Learners riders course - NSW - Few questions

HI guys -

Well im booked in to do this course in a few weeks. Just wondering is it a
simple course? Is there possibility of failing this course? The reason i ask
is that i would be classed as Mature aged ( 35 ) So once the course is
completed i will be booking for the Provisional course which will then put
me onto Unrestricted once that has passed. NOw i had to book the L's course
and had to wait almost 2 months and dont want to have to wait that long
again to book for P's test so wanted to book in advance to minimize the
waiting period.( already purchased a 900 fireblade )

Been riding for over 15 years ( motor cross and road bikes ) had my l's many
years ago - but failed the licence for ps (i was 2 min late to RTA due to
traffic so the tester had the shits with me ) pased everything except 1
simple thing - 2 fingers on brake instead of 4- was tought 2 fingers when
i began racing motor cross and that has been the way for me ever since, and
can not understand why 2 fingers is not enough when you have excellent
throatal control for banging through the gears in emergency breaking and the
fact most bike have hydraulic twin front disks so 2 fingers is MORE than
enough

anyway Enough of my rantings - keen to hear back from you guys !

Boc

 

In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:26:48 GMT

If you have been riding for a while, you will probably be OK.

THere are two things that will fail you
- not having done enough slow speed stuff so that your bike control
isn't what you think it is
- thinking you know it all because you have been riding so long, and
so not listening to what you are told.

The latter is much more common amongst dirtbike riders going for road
licences I've been told

Pretty much you need to know how to ride slowly. The first few bits
will bore you as you already know how to start a bike, how to push it,
what the levers do and all that. Try to not show your boredom too
much and get ready for when they come to the bits you might not know
as well.

Use it as a trials lesson - focus on being able to do all the slow
speed manouveres perfectly. No footing, no stalling, smooth and easy.
Which is harder than it looks and focusing on that rather than on
getting through any old how should make the day more pleasant.

(if there are people who are very new and uncertain, raise your karma
points by being friendly and polite and coping with the time they
take, rather than being impatient because you are bored. Maybe help
them and reassure them, they'll learn faster that way.)

It really is fairly simple for experienced riders, although many do
find the cones more difficult than they expected, ditto the U turn.

Zebee

 

You could, indeed, fail the course.

If you want to fail the course, a good start would be to tell the
instructor about the Fireblade!

Follow that up with a long argument about two-fingered braking.

Then throw in a bit of a ramble about how fast a motocross racer you were.

By that time, you'd only have to fart at the wrong time and the
instructor would be well within her rights to fail you.

Go to course...._listen_ to what you are told.... _do_ what you are told
and you should have no problems passing the test.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

Funny thing is, you don't come across as "Mature".
If you think you already knoww everything, you will fail.

Theo
Who did three riding courses many years ago, been riding for 44 years (with
a 2 year break in the late '60s) and is still unsure.

 

In the bible, these types of stories are called parables.

Bastard!

Theo

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 10:23:43 +0800

especially as while you got put in charge of aus.moto, CrazyCam got
put in charge of the stout.

Zebee
- in charge of aus.motorcycles.how.many.is.too.many.again?

 

Hmmm, my bible's only got sections on Engine, Transmission, Clutch, Fuel
system, etc...

 

Bloody Harley riders!
Triumph riders have the Book of Darkness. Guzzi Norge riders can get
confused in 6 languages. Hmm, detailed instructions on how to change the
indicator bulb, but, to change the number plate light they suggest you go
see your dealer.

Theo

 

I can pretend to be like a real deity, aloof and unresponsive.

Where the hell is my shipment?

Theo

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:42:56 +0800

Still in quality control I suspect.

Zebee

 

Jesus built my hotrod.

Hammo (Dang a ding dong....)

