Main part of the Restricted test?

[BLazeD]

I'm sitting my restricted test soon and everyone seems to be talking about a U turn as the main part of the test.

I remember when I sat my restricted for my car, they could make you do any 1 of about 6 things (3 point turn/hill start/u-turn/back round a corner/etc).

Do they not have a choice for the motorbike test and they will only make you do a U turn?

What does it entail exactly? Doesn't seem that difficult, unless they make you do it on a narrow street and you can't make it a 3 point turn, or you can't put your feet down?

Cheers for any insight!

[CB ARGH]

I'm sitting my restricted test soon and everyone seems to be talking about a U turn as the main part of the test.

I remember when I sat my restricted for my car, they could make you do any 1 of about 6 things (3 point turn/hill start/u-turn/back round a corner/etc).

Do they not have a choice for the motorbike test and they will only make you do a U turn?

What does it entail exactly? Doesn't seem that difficult, unless they make you do it on a narrow street and you can't make it a 3 point turn, or you can't put your feet down?

Cheers for any insight!

If it's a narrow street and you can't put your foot down then that is stink as. People reckon that the test is piss easy, I myself haven't done it though, still on the baby learner's license!

[Nagash]

Err, didn't do U turn for my restricted, so that's different for different places I think.

Had to do one for my full test though, feet are not allowed to touch the ground and it has to be done in one move. I unfortunately had to do it on aa gravel culdasac, but it's still pretty easy.

May aswell practice it as it's a good skill to learn, all it involves is getting to know the low speed cornering limitations of your bike. Just remember, gotta keep those feet on the pegs.

[Griffin]

The restricted test is simply looking to make sure that you are a competent and safe rider on your 250cc bike. If you indicate when you should, give way when you should, stop when you should and follow posted speed limit signs (up to your 70kph max) then you will pass. The u turn is to ensure that you can perform that manouvre safely and in preferably one motion. Usually done on a wide quiet street, the preference is for you to not have to put your foot down - however, if you need to then do so... as long as you remain safe while doing so.

Dont stress... its simple stuff.

[Matt_TG]

It's pretty certain that at some time in the future you'll have to do a U Turn on your bike. May as well get used to doing them before your test, it's not hard - the more you think about it the harder it seems. If you can turn a corner you can do a U turn, It's just like 2 corners after each other :)

Go slow, look where you want to go, grip the tank with your knees and just lean into the tun. Practise some turns in a carpark for 30 mins then head off to a culdesac and go around and around the end a few times.

[Imbray]

You can get from your local bookshop a set of 2 books called The Official NZ Road Code for Motorcyclists + study guide. - $24.90

In the Study Guide it clearly lays out what you will be tested on,:Police: the Restricted licence pratical test is on pg 43 ( it also states in there you can ride up to 100km/hr during part 3 of test even though the conditions of your licence only allow you up to 70km/hr :third:)

Worth looking at even if it's just in the shop

[Time Paradox]

Just remember to turn your head before you turn, bastard of an instructor failed me because of it.. ROAR!!

[H00dz]

Practise Practise Practise Your U turns cause you will have too demonstrate it to the testers satisfaction....I was still trying to nut it out on the day of my full test, but it worked out well.

look to where you want to go, dont put your feet down or in trouble and learn to work the clutch and throttle, little to no brake !!! in fact stay off the brake thats when the trouble starts

Good luck :clap:

[horch]

I sat my 6R a couple weeks back. If you are a competent rider you shouldn't have any issues.

There was a couple U-turn's involved. So practice them if you need. Remember to indicate correctly, check over your shoulder before turning around. (there's a good post somewhere on here about it).
There were plently of hills in Wgtn for my test (almost every intersection), not sure if there will be in Auckland - but would practice them too.

Other things where
- merging into fast moving traffic (70km/h zone).
- make super obvious head movements to check your mirrors, and also side streets.
- indicate 3 seconds before turning, AND changing lanes.
- both feet down at intersections.
- DO NOT speed.
- be nice to the instructor.

.. and relax. Its not hard. They are there to make sure you can ride and follow the road rules, not to fail you.

Good luck. Won't be long till you can ditch the L plate.

[Qkchk]

- be nice to the instructor.



Majority of Restricted and Full Licence tests are conducted by a 'Testing Officer'. However, some Instructors can have an 'O' endorsement stamped on their licence and can do both (usually the older guys who have been ex MOT).

[cityboy]

I am preparing for my 6R test, and hope U-Turn is not part of it, but it is.
Not able to do it confidently yet :(

From some of the posts, putting the leg on the ground is acceptable (to tester). Am I right?

As for indicator, Do I need to signal "left" (when sway to left) before indicate to "right" and start U-Turn?

Normally, how wide is the road when U-Turn is tested?

[sunhuntin]

The restricted test is simply looking to make sure that you are a competent and safe rider on your 250cc bike. If you indicate when you should, give way when you should, stop when you should and follow posted speed limit signs (up to your 70kph max) then you will pass. The u turn is to ensure that you can perform that manouvre safely and in preferably one motion. Usually done on a wide quiet street, the preference is for you to not have to put your foot down - however, if you need to then do so... as long as you remain safe while doing so.

