Restricted licence protocols?

[zoom]

hey all so i am sitting my restricted soon, no more evil L plate, well in theory supposing i pass...any advice? Is it hard, what buzzes me out is the whole how do you not lose the tester thing, like do i go real slow to keep him and if i lose him its an auto fail isnt it???crap...

[fatzx10r]

just fololow the road rules and you will be fine, its prety hard to fail it

[Horse]

It's a doddle. I did mine 2 weeks ago today. Just keep an eye on him in your mirrors and ride like a nana so you don't lose him. The tester I had gave me plenty of warning with his indicator, except one corner that I was basically at when he indicated so I didn't have time to indicate and turn so kept going straight - he followed me. If he'd gone round the corner he was indicating for I would have just pulled over and waited for him.

If you're really nervous about it, practice by getting a mate to follow you around (again, at nana speeds) and indicate for some corners and see what it's like. You'll find it's a piece of cake and you'll be a lot more relaxed when going into the real test.

[zoom]

hmmm thanks for the advice, gar im still scared, i always drive like a complete idiot when im nervous, i cant multitask to save my life...plus its idiotic Auckland traffick. GOD i wana get rida my L plate tho!!!Itll feel so good to be legal when i go on rides without a frikken 400 dollar fine hanging over me...Is the fig of 8 thing hard? Shouldnt be on a GN i guess considering their practically on training wheels...lol.

[Horse]

I just had to do a u-turn on a quiet street, funnily enough we were literally just around the corner from where I live.

If you read the posts here about the Restricted and Full practicals, they all suggest doing some practice to get comfortable with the U-turns, as it's not really something you do a lot of in normal riding. I'd done some figure 8s in an empty carpark over a few nights beforehand. It really helps to get a feel for how the bike handles, eg on mine I have to stick my knee out (out, not down ) to give the bars enough room to get close to full lock. After a bit of practice I could easily do a figure 8 inside the width of two adjacent car parks at a nice slow speed, without ever needing to put a foot down. Doing it later for the test on a full width back street becomes trivial after that.

[Ragingrob]

Pretty hard to lose them I'd say, unless you go through an orange light or you accelerate like a bat outta hell! Anyhow just pull over if you do. Get it done out at Westgate, easiest 10min ride of my life. And they use ear pieces.

[shingo]

They only have one ear piece out in Westgate so you may not get to use it if there are two people sitting tests at the same time.

The other thing i was told is the LTSA don't like the the bikers watching the tester indicate behind them, but they rather the tester tell you a route to follow then you stop and they give you more instructions.

That's what happened to me a couple weeks ago when i did mine, actually made it easier too, seen as i didn't have to constantly check my mirror to see if was suppose to turn or not. Allowed me to concentrate on things ahead of me and keeping my speed down.

[stevewederell]

Zoom mate, breathe and relax...

It really is a walk in the park. I didn't even know HOW to ride a year ago and started on the mighty GN too. I made sure I stayed in 4th gear to limit my speed as I usually cruise at 60km in 5th. I had the ear piece so not of the watching my mirror so often, it's crazy to have to do that, you should only have to use mirrors every 5-10s!

I didn't have to do a silly figure of eight either, I think if you ever do that on a road you deserve to get hit. I did however have to do a slow U-turn. (2 of them in the full).

If you lose the tester due to
a) them not being able to get through an intersection in time just pull over and wait till they pull up behind you or tell you to go on.
b) turning when you shouldn't have, they will pull over and wait for you. Do what ever you need to, to get back to them, but just follow the code as they will be watching you, and then just pull up behind them and wait for their OK to carry on.

They shouldn't fail you for losing them unless you have done something stupid or illegal.

Oh, nearly forgot, really (and I mean really) exaggerate visual checks with BIG head turns and mirror checks!

Good luck Zoom, I can almost smell the plastic L burning now...

[breakaway]

I think this 'car behind you indicates and you follow it' is dangerous in itself. Who invents dumb shit like this?

I'd be looking for a place that uses radios to give instructions.

[CB ARGH]

May the force be with you... got that saying is gay.

Good luck mate, you'll have a ball!

[Benjiboi]

I just passed mine today it was so easy.
Although I did average 40km/hr trying to watch the tester.
So much better now though with no L plate

[portokiwi]

Way to go Benjiboi, And you can pass it too Zoom.
Just have faith in yourself.
Before you start take a big breath and go. Slow and stedy.
Remember they are not there to make you fail...... But there to see you pass.
you go Girl.

[zoom]

Hey man thanks heaps for all the advice!!! I took my test today and i passed!!! Ooooh yea although how i passed i am not sure because i was so nervous i could hardly think...I got an ear piece tho which was real handy, crackly but i am definately sure i woulda lost her considering i took it in peak rush hour time and the traffic was hectic...Woohoo it was so liberating getting rid of the L tho!!! I can actually go on rides now and not be looking over my shoulder for cops the whole time and figuring out how to fund a nice 400 dollar fine!!! Woohoo!!! Now im just gagging for my full so i can get a big bike with actual power...lol...

[stevewederell]

Sweeeeeeet!

Well done mate, now starts the hunt for the next bike I guess?