 

Thanks theo - 30 seconds of reading you already judge me --- thanks for
that

Boc

 

I guess i should have added - that i had riden a Honda VF500 for about 2
years whilst on my L's ( yes i know it was wrong of me - the police
bookings are proof of that and why 2 years ? work commitments - on call and
night shift was a bugger and getting pegged 2 times on the 2 finger
breaking )

So new job now - working 12 hour rotating shifts 2 on 2 off 3 on 2 off 2 on
3 off so i can plan a little bettter now . ( maintanence fitter )

Thanks to all that have posted replies and sorry for the top post

Boc

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:51:19 GMT

You didn't give him any more than that, but what you gave was enough.

You did come across as a know it all type who was sure that no one
knew as much and that failure was someone else's fault.

If you aren't that way then consider that you came across that way,
and not just to Theo.

And still are - the post I'm replying to won't change any minds but
will confirm some.

So consider how you will change that perception. It can be done, but
you have to want to....

Zebee

 

You get all that from a little back ground info ??? Didnt realise this was
a forum for judgement based on a few lines of text -

Thanks for your judgements - maybe i should have posted this in Ozdebate
where judging people and flaming them based on few lines of text is the norm

Boc

 

You're lucky you weren't here during Harsh Week. Feel free to **** right
off.

 

All judgements in here are based on 'lines of text'.
You really don't need to prove to us that you are unteachable, we already
figured that out.
Be very careful out there. As some-one else said, cocky experienced
dirt-bike riders are at great risk.

Theo

 

A neighbour of mine used to be a greaser on the can line at the Swan
Brewery. Then they changed his title to maintenance fitter.

Theo

 

:I guess i should have added - that i had riden a Honda VF500 for about 2
: years whilst on my L's ( yes i know it was wrong of me - the police
: bookings are proof of that and why 2 years ? work commitments - on call
and
: night shift was a bugger and getting pegged 2 times on the 2 finger
: breaking )

T R O L L .... who claims to be mature !


: So new job now - working 12 hour rotating shifts 2 on 2 off 3 on 2 off 2
on
: 3 off so i can plan a little bettter now . ( maintanence fitter )

definite SMIDSY fodder

:
: Thanks to all that have posted replies and sorry for the top post
:
: Boc

you really are a slow learner ...


-----

barry j taylor < >
Ulysses #25871: netrider 549
Skype: ursus_australis
__ __ __ _ __
/__/ / /__/ /_ /_\ /_ /
/_ / _ / /__/ /__ / \ / \ ...Vrroooom!

bear on a Kawasaki Zephyr -------> ----------->Vroom!!





