Masterton Restricted & Full Exams

[Radar]

This thread is for MASTERTON restricted and full motorcycle exams: the route, examiner, and other things that you will encounter.

If you want to add information on the Basic Skills Test, OK but only for Masterton - thanks.


THE EXAMINER - Her name is Jenny and she is the only examiner for the Wairarapa although all examiners rotate on a regular basis therefore you may get someone from Upper Hutt or Palmerston North. Jenny is friendly and easy going so if you are relaxed, polite and respectful your exam will probably be easy if you are a confident rider.

Park your bike in front of the taxi office, not on the street. Your WOF, rego, L Plate and license will be checked as well as indicators, brake light and horn.


RESTRICTED ROUTES

Start on Villa Street - the river end, near Hope Street. Arrive early - the AA will tell you to arrive 5 or 10 minutes early but arrive earlier if you can because the examiner may be waiting with nothing to do and she will be happy to have more time for your exam. If you have not been to the exam place before, its a good idea to find it before the time of your exam - its easy to drive right by the place. The "drivers license exam" sign is put out only during times of exams but its the same place as the taxi office (which is also easy to miss).

Route 1 - Turn right and go north across the bridge - this includes part of the large roundabout and an unusual intersection before the roundabout (check it out before the exam to see what I mean) - you have two Yields before you get to the bridge so if you don't indicate properly or swivel your head and check your mirrors a several times then you may fail at this early stage!

Note: when you first leave the taxi office area you had better swivel your head around both ways a few times because its difficult to see oncoming traffic, especially from the right.

Turn right at 3rd Street, left on Totara Drive and go up to the golf course - this is Masterton's steepest street and includes a few twisty bits so its a good idea to practice on this part to see if you can maintain 50 kph. BTW, keep exactly to the speed limit (unless there are hazards), not over or under by even a little bit - the examiner will tell you if your speedometer is not correct. I made the mistake of taking off and going up to 56 kph as I usually do, then got out of this botch up by saying my speedo must be inaccurate. :rolleyes:

Totara Drive changes into Manuka Street when it gets steep and twisty. Turn right at the golf course onto Boltons Road and do a U turn at the viewpoint (Boltons Rd is a no exit road). Back down Totara and turn right onto 3rd, left on Rimu, left on 2nd, Totara to Te Ore Ore.

Te Ore Ore past the hospital and past Henley Lake. 70 kph zone. Across bridge and turn right onto Watsons Road: do a U turn here (but it is too narrow to do this without stopping and the examiner will tell you that you can get off your bike if need be).

Left from Watsons Road onto Te Ore Ore, stop at Henley Lake car park.
DONE !

Route 2

Start as above, to 3rd Street.

Turn right at Totara St, then right twice more, then left back down 3rd St, across SH2 (Opaki Road) into Queen Alexandra Street.

Do a U-turn back to SH2. Turn left onto SH2 - Opaki Road - and go up to "Cattery" (into 100k zone), turn round at Cattery and back to near Third St. DONE !

,,,

FULL EXAM - details to be added when I and my two mates do it later this year.

[CB ARGH]

Instructor Jenny... sounds hot. Got her number? She'd better be on 021.

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On topic now - Excellent guide. Wish there was something like this for Westgate or Auckland areas.

[Radar]

Forgot to say that we did not use walkie talkies but Masterton will get these around November - December of this year.

Jenny the examiner will follow you in a black Rav4, stopping every so often to give you directions.

No hazards were asked to be identified - maybe this is done for the Full Exam only?

[Radar]

Instructor Jenny... sounds hot. Got her number? She'd better be on 021.

------

On topic now - Excellent guide. Wish there was something like this for Westgate or Auckland areas.


LOL about Jenny being hot... she is not exactly young!

There actually may be something like this for Westgate or Auckland areas so do a SEARCH and see what you get. I found nothing for Masterton so that's why I started this thread.

If anyone is nervous about doing the exam in big city traffic, come down here because we have NO STOP LIGHTS and with my exam (Route 1 above) there wasn't even a stop sign, and I never had to wait for traffic at an intersection.

[Zuki Bandit]

Nice one dude, I'm booking in this Friday, I cant wait! Might go for a blat (50kmh only) up that nice hill for some practice.
Thanks for the rundown Steve!

[oscarnz]

Hazard detention is only done on the Full licence test.

[Lissa]

Thanks for that Radar, going for my restricted soon!

[Grizzo]

:headbang:wooohooo:headbang:

I passed, no more L Plate.:clap:

What a buzz, and I'm amazed at how easy it was, no mistakes and I'm bloody wrapped.
Thanks for the pep talks Steve.

It seems our tests where a bit different so here's my route.

[NZDirtbiker]

Do you do your BHS test at the same place and how much is your learners.

