I've taken the plunge...
I've taken the plunge...
Author
Discussion

markmullen

Original Poster:

15,877 posts

256 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
Towards the first stage of taking my bike test and booked a theory test, Friday 21st at 0945 ( yikes I don't like mornings!).

I have done the two online bike theory tests you can do at www.theory-tests.co.uk and got 48/50 (bloody sandalist questions about the environment hehe ) and 50/50

Just one quick question, has anyone done one of these hazard perception tests? I have done similar things at the motor show and got bollocked by the woman on the stand for spotting hazards the system wasn't set up for (driver in front wearing a hat, man in a beige rover, the car in front has a godsquad fish on the back etc smile ). Are there any examples online you can have a go at?

Once I've got the theory out of the way I fancy a go at one of these Direct Access in a week jobbies.

Another quick question, I have a motorbike helmet I use for karting, how much other gear would I need for a Direct Access course? Will I need a full set of leathers? I am guessing boots and gloves are a prerequisite but is there anywhere I could hire a set of leathers until I see whether or not biking is for me?

tim2100

6,288 posts

279 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
Congratulations Mark, Welcome to the fun side!!

Helmet you used for karting should be ok, however if it has been dropped at any time then best to get a new one.

the place i did my DAS (4 years ago) had some spare jackets to wear for training, although they said to bring thick jeans and strong boots. Gloves I think they also had. All training places will be different, however you will not need leathers for training.

Tim.

randlemarcus

13,644 posts

253 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
You will be getting a couple of DVDs in the post now you've booked the test, one of which is a practice Hazard Perception test.

You must must must practice, as I guarantee you'll fail if you walk into the Test Centre and do it blind. You're IAM, and have been driving for a while, and the test is calibrated to the spotty yoof, so you'll ID hazards long before the test thinks you ought.
Effectively you have a scoring time window, and you will click outside that, thus gaining "nil points" and a retest.

Spotting, counting one mississipi, two mississipi, click seemed to work OK for me.

speed8

5,103 posts

295 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
You must must must practice, as I guarantee you'll fail if you walk into the Test Centre and do it blind. You're IAM, and have been driving for a while, and the test is calibrated to the spotty yoof, so you'll ID hazards long before the test thinks you ought.
Effectively you have a scoring time window, and you will click outside that, thus gaining "nil points" and a retest.

Spotting, counting one mississipi, two mississipi, click seemed to work OK for me.
Mark

Listen to this man ^^^^. I couldn't figure out how I kept failing the practice hazard perception tests as I was spotting the same stuff. Turns out I was clicking too early on a lot of them and it wasn't registering. I used the above method on the test and got a 60% pass although I know it could have been a lot better.
I had the CD you can buy in the bookshops with the practice stuff on it but I sent it to someone on here before they did their test (can't remember who it was though). If they are reading maybe they could return the favour and forward it on to you.

Atlas 12v

358 posts

231 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
Did the theory test and hazard perception on monday (1st day of the new test)

Piece of cake. If you've been driving/ riding on L plates for any period of time then you'll have no problem.

Good luck.

Twit

2,908 posts

286 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
You will be getting a couple of DVDs in the post now you've booked the test, one of which is a practice Hazard Perception test.

You must must must practice, as I guarantee you'll fail if you walk into the Test Centre and do it blind. You're IAM, and have been driving for a while, and the test is calibrated to the spotty yoof, so you'll ID hazards long before the test thinks you ought.
Effectively you have a scoring time window, and you will click outside that, thus gaining "nil points" and a retest.

Spotting, counting one mississipi, two mississipi, click seemed to work OK for me.
As above! I actually failed the bloody theory test twice before I worked out how to pass it. Its much more the case that you have to spot the hazard the programme wants you to spot rather than all of them. On the first test one clip seemed to have so many that I got binned on the basis of clicking too much. It really is a crap test, top example of an idea that isnt that bad failing to translate to the technology big time...

CMR

55 posts

240 months

Friday 7th September 2007
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Hi mate,

Be ready for some serious jobsworths at the DSA centre and i'd recomend getting some gloves. When I did my CBT prior to getting all my kit i borrowed the training centres gloves and my hands smelt for days afterwards.

S1mon.

