Thanks Riderskills!

[Skuzzlebutt]

Hi everyone, passed my basic handling skills test today thanks to the awesome guys (Phillip and Ian) at Riderskills and wanted to share my experience here in case any other newbies are about to get their learner and were wondering how it all worked.

Booked over the internet using my credit card and $150 and about 1 minute later I was all set.

Today I showed up at the Avondale site (they have two here in Auckers) for the basic skills instruction followed by the test you need to pass before you can sit your theory test. There was me and 3 other guys, all absolute beginners. Ian and Phillip welcomed us with bright smiles and a kindly manner (important as I was dead nervous having only ever ridden a scooter before...about 10 years ago).

They took their time explaining everything us novice riders needed to know and never once made us fel silly or embarrassed and were always happy to hear our input.

Once we were up and riding (and not bunny hopping) they ran us through all 6 aspects of the BHS test which took about 2 hours after which we were all ready to roc with the test itself. Even though I'd quickly come to grips with riding (and LOVED it!) and as quite happily performing all the test sections to a passable standard...I freaked out a little when it came to the actual test itself. You get two attempts at 5 of the 6 tasks...the other (riding through a curve and indicating) you only get one chance.

I was nervous and totally fluffed my first attempt at the emergency stop...locked the rear and screeched to a halt...got it on the second go. Then I took 9 seconds to go through the 0.75m wide lane when I needed to make it at least 10 seconds...but I got that on the 2nd go too. Jeez...talk about pressure getting to me

Anyway, I nailed the rest, and so did the other guys sitting the test with me so we were a happy bunch of boys at the end...and in desperate need of a cold beer too.

Thanks again to Ian and Phillip, you made me feel welcome, took us through the course at just the right pace and were incredibly thorough and professional while still being totally friendly.

I'd recommend Riderskills to any new riders out there.

Next up the theory test this week...then bike shopping...woohoo!

Scotty

http://www.riderskills.co.nz/

[98tls]

Congrats eh,good on ya.Sounds a whole lot harder than when i sat my bike licence,took the XL350 stickers off replaced them with XL250 ones,rode about 50 kms to the county council office and just did it,cop said no point in going for a ride as i know you can cause you got here.

[Tink]

Hi everyone, passed my basic handling skills test today thanks to the awesome guys (Phillip and Ian) at Riderskills and wanted to share my experience here in case any other newbies are about to get their learner and were wondering how it all worked.

http://www.riderskills.co.nz/

congrats... awesome... stay safe now!

Congrats eh,good on ya.Sounds a whole lot harder than when i sat my bike licence,took the XL350 stickers off replaced them with XL250 ones,rode about 50 kms to the county council office and just did it,cop said no point in going for a ride as i know you can cause you got here.

I knew I should have done this years ago...

[marioc]

Oh Skuzz on 2 wheels now eh!

Nice one

[Skuzzlebutt]

Oh Skuzz on 2 wheels now eh!

Nice one

Haha! Small world this internet innit?

Yes, two wheels indeed. No need to be afraid though, I'm a complete goody-two-shoes on the road

What sort of bike have you got Mario?

Edit: Duh...a Bandit 250 says your profile Silly me.

[EJT]

I got my basic skills with Riderskills and Phillip. He was awesome and very thorough. Hope you didn't have too many trucks heading down the drive during the test. nothing like having an audience to put you off

[Skuzzlebutt]

I got my basic skills with Riderskills and Phillip. He was awesome and very thorough. Hope you didn't have too many trucks heading down the drive during the test. nothing like having an audience to put you off

Haha! Nope it was pretty quiet for us on the Sunday afternoon.

Passed my theory today so I'm ready to go get myself a bike, can't wait. Scored 100% in the test, did it at the VTNZ in Kingsland near my work and the hardest part was scratching out the answers...they gave me a Vivid marker and told me to use the back end of it to scratch the panels. It wasn't the best tool for the job I have to say.

[Skuzzlebutt]

Reviving this old thread because my L-plate days are almost over. I'm doing my restricted practical test at Quay St AA on Tuesday Dec 22.

Since I got my bike 7 months ago I've clocked up 12700km on it commuting between Whangaparaoa and Auckland city each day.

The little Hyosung is going sweetly (touch wood).

[sil3nt]

I've done 4000km in about the same time. Actually a few weeks longer. Kinda sad really!

[YellowDog]

Hi everyone, passed my basic handling skills test today thanks to the awesome guys (Phillip and Ian) at Riderskills ..........

Next up the theory test this week...then bike shopping...woohoo!

Scotty

http://www.riderskills.co.nz/

Thanks for sharing your great story and progress.

Good luck with the test next week.

Riding a motorcycle is a bit like playing golf.

Don't stop the training, there's lots to learn (even after you have passed).

[Skuzzlebutt]

Another update

I passed my restricted test yesterday. I know those route diagrams others have posted helped me prepare so I thought I'd do one for my test, so others can see what they may have to do.

The test was dead easy and nothing more than riding within the road code rules and doing the things that have been mentioned in here hundreds of times already (lots of mirror checking, both feet on ground when stopped, indicating and going between 40-50km).

I did the test at Quay St AA in Parnell. The testing officier was nice and friendly and got me hooked up with the radio ear piece so I could hear his instructions. Told me to nod when ever he spoke so he knew I could hear him and to pull over if I lost him.

We headed out of the carpark, turned right then right again and basically just cruised around Parnell for about 10-15 minutes. He got me to do one U-turn and took me on a route that included stop signs, give way signs and traffic lights. I checked my mirrors regularly (with exagerated head movements) and made sure I didn't speed (with the tight winding streets in Parnell and 9am weekday traffic, speeding is actually pretty difficult to do).

Once we were heading down Parnell road he asked if I could find my way back to the AA from here, I nodded, and that was that.

Got back and he told me that was all good and started writing out my temp licence. Only advice he had to offer was that I was tending to ride to close to the centre of the lane and that I should be riding in line with the drivers seat of the car in front so I had an escape route if needed. He said well done, keep up the good work and we were done. I ripped that hidious L-plate off, chucked it in the bin and was pulling out of the car park again by 9:20.

Here's my map. Good luck to any learners out there...hope this is of some use to someone