Anyone fail the Handling Test?

[Malcolm]

I passed my BHS the first ever time I rode a motorcycle. What might of benefited me was being a keen mountain biker + manual trans car owner ?!
When I signed up for my 1R I failed the eye test as im comfident they had two letter slides over lapping themselves in the machine. That ment I had to get my eyes tested at the optometrists in which I passed 100% (waste of f'n $$) and got given a letter to take back to the AA. I passed the full alright though. But would you believe the same thing happened while signing up for my 6L GRRRR.. I dont know what the story is with those machines as Ive been tested at the optometrists and my GP and all is sweet !

When I got my full car licence in 2000 they had recently introduced those new-fangled eye testers (did the learners and restricted with the wall charts), and I was terrified that I was going to need glasses because I was seeing 2 or 3 of everything! The tester could tell I was struggling, then it suddenly occurred to them that the machine was broken (had been for some time) and they got me to do it on another one and I passed easily. Gave me a bit of a scare though.

[sinned]

Can someone describe the BHT? I am interested what it covers as it could include skills to practice. At least once a month I practice braking and low speed turns to hopefully reduce the chance of dropping the bike. As long as I don't drop it in the practice sessions.

[Highlander]

If you have doubts about your eye sight go get it checked out professionally.

My wifes sister couldn't get the weaving through the cones part of her BHS sorted and I couldn't see why until her Husband used the same spacings to set out buckets, in the car park by his work shop. I coudn't do it either, not just me though, two of us with full licences who ride regularly and another on a restricted couldn't get it either. Full lock to full lock at less than a walking pace to weave through it.
My wife talked to another tester about it and it would appear this guy has made a name for himslef being overly officous.
I suspect he was trying to sell instruction sessions.

[DJSin]

Can someone describe the BHT? I am interested what it covers as it could include skills to practice. At least once a month I practice braking and low speed turns to hopefully reduce the chance of dropping the bike. As long as I don't drop it in the practice sessions.

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/mo...e-learner.html

[sinned]

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/licensing/mo...e-learner.html

That doesn't appear to be a difficult test. Why isn't this test in there: move off and do a u turn? It is harder than it looks and many Cruiser riders have dropped the bike when attempting it.

[Noidy]

The eyesight test IMO is highly flawed ($$$$$$). It tests the difference between your eyes, not your eyesight. I failed the eyesight test because of my left eye, therefore off to the optometrist. Got the cert, got my licence. When I sat my HT they said eyesight (in left eye) was borderline but could get an endorsment to drive as a one eyed driver if required. Still dont legally need glasses to drive/ride so what is the point. It is only the optometrist benefiting from it.

[stevewederell]

LMAO - my old flatty failed his. I did offer to let him use my bike at the time (GN250), but he said he'd ridden years before and would be fine.

Looked a bit sheepish when he arrived home after failing and said he'd take me up on the offer after all.

One of his main probs was thinking he had to go through the corners at 50k! I told him you just had to enter at a decent speed but were allowed to slow to go through the corner(s).

I'd never ridden before and was through sweet, although they threw me on a scooter, weeee

Good luck, try to relax

[McDuck]

You got a nice tester, she probably switched machines to a working one while you were looking away ! Maybe they have shares in all the local optometrists

Yea, i think she also looked at what letters i had messed up, they were switching a C with a G, On those htings they look very simmiler.

[DarkLord]

I did mine with Riderskills, an Irish chap named Phil, from memory. He was pretty tough on me but I managed to get it pretty easily. There was a lady there learning to ride a scooter and from what I gather she hadn't ridden before, he realised he needed to spend more time teaching her so once I passed my mock test, he gave me my certificate based on that.

Considering how she was doing at the test I wouldn't be surprised if she had failed and had to reschedule, unfortunately for her.

[McJim]

I did my Basic Handling at the end of a half day course. we were taught everything from scratch then tested on it.

I cannot pass the eye test as I have monoccular vision (one eyed vision) so I have to get an optometrist to certify that I can see well enough to be in charge of a vehicle.

Get the certificate first as it will save you time. $10 is all it costs usually.

[Slyer]

I did mine with Riderskills, an Irish chap named Phil, from memory. He was pretty tough on me but I managed to get it pretty easily. There was a lady there learning to ride a scooter and from what I gather she hadn't ridden before, he realised he needed to spend more time teaching her so once I passed my mock test, he gave me my certificate based on that.

Considering how she was doing at the test I wouldn't be surprised if she had failed and had to reschedule, unfortunately for her.

Similar situation for me when I came back to riderskills a year later, except she managed to wheelie her scooter into the wall, hit her head and had to be taken away by ambulance.
Camera crew were there too, must have been filming for some rescue show.
I didn't actually end of doing the test due to him being busy treating her, but he told me he was impressed enough by my practicing that he could comfortably give my the certificate. He even trusted me enough to move his ute to let the ambulance in, the first and last time I've driven one.
I spent a while convincing the next two ladies who arrived that they would be fine, they were going to be riding the GN's and seemed more capable.

That lady did make me nervous, her handling was pretty erratic and she didn't even have gears to think about.

[DarkLord]

Similar situation for me when I came back to riderskills a year later, except she managed to wheelie her scooter into the wall, hit her head and had to be taken away by ambulance.
Camera crew were there too, must have been filming for some rescue show.
I didn't actually end of doing the test due to him being busy treating her, but he told me he was impressed enough by my practicing that he could comfortably give my the certificate. He even trusted me enough to move his ute to let the ambulance in, the first and last time I've driven one.
I spent a while convincing the next two ladies who arrived that they would be fine, they were going to be riding the GN's and seemed more capable.

That lady did make me nervous, her handling was pretty erratic and she didn't even have gears to think about.

Oh no what a disaster....... hope she wasn't too badly injured!!!

I wonder if she ever went for it again?

[Slyer]

I very much doubt it, she probably turned into an anti-motorcycle activist on that day.

[Dean]

When my stepdad went for his BHS a lady failed the test. The instructor is a bit of an intimidating guy, from riderskills i think, the lady was sensitive and got scared of the gn125 and couldnt leave her feet on the pegs whilst doing the turn through cones. She ended up bursting into tears, poor girl got told she was a waste of time.

[Slyer]

I think I agree that lots of practice riding push bikes is invaluable, being proficient and driving a manual car helps a bit too.

It's all mental though.