Ok so I booked my big bike test (25-27th November, theory on the 22nd) and I'm kinda scared.

My riding itself is fine, I can handle a bike no problem, however I'm told (by my Dad, who used to be an instructer) that I need to work on my observations.

I always do a lifesaver before I change direction or turn off/pull out. He says that I don't make enough observations while riding.

So I figure that (and from what he's telling me) that I need to improve by checking my mirrors more when approaching junctions, coming up to roundabouts, when cars ahead are turning off/pulling out etc. Obviously I do, (sometimes ) but you have to move your head instead of your eyes (getting used to that by locking my eyes straight ahead lol).

So basically, because this is costing me more than I can afford (£350 for a 2day course), I don't want to screw it up.

And I'm asking for some advice on how to pass the practical test from the other fellow bikers that are on these forums.

Theory side is fine, on all of my mock tests I've taken online I've passed every time. Yes I can do U-turns no problem on the test bike, a CG125. Yes I can get a bike on and off a centre stand and I can ride in a figure of 8 and do an emergency stop.

Ok help away

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When you check your mirrors, exeggerate! That's what I heard from people taking their car licence test. It might apply to a bike test too.

Quote from hrtburnout :

When you check your mirrors, exeggerate! That's what I heard from people taking their car licence test. It might apply to a bike test too.

You can get away with it more on a bike than you can in a car. But for your own safety you should actually look in your mirrors instead of just moving your head left and right so it looks like you've looked.

Some advices which i learned them the hard way;
*Always keep a finger on brake.
*Ride like one eye in front and the other on the mirrors
*Try to see the cars far in front of you. Even if they are 100 meters away, see what they do.
*Always know how many cars around you and what they are doing.
*Keep away from taxis(they will stop suddenly to pick up ppl), minibuses(they will kill you in purpose) and women drivers(i don't mean women are bad drivers i just say they don't care you, they will kill you while typing sms on their cellphones and driving their cars at the same time).

it's like doing millions of different things all in once. But it's easy when you get used to.
And of course these are lessons learned in istanbul traffic. It's like hell. I hate this city. I'm sure ppl are more civilized in there.

Quote from ZORER :

Some advices which i learned them the hard way;
*Always keep a finger on brake.

To add to that aswell, keep your right foot over the back brake too, especially while filtering and at slow speeds (you should know that already though). Left foot down first when you stop, so i've been told.

Quote from ZORER :

*Try to see the cars far in front of you. Even if they are 100 meters away, see what they do.

I got told this one some time back, very useful. Always keep an eye on the vehicle infront of the one thats infront of you.

Cheers for that ZORER and beefy

Been practising endlessly on here for my theory, and am passing every time without problems. Just on the road.

I'll try the keep an eye on the car infront of the car infront. I ride alot in town so covering the back brake is like second nature

Ride like one eye in front and the other on the mirrors : Very sound advice, will heed as best I can.

One issue I had whilst doing my theory. Is that the hazard perception is......somewhat difficult to master. Because if you see the hazard too soon, and you click, it won't pick it up. And it'll score you 0, as it did for me. Click a couple of times when you see a hazard, and remember to not click in any kind of pattern, it'll just automatically give you 0.

How many hours in total is your 2day course? £350 seems steep.

Quote from MR_B :

One issue I had whilst doing my theory. Is that the hazard perception is......somewhat difficult to master. Because if you see the hazard too soon, and you click, it won't pick it up. And it'll score you 0, as it did for me. Click a couple of times when you see a hazard, and remember to not click in any kind of pattern, it'll just automatically give you 0.

I just found a website that allows you to sample 2 clips, on my first go I scored 4 and 4.

It suggests that once you see a hazard, you have to click until the hazard has stopped, so I'll probbably click 2 or 3 times over the course of a hazard, and click at every possible hazzard such as a cyclist coming the other way, or a van maneuvering off the road ahead.

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How many hours in total is your 2day course? £350 seems steep.

Not sure mate, it includes bike hire and Theory test etc, so idk.

Taken from their website

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The first day consists of teaching you what is required of you for the test. The first day will also include preparation for the off road section of the test. The second day will begin with a mock test in the morning culminating with your test in the afternoon.

http://www.learnerdriving.com/ ... /hptestsim/hptestsim.html

Doing this now, will let y'all know how I get on

My helmet is plain white, so I put a bit of black tape on the back of it so the guy testing me could see when I was turning my head. Without that, it might not always be so obvious... So if you have a plain helmet, consider putting some kind of marking on the back to make it easier for the tester to see when you are turning your head.

Also, don't forget to shoulder check when pulling out, changing lanes, making a turn, etc etc....

