Riding too cautiously?

**H00dz** · 19th June 2009, 23:01

Originally Posted by howdamnhard

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.

I totally agree

**Marmoot** · 19th June 2009, 23:53

Originally Posted by H00dz

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

Weird

Sorry for being harsh, but I would've failed him too.
(assuming the condition did not warrant such overcautious)

Try remembering when you may have been frustrated riding behind a driver doing 80kph on the 100kph zone. Same thing here.

Originally Posted by H00dz

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....

Fail is a fail. Retest is a retest.
If someone fails the test and only get a warning then the test effectively become pointless.

When you fail, the officer would give you comments on how to improve your skill so next time when you retake the test you wouldn't fail

**H00dz** · 20th June 2009, 04:42

hmmmm maybe yor right, I thought it was harsh but I see by the majority of the responses that the general consensus is that most would have failed him.

I guess he can count himself lucky and put it behind him and make sure he rides more confidently at his next test....

Thanks

**fLaThEaD FreD** · 20th June 2009, 06:58

Originally Posted by H00dz

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

I had the same recentley on my tests restricted then full.
They expect you to stay within 5k/phr of the speed limit. On my full at one point I slowed to 65 in an 80 area on a straight as 500 metres ahead a truck and trailer pulled onto my side off the rd so he could make a wide turn off. I was reprimanded...........Ferkin tester could'nt speak proper english as it was....good onya AA westgate.

**awayatc** · 20th June 2009, 07:08

examiner told me i'd instantly fail if I would go above speedlimit.
When I said something in regards to her and mine speedo's accuracy she got real snotty.
I stayed safely below limit, and got told off as well for being to slow.
When speedo argument came up again, she said I should ride faster and stay at limit of MY speedo....
Lost her everywhere after that....wait she catch up...lose her again etc....
She wasn't a happy unit but I passed, snotty thing calling me slow..!
Never been on a bike herself.....
Told her been riding bikes when she was in nappies in more different countries then she could count...Just never bothered with NZ licence...
Was very unimpressed with her as well.

**sunhuntin** · 20th June 2009, 08:57

the guy that took me for my restricted wanted to fail me on the spot for having a chewed up l plate [well, hell! he woulda been chewed up to if hed spent over 30thousand k that close to a back wheel] i passed without any worries anywhere else though.

like others, i would have failed your friend for being that slow... at his age, one would assume hed done some riding when younger so should be confident. the fact he was acting like that on a learners bike makes me wonder how the hell he feels safe on a larger bike.

**p.dath** · 20th June 2009, 09:16

I hate to say this, but just because your mate has been riding a bigger bike or done lots of km's doesn't make him a good rider. He may well be good - but just saying that the testing officer may still be right.

Has he done any advanced rider training? Or perhaps is he self taught and has taught himself some bd things ...

**PirateJafa** · 20th June 2009, 09:30

Originally Posted by Anthrax

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

Depends on other external factors - children close to the road, pets, all sorts.

Riding at 50km/h in a 80 zone simply for the sheer hell of it however, is grounds for beating with a baseball bat.

**CHOPPA** · 20th June 2009, 09:33

He shoulda done a wheelstand when he left!

**Skyryder** · 20th June 2009, 15:23

I once did those AA driver tests. Advanced driver course I think they call them.

Paid x amount of dollars and I had this 'prissy' matron test me. I knew something was up when she checked the WOF and rego. I can understand that but what got me was that she ticked her clipboard so there was obvoulsy a box for this. Anyway I just do my normal driving and I notice she marks her clipboard so we finaly get back and she proceeds to tell me all the things I've done wrong. One of them was changing gear while turning a corner and I had taken one of my hands off the steering wheel. Five times I had done this. To this day I don't know if I passed or failed as I thanked her told her to get out of the car (should have seen the look on her face) and drove off. It was her manner that pissed me off more than anything else. Supercillious cow. Never again.

Skyryder

**cheshirecat** · 20th June 2009, 20:19

Took my cage test in Blighty in an ancient Landrover which is somewhat unforgiving at the best of times, reckon the tester was quite glad to get out of the thing but I passed. The bike test was taken in some God forsaken place called Bognor Regis in winter to guarantee an almost deserted village with no hills. Apparently quite a few biker learners figured this place out so the place was choko in winter with bikes doing their tests. The tester used to hide and jump out for an emergency stop, quite brave really considering the single leading shoe brakes we had at the time.

**H00dz** · 21st June 2009, 21:00

Originally Posted by p.dath

I hate to say this, but just because your mate has been riding a bigger bike or done lots of km's doesn't make him a good rider. He may well be good - but just saying that the testing officer may still be right.

Has he done any advanced rider training? Or perhaps is he self taught and has taught himself some bd things ...

Good points raised. I've had a few mates who like to say their really good riders (they've also binned their bikes as well) and others who are the real deal........

Having thought about it for awhile I now think that despite him being a good rider he let his nerves get the better of him and it nearly cost him......

**H00dz** · 21st June 2009, 21:06

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

He shoulda done a wheelstand when he left!

I tell ya I think he wanted to do more then just wheelie LOL

**mattian** · 21st June 2009, 21:29

Doing 50 in an 80 zone isnt riding cautiously its silly...... You ride at the speed limit during your test.
During my restricted test I thought I would be ultra cautious and I came to a complete stop at every give way sign, before proceeding. The tester told me off for that! and said if I was in a car, he would have failed me for impedeing the flow of traffic.

**sinned** · 25th June 2009, 19:36

Originally Posted by Mom

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.

Gee Mom you don't take prisoners, however, I have to agree with you. The tester would have had good reason for deciding to fail the rider.