Advice for the Restricted Test...

[samgab]

So I'm going to be sitting my restricted practical test in a couple of weeks. Does anyone have any helpful tips for passing?

• What sort of things are the testers particularly looking for?

• What types of things will cause me to fail, apart from the obvious: crashing?

• During the test do I have to stay under 70Kph, even on the motorway?

as per http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/lic...practical.html

"search - you should visually scan the road for hazards throughout the test route. Scan the front, back and sides by turning your head and using mirrors"

I'm worried about this because the rear mirrors on my bike are practically useless: all I can see in them is the arms of my jacket, unless I lean way out to the side.

"control your speed - you should maintain a speed that is safe for the conditions. You should also accelerate and brake smoothly"

I'm also concerned about this, as I have to constantly calculate my actual speed as compared to what the speedo reads, doing the math as well as concentrating on my riding and the test could get tricky. If I stick to what the speedo says I'll be going too slow, and if I calculate wrong and speed, then I fail!

"control your direction - you should steer the motorcycle well, position it correctly on the road and use the correct signals (when necessary)."

What is the "correct" position for a motorcycle on the road? Middle of the lane, or where the cars' right wheel usually goes? I can't remember.

When you might fail the test

"You could fail the test if you:

* arrive late for the test
* provide a motorcycle that is not up to warrant of fitness standard
* fail to follow any directions given by the testing officer
* ride recklessly or dangerously
* fail to keep left
* pass when you are unable to see 100 m ahead for the whole time while you're passing
* pass illegally on a no-passing line
* perform too many unsatisfactory actions
* cause a crash
* fail to comply with any traffic law."

STRESS!!

[Blossom]

dude.. relax.
You are allowed to do more than 70k on the open road during the test but its pretty rare that they ask you to do that.

Make sure you put both feet down at stop signs.

Indicate left as you leave a round a bout. yes it matters

Just watch your speedo and dont worry your going too slow.

Look behind you when you take off from the side of the road to show you are paying attention.

Practice your hill starts.

Move your head when you check your mirrors so the tester can see what your doing.

Dont indicate too early.. 3 secs is long enough

When you do your U turn dont forget to look behind you before you pull out and try not to put your foot down.

and relax. It's really not too bad. I was freaking.. it turned out fine. The nerves are the worst part.

[Imbray]

1st of all breathe, it sounds alot harder than it is.

If you can get a copy of the The official New Zealand Road Code for Motorcyclists - Licence & study guide ( even just flicj thru it the book shop) if will help, it covers all of your ?? inculding on pg 43 footnote of "

*even though the conditions of your learner licence don't allow you to ride at speeds above 70km/h, you are permitted to do so during part 3 of this Test"

Comes as a set of 2 books & is worth the $24.90 for the stress it saves on your nerves

Good luck, just do what I did & drop your bike for the 1st time on your way their, bending the brake peddle out of reach

[samgab]

dude.. relax.

Make sure you put both feet down at stop signs.

Indicate left as you leave a round a bout. yes it matters

Thanks for the tips! The above in particular. I do always do the indicate left to leave a roundabout thing, but I'm sure about 1 in 1000 people actually do!

And good to know about the feet down at stop signs part. I sometimes forget that the wheels have to completely stop moving at a stop sign...

I'll be really obvious with the head checks too.

[samgab]

1st of all breathe, it sounds alot harder than it is.

If you can get a copy of the The official New Zealand Road Code for Motorcyclists - Licence & study guide ( even just flicj thru it the book shop) if will help, it covers all of your ?? inculding on pg 43 footnote of "

*even though the conditions of your learner licence don't allow you to ride at speeds above 70km/h, you are permitted to do so during part 3 of this Test"

Comes as a set of 2 books & is worth the $24.90 for the stress it saves on your nerves

Good luck, just do what I did & drop your bike for the 1st time on your way their, bending the brake peddle out of reach

Cheers. I just got back from the library with the new set of roadcode/study guide for motorcyclists. Handy. It's been so long since I sat the theory part! I've had my learners for 6 years now, but haven't gotten around to getting a motorbike till now :slap:

Anyway, I hope I won't drop it, either during or on the way there: Murphy's law though... Last time I fell off I motorbike was 15 years ago on my way home from school (a 50cc MB50 I used to ride on my car licence. 5 speed manual, so it rode like a proper motorbike).

[samgab]

Less than an hour to go till the test...

[klingon]

You'll be fine. Just relax and (if possible!) enjoy the test.

[Blossom]

Good luck matey...

[Radar]

You can quickly fail if you do not give way or otherwise stuff up at intersections so be sure to review the Rode Code intersection rules.

Stop properly, and use your turn signals (and turn them off).

Other than that, the R is easy. You need to ride confidently but not overly so. If you are hesitant and overly cautious, the examiner will probably give you an extra long exam time.

You are allowed to go over 70 kph if instructed to do so - the examiner has that legal authority even though they are not the police. You may want to ask the examiner if you should go the speed limit in a 100 kph zone.

You may find some useful info on this thread that I started.

Be sure to arrive early and be polite and mature with the examiner.

[samgab]

Woohoo. With great pleasure I removed the yellow "L".
The test was sweet as. Stopped at all the "Stop" signs, made a big obvious show of checking my mirrors. Waited at a red turning arrow through 3 complete rotations before the tester realised he wasn't close enough to me to activate the loops in the road...
At the 70Kph road section, the traffic was crawling along at <5Kph (Manukau City), so the tricky thing was to crawl along at a snails pace in a straight line without putting my feet down. Didn't get to above 50Kph at any time during the test.

On the way home I tried out my new 100Kph (+/-10) freedom, and it was pretty damn scary in 55Kph side gusts on the little FXR! It felt like it was going to get blown out from under me, at times...

His only advise at the end of it was to do with position on the road. I was too far left some of the time, and need to stick more to the "car drivers outside wheel" position, so as to be seen more easily. Good advice.

[klingon]

hooray! Congratulations! See, I told you it would be no problem

[prettybillie]

Woohoo. With great pleasure I removed the yellow "L".
The test was sweet as. Stopped at all the "Stop" signs, made a big obvious show of checking my mirrors. Waited at a red turning arrow through 3 complete rotations before the tester realised he wasn't close enough to me to activate the loops in the road...
At the 70Kph road section, the traffic was crawling along at <5Kph (Manukau City), so the tricky thing was to crawl along at a snails pace in a straight line without putting my feet down. Didn't get to above 50Kph at any time during the test.

On the way home I tried out my new 100Kph (+/-10) freedom, and it was pretty damn scary in 55Kph side gusts on the little FXR! It felt like it was going to get blown out from under me, at times...

His only advise at the end of it was to do with position on the road. I was too far left some of the time, and need to stick more to the "car drivers outside wheel" position, so as to be seen more easily. Good advice.

Tha's awesome - congrats dude!!!!

[Blossom]

Yes congrats.. Enjoy your new found freedom, its great to finally feel legal on the open road at speed.