License training. U turn and stopping?

**NJ001** · 30th November 2011, 06:00

Hey all...
I am preparing for my practical test and have a couple of queries around what a testing officer would judge me on.
1 u turn. What is the best way to do it? If I am asked to do a u turn, should I indicate to the right and turn the bike in first gear without putting my feet to the ground? What is the right speed?
2. When at stop, can I come to neutral straight from say 5th gear pressing the clutch and stopping the bike with brakes only or engine breaking is compulsory?
3. Am I supposed to put both feet on the ground or can leave the right one on brake?

I there Anyone who has recently been to a test in Auckland? I am thinking about going to manukau or city...

Thanks
N

**nzspokes** · 30th November 2011, 06:44

Come to SASS tonight and you will meet people with knowledge, get to ride and drink beer. All within the licence restrictions.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...highlight=sass

**ckai** · 30th November 2011, 07:16

Originally Posted by NJ001

Hey all...
I am preparing for my practical test and have a couple of queries around what a testing officer would judge me on.
1 u turn. What is the best way to do it? If I am asked to do a u turn, should I indicate to the right and turn the bike in first gear without putting my feet to the ground? What is the right speed?
2. When at stop, can I come to neutral straight from say 5th gear pressing the clutch and stopping the bike with brakes only or engine breaking is compulsory?
3. Am I supposed to put both feet on the ground or can leave the right one on brake?

I there Anyone who has recently been to a test in Auckland? I am thinking about going to manukau or city...

Thanks
N

Do as above and also...

1. I actually got commented on this. They took me down a cul-de-sac so I assumed I'd just ride around. Apparantly they wanted me to indicate left, stop, then indicate right as I did my U-turn. It's different everywhere though. What I did was change into 2nd gear, looked over my shoulder, indicated right, and did the turn. The tester said he wouldn't have failed me because it was in a cul-de-sac. Choose the gear that you're more comfortable in using at slower speeds. To me, I found 2nd gear more forgiving. DON'T put you're feet down WHILE you're turning. You can do it before and after but NOT during.

2. Every time you are approaching an intersection, you should be changing down gears so you are in the best gear for your current speed. You'll be there all day if you rock up to a stop sign and you're in 5th. I wouldn't put it in neutral either. Prepare yourself well in advance so you don't have crap loads to do at any one time (i.e. while you're stopped you're not finding the right gear, indicating, adjusting your make-up, tying your shoe

Get the point?)

3. Depends on the situation. If there's a slope, leave on foot on the brake. Rule of thumb. If it is safe to do so, put 2 feet on the ground. Generally you ALWAYS want to put both feet on the groung at a Stop sign. That way you have to stop.

The main point, relax and never panic

**The Singing Chef** · 30th November 2011, 07:26

Originally Posted by NJ001

Hey all...
I am preparing for my practical test and have a couple of queries around what a testing officer would judge me on.
1 u turn. What is the best way to do it? If I am asked to do a u turn, should I indicate to the right and turn the bike in first gear without putting my feet to the ground? What is the right speed?
2. When at stop, can I come to neutral straight from say 5th gear pressing the clutch and stopping the bike with brakes only or engine breaking is compulsory?
3. Am I supposed to put both feet on the ground or can leave the right one on brake?

I there Anyone who has recently been to a test in Auckland? I am thinking about going to manukau or city...

Thanks
N

you are allowed to do the u-turn as fast as you like, preferably 60 - 80k or if on a 2 stroke, fit a red power band and turn it on mid u-turn.

**baffa** · 30th November 2011, 11:38

Everything ckai said, except always have both feet on the ground at intersections, they want to see that. You should be able to hillstart with the front brake.

From your comments, it sounds like you havent ridden enough, most of this should be common sense / easy

**NJ001** · 30th November 2011, 17:38

Thanks guys...
The main reason me asking this is I don't wanna do something that testing officer don't like. It's just about being right at the right time. I guess it is kinda same as driving past stopped cars on an on ramp is fine as long as there are no cops and u r not followed by a testing officer....
Cheers guys...

**St_Gabriel** · 30th November 2011, 18:05

All examiners have different expectations, just ask them to clarify before the exam starts. I doubt many are out there trying to trick you into failing. When I asked my examiner about the compulsory stop/feet down conundrum, his response was he didn't care as long as I came to a complete stop, if I was good enough to not put any feet down.

**Subike** · 30th November 2011, 18:08

Originally Posted by baffa

Everything ckai said, except always have both feet on the ground at intersections, they want to see that. You should be able to hillstart with the front brake.

From your comments, it sounds like you havent ridden enough, most of this should be common sense / easy

what are you riding?? a scooter? fookin elll, try that on a decent size bike and you gunna stall, or worse, the bike will lie down.
Rear brake for hill starts , that way you can concentrate only on the throttle and clutch control with you hands,
not throttle AND brake with your right hand AND at the same time the clutch with your left

**nothingflash** · 30th November 2011, 18:10

Originally Posted by NJ001

It's just about being right at the right time.

You sound like an accident waiting to happen.

**Subike** · 30th November 2011, 18:14

Originally Posted by St_Gabriel

All examiners have different expectations, just ask them to clarify before the exam starts. I doubt many are out there trying to trick you into failing. When I asked my examiner about the compulsory stop/feet down conundrum, his response was he didn't care as long as I came to a complete stop, if I was good enough to not put any feet down.

The reason they want to see you feet or one foot down when stopped is so they can see from behind that you are actually stopped.
It is not necessary to have both feet on the ground at every red traffic light or stop sign,
often the camber of the intersection controlled by a stop sign requires the use of the rear brake to stay stopped.