Restricted test post-mortem

**Neon** · 16th April 2008, 20:33

Passed my restricted test at Northcross (Brown's Bay) this afternoon, thought I'd share my experience for those looking forward to it...

Sat the test at 4pm, which was a good time as traffic was moderate without being too heavy, being between school finish and 5pm work traffic. 'Twas raining, which I was stressing about a little but some ways it was good as I was very concious of my speed.

The tester was a good bloke, clearly had some bike experience which was good. He warned me of some basic errors that people make during the test:

1/ Both feet must be put down when completely stopped for lights, stop signs etc.

2/ Make sure you indicate coming out of roundabouts - this is not something I do all the time (particularly when going straight through) and I had to conciously remind myself to do it.

3/ Watch your speed. Goes without saying, although he seemed unconcerned about being a few k's over.

The loop we did was here

Probably the only things that caught me by surprise were the unfamiliar Lonely Track Rd in the wet, and the significant roadworks on Gill Rd. Other than that there is a check on their list for 'pulling over to a stop in a 50km/h zone', and another for 'pulling over to a stop in a 70-100km/h zone'. Obvously you need to make sure you look over your shoulder before pulling away.

Hope this is of help!

**marioc** · 16th April 2008, 20:39

nice one,got mine in 3 weeks cheers

**Grub** · 16th April 2008, 20:40

Well doneon the restricted Andy. Interesting "must-do's". I didn'y know you had to have both feet down at a stop/lights. I'm iguring this isn't a road-code thing, just a demo for the tester that you have actually, completely stopped?

**fizbin** · 16th April 2008, 20:46

nice dude!
Congrats on moving up

**Ragingrob** · 16th April 2008, 20:54

Nice one bro, maybe you should come say hello to the uni club somtime!

**musicman** · 17th April 2008, 02:55

Congratulations, man!

I did mine last Friday (11th) and my route was East Coast Rd -> Sartors Ave -> Glencoe Rd -> Beach Rd -> Carlisle Rd -> Oteha Valley Rd -> SH1 -> Greville Rd -> East Coast Rd, which, although is a bigger loop, I would think is easier than the route you did...

My tester didn't say anything about both feet down or indicating though. The only thing I remember before the test is him telling me to keep my speed up because apparently a problem with motorcycles is going too slow and holding up other road users...

**sweetp** · 17th April 2008, 06:05

That is super, well done, now just the long haul to the full.....

**Radar** · 17th April 2008, 08:11

Andy, what sort of U Turn did he have you do? On a busy street or parking area, and did you stop before doing the U turn?

**BiK3RChiK** · 17th April 2008, 08:20

It seems to me that testing officers probably have their little pet issues, and his one is the two feet down at stops... Good write-up dood.

All the best with riding and going for the full!

**Jekkyl** · 17th April 2008, 08:41

I passed mine yesterday. Was very easy, tester was an alright guy.

Mine took me all of 10 mins, had to do 2 figure 8's in a carpark without putting feet down and went round a very short circuit with a few stop signs and a school. I didnt put both feet down and he didnt say anything.

I arrived about 30mins early and was trying to get across Quay street traffic to the AA, zipped through and went in the exit instead of the entrance, sure enough he saw me and told me off

His only condition was if I lost him I failed lol

**chubby** · 17th April 2008, 09:24

Andy and Jekkel, Congrats on passing. Good on you guys.

**YAMASAKI** · 17th April 2008, 09:50

Sounds like you had a good tester, mine was absolutely useless, had obviously never been on a bike before. He didn't tell me where to ride(no headset either) and told me to look in my rear view mirrors and see which way he was indicating to find out which way to turn, great idea when approaching busy intersections....not. I don't know how I ever passed.
So if you're going to sit your restricted in Wellington, avoid the testing place in Kilbirnie. I actually wrote a letter to the complaints people about it, voicing my concerns about his testing methods.

In complete contrast I sat my Full a couple of weeks ago and it was fine, the guy was clear with directions(still without headset), he'd obviously ridden a bike before. that was the AA tester in Lower Hutt, I wish I had gone there the first time.

**Gman71** · 17th April 2008, 10:50

Great to hear, I sit mine there on May 5.

I ride Lonely Track rd all the time so I have problems if he takes me there.

hope to have my nerves under control by then.

**firefighter** · 17th April 2008, 11:13

I did mine at AA westgate, and my tester was bloody awesome, really really clear instructions, told me to ride at between 55-60km! But one thing is my U-turn was on a bloody back country 100km/hr rd, and I was on the gravel on the left, it was a really really narrow road and gravel on the other side! needless to say I just pulled over onto the gravel on the other side then moved off from there, was no-way I could make the turn otherwise. Over all the test was piss easy.