BHS too soft?

**Maki** · 27th October 2009, 20:15

The initial push to write this was this thread:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...d.php?t=111146

"Had two owner/riders both learners.
Original owner rode it out of the sales yard and fell off. Insurance company sold it to someone who fixed and sold it to me 6 months ago.
Bike has been fully repaired except for superficial sratches on the exhaust."

That has me thinking back to the time I did my BHS. I reckon at least one of the people I took it with did not have what it takes to ride on the road. Mangled cones in the slalom test and worst of all non existent braking skills. This person was allowed to pass the test.

I also have to share what happened to me last Sunday. As I came out of church I saw across the street a red Ninja 250, just like the one I used to own. I thought nice, and went over to have a closer look. Lo and behold, it WAS my old bike. According to the odometer it had done less than 2.000 km since I sold it. Somehow the new owner(ers) had managed to rash up the fairings on one side, rash it up and break bits of it on the other side and snap one of the mirrors off.

So if this is your bike and you are reading this, what the hell happened (the description I have given should be enough for you to know who you are)? You have clearly dropped the bike at least twice in 2.000 km. Would you have benefited from more training and a stricter BHS test?

What do you think? Is the BHS too soft? Are people who can hardly ride a push bike getting out on the street on motorcycles? Why do people crash their bikes on the ride out of the sales yard?

**ital916** · 27th October 2009, 20:19

When I did my bhs, a girl dropped the bike and failed the excercise where you get only one shot. She passed.
.
On the other side of the spectrum, my restricted test was very difficult as was my full license test. On my full test I ended up doing like eight u turns, on varying conditions roads as well as the test taking an hour, roughly.

**CookMySock** · 27th October 2009, 20:29

Originally Posted by ital916

my restricted test was very difficult as was my full license test. On my full test I ended up doing like eight u turns, on varying conditions roads as well as the test taking an hour, roughly.

Contrast that with my restricted and full - both tests terminated in ten minutes flat. "That'll do mate, you know what you're doing. Mumble, driving around wasting my gas.."

But yeah I agree the BHS test is a joke. I guess there has to be a minimum standard, but its just a bit too minimal IMO.

Steve

**Motu** · 27th October 2009, 20:31

I never had a BHS test....after 40 years I can still fall off in the drive way.Should I surrender my license?

**Qkkid** · 27th October 2009, 20:31

Originally Posted by ital916

When I did my bhs, a girl dropped the bike and failed the excercise where you get only one shot. She passed.
.
On the other side of the spectrum, my restricted test was very difficult as was my full license test. On my full test I ended up doing like eight u turns, on varying conditions roads as well as the test taking an hour, roughly.

Just to clarify things
If you drop your bike in the process of doing the BHS test it is a instant fail.
After 5 points its a fail.
It is up to the instructors to do their job right.

**mossy1200** · 27th October 2009, 20:42

I remember Andy Bowell (ex f3 champ) gave me my skills test.
He drew the tightest 90deg corner in chalk on wet carpark seal and told me to hammer it then do hand turn signal while riding around corner in the wet maintaining 50clicks.
I was told if the rear wheel didnt come up during brake test then I had failed.
I was told crash the shop loan bike and it becomes your first motorbike and you can pick it up if and when you ever pass my test.

Times are too soft now

**McJim** · 27th October 2009, 20:44

I think the BHS, the restricted test and the full test are all too soft. On paper they don't seem too different to the UK system with the same maneouvres etc HOWEVER it is the lack of strict adherence to the rules that makes the big difference. too many things are glossed over. Back in the UK it's a huge deal if someone passes first time round....HUGE.

My driving instructor was amazed that I passed (as I had the misfortune to land the strictest examiner in North East London at the time)

**p.dath** · 27th October 2009, 20:57

A lot of skills can only be gained with experience and riding time.

But perhaps more of a safety focus, rather than skills persee, may be in order.

**bogan** · 27th October 2009, 21:01

Originally Posted by ital916

When I did my bhs, a girl dropped the bike and failed the excercise where you get only one shot. She passed.

was she hot? cos hot wimmins get a free ride you know, well from me anyways

**Icemaestro** · 27th October 2009, 23:01

I did mine with Riderskills up here in aucks, watched the main guy fail someone in the group before my partner did it about 6 months back (just on points lost) - I would recommend them, they have a good focus on safety, do lots of one on one help if you do the learning thing before it, and clearly aren't afraid to fail people if they're not up to scratch

**chef** · 27th October 2009, 23:35

i did mine with road safe (andrew) he was a hard bastard but fair and good wasnt soft at all

**Maki** · 28th October 2009, 06:40

Originally Posted by chef

i did mine with road safe (andrew) he was a hard bastard but fair and good wasnt soft at all

Andrew is an excellent teacher. I would recommend him to anyone.

**BiK3RChiK** · 28th October 2009, 06:58

When I did my BHS test (in the rain) everyone passed even though one fulla nearly fell off his bike and had most of us shaking our heads at his riding 'skills'. I have seen the tester fail someone though, although it was more a case of 'come back next week and I'll do some one on one instruction with you cause I hate failing anyone!'

Some instructors need a good boot up the rear!

**Katman** · 28th October 2009, 07:21

Those who run basic handling skills courses need to seriously consider what it is they are trying to achieve.

Sending learner riders out on to the road without adequate ability is potentially sending someone to their death.