Sitting Learners.

[kave]

Hi, I'm new to this website, and to biking. I am sitting my basic skills and learners next weekend. Any advice? Also, I just bought my first bike, a 1990 Yamaha SRX250. Anyone got any advice as to where I could find a owners manual for it?
Thanks.

[Kinje]

Hi, welcome to the site.

Get a lesson from an instructor before doing the basic skills. I had never ridden a motorbike before so had no real idea what I was doing, but after one lesson had done a practice run of all the drills for the test. Next lesson had a quick refresher, then did the test no problems.

Good luck, have fun, ride safe

[Roj]

Welcome to the site, good luck on your BHS

take your time and don't rush things, make sure you are comfortable with starting and stopping, and comfortable with your bike

[McJim]

Through whom are you sitting your BHS?

Both me and my wife did ours last year and they teach you enough to pass from scratch.

I'd never ridden a bike in my life - 2 hours later I've got my BHS certificate.

[KLOWN]

I had never ridden a bike and went and did my bhs, took five minutes then done. They didn't tell you anything, u just hopped on the scooter and went around the cones, If you have and balance then your sweet.

[Steph]

Definately get a lesson before the basic skills, it'll make it alot easier. I had never ridden before I took mine and god it was one of the hardest days of my life. Balance and smooth throttle control help make everything else much easier.

As for the theory, make sure you read all the practise questions at the back of the road code and take some of those practise tests you can get from the AA or BP stations. I passed mine today and if I can, anyone can.

[Drum]

Welcome to the site Kave and Steph.

[Hawkeye]

Welcome to the site Kave and Steph.

Ditto.....

[klingon]

Hi, I'm new to this website, and to biking. I am sitting my basic skills and learners next weekend. Any advice? Also, I just bought my first bike, a 1990 Yamaha SRX250. Anyone got any advice as to where I could find a owners manual for it?
Thanks.

My advice:

- going fast is easy, going slow is hard. Practise going slow (and go AROUND the cones, not over them)

- Keep your chin up! Literally and metaphorically. Look where you want to go and the bike will go there. Also don't get discouraged if some of the skills are difficult to master. Keep practising and you'll be fine.

And congrats on your bike! And welcome to the site! And welcome to Steph too

[Steph]

Thanks! I've been warned I will become as addicted to this site as trademe...

Going slow is much harder than I expected and weaving through the cones and going slow in a straight line are two things that it helps to practise practise practise. And when you can't get those two things down it's the going faster parts that make you want to keep trying.

[Drum]

Hey Kave, I support the suggestion that if you haven't ridden much before that you get a lesson from a riding instructor.

They will have some valuable tips to give you on selecting a suitable bike, the basics of the bike (like understanding the reserve tank, parking, finding neutral etc), and riding techniques (like keeping your head up, look where you want to go, countersteer etc). Some riding schools have a series of lessons on a Saturday morning, followed by the Basic Handling Skills Test in the afternoon. By the end of the day you have your BHS certificate and ready to sit your scratchy test.

Even if you have mates that ride, most of them will teach you their bad habits so it's still worthwhile getting a lesson.

And enjoy the summer!

[bull]

This may help with the theory side for scratchy test.
http://www.drivinginstructor.co.nz/i.../test_menu.php
The above site is a good place to go and test yourself on the questions, i found them to be almost the exact wording as in the scratchy test and if you get any wrong it gives you the answer so you learn for next time.

[Lee Rusty]

I had never ridden a bike and went and did my bhs, took five minutes then done. They didn't tell you anything, u just hopped on the scooter and went around the cones, If you have and balance then your sweet.

what sortof scooter did they use - i hope it wasnt a 50cc auto jobbie that is clasified as a moped - since you are not allowed to sit a licence test on a moped. I would be interested to know

[klingon]

I recommend getting some lessons from that man up there ^^^ (Lee Rusty). He's very patient, even with someone who kept riding OVER the cones

[kave]

Did the basic skills through passrite. Relatively easy, although only 3 of the 6 sitting passed as far as i could tell. Sat it on a GN125 that they provided. Much much easier for the slow ride than it would have been on my bike. Also never had to take it out of first gear.