basic handling skills advice

**greenhorn** · 19th July 2004, 11:04

Hi everyone
Ive been riding my bike around for a little while and think its about time i went for the basic handling test. I remember looking at a site somewhere telling me what sort of things they make you do but cant remember where it was.
Easier just to ask you guys...
What's good to practice doing? I can go in a straight line pretty good, even got it into 5th gear yesterday!

I have been practicing going around in tight circles, weaving in and out of some imaginary cones.
What sort of bikes do they give you to do the test on?
Any advice on what i should be able to do before i sit this test?
Im not called Greenhorn for nothing

**Darryboy** · 19th July 2004, 11:37

I'd never ridden a motorbike before I sat my basic skills course, so you should pass it easy

It's not really a test, as in if you keep hitting cones they just give you advice and let you keep trying until you get it right (provided it's not taking you too long).

I don't know exactly what bikes they had at PassRite but they had 125 & 250s (mine had a broken speedo and another guys had a smashed indicator). You don't need to worry about speed 'cos you never get out of 1st gear.

Good luck,

Darren

**greenhorn** · 19th July 2004, 11:57

Originally Posted by Darryboy

I'd never ridden a motorbike before I sat my basic skills course, so you should pass it easy

It's not really a test, as in if you keep hitting cones they just give you advice and let you keep trying until you get it right (provided it's not taking you too long).

I don't know exactly what bikes they had at PassRite but they had 125 & 250s (mine had a broken speedo and another guys had a smashed indicator). You don't need to worry about speed 'cos you never get out of 1st gear.

Good luck,

Darren

COOL!
Sounds like the way they manufacture the school qualifications these days... no one fails, just keep going till you pass.
Thanks Darryboy

**Paul in NZ** · 19th July 2004, 12:37

Originally Posted by greenhorn

COOL!
Sounds like the way they manufacture the school qualifications these days... no one fails, just keep going till you pass.
Thanks Darryboy

Or we lower the (obviously unfair) standards to accomodate you...

Don't stress... You will do fine... If not, at least you will have a clear understanding of what you need to do to pass....

Paul N

(aint no standard low enough)

**Devil** · 19th July 2004, 13:09

Yeh, I went to passrite as well (www.passrite.co.nz) rode their 250 (had never ridden a bike without a centrifugal clutch before) and it was easy as.

If you've already been riding around you'll hose through.

**geoffm** · 19th July 2004, 14:30

Craig Wiffen does them at the Aucklan dMotorcycle club in Ellerslie. Usually has an ad in the T&E, or ring th eoffice and they will give you the details.
The power of the mighty KH100 can be yours for a wee while...
Geoff

**Posh Tourer :P** · 19th July 2004, 14:31

I went to Doug Swanson on the shore. He was very laid back and cheap. He had GN250. the test is really easy. Swerve between cones... a bikelength apart or so, turn a corner, stop, go , stop in a corner, go in a straight line. I think thats about it. Oh and dont go over 30kmh... :S

**greenhorn** · 19th July 2004, 14:43

after reading these messages, there is no way i'll be owning up to failing this if i do..

**greenhorn** · 19th July 2004, 14:48

Even if i fail at least i can console myself that i passed my school c the old fashioned way... back when a pass was a pass and a fail was a fail, and you could get the cane for talking back to the "Sir"s. And kids who wore roman sandals got bogwashed and we wore winkel pickers to school on mufti days and ... but i digress. I feel like an old fart ahhhh thats better

**Yarg** · 19th July 2004, 15:49

John Wright does the basic handling course. Ph 025-227 05766.

**yessum** · 19th July 2004, 16:39

Originally Posted by Yarg

John Wright does the basic handling course. Ph 025-227 05766.

can vouch for this fella. It started with a chat about road conditions and safety, and an hour or so of puttering around (weaving cones, turning etc) before the test... plenty of time particularly if you've ridden before. Bike was a CB250 if I recall. Don't know how price compares to others.

**Ms Piggy** · 19th July 2004, 16:51

You also need to be able to go slow but it sounds to me like you're more than ready!

Go for it!

**jrandom** · 19th July 2004, 16:54

Originally Posted by Yarg

John Wright does the basic handling course. Ph 025-227 05766.

Yup. I did the pre-test course with him, very good it was too. He wrote the "You and your motorcycle" section at the front of the Road Code, he can't be that stupid...

**tuscan** · 19th July 2004, 17:56

I did my test with a guy called Lee Hurley (I think) who, at least sometimes uses this site. I think he calls himself Rusty.

He was really good, as I had never ridden before and the test was pretty easy. Also it was inexpensive. Go to the silverbullet website to find a link to email him.

**Zapf** · 2nd August 2004, 23:24

Originally Posted by Posh Tourer :P

I went to Doug Swanson on the shore. He was very laid back and cheap. He had GN250. the test is really easy. Swerve between cones... a bikelength apart or so, turn a corner, stop, go , stop in a corner, go in a straight line. I think thats about it. Oh and dont go over 30kmh... :S

Got my test and course with Doug as well. Great guy, and he really goes thru it with you bit by bit. Loved the tennis ball cones

Was it a GN250 or 125?