More testing for aspiring Canberra motorcyclists

chewy14 said :

I understand what you’re saying that people need to take responsibility for themselves but when you see some of the things a few idiot riders do out on the road it’s a worry.

yeah i get what you’re saying too, however their attitudes aren’t going to change with more testing. It might slow them down a little, but they’ll just work to pass the test. :/

chewy14 said :

Some of my friends had done the bike test previously, so I borrowed one of their dirt bikes and passed. One of my other friends, who at the time would have been a better rider than me, failed on a sports bike.

If you borrowed a bike that was easier to pass the test with than what you normally ride, you did yourself and other road users quite a disservice. The point isn’t to pass the test. The point is to learn to ride your bike safely and demonstrate that you have developed control.

I did the test on a 240Kg GSX650F (sports-tourer) without a problem because I took the time to learn how to handle a larger heavy bike. It would have been silly to go out there and do the test on one of their 250cc bikes. Yes, people do that but that doesn’t mean the training or test is any less valid. People will always try and get around requirements even if it works against them in the long run.

I agree with you that some bikes are easier to pass the test on but I don’t see how that has any relevance to the topic here.

Davo111 said :

OR riders could just use the Ps as a chance to further practice and refine their skills. Why does everything need testing? there should be some personal responsibility for actions taken.

Yeah, there will be some people who just throw their license into the desk drawer for 12 months, then buy a hayabusa. I can only hope they’re organ donors.

Plus anyone can work to pass the test (either by practice or brute force), then throw all skills out the window afterwards/pick up old bad habits.

Oh and finally, when did you do your Provisional test? I’ve seen alot of “oldies” around the place commenting on a license system they didn’t actually complete themselves.

Fair enough Davo,

I did my P’s test around 5 years ago so I did complete the test under the current system and i’ve been back to do a couple of the courses offered out at Sutton since.
I just think that because riding is so inherently dangerous that the more skills and experience gained the better.
I understand what you’re saying that people need to take responsibility for themselves but when you see some of the things a few idiot riders do out on the road it’s a worry.

chewy14 said :

Yeah, but once you pass your p’s you automatically get your full licence 12 months later.
My original point was simply that I think all riders should do an extra day or half day training before they get their full licence because I don’t think the test is sufficient. I think the same goes for car licences as well.

OR riders could just use the Ps as a chance to further practice and refine their skills. Why does everything need testing? there should be some personal responsibility for actions taken.

Yeah, there will be some people who just throw their license into the desk drawer for 12 months, then buy a hayabusa. I can only hope they’re organ donors.

Plus anyone can work to pass the test (either by practice or brute force), then throw all skills out the window afterwards/pick up old bad habits.

Oh and finally, when did you do your Provisional test? I’ve seen alot of “oldies” around the place commenting on a license system they didn’t actually complete themselves.

p1 said :

chewy14 said :

IMO it’s a bit silly to give people a bike licence that allows them to ride a more powerful bike when they may not have the skills to use it.

Well, there is that whole 150kw/tonne restriction with exactly that in mind…

Yeah, but once you pass your p’s you automatically get your full licence 12 months later.
My original point was simply that I think all riders should do an extra day or half day training before they get their full licence because I don’t think the test is sufficient. I think the same goes for car licences as well.

chewy14 said :

IMO it’s a bit silly to give people a bike licence that allows them to ride a more powerful bike when they may not have the skills to use it.

Well, there is that whole 150kw/tonne restriction with exactly that in mind…

chewy14 said :

Don’t you think that the test should be testing a rider’s skill rather than what bike they’re using? IMO it’s a bit silly to give people a bike licence that allows them to ride a more powerful bike when they may not have the skills to use it.

The fact of the matter is that people on sports bikes have passed the test, so perhaps the people on sports bikes (who struggle) need more practice. The testers can’t really win on this one, if they force everyone to use their bikes, the test would cost more, and people would be annoyed because they’re not “used to” the bike.

Also AFAIK after the test, you’re still limited on the engine capacity of the bike. So “more powerful” is an overstatement. It’s not like people are passing the test on scooters, then riding home on a turbo hayabusa.

indigoid said :

chewy14 said :

Yep they should make the course compulsory.
The P’s test is a bit of a joke because it’s easier to complete on certain bikes.
When I did my test, a couple of guys had dirt bikes and passed easily whereas those on sports bikes struggled. The guys on dirt bikes weren’t better riders it was simply the fact that dirt bikes are far easier to maneouvre and made the test a bit too easy to pass.

100% cop-out, IMHO. Clutch + rear brake: stop making lame excuses and start learning to use them properly.

The first time I ever rode a sportsbike of any kind (S1000RR test ride) I was able to do tight U-turns (for example) easily

Um, I’m not making excuses, i’m saying the test is easier to pass on certain bikes. Are you disagreeing? In a similar fashion, it’s easier to do a parallel park in a compact car, rather than a large sedan.
Some of my friends had done the bike test previously, so I borrowed one of their dirt bikes and passed. One of my other friends, who at the time would have been a better rider than me, failed on a sports bike.
Don’t you think that the test should be testing a rider’s skill rather than what bike they’re using? IMO it’s a bit silly to give people a bike licence that allows them to ride a more powerful bike when they may not have the skills to use it.

indigoid said :

100% cop-out, IMHO. Clutch + rear brake: stop making lame excuses and start learning to use them properly.

The first time I ever rode a sportsbike of any kind (S1000RR test ride) I was able to do tight U-turns (for example) easily

Yup, agree. While bikes are different, it has more to do with what you are used to then anything else. I did the test on a small dirtbike, having not ridden one in years and failed. I wonder why? Now I am pretty sure I could pass that test on my big sports bike no worries.

chewy14 said :

Yep they should make the course compulsory.
The P’s test is a bit of a joke because it’s easier to complete on certain bikes.
When I did my test, a couple of guys had dirt bikes and passed easily whereas those on sports bikes struggled. The guys on dirt bikes weren’t better riders it was simply the fact that dirt bikes are far easier to maneouvre and made the test a bit too easy to pass.

100% cop-out, IMHO. Clutch + rear brake: stop making lame excuses and start learning to use them properly.

The first time I ever rode a sportsbike of any kind (S1000RR test ride) I was able to do tight U-turns (for example) easily