Dont stress... its simple stuff.

might pay to ask your tester if you are going on the open road. i was told to travel at 100k when i sat my restricted. we used a cul de sac to return to town, and i did my u turn there. piss easy. get lots of practice on actual streets so you know the limits based on width of road. head and mirror check, indicate, check head and mirror again and then go. remember to cancel indicator after manouvre is completed.

also make sure your bike is in WOF condition. my instructer checked all my lights, indicators etc. and if need be, buy a tidy l plate [or borrow one!] cos i nearly failed due to poor condition of mine [see avatar... thats what 20thousand odd k does!]

city boy, if unsure, indicate anyway. indicate left to signal you are pulling over. stop in a position which enables you to see clearly in all directions and have both feet down. do the checks, indicate the turn and go. indicate even when leaving the driveway of the testing place. look at surrounding hazards like pedestrian crossings. the tester may decide to use them. mine did as there were busloads of kids crossing back and forth. i made sure to slow right down and do an exaggerated head check around the end of the bus... essentially leaning as far over the bars as i could cos the bus blocked the view.

[MSTRS]

Some don't test the U-turn at restricted level. It may be done in the keyhole of a cul-de-sac as an about-turn.
The U-turn you are expecting is usually done at full time and when it is done, it is from a stationary position (not a rolling start) and the expectation is feet-up.

[marioc]

I did multiple u-turns when I sat mine,one of which was also on a rather steep hill.
Spend a half hour every week pacticing and you will have it down packed in no time.
The key for me was just to feather the clutch a tad during the turn.

[Blossom]

I have decided it all depends on the tester. When I did my 6r I did 2 U turns, one on a narrow gravel country road and the other in town on a wide street. I put my foot down on the gravel road to be safe and the tester was fine with that. According to my tester they are looking to see if you obey the road rules and are able to handle your bike safely.
But definately different testers do different tests.
Good luck btw..hope it goes/went well.

[CookMySock]

Err, didn't do U turn for my restrictedNor I.

If you have 3 or 4 thousand km's under your belt, and you have ridden 200km's in the last two weeks, the restricted test will be a total doddle. Dont stress.

Steve

[davebullet]

I'm sitting my restricted tomorrow... so will let you know what I do (not that it sets a precedent for your test). In the rain should be fun!

Regarding u-turns, my suggestion is to practice full lock turns which are a worst case scenario. I find keeping your legs tucked in against the tank nice and tight to help balance.

When you are happy with that, practice uphill and downhill u-turns if they are a reality near where you live.

Cheers,
Dave.

[Lilly2w]

Good luck, don't worry we'll still ride with you even if you don't have a plate. (frm member of sundays L plate squad)

[davebullet]

I passed the 6r today. Did 2 u-turns (back to back, stopping in-between). The hardest part here was remembering the indicating, looking over your shoulder business - getting the sequence right.

tester said my ride was good but just needed to check side streets for hazards more. I was - but using eye glances, so as other's have said, make it obvious by slightly turning your head.

If using a headset, nod when receiving an instruction if you've got it clear - shows you are paying attention and stops the tester having to repeat themselves (which they must get sick of).

Key thing is to ride a little slower and take your time. I tend to be a person who speeds up when nervous.

PRactice your u-turns. If you are spending more time worried about gear selection, brake, clutch position and balance, then you probably need more practice. When it comes to u-turns - you are focussing on left and right, checking for a clear path, because all the other stuff has become automatic. You won't put a foot down then / stuff it up.

Cheers,
David.

[cityboy]

I passed 6R today.

Did 2 U-turn, back to back also. Stopped in between but the tester told me not to stop.
Practiced for a few weekends + weekdays whenever I got time.
- Thank for everyone's advice on that.

Went through a 70kph zone but did it at 60 only because wind was strong.

Tester said I signaled wrongly at round about. When I asked for detailed, he leatured me a while before saying I signaled right when turning left at round about. Still very confusing since not knowing exactly which one.
Anyway, just need to pay more attention to that.

Took the test at Kilbirnie, where I go regularly and tested u-turn a few times. So, quite familiar with the place and can expect what is coming.

Good luck to those coming to test soon, and thank to those shared experience and provided advices.

[Delerium]

iv heard they want you look over your shoulder before moving off from a stand still, can anybody tell me what the point of this is please?

[NighthawkNZ]

One thing to remember, the tester is not just testing your skill of riding (as such) but is also testing to see if you know the road rules...

My other half failed on first attempt because she didin't put her foot down for long enough at stop sign... (which I thought was rot because at a complete stop I can balance me bike for a good ten seconds... before I need to put my foot down) she sore she did and was even counting it in her head... 1, 2, 3, blah blah blah...

Make your movements obvious, when at a stop sign stop for 3 or 4 seconds and make obvious your foot is firmly on the ground before you even start to look to see if is clear.

Make your head movements looking your mirrors more obvious, one trick is to put a bright or a constrasting sticker on the back of the helment.

Remember 3 seconds warning for indicating... and if you can give a couple more (but not to many more as it can be just as confusing when you are going to turn)

Watch your speed...

Slow down before the speed signs and be doing the indicated speed as you pass the sign (not slowing down after you pass the sign)

Same with speeding up... speed up after you have past the sign not before.

[Blossom]

iv heard they want you look over your shoulder before moving off from a stand still, can anybody tell me what the point of this is please?

I assume you are talking about when you are parked on the side of the road, not just at a stop sign? From the side of the road they want you to look back as a safety precaution as a bikes blind spot is often around the middle of the road behind you when you are parked at the curb.
It looks safer it probably is safer and they want to see it so I guess that is the point.