Tips For Taking the On Bike Riding Test

[Jer]

I'm planning on taking this on Sat. (3 days from now)

I've been practicing out in the street in front of my house for a couple of days.

The diagrams of the test can be seen here for those unfamiliar: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle- ... ycle-test/ (http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-training/motorcycle-test/)

I'm about 50% confident.

I worked on the right u-turn last night and learned real quick that its all about clutch control and accelerating to keep the bike upright when the turn gets tightest.

The cone weave I need to spend some more time with. I set up my testing area wrong. The cones weren't off of center. And they were only 10' apart. I wasnt doing very well. Hopefully having them 12' apart and 2' off center is in fact easier.... :sad:

For the swerve and quick stop tests I'm having trouble getting to the correct speed quick enough. And I worry about hitting the brakes too soon......

I did pass the written test last night though so thats 1 part down. :rawk:

Do any of you fellow GZ250 riders have any tips for these?

[primal]

Practice practice practice. In fact, I'd put off taking the test until your are more confident (if you aren't more confident by Saturday, that is). I personally took the MSF course which waived the riding portion of the DMV test. You will probably find that 12' apart and 2' off-set is more difficult because you have to turn that much more. However, the key is to trust your tires and don't be afraid to lean.

[patrick_777]

...and work, work, work on holding your friction zone!

[alanmcorcoran]

...go into the u-turn slow, but give it a little nudge at the apex (middle of the u) to come out. As soon as you decide to turn, IMMEDIATELY PICK YOUR HEAD UP, CRANK IT AS FAR AROUND BEHIND YOU AS YOU CAN (in the direction of the turn) AND LOOK AT WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. Do not look at the ground. Do not look at the lines. Do not look at the tester. (Unless they happen to be where you want to go.) I know this sounds stupid, but it works like magic.

If you must reverse direction, repeat the above. I found a low entry speed and the LOOKING is the single most important thing to doing a tight turn. We were taught to shift our weight and stand on the pegs a little but, if I did "the look" properly and aggressively, it wasn't necessary. For me, the weight shift was one too many things to remember.

In my group, the tight u-turns were the only thing that people had universal trouble with. One guy did fall off on the swerve, but no one else even had to repeat it. I think his fall was a fluke. Everyone had had some trouble with the u-turns.

If you eff up the u-turns by going over the line DO NOT GIVE UP! You may still pass the test if you don't make too many other mistakes. Check the rules for your state - they are not all the same and most allow for some degree of mistakes.

In CA you will get points off for "anticipating" the stop. I had trouble with this as I had been programmed to "anticipate" the crap out of everything. Set up a pair of cones a foot or so apart, and practice not squeezing/pressing the brakes until the front wheel crosses. Don't get the bike going any faster than the minimum (12?) mph required. Get in the habit of always using both brakes EVERY TIME, and down shifting to first. In CA you lose points for using only one brake and also if you don't downshift.

Most importantly, don't get too worked up over it. It looks and sounds a lot worse than it is. Overthinking it was my biggest problem.

If you are taking the test on something bigger than a GZ, DON'T! Rent a scooter for the test if you have a 1800cc monster.

[Easy Rider]

AND LOOK AT WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. Do not look at the ground. Do not look at the lines. Do not look at the tester. (Unless they happen to be where you want to go.) I know this sounds stupid, but it works like magic.

Overthinking it was my biggest problem.


Pretty good advice from a rookie, there Alan!! :tup: :)

Apart from the basic skills of throttle, clutch and brakes, the LOOK where you WANT to go might be the most important thing to learn (and practice) for bike riding. The reverse of that is "target fixation" which is do NOT look at the thing you are trying to avoid.....because you will hit what you are looking at.

[5th_bike]

Well the others aleady said it, and you know it yourself: clutch control in slow tight turns in forst gear, with the figure 8 in the box, is the hardest for most. The only girl in my class last year, she fell over in the box, and gave up. She didn't squeeze the clutch in enough and the bike started jerking. Gravity did the rest.

Learn how to, if you feel you are going to fall over inward in a tight turn, give a little gas and have the clutch grab a little more - and the bike will get up again.

That's my 2 cents. Sorry if anyone already said.

[Jer]

Yeah, taking it on my GZ.

For the swerve and quick stop tests, if 12-20 mph is the goal, and you only have 35' to get there, would I even be out of 1st gear? In my practicing I'm in 1st all the time. Dual braking and no need to down shift.

For the u-turns. I'm reading about people using the back brake. (Dragging) I havent done this, have any of you? Does it help?

[Sarris]

Rear braking works well in u-turns, the figure 8, the cone weave, and just about any slow speed turn situation. Keep the on thottle lightly and use the rear brake to scrub off the speed to make a controlled slow speed turn.

As far as the swerve and quick stop, I'd probably do a quick shift into second just so the bike isn't screaming. No need to downshift.

Keep up the practice and it'll become second nature very, very soon. You are doing things the right way. No question is dumb if you don't know the answer, so keep asking when you need the info!

Good luck on Saturday.

:2tup:

[RichInFla]

Ditto to Sarris and Alan's comments. The LOOK in the U-turn works (at least for me as well, I didn't get it at first). We had many first time riders who went outside the box on the U-turn but still passed.

The biggest thing for me was nerves. I was doing fine ("thumbs up" and "you got it!") from the instructors, but when it came to "test time", nerves kicked in, and I barely passed. Just remember to breathe and keep calm, you'll do just fine. :tup:

I'm still practicing !!