:
: : > : >> Well im booked in to do this course in a few weeks. Just wondering is
: >> it a simple course?
: >
: > Yes, it is a simple course.
: >
: >
: >> Is there possibility of failing this course?
: >
: > Yes, there's every possibility of failing this course. It
: > doesn't happen a lot. The ones I've seen fail are people who
: > either just aren't suited (didn't realise what they were
: > getting themselves in for, haven't got their head around basic
: > balance and coordination type stuff), are just really nervous,
: > and those who have been riding dirt bikes for years and already
: > know everything and don't need to listen.
: >
: >
: >> The
: >> reason i ask is that i would be classed as Mature aged ( 35 )
: >
: > That's a licensing issue and not relevant to any of the courses
: > or training that you'll be taking. On these courses, you're a
: > learner rider. The 'mature' licensing bit doesn't cut in until
: > you've completed all the training and testing. If you're smart,
: > you'll ignore the 'mature' and 'unrestricted' bits for a while,
: > and potter around on a bike that is suited to your experience
: > and skill level, and only upgrade when you're ready.
: >
: >
: >> So once
: >> the course is completed i will be booking for the Provisional course
: >
: > To take the Provisional course/test immediately after the pre-learner
: > course would be a mistake in my view. I too thought that being "mature"
: > gave me special super powers that would allow me to dash through the
: > whole training and licensing system and be on a big bike by Christmas.
: > I was wrong. There's no doubt in my mind that I'd have been dead by
: > Australia Day had I done that.
: >
: >
: >> which will then put me onto Unrestricted once that has passed. NOw i
: >> had to book the L's course and had to wait almost 2 months and dont
: >> want to have to wait that long again to book for P's test so wanted to
: >> book in advance to minimize the waiting period.
: >
: > So book for a weekday instead of a weekend. Weekdays are always
: > less booked up. But don't take the provisional course/test until
: > you've had a lot of practice at the slow speed stuff that Zebee
: > mentioned in her answer. Lots of people fail the provisional test
: > because they practice their elite zipping-up-and-down-the-old-road
: > skillz 'till the cows come home, but never ride below 30Km/h with
: > their feet on the pegs. You *will* fail the provisional test if
: > you're not proficient at the slow speed stuff.
: >
: > The slow speed stuff isn't actually all that difficult. I can do
: > the cone weave one-handed on my 225Kg 1000cc sports bike (and I
: > have witnesses). Practicing the skills you need for the MOST
: > test for two hours every day for a week before the test ought to
: > do it.
: >
: >
: >> ( already purchased a 900 fireblade )
: >
: > So you've booked the pre-provisional course, the provisional test
: > and a bloody great big bike. Have you booked a funeral director?
: > You might need one of those. Read on...
: >
: >
: >> Been riding for over 15 years ( motor cross and road bikes ) had my
: >
: > Interesting. Are you aware that your status as a very experienced
: > off-road rider and an unlicensed road rider puts you in the very
: > highest risk category for on-road crashes? [1]
: >
: > That's right: Your off-road experience puts you at a higher risk
: > of being injured or killed in an on-road motorcycle crash than
: > *everyone* else in your class, even the complete never-ridden-a-
: > bike-in-my-life newbies. Don't forget that, be careful.
: >
: >
: >> l's many years ago - but failed the licence for ps (i was 2 min late
: >> to RTA due to traffic so the tester had the shits with me ) pased
: >> everything except 1 simple thing - 2 fingers on brake instead of 4-
: >> was tought 2 fingers when i began racing motor cross and that has been
: >> the way for me ever since, and can not understand why 2 fingers is not
: >> enough when you have excellent throatal control for banging through
: >> the gears in emergency breaking and the fact most bike have hydraulic
: >> twin front disks so 2 fingers is MORE than enough
: >
: > Yeah, I got nailed for that over and over again. It doesn't matter.
: > If you want them to pass you, then they're right. Don't argue. Like
: > all 'communities', rider training has its stories and experiences
: > and folklore. You'll hear about the instructor at the school up the
: > road who only has two fingers because he rode with two fingers on the
: > brake and lost the other two between the brake lever and the handlebar
: > in a crash. You'll hear about the very close friend-of-a-friend who
: > took off with his sidestand down and got flipped into the path of a
: > truck and killed. You'll head about the guy who rode too close behind
: > a car in the bus lane on the harbour bridge and got splatted by a
: > bus when the car had to stop in a hurry.
: >
: > Believe them or not, the stories are there because they're powerful
: > teaching tools. The RTA has a strict curriculum and quite specific
: > criteria for passing and failing students. The instructors use the
: > stories to communicate what they expect of you, and to add validity
: > to the RTAs rules. Bottom line is, they're not going to pass you if
: > you flaunt them. The pass/fail criteria are not negotiable.
: >
: >
: >
: > Note well the advice that Zebee, Cameron and Theo have offered.
: > It's good advice, they're the oldest and wisest we've got (Theo
: > is so old that we put him in charge!).
: >
: >
: > Take care. Good luck,
: >
: >
: > GB
: >
: > [1] Source: Haworth, N., Smith, R., Brumen, I. & Pronk, N. (1997).
: > Case Control Study of Motorcycle Crashes (CR174). Federal Office
: > of Road Safety, Canberra
: > --
: > .sig
:
:

 

That puts it into perspective eh? Geez, If I'd thought it was still
Harsh week and not Hugz week I could have *really* unloaded on him...