[Redline_8749]

Do you do your BHS test at the same place and how much is your learners.


You do your BHS at the burridges car park. Thats $80 (+$10 if you use his bike)
The theory is $70 I think, at AA after you show them your current license and BHS cert

[Radar]

As Redline says, the BHS is at Burridges car park - that's the north end of town by the large roundabout. Red paint marks the spots where the examiner places the cones and other markers, so you can practice before the exam if you can somehow manage to get a bike there. If in doubt, sing out and one of us can show you what has to be done during the exam. A friend of mine did the BHS a few weeks ago and did everything perfectly until the last part where he had to stop suddenly at the examiner's signal. He slammed the brakes on too hard and down he went. As you can imagine, he was really ticked off at himself but we said it was a great learning experience, etc, and at the next try he braked perfectly and passed the BHS.

[NZDirtbiker]

do you book it at the AA and what bikes do they have there

[Radar]

do you book it at the AA and what bikes do they have there

No, you do not book the BHS at the AA, but they can give you the telephone number of the BHS examiner, Gary. Or any motorcycle shop will give you his number. Gary has a GN-250 for the BHS or for training if you need it before the BHS exam.

[Lissa]

Gary has a GN-250 for the BHS or for training if you need it before the BHS exam.

I dont think its a GN-250 Gary has but the yamaha version, easy to ride anyway.

BHS is Easy to pass NZDirtbiker.

[Ronin]

Thanks for that Radar, going for my restricted soon!

Race Ya!









10CH

[Lissa]

Race Ya!


10CH

HA!! And whose bike would ye be borrowing for the test matey??? ;)

[Ronin]

HA!! And whose bike would ye be borrowing for the test matey??? ;)

Yours Mistress Lissa but it goes faster with me on it :Punk:

[Redline_8749]

I dont think its a GN-250 Gary has but the yamaha version, easy to ride anyway.

BHS is Easy to pass NZDirtbiker.

It is some form of old school yamaha, very easy to ride and get the hang of.
And +1 for it's very easy to pass, the hardest looking part is the slalom but that was easy when you're on the bike looking at it.

I just wish I had done it sooner :weep:

[NZDirtbiker]

so where abouts do you book the bhs or is it only done over the phone. does masterton or carterton library have the motorcycle road code and what section would i find it.

[Radar]

so where abouts do you book the bhs or is it only done over the phone. does masterton or carterton library have the motorcycle road code and what section would i find it.

You have to ring the BHS examiner, Gary.
Get his number from the AA in Masterton or maybe try the yellow pages.

Masterton Library has the rode code & study guide. Ask the librarian where it is if you do not know how to use the library's computer to find it.

If you want any help preparing for the BHS, PM or email me - there are a few KiwiBikers in the Wairarapa who will give you assistance.

Good luck with the BHS, and if you want a super 250 bike, PM / email me because I have finally found a big bike to suit my full license. :yes: :banana:

[NZDirtbiker]

is Burridges car park on chapel street just down the road from langlands

[Redline_8749]

Yep, accross the road from the fire station

[Radar]

The full exam is easy. :woohoo:

Its just like what other KB'ers have said: If you have done a lot of riding and feel confident, you will have no problem passing. I have put on about 14,000 km while on my Learners and Restricted, and have had my Full license when I was a young guy (overseas), but to be honest I felt like crap on the day of the exam because I was sick and generally stressed. However, I have done a lot of reading here on KB about the Full exam and knew that the exam should go OK.

The only difference between the Restricted and Full, for me, was Hazard Identification. This was done at two intersections, actually the same intersection, that of Third Street crossing over Opaki Road to Queen Alexandra, going in opposite directions.

A hazard is anything that moves or has the potential to move, so you will have to identify traffic, pedestrians, bicycles, etc. If there is a parked vehicle with a driver in it or with its lights on, that will also be a hazard. Don't forget that the examiner's car behind you is also a hazard.

Jenny was my examiner once again. I cannot imagine a more friendly, helpful and relaxed examiner. I arrived 20 minutes early and we chatted for 15 minutes before doing the paperwork and going over the bike. If you show her genuine courtesy and an interest in road safety, it will help the whole process go smoothly. Take your helmet and sunnies off and your jacket and gloves and wear a conservative shirt. You may want to ask her about people she has had to fail; there really are some idiots on the road! And you may want to share some of your experiences with idiots on the road - both cagers and bikers. Be smart and let her know that you are concerned with riding safe, but don't bullshit her since she has certainly 'heard it all' and is no dummy.

BTW, did you know that in France you have to wait for the results to come in the post? Yep, they will not tell you at the end of your road exam. Jenny says its because some French examiners have been assaulted when they fail the person. She was abused once here in Masterton by a jerk who failed and the cops wanted her to press charges.

