New Bike Test- Feedback?

[Pebbles]

The new test is finally here. There's been a fair bit of talk in the media about parts of the paddock test being an issue for rider safety.

If you've taken the new test lately what are your thoughts?
Is it straight forward?
Challenging?
Did you feel any part was dangerous particularly if you took it on a wet day?

Lets hear your thoughts.

Pebbs 

[jondavis30]

Ive posted some useful info.  

http://www.superbikeforums.co.uk/index.php/topic,42346.0.html

Failed for not going through the speed trap quick enough, went through 2 x at 49 mph on both ocassions and the examiner was a fùcking dick. he said "you know the speed is 50kph, and you didn't meet it" i thought yeah you fùcking wanker you do it, excuse my language.

Its difficult to get the speed up in the small distance you have (it was went so couldnt go as fast as I: was before (53 - 54 kph), hopefully tomorrow will be better (2nd Attempt at it).

To all those guys who havent yet got your full license, speak to your instructor and ask them to book the test centre (its not cheap, £1 a minute) so you can practice.

Thats what my instructor does.

Added in your post.  Pebbs

[Pebbles]

What did you think of the swerve test?

[jondavis30]

I think it is absolutely ridiculous to expect drivers to be going round a bend, accelarating as hard as they can out of it (which you wouldn't do anyway if you cant really see round the bend, and then drive that quick where its hazardous.

Its ok telling you to do all this, but when it comes down to it, you have 2 seconds thinking time by whioch time you wont have time to swerve, just stop as quickly as possible.

when something like that happens, you dont have time to prepare for it, it just happens, i dont care what anyone says, the European Directive is a good idea in that they state collision avoidance needs to be included, but no other EU Country has it as sever as this, Switzerland (i think) do it at 20mph not 35 mph.

Its heasy enough to do, I passed it today at 57 km/h where the speed reqwuirement is 50 but that was hammering it round the bend they have put in place. The DSA have got this so wrong.

Shall we all submit a petition to them ?

[Pebbles]

Todays report
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/5452230/Bike-test-chaos.html

[Sleepy Sue]

Cheers Pebbs  

Found this Vid of the swerve manouver

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8067672.stm

 


Edit- Thanks Sue, I've just tidied up the link to make it direct 

[BEN139]

I took the test this week and im in agreement with the previous posts to a certain degree. The speed isnt a problem dependant on the type of bike you are using. I took my test on one of the training centres Suzuki GS500. Although a bit of an old dog, i could just creep around the bend in 2nd and choose a straight direct line through the cones and then just nail it. As long as you dont roll the throttle off until passing the speed trap you can easily acheive the 50kph-(think i clocked 62kph),although there was a 17yr old taking a restricted test on a 125 and would imagine it to be far more difficult to reach the required 50kph on a bike like that. One of my main concerns was that in Bristol where i took my test the whole test center was new, and although i was assured by some of the instuctors that the surface was safe, it looked very new tarmac and would think that when wet it would be very slippery. Although ive not ridden a bike on the roads before i have ridden motocross for over 15yrs, so thrashing a bike around a laid out course sort of came naturally but i have no doubt that if you have little riding experience module 1 could be very dangerous....i also have friend who came off the bike practiceing for mod1 about 2weeks ago in swindon, and then on his actual mod1 test he came off again injuring his wrist and bruising several ribs. I dont completely disagree with new test though. Before the test was introduced someone with minimal experience of bike riding with a few days training could get a licence and go straight out a buy a 200mph hayabusa.....The friend of mine who failed the mod1 had never ridden a bike before booking to do his bike test and was planning on buying a VT1000. Suppose what im trying to say is that if he couldnt control a small learner bike through a course that he had practiced, would he have been safe on the road to himself and other road users on a VT1000?

[Gaz]

would he have been safe on the road to himself and other road users on a VT1000?

I assume you mean a VTR1000? If it was the firestorm, they are rated similar to a CBR600F in terms of insurance category and peak power. They will have more midrange acceleration, but they're not a balls out sportsbike.

The VTR1000 SP1/SP2 is a different kettle of fish

[Pebbles]

Before the test was introduced someone with minimal experience of bike riding with a few days training could get a licence and go straight out a buy a 200mph hayabusa.....The friend of mine who failed the mod1 had never ridden a bike before booking to do his bike test and was planning on buying a VT1000. Suppose what im trying to say is that if he couldnt control a small learner bike through a course that he had practiced, would he have been safe on the road to himself and other road users on a VT1000?

There are a couple of threads running about this in very thing in biking talk Ben so you might be interested in the debate.

(Just to prempt this thread turning in the wrong direction  )

 

[BEN139]

do you have a link mate?

[pillion-no-more]

thing is if you are not safe on a bike and cant control it then even with the old test you wouldnt pass. I cant see how a manouvere where ppl are already getting hurt is going to help people out on the open road, where the road surfaces are definatly different and unpredictable. I wonder how many ppl on here have had to do this when riding. I asked my husband how many times he has had to in his many years of riding and he said he hadnt had to so far, and although ive only been riding for 2 years i up to yet havent had to either.
Defo think this needs rethinking.

[Pebbles]

do you have a link mate?

Heres one of them. Its an interesting read. 
http://www.superbikeforums.co.uk/index.php/topic,42776.0.html

[paxovasa]

I think it is absolutely ridiculous to expect drivers to be going round a bend, accelarating as hard as they can out of it (which you wouldn't do anyway if you cant really see round the bend, and then drive that quick where its hazardous.

That is how you are meant to take a corner slow in fast out

I also think the avoidance part of the test is a good thing!

[BEN139]

Picture the scene.....On a country road, come riding around a corner as paxovasa said normally as in riding through the corner at a as normal 32mph and as you exit the corner there is a deer stood right in your line. Rider 1, who passed module1 swerves in control and carrys on to enjoy the rest of his day. Rider comes off bike, bins his pride & joy because he wasnt ready to deal with the hazard. Ok, some people might have been lucky enough not to have had to experience simular and i 'touching wood' hope i dont either, but theres nothing saying that it wont happen.

[Gaz]

Or, the rider swerves onto a collision course with the spooked deer as it is trying to flee - deer aren't known for their stationariness on roads