direct access, whats involved? :wavey:

[ff.browning]

Hi guys, recently completed my theory and cbt. went out on a 500 er-5 in a car park as an assesment yesterday and have booked my 2 days and test on wed 19th. but what exactly is involved? what happens on the test? what stops you from passing etc. do i use the same bike i practice on. will be doing this in aylesbury does anyone know what the routes are like there?

i know its a long one but i have alot of q's and many more to come when i get on a real bike!

cheers guy

[Chilli]

Hello mate,

The usual type of test really....Road skills, machine control, but the biggest thing you HAVE to get right are the u-turns. Get practising, cause a foot down or a kerb hit is a fail.

[Alex@POD]

Not much more to add really, it'll be basically just checking you can ride a bike safely and observing the highway code, your instructor will prepare you during your training anyway, with mock tests and stuff. U-turns are the most nerve wracking things as you are not just riding along like you would normally, you know you are being assessed and it has to be right... You will use the bike you trained on, normally you will be given that bike and not just the same model, so you are used to it. Piece of cake really!

[Busa_Rush]

Make sure the training school will give you the same bike to use. As said above U turns are usually the hardest thing. Don't forget lifesavers and don't speed. It's really quite easy to pass, too easy really, stay calm, enjoy it and you should be OK. The pass rate is something like 9x percent so you need to make a big mistake to fail.

[shot2bits]

For some reason I'm really good at "U" turns even if I do say so myself!

Key is relaxed arms, bent arms, bit of throttle and look at where you want to go, not at the bars. Also, try to move your body a fraction over to the side you're turning - I don't mean get your knee down just weight the bike a little.

[Busa_Rush]

My bike doesn't have the turning circle for most UK roads, end up using a side road, it's safer, easier and I don't look like a pratt if I drop it

[Plastic chicken]

Ride defensively, not agressively, and don't speed. But also, be positive; I got a minor for hesitating at a junction.
Good advice above re.the u-turn..what gets me is that's probably the least relevant part of the test for day-to-day riding. If I need to turn round I just choose a wider road, or put feet down. Also, I'm left-handed; I could do perfect anti-clockwise turns all day long, but found the required clockwise u-turn very tricky.

[S1mon.]

I've just passed my test after a das course. It is quite easy really, most nerving part being the u turn. the guy i was in training with failed for going to slow 30 in a 40 zone!
So keep to the limits.
My advise would be to ride for yourself, just forget your being followed and ride as you've been taught.

Good luck

[Chilli]

shot2bits said:

For some reason I'm really good at "U" turns even if I do say so myself!

Key is relaxed arms, bent arms, bit of throttle and look at where you want to go, not at the bars. Also, try to move your body a fraction over to the side you're turning - I don't mean get your knee down just weight the bike a little.

Did you mention a dab of the rear brake, for a bit of stability?!