[Jer]

I'm going to wait til next Sat. I don't have enough time this week to practice anymore and no sense taking it if I'm not ready. I've only worked on the swerve and quick stop for about 30 min. And they seem to be far too easy. I'm concerned that I'm not getting to the target speed and then hitting the breaks too early. And I havent set up the cones properly.... No sense rushing it and screwing up.

[alanmcorcoran]

...for the CA tests we were allowed to remain in first gear for "the box", but the quick stop and swerve, we had to get into second. For the quick stop it was points off if you weren't in second when you started the stop and also if you weren't back in first when you finished.

IMO the swerve and the quick stop ARE very easy. The only element of the test that presented any difficulty was "the box."

Try this for making the "quick stop" practice less boring:

Set up the two cones as descibed. From the point of the cones use chalk to mark off feet on a line leading away. If you have two colors, mark every five feet with a different color. Discpline your self to not touch the brakes until the front wheel hits the cones. Consistently hit 15 or 17 miles and hour on the approach (again, check your rules.)

Then see how short you can make the stop. Always use both brakes. Make sure the bike is in a straight line. After some practice, you should be able to do a controlled skid (I was able to lay rubber on nearly all of my stops.) Being able to do this as second nature, without thinking, may save your ass someday. It's worth the practice.

[Jer]

"The Box"

The box you have to stop with your front wheel in?

[alanmcorcoran]

...rectangle, about 15 X 40 ft (not really sure of exact dimensions) You enter it at a two cone gate at the far right of the short side, riding parallel to, but inside, the long side. At about 3/4 of the way in, you turn to the left and execute a U-turn inside the far end of the box. Immediately following the first U turn, you continue, crossing back over to the original side (but now coming back in the opposite direction) and then execute a second u-turn and then head out of the box through a second cone gate on the opposite side you entered (parallel to the left side). Basically you ride into the rectangle then execute most of a figure eight, and then ride out. The challenge is that it is kind of narrow so you have to do two linked tight turns in a short radius.

I've read many descriptions of this from people all over the country, but it may not be part of IA's test. I does seem to be part of MSF's training. It was the only part of the test that people consistently had trouble with. I managed to do it for the test, but I'd blown it three times prior. Key is to look over your shoulder in the direction you are turning (behind you), and not at the box lines. It also helps if you do it on a small bike. Speed control is also key. You want to initiate the turn almost at a slow coast, but give it a little bit of throttle midway to maintain centrifugal force.

I found as long as I did the looking, the rest came naturally. I didn't practice at all prior to the day of the test as I was unaware of the exercise. I had about 4 or 5 shots at it as part of the MSF class before I was tested it on it. Think I got it right only once in practice. Good luck. Don't worry if you go over the line, or even if you put your foot down, you can still pass. Just don't drop the bike.

[Jer]

Yeah I dont think we have that one. Just the ones in the link I posted in the first message. Those are the ones in the back of the IA Manual.

They better not pull any surprises!!!!

:)

[Moedad]

For me, the U-turn box exercises were accomplished more easily while in 2nd gear. It smoothed out any jerkiness if my clutch control was lacking. YMMV.

[alanmcorcoran]

The "right hand" U turn is the eqivalent to "the box". It just doesn't have the left U turn at the beginning. (So, in a way it's easier, but you still have ot be able to do ONE tight U-turn.

Be aware that I took this test as part of the MSF Basic Rider course, so it might be a variation in common use.

[Jer]

I see.

Right u-turns are a bit harder for me but I'm able to do both inside of that 20' line pretty consistantly.

One I'm not real clear on is the little 5'x3' box you have to stop with your tire inside of.

If that a standalone thing? Is there a speed requirement? It seems far to easy to say "there is the box. Go stop with your front wheel in it."

[Moedad]

One I'm not real clear on is the little 5'x3' box you have to stop with your tire inside of.

We (Alan and I and others who took the course where we took it) didn't have to stop a wheel in a box, we had to stop it at a line. Unless I just blacked out the box from my memory because it was so hideously difficult.

[Jer]

I went and watched 3 people do the riding test this morning.

It wont be a problem for me.

I practiced another 5 miles worth tonight and will do the same at least 2 more times this coming week.

[Jer]

Tomorrow is the day!

Gonna have a budyy ride my bike up to the DMV tonight for me.

I'll take my car up in the morning bright and early and practice a bit on the course before they open.

[alanmcorcoran]

...try to relax and focus (at the same time!) Don't put your nerves in charge. Remember, even if you don't get everything right, you will probably still pass.

[Jer]

GRRRRRRR.

They are closed tomorrow.

In observance of Labor Day.

I could have sworn that was Monday?!?!?!?!

Well. I'm still riding over there tomorrow to practice on their course. Its only 3 miles from my house. I'll play the odds that Mr Popo doesnt nab me. Besides, I can outrun him on a 250 right?????

[Easy Rider]

Besides, I can outrun him on a 250 right?????

You can't outrun a pig on a 250 !!! :cry: :lol:

[aesoprock00]

Besides, I can outrun him on a 250 right?????

You can't outrun a pig on a 250 !!! :cry: :lol:

maybe in the twisties he can, but unfortunately, you'll never be able to outrun a cops radio. :neener:

[Jer]

Hmmm...... I could if I could just get to 88.

[Magnar Infectus]

You'll still need a flux capacitor for that to work.

[5th_bike]

You'll still need a flux capacitor for that to work.

I got one on ebay, with mounting instructions:

http://www.postimage.org/aVRtt4A.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVRtt4A)

Then, with an 18-tooth front sprocket and nitrous, I'll maybe get it over 100 mph !

[alanmcorcoran]

Hey Jer, Did you pass?

[Jer]

They were closed for Labor Day. Gonna go this Sat.

Thanks for asking.