536 posts

244 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
I've just passed my theory test, it is easy, but the hazard bit does take a bit of practise as already said. The Bike school I'm with supplied everything you need, even the c/d rom to practise hazard perception and theory tests.
Gloves, helmet, jacket and bike, 125 for CBT and early training then 500 for the DAS course.
Although i would recommend you get your own gear, Hired clothing don't smell to good hurl
Just finished my DAS training, just the practical test to go on Monday driving

markmullen

Original Poster:

15,877 posts

256 months

Friday 7th September 2007
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice people. I had forgotten that I already had a motorbike jacket, I used to work for Dixon Motors when they owned Motorcycle City, their uniform included a Dainese jacket with armour, when most people left they had a ceremonial burning of the uniform, I kept my coat as I thought it might come in handy.

So, at some point I will have a little trip to Hein Gericke for some boots, gloves and trousers.

My lid is practically brand new, never been dropped, only been used for karting a couple of times, always with a balaclava to stop it getting sweaty.

Thanks for the advice about the hazard test.

I'll keep you posted how I get on.

tim2100

6,288 posts

279 months

Saturday 8th September 2007
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Try to get to hein gerricke sooner rather than later, they currently have a sale on selected lines.

markmullen

Original Poster:

15,877 posts

256 months

Saturday 8th September 2007
quotequote all
tim2100 said:
Try to get to hein gerricke sooner rather than later, they currently have a sale on selected lines.
Ooh, thanks for that! bounce

StuB

6,695 posts

261 months

Saturday 8th September 2007
quotequote all
Mark, I have a couple of pairs of decent spare boots size 8 (dont ask) if you want them? If you think you're similar framed (slightly smaller perhaps?), also have one piece leathers for the full on power ranger style.

Hooli

32,278 posts

222 months

Saturday 8th September 2007
quotequote all
speed8 said:
randlemarcus said:
You must must must practice, as I guarantee you'll fail if you walk into the Test Centre and do it blind. You're IAM, and have been driving for a while, and the test is calibrated to the spotty yoof, so you'll ID hazards long before the test thinks you ought.
Effectively you have a scoring time window, and you will click outside that, thus gaining "nil points" and a retest.

Spotting, counting one mississipi, two mississipi, click seemed to work OK for me.
Mark

Listen to this man ^^^^. I couldn't figure out how I kept failing the practice hazard perception tests as I was spotting the same stuff. Turns out I was clicking too early on a lot of them and it wasn't registering. I used the above method on the test and got a 60% pass although I know it could have been a lot better.
I had the CD you can buy in the bookshops with the practice stuff on it but I sent it to someone on here before they did their test (can't remember who it was though). If they are reading maybe they could return the favour and forward it on to you.
yup again to all that. click, wait & click again is the way to go. when i did my PSV theory we were told that & had about a 90% 1st time pass rate.
even reckonised one of the clips when i did my biketest years later hehe

only did my test back in january so you wont be the only newbie here. best of luck with it.

johnfm

13,734 posts

272 months

Tuesday 11th September 2007
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
You will be getting a couple of DVDs in the post now you've booked the test, one of which is a practice Hazard Perception test.

You must must must practice, as I guarantee you'll fail if you walk into the Test Centre and do it blind. You're IAM, and have been driving for a while, and the test is calibrated to the spotty yoof, so you'll ID hazards long before the test thinks you ought.
Effectively you have a scoring time window, and you will click outside that, thus gaining "nil points" and a retest.

Spotting, counting one mississipi, two mississipi, click seemed to work OK for me.
i walked into to the test centre last Saturday. I had taken 3 or 4 'mock' tests on line, but had never seen a hazard perception test. Got 33/35 for the thoery, 64/75 for the hazard perception. Its all common sense really.

johnfm

13,734 posts

272 months

Tuesday 11th September 2007
quotequote all
tim2100 said:
Try to get to hein gerricke sooner rather than later, they currently have a sale on selected lines.
I just bought X-lite Helmet, Puma Flat2 boots and Leather bike jacket for £250 in the sale. Saved £160. Decent sales staff too at Hein Gericke.

Phone_Monkey

1,969 posts

231 months

Tuesday 11th September 2007
quotequote all
Hi mark, nice to see ya at Renault world series smile They've just changed the theory (number of questions), but it really is a piece of urine. The hazard perception is really annoying as you can see the hazards a mile off.