper Hutt. This meant the cop only gave me directions a couple of blocks at a time. It also let me say to the cop (who thought I was a little apprehensive at times), that I wasn't familiar with the area or the intersections (which he believed and was true)!

But aren't you allowed to do 100 on a restricted licence? Now I'm confused :wacko:

[Drum]

Just book your test for during the morning rush hour. You're nice and alert, but traffic stops you from speeding. No lane splitting though!

Well for 20 mins anyways:msn-wink:

[Deviant Esq]

But aren't you allowed to do 100 on a restricted licence? Now I'm confused :wacko:

Nicely picked up.

There's bugger all difference between a learners and a restricted licence as far as bikes go. On your learners you:


Must only ride a bike 250cc or under
Must wear a Learner plate at all times (must've fallen off...)
Must not exceed 70km/h (Um, and be run over by Mums in RAV4s and trucks alike?!?)
Must not ride between 10pm and 5am (Sure, must be safer at 8pm in traffic and darkness than 12am minus traffic...)
Must not carry a pillion passenger
Restricted licence means you get to do 100km/h (well, legally), and you don't have to wear a Learner plate any more. The other three restrictions still apply. For another 18 months (if you're under 25). There should be a riding course for a day or weekend or something that allows you to reduce the wait a little. 2 years stuck on a 250 and not allowed out after 10pm? Too old for bedtimes for one, and had my bloody full car licence for 6 years anyway, so why allow me out any time in a car but not on the bike?
Anyway. Looks as though I'll just have to wait.

What's involved in the full test then?