My Swiss friend, who has been riding motorcycles since a teenager, says that in Switzerland the examiner actually sits as a pillion passenger during the exam and - believe-it-or-not - the examiner tries to trick you up by telling you to go the wrong way in a one way street, or go over the speed limit, or whatever. True. Jenny was :shit: aghast when I told her this. I've been to Switzerland twice - its a beautiful place but from what my friend tells me about the insane laws and over-regulation of society, it would be a f*ck of a place to live.

Enough digression. Back to Masterton.

My Full route started the same as with my Restricted: 3rd Street to the Golf Course, U turn at end of Boltons Road, circled back via 3rd, Rimu, 2nd, 3rd. Then across to Queen Alexandra, circle around via King Edward and Jordan Tce. Turn left onto Opaki Rd and stop half a block to do second Hazard Identification. Up Opaki Rd, 100 kph, turn left into drive at the cattery sign, back into Masterton, stop near 2nd Street. :done:


Now I can ride my 650 legally! I nearly crapped myself when a cop saw me speeding in Wanganui on Friday. I was looking for street signs while doing 50 kph but did not notice the speed slowly increasing over 60 kph until a cop appeared in the opposing lane. He gave me the school teacher finger and did not stop me. Lucky! Three days away from the full exam, riding my VStrom, a cop could have burned me I guess.


DDC - The Defensive Driving Course

I did the DDC with Treena Tims - ph 370 3086 or 021 116 1779
Doing the DDC cuts your restricted time in half. For me it meant getting my full after 3 months on a R license, not 6. My 250 Hyosung has been a great bike, never let me down and has kept up with big bikes on many group rides, but I have had my VStrom for awhile and its far better than any 250 so having the Full means being legal and the ability to get insurance.

Don't waste your time with the other DDC person. Treena is a kick. Tough but fair and has a good sense of humour. I was the only mature student - everyone else were college kids still living at home except for one or two who were still teenagers. We had a lively group of WaiCol girls who made the course fun at times. There were 12 of us. It is a CAR course, not motorcycle, but at every opportunity I brought bikes to the forefront. Everyone was interested in my stories - some from here on KB - of accidents idiot cagers and extra safety precautions that we bikers have to know.

The DDC is not cheap; cannot recall but maybe $150. If you cannot pay all of the course fee on the first night, talk to Treena and she will let you do installments. Four evenings over two weeks, then you have to drive your car with Treena in the passenger seat - for about 45 minutes. She is a hard DDC examiner and even rattled me even though I have been driving for over 40 years, but this is what you need to prepare for the Full exam. If you do not have a car license I suppose you will be the passenger in her car; you have to do the on-road test to complete the course.

If you are young, without a lot of driving - riding experience, I would strongly recommend doing the DDC. For me, I must admit that some of the course was boring but I survived by telling jokes and stories, and talking with the college kids and Treena. There are quite a few videos to watch, which are quite good. You also get a DVD game that plays on a computer - its all about driving safely and I thought it was very good (as far as a safety game could be).

You get homework at each session. Nothing difficult. Everyone did the homework except for one guy who was probably doing the course by court order - he was rough, with tats and an 'attitude', but was smart and had surprisingly neat handwriting (we copied each other's answers from time to time - Treena races through the material and everyone misses something sometime). BTW, that rough guy was made to do the one homework assignment he missed, otherwise he would not have completed the course.

The last homework assignment was to design a poster to advertise the DDC. The class voted my poster the :Punk: best so I won a prize! I will post it below, next post (or see it here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=111640&d=1227563742)) - the title is DON'T BE A DICK, DO THE DDC! With a picture of an R1 bike. The prize was 50% off an AA membership but since I have that already I told Treena to give it to the second place winner, who happened to be a stunning redhead chick sitting at my table so I was happy with that, LOL.



Walkie Talkies - Masterton now has these but Jenny prefers not to use them since she drives a manual, and she likes face-to-face communication.


A final tip - for your Full or Restricted, if you ride slow and hesitantly your exam will probably be longer. Of course you don't want to speed - keep EXACTLY to the speed limit - and don't red line or accelerate so that you leave the examiner way behind, but do show the examiner that you are not afraid to accelerate quickly.

[Radar]

Here is my DDC poster - the one the students voted best and won :first: the prize.

:laugh: LOL :lol:

Like I said, humour made the DDC easier for me.

.

[Radar]

Remember to have an L PLATE on your bike when you do the Restricted exam!!!

A few days ago a certain person was FAILED as he borrowed a bike from a local bike shop (his bike was being repaired) without an L Plate. I think the trouble was that he was overconfident so did not bother checking what was necessary to do the exam. Several days before the exam he sent me a text asking if I still had my L Plate (gave it to the new owner when I sold my bike) - I replied telling him to get an L Plate at the 2 dollar shop. All of us forget the obvious at times!