Riding too cautiously?

**H00dz** · 19th June 2009, 21:47

My Buddy beens riding on his learners for quite a while and decided to sit his restricted license, Burrowed a 250cc bike from another mate (He rides a RF900R)...

He gets back from sitting his test to be told he failed for riding too cautiously and not demonstrating riding confidence........hes been around the south island a couple of times and eveywhere in between

He argued with the testing officer by saying that he was a confident experienced rider and was simply riding sedately to ensure he would pass safely.......

She finally accepted this but warned him not to do this at his next test or she would fail him again.

Is she (the Tester) taking the piss or was she being straight up....

He did say the at one point he was riding around 50 in a 80K zone, is this cause to fail him

Weird

**BiK3RChiK** · 19th June 2009, 21:58

They are looking for competence while riding and since someone has been on their learners for at least 6 months, it's natural to pick up confidence and ability in that time. I think it would be a fail if a certain level was not achieved during a test, but I have no idea what that level is. Probably up to individual testing officers discretion.

He did get his restricted though, right?

**BMWST?** · 19th June 2009, 22:01

50 IN AN 80 ?Thats cautious!

**H00dz** · 19th June 2009, 22:01

Yeah he did, but not without quite a discussion and only because he had been so insistent, I think he was losing his cool but held it together.

He 40+ and a competent rider.....

**Taz** · 19th June 2009, 22:29

Doing 50 in an 80 zone is just dangerous and inconsiderate.

**howdamnhard** · 19th June 2009, 22:33

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Doing 50 in an 80 zone is just dangerous and inconsiderate.

And could easily be seen as lacking confidence. Was the weather , road conditions particularly bad.

**Lurch** · 19th June 2009, 22:33

Inadvertently your friend was riding like he was insecure on the bike rather than taking it easy, I can understand where the tester was coming from.

**fireliv** · 19th June 2009, 22:39

Originally Posted by H00dz

He 40+ and a competent rider.....

50 in an 80 is inconsiderate and could easily be seen as lacking in confidence. The other this is they may be targeting "Born again: riders which maybe he falls into, as they are statisticly more likely to have fatalities. I'm glad they passed him, but if he was sitting is full I would expect him to fail that for that kind of speed

**H00dz** · 19th June 2009, 22:41

Originally Posted by howdamnhard

And could easily be seen as lacking confidence. Was the weather , road conditions particularly bad.

Originally Posted by Lurch

Inadvertently your friend was riding like he was insecure on the bike rather than taking it easy, I can understand where the tester was coming from.

Yeah I know, your points are valid, but to fail him, surely a note from her and a chat about it would have been ample, afterall he was sitting his restricted....

**Drew** · 19th June 2009, 22:42

Originally Posted by BiK3RChiK

They are looking for competence while riding and since someone has been on their learners for at least 6 months, it's natural to pick up confidence and ability in that time. I think it would be a fail if a certain level was not achieved during a test, but I have no idea what that level is. Probably up to individual testing officers discretion.

He did get his restricted though, right?

Looking for competence? I can compitently wheelie most of the test route in lower hutt, not the round-a-bouts mind, but the rest of it without breaking the speed limit. Do I pass?

The test to get a restricted licence, should be to gauge wether the rider can compitently and safely employ the road code, while remaining in control of the bike. If that means the rider doesn't acheive the speed limit, but is not endangering themself, so be it.

**H00dz** · 19th June 2009, 22:45

Originally Posted by Drew

Looking for competence? I can compitently wheelie most of the test route in lower hutt, not the round-a-bouts mind, but the rest of it without breaking the speed limit. Do I pass?

The test to get a restricted licence, should be to gauge wether the rider can compitently and safely employ the road code, while remaining in control of the bike. If that means the rider doesn't acheive the speed limit, but is not endangering themself, so be it.

Yeah I agree (not with the wheelie bit) what if he had been younger and not so confident to argue his point, He would have to pay to resit.....

**H00dz** · 19th June 2009, 22:49

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Doing 50 in an 80 zone is just dangerous and inconsiderate.

I should mention that this was in kerikeri and traffic was moderate, dont know that this may have worked in his favour or not....

i

**howdamnhard** · 19th June 2009, 22:57

Originally Posted by fireliv

The other this is they may be targeting "Born again: riders which maybe he falls into, as they are statisticly more likely to have fatalities.

I came across such a rider recently on a group ride(although he may have never ridden before) , noticed he was doing a strange ineffective hanging off manouvre around corners. At a stop I asked him if he had ever heard of counter steering-he hadn't ! Scary as he had been riding a 650 for 6 months. After explaining the principles he employed them on the next leg of our trip and afterwards thanked me for making such a difference to his riding. This just highlights the lack of training and knowledge required in getting ones motorbike license. If it where not for KB and other bikers I would have made so many stupid mistakes that a little bit of knowledge would easily prevent but is not a requirement to get a license.

**Mom** · 19th June 2009, 22:58

I always thought that a restricted test was required to prove you are a competent rider/driver. You are no longer a learner, you can operate your vehicle in a safe and confident manner. It is beyond the "you did not fall off" so you are fine to learn some more stage.

Maintaining the speed limit is all about confidence, if you cant, then you should remain on your learners and practise more. Riding at 50 in an 80 is actually dangerous in some circumstances, and bloody inconsiderate the rest of the time.

Frankly I would have failed him too, unless the weather was absolute shit and he had to travel at that speed for safety sake of course. He sounds like a menace on the road and needs more time. I dont care how many trips around the world he has done, if he cant ride close to the speed limit then he should not be advanced further along the license track.