Scored 61. :o

Lol Michael :o Luckily I have a power ranger helmet with lightning things on it. (LOL) so yeh.

Yeah the looking over the shoulder, lifesavers etc should be ok.. I hope

Quote from beefyman666 :

You can get away with it more on a bike than you can in a car. But for your own safety you should actually look in your mirrors instead of just moving your head left and right so it looks like you've looked.

That's obvious. What I meant to say was that it's better to avoid remarks after the test.

If the supervisor (or whatever it's called) says "You didn't look in your mirrors when you pulled off", and you surely know you did, you'd better make it VERY clear you do look in your mirrors. Otherwise it's their word against yours

First of all good luck, particularly with the theory initially, failing that would put a spanner in the works somewhat with your course and test so soon after.

As per observations, just get in the habit of turning your head all the time. Knowing where to look to save your life is the easy part, knowing what the examiner wants to see is quite another. Obviously genuinely check your mirrors and/or blindspot if turning or changing lanes or pulling out from behind a parked car or or or or etc.
But, there are occasions when it isn't really necessary in the real world: change of speed limit, turn head, approach zebra crossing, turn head. Don't rely on just knowing to do it when common sense dictates it's necessary.

Remember the lifesaver before the u-turn, and remember the mirror check after the emergency stop.

Good luck, learning on the big bikes is great fun.

Not sure how much the car and bike test varies, but I know on your car test, you literally have to look in your mirrors and around you more than you do where you are going...

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check your mirrors

This seems excessive. I mostly look back instead of relying on the mirrors when changing lanes; for one thing, it gives any nearby driver a clue that I'm about to change lanes if I'm looking back towards them. I normally use the mirror to check for other vehicles gaining on me, especially if I'm slowing down or braking, to make sure I won't be rear-ended. However most of your attention should be to focus on what's ahead of you or at your sides, not what's behind you.

My examiner told me I checked my mirrors too much.

Few pointers i had from my bike lesson today were....speed. I didn't break the speed limit, but i needlessly accelerated too quickly. Which seems stupid to me considering it's a CG125...

So that's a pointer for you. Nice smooth progressive acceleration.

Also, remember to do the old lifesavers before you pull away, when changing positioning in the lane, when approaching AND pulling away from a junction, and before you brake.

Quote from S14 DRIFT :

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Some pointers from me, as I failed my 1st bike driving test*. Make sure the fuel valve is ON. Or even on RESERVE if you want to be sure, the last thing you want is the bike to stall on a intersection because of you left the fuel valve on wrong position.
Don't drive like it's you driving, drive like the dude behind. If the dude behind has to stop at a intersection or give a away to a pedestrian, you've basically failed the test.


* Even though I drove a moped for some 10000kms+ before I took the bike test.

My thread on doing my DAS test might help, was a while ago, but there might be some tips in there.

http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?t=9114

You need to learn to anticipate the moevement of other road users and members of public. This comes with experience. i.e when a bus pulls over, expect people to be crossing the road. If someone is stood at traffic lights, expect thelights to go red etc.

Every time you make a change in progress, when I say progress I mean slow down, speed up, change lane, stop at a junction, pull off at a junction etc. Check your mirrors or do a lifesaver

Cheers Danowat, had a read through

So, seems like I gotta check my mirror before I do anything basically. Should be ok...

Just relax and have fun the test only last 30 mins and its easy. If you worry to much about making mistakes chances are you'll make em.

Is it really ride about for a little bit, do a U-turn and do an emergency brake? When I checked the DVLA website, that's what it said. When I asked my Dad about this, he was like "Really you think it's just that...?"

I like to compare it to a CBT road test... just where the standards are far higher.

Quote from S14 DRIFT :

Is it really ride about for a little bit, do a U-turn and do an emergency brake? When I checked the DVLA website, that's what it said. When I asked my Dad about this, he was like "Really you think it's just that...?"

I like to compare it to a CBT road test... just where the standards are far higher.

Thats just what it is, Honestly the test just flys by.

If anything the CBT road bit is harder as it lasts for 2 hours and the same rules apply. everything you are taught in your cbt is used in the full test. nothing extra i can think of? maybe the "off the bike" U turn i dont think you have to do that in the cbt?

Quote from hrtburnout :

When you check your mirrors, exeggerate! That's what I heard from people taking their car licence test. It might apply to a bike test too.

I asked about that as I moved my eyes a lot and my teacher rarely noticed (he often said I didn't check mirrors) so I thought about purposely moving my head. I was told not to exaggerate, as the examiner might take it as you didn't set up the mirrors correctly.

Mirrors should be in your line of sight, if not you get a minor for it as it means you don't know how to set up your vehicle.