Liscence

**Magua** · 10th December 2003, 22:28

Well on Sunday I went out and found a bike, a 2000 gn125, looks like it's just out of the shop it's great. A family friend with his liscence will be riding it over to the North Shore from some Place in the Waitakeries on Saturday morning. Got my gear, got my helmet, but no liscence. Now I went for a biking course at Passrite in Penrose last Saturday, I didn't finish it so I'm booked in again for the 17th of January but I'd like to go for my liscence earlier than that.

I guess the question I'm getting at is do I need to attend one of these courses to get my liscence or is this just a great help seeming that I get a certificate saying that I am capable at riding?

**Jackrat** · 10th December 2003, 23:05

Mate any training you can get is worth while,but only you will know when you are ready for the test,If I were you I would do the training.I still do a bit of practice emergency braking and direction changing in car parks now and again.A lot of guys go to open days at race tracks to try to improve their road skills.These
are the guys that are still alive after twenty or thirty years riding,still others take to the dirt for the same reasons,Plus it,s damn good fun.
Do the course mate,it might just save your life.
Cheers.

**bungbung** · 11th December 2003, 08:01

Hi Magua,

There are three components to a learners licence:

A certificate of completion from an approved 'basic handling skills' course.

Passing 25 scratch and win questions about the rode code (general)

Passing 5 scratch and win questions about the rode code (about bikes)

I think you'll need to complete the course.

**Magua** · 11th December 2003, 09:17

Ok thanks for the advice guys, I'll just stick to my driveway untill the 17th.

**Coldkiwi** · 11th December 2003, 10:58

and for once, I'll agree with jackrat!

the more training you get and the more practice you do, the better you'll get and I'm pretty sure, the more enjoyment you get from knowing what you're doing. won't make you invincible but will probably prevent a lot of pain and cash outlay on the way!

**jrandom** · 11th December 2003, 11:32

One caveat. The 'training' the guys at Passrite give you is mediocre, if you can even call it 'training' (as you probably noticed first time round). If you turn up with no bike riding skills they'll just boot you back out without a cert, and you only get one free second go before you have to pay them again.

If I were you, I'd partner up with a friend who rides, go down to an empty parking lot and get your handling skills up to scratch on your bike so that the next time you go down to Passrite it'll be a formality. Otherwise it's a gamble whether or not you'll get the basic handling cert, and you'll end up waiting who-knows-how-long before you actually get your hot little hands on a bike license.

If you really want that bike license soon, you can always kiss goodbye to the cash you gave Passrite and book in somewhere else for the handling cert ASAP (AFTER you've got yourself up to scratch with a mate in that parking lot!) followed by a booking at an LTSA office to do the scratch 'n' win.

**riffer** · 11th December 2003, 11:39

Yeah, good idea jrandom. It's funny, kids don't seem to have the same access the dirt bikes that we had when I was younger (early 80s). I guess all the Trail Snails have finally died - TS185s for those who weren't there. I learnt a lot of my riding skills long before I even got near the road.

This site has some interesting articles to read on riding skills:

http://www.survivalskills.clara.net/rskills.htm

A parking lot is a great place to learn great skills like countersteering and how to brake as hard as you can without locking the front wheel, both of which are vital to know if you intend to spend any time amongst the cages on the road.

Try and set up a course with slalom cones (use whatever as long as you can ride around it), and mark out some braking areas and such.

**bikerboy** · 11th December 2003, 13:30

Why wait until the 17 of Jan., find someone else to get the certificate. The guys at AMPS recommended a guy for mine and it was really easy. Then get the learners and practice during the holidays when all the idiots are away at the Coromandel. Roads are empty and traffic is much calmer. Good practice time.

Sorry but that so called "training" isn't really training, its more like can you stay on the bike, stop the bike and turn the bike around. A couple of trials in a carpart to build skill and confidence and you'll be ready.

If you want training do a few sessions with an instructor after you get your learners on your bike at your comfort level, rather than an assembly line certificate factory. It's not cheap but not too expensive ..$40 per lesson... once a week or month till you feel confident is better value I think.

My two cents.

**bungbung** · 11th December 2003, 13:45

The "basic handling skills certificate" is a competency exam, not a training course.

If you want training, that'll be a seperate event like a 'learn to ride' course.

**Rocket** · 16th December 2003, 11:50

Originally Posted by bungbung

The "basic handling skills certificate" is a competency exam, not a training course.

If you want training, that'll be a seperate event like a 'learn to ride' course.

I am in the same situation as this young fella. I am kinda looking for a place that is going to give me a lesson or two then allow me to sit the basic handling cert after the training. But i am looking for some first hand recomendations. Can anyone provide this? This could be a nice addition to the webpage as well i think, help us newbs out alot.

So, can anyone recomend any company / business? Auckland area, pref city / newmarket.

**Coldkiwi** · 16th December 2003, 12:21

Originally Posted by Rocket

So, can anyone recomend any company / business? Auckland area, pref city / newmarket.

Craig Wiffen of Auckland Motorcycle Club would be my punt. taught me to ride and gave me the comptenecy test at the same time ie. "now you're going to learn how to slalom between cones" *do this a few times before getting it right with his help *. "ok... good, you can do that (ticks box). "right, lets learn how to do hill starts" (some hours later, a box gets ticked!)

he's good value and a very helpful instructor. look them up in the yellow pages

**Rocket** · 16th December 2003, 12:31

Originally Posted by Coldkiwi

Craig Wiffen of Auckland Motorcycle Club would be my punt. taught me to ride and gave me the comptenecy test at the same time ie. "now you're going to learn how to slalom between cones" *do this a few times before getting it right with his help *. "ok... good, you can do that (ticks box). "right, lets learn how to do hill starts" (some hours later, a box gets ticked!)

he's good value and a very helpful instructor. look them up in the yellow pages

Nice one cheers. Might give him a ring! I presume they supply the gear, bike?

**Yarg** · 16th December 2003, 15:49

Another instructor is John Wright Ph: 025 227 5766. my son got his certificate after 1 lesson ($40)
Good luck.
GD

**Big Dog** · 16th December 2003, 16:10

I agree with bikerboy, getting training is a little pointless and expensive if you do it before you can stop, start, change gear and turn.

It is a little pointless paying someone good money to teach you how to start your bike.

I reckon most bikers will be happy to show you free of charge the basics. Having done it several different ways with my different licences (classes 1-6 d&f) prior knowledge allows a degree of confidence you can't get any other way.