full licence practical question

[HanaBelle]

Yes well, they offered me a killer trade in price on my EL, so I was forced-against-rational-will to buy the 800, really, I was...

Now, though, Im short one 250cc bike and three weeks shy of the full licence test date...and Im not going to risk taking that 800 out until Im legal (really, Im not)...

and even though I can *probably* ride having survived daily-without-fail commuter riding in Auckland traffic and all weathers for (counts on fingers) 11 months, nearly...

I read that LTSA sheet on the final licence test and have freaked that somehow I wont corner in the regulation fashion required and :spudwhat: wtf does "stay left *if* there is oncoming traffic" mean because, hell, I learned to stay waaaaay left while driving cars (just that teensy bit more leeway if said oncoming traffic misses the corner and ends up in YOUR lane) and its a habit to ride there around corners too...so...

Are there any real tips on what to expect in that final licence test??

Oh and is it true that highway crash bars are banned in NZ and if so, why?

Hana

[Zapf]

so how are u going to do the test? not on the 800 I hope

[aff-man]

ok my full licence test advice (i had to do it in the frikken rain)
1. Look around heaps (move helmet)
2. come to a full stop at stop signs.
3. The vinz have a pamphlet on what to expect in the practicle test, examine it and look up relevent stuff in road code(got me through)
4. take the required following distance and double it!!!!!!!!!!! (almost failed cause of this)

[HanaBelle]

Red Baron sold me the vulcan, bought my EL, and are lending me *their* EL250 for test purposes. I do know enough not to turn up on an 800!

H

[HanaBelle]

1. Look around heaps (move helmet)
2. come to a full stop at stop signs.
3. The vinz have a pamphlet on what to expect in the practicle test, examine it and look up relevent stuff in road code(got me through)
4. take the required following distance and double it!!!!!!!!!!! (almost failed cause of this)

Thank you for the tips, I will add that following distance one in particular! (nearly ran up some prats backend this morning as a reminder on that). Road code, road code...what is the rule for turning right when not facing a give way or stop sign? I heard somewhere that its illegal to enter an intersection if the way through it is not completely clear so assume that also means not sitting in the middle of it waiting for your right turn oncoming traffic to clear?

Hana

[dhunt]

It's all fairly straight forward. The main things they are after as already mentioned they want to see you looking round. This includes coming out of passing lanes. Indicating when leaving round abouts etc.

They are normally (ex)motorbike riders themselves and are pretty clued up if someone can ride a bike or not. Probably the most important thing is don't speed and what ever you do DONT crash (that obvious ).

What normally happens is they follow you in a cage any indicate (way early) when they want you to turn etc So make sure you can see well out of your mirrors. Don't think I could do this on my current bike, can't see nothing out of them.

I remember when I sat mine my bike was playing up a bit and in the 100km area I suddenly lost power so dropped it down a couple gears and revved it up a bit and it suddenly shot up to 120km. But he didn't even mention that afterwards.

David

[Hitcher]

Red Baron sold me the vulcan, bought my EL, and are lending me *their* EL250 for test purposes. I do know enough not to turn up on an 800!

Firstly HanaBelle, welcome to our gargre!

Secondly, your motorcycling evolution is very similar to Mrs H's. Her first ride (for just under two weeks) was a Honda CB100, followed by the trusty Kawasaki EL250 Eliminator. What a great name for a 250! But all joking aside, a great ride and particularly for "vertically challenged" riders. Mrs H now rides a Suzuki VZ800K3 Marauder, which she loves! The main reason she isn't astride the Kawasaki Vulcan 800 is that it has spokes! Too much cleaning, etc.

Thirdly, good luck with your full licence test. I'm sure somebody will come to the party with a suitable 250. You'll notice a significant difference returning to one of these after the 800...

[scroter]

my test was almost 2 years ago and it included hazard identification where you are told to complete a manouvre and remember all the hazards and regurgutate them to the testing officer. also so the testing officer knows you have come to a complete stop put both feet on the ground. also if you need the practice they test you on u-turns as well. good luck to you

[duckman]

Remember to indicate AND then turn them off when you've completed your corner!!!! Sounds silly, but sooooo many riders forget to turn their indicators off.

[manuboy]

Hey Hannabelle,

Dunno if you're keen, but i picked up my bike {slightly} b4 i was legal to ride it, then i jumped onto the new CBTA training course at Mainland Driving here in CHCH. You'll probably have a local instructor that does them as well...

Here's the deal. You watch DVD's, take a sort of verbal instruction period and then do a road test (suburban, open road). The instructors are normally ex-racers and pretty experienced. At the end of the day (assuming you didn't drop the test bike) you get a FULL license....

Hopefully you're also much better equiped to deal with everyday hazards, and you'll be riding for years to come... stoked!

The only (small) downside - $280 bucks, which is cheap when you take into account what you pay in total to get a full license anyway.

Think about it - the course is all good....

[riffer]

Remember to indicate AND then turn them off when you've completed your corner!!!! Sounds silly, but sooooo many riders forget to turn their indicators off.

LOL guilty. I did half my test with the indicators on!!!

[Blakamin]

Hey Hannabelle,

Dunno if you're keen, but i picked up my bike {slightly} b4 i was legal to ride it, then i jumped onto the new CBTA training course at Mainland Driving here in CHCH. You'll probably have a local instructor that does them as well...

Here's the deal. You watch DVD's, take a sort of verbal instruction period and then do a road test (suburban, open road). The instructors are normally ex-racers and pretty experienced. At the end of the day (assuming you didn't drop the test bike) you get a FULL license....

Hopefully you're also much better equiped to deal with everyday hazards, and you'll be riding for years to come... stoked!

The only (small) downside - $280 bucks, which is cheap when you take into account what you pay in total to get a full license anyway.

Think about it - the course is all good....

What bike did you take to the test??
I'll be doing one up here resonably soon.. just wondering whether to take my bike or a...um... cbr250

[dhunt]

What bike did you take to the test??
I'll be doing one up here resonably soon.. just wondering whether to take my bike or a...um... cbr250

This is what you are after
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...n-15762802.htm

[Paul in NZ]

LOL guilty. I did half my test with the indicators on!!!

NO STINKIN' INDICATORS ON MY 1954 ajs 500CC (Ah crap I hate caps lock) to leave on when I sat mine in 1972.... I suppose ya coulda left your arm hangin' out the side for a block or 2!

No decent brakes
No electric start
handled like a steam ship

Wonderful thing.. Very.... erm.... Stately!

It was raining and the cop laughed when he saw it... Son! If you rode that here and you can re start it, ride it around the block and get back without killing yourself, you got your license!

I did, got me bit o paper and toddled off home! Had dads 3rd best cork crash hat from the 30's as well!

Paul N

[manuboy]

Ahhh... that was the catch. I had a gixxer 250 sorted, but it fell thru. So i used the "hire bike" they had. haahahaha... yamaha sr(?) 250. Jeeeeeeeeeesus (apologies to anybody who owns one). During the open road section, you had to demonstrate passing manouevres... except even glued to the tank i could manage 82km/h.... i couldn't catch the guy in front of me..... I got passed by two 1985 suzuki vitara's on the way back from Little River!

To be fair it needed a tune, and maybe the retstrictors could come out, i just felt like a plonker in full riding gear etc....

It's a real good course tho man... like i said, you learn some things that hopefully save your skin.... easily worth the money....