Full Licence Test. Whats it like?

[Pancakes]

I decided a few hours ago that with the 900cc model of what I plan to have as my next bike generally being newer than the same price 250 of the same model, the only cost effective thing to do is get my full!

I really want to know what the test is like, where you went, any funny things that caught you out/trick questions etc. Does it have to be through AA or can I go to a private tester? (to speed the process up?)

Thanks in advance.

Edited to try to make it read nicely but it's still a bit lumpy, you geddit tho a?

[Matt_TG]

I understand that all testers are contracted to LTSA, and usually part of an organisation like AA or VTNZ.

The test wasn't too bad, for me it was split in four sections. Here's my test...

1. Check out bike, lights, horn wof, rego etc. Get kitted up with earpiece and radio in jacket pocket.

2. Take off from VTNZ, drive around urban streets for 10 mins while he observed, then pull over, then pull out down the road, do a U turn then back to the tester parked on the side of the road.

3. While the tester was still parked, drive down the road, around into a side street then back to the tester, telling him what hazards I saw while I was doing a specific thing (eg while I was turning back from the side street to the street he was on).

Then he followed me to the end of that street and was asked to observe hazards when I pulled out to the cross street, then stop and tell him what I saw.

4 Drive on the main urban road (70km/h) to a rural road that had various speed limits (50 / 70 / 80 / 100), staying within the speed limits till we got to a driveway where we turned around then re-traced our steps.

My comments / tips:

Pick a relatively busy time of day to do the test. It's easier with more traffic (slower) and there are more hazards to spot. My test was 7.30am during school holidays and it was empty.

Do a Defensive Driving Course. I did to get the restricted down to 3 months. I learnt what they were looking for as far as hazards go - not that it helped me (see below).

On my second hazard ID part, he asked me specifically to identify and recall hazards when I carried out the turn from the stop sign into the cross street. The roads were empty and the only thing at that time was a man walking a dog, so that's what I said. He looked at me and said "AND ....?". I said there was nothing else during the turn, so he asked about the car coming the other way when I came to the intersection - I said, oh yeah, but you said when I was actually doing the turn and that was way before I got to the intersection. He didn't like that ... Then he asked about the car following me (him). I was going to say "yeah that bastard has been behind me for the last 20 minutes" but thought better of it!

Make sure your bike's lights and horn etc all work. A mate failed his test at the beginning as his (borrowed) bike hand brake light didn't work.

Move your head about a lot, checking roads as you come to them, checking mirrors, especially look over shoulder when pulling out or changing lanes.

Good luck!

[Delphinus]

Mine was in the afternoon in raining weather. At the start he said kepp up to the speed limit but only where you safely can, drive to the conditions.
I think because it was raining we didnt do the hazard ID part. Just the riding round town, U turn etc, then onto the motorway, looped round an exit and back home.

Be very very polite, ie I introduced myself and shook his hand etc when I first met him.
Wear all the gear, as it was wet and gold i was fully kitted up in leathers with balaclava and inner gloves etc. He commented on this when we had finished, saying well done for wearing the right gear. I replied with ATGATT

Was looking absolutely everywhere when riding, down alllll the side streets etc.
If you go over a pedestrian crossing even if there is someone on the far side stop for them.

If you're doing hazard ID, name everything you see and then some. Go way over-the-top.
Parked cars, driveways, gravel/wet/slippery roads. Intersections, corners, speed changing zones. Cars in distance etc. Just say it all. Thats what I was told by driving instructor when doing car full. Then he cant ask for more. Shows you are aware I guess too.

Good luck, you'll be fine. Its nice and easy. Just be sensible and polite, and check bike is in full working order, with fuel!

[jrandom]

The test really is a piece of cake.

Just be sure your bike's lights etc are all in working order, and you have a full fuel tank! I missed out on my first booked test after failing to notice a blown indicator bulb.

[Stella]

wow, it sounds like a really intense test!!

Tell me it wasn't as scary as it sounds.......!

[Delphinus]

wow, it sounds like a really intense test!!

Tell me it wasn't as scary as it sounds.......!

Not at all. Its just a normal ride with lots of turns

Just thought it'd be better to give too much than not enough!

Just stay relaxed, dont break the rules and no worries.
Pays to drive round some surburban streets for about 20 mins beforehand to get in the practise of not going a jot over 50 and all the stopping and starting

[Stella]

Pays to drive round some surburban streets for about 20 mins beforehand to get in the practise of not going a jot over 50

Yes... I have been trying recently to get up to speed much quicker after intersections etc. Unfortunately I usually hit 60 before I notice I should have levelled off....

(I realised part of the reason I was so slow in getting up to speed was not my gutless GN but (being girly and) not wanting to make such a racket hooning up through the gears and feeling like I might be mistreating the bike somehow doing that....
Unfortunately now I find that I am *supposed* to do that to get up to speed I feel less... like a boy racer doing it and have the maniac look less often...)

Back on topic, it is REALLY good reading these detailed accounts of how people's practical tests went, thanks

[Delphinus]

Hehe yeah its all part of having a bike the noise you can make! And dont worry about giving it heaps when you want to. The engine is quite happy to do that.
Maybe giving it completely full throttle and doing burnouts is not quite what you should be doing during a test, but dont be afraid to get up to speed quickly

[fireliv]

Book online, then you can book before your time is up, otherwise you have to go into LTSA and book after ure time is up....\

Good luck!

[Stella]

So I can sit my restricted after six months (just gone half way!!)

How is the six months counted? I got mine on the 27th of April, so does this mean I can sit it on the 27th October (six calendar months) or the 13th October (6 x 4 weeks) (if I counted right).

Can anyone tell I'm keen?

[Delphinus]

Can anyone tell I'm keen?

hahahahaah You crack me up. Thats some cool thinking there. Might have to ring LTSA on that one.

Driver licensing 0800 822 422

[Boob Johnson]

What would you know about a full licence test in NZ Jack?? You went to Raro on holiday & transferred it back u bloody cheat

[Delphinus]

Still had to sit the full practical when I got back here to get it converted

[F5 Dave]

What is it with youse guys & the go straight from a 250 to a thou mentality?

Heck I was never so confident to assume my skills were high enough to make such a big jump -& a good thing too as I would have been woefully underprepared + bikes have gotten a hell of a lot faster since then anyway.

a 650 twin would be a huge & useful jump. A bigger bike straight off will stunt your riding growth.

[Delphinus]

I went from a ZXR250 to a Triumph TT600. I think that was a good progression. I use the bike for work callouts when I can, covering all of otago, so a bike with a bit of power is a good thing. The TT600 is fantastic for that. But not an R1 etc.