New bike test trials to start in 2011

Good news but why will it take a year before introducing the changed system?

Posted: 21/12/2010 at 12:43

so they are going back to the original test system, what a waste of time and money.

Posted: 21/12/2010 at 17:23

Really don't see what the fuss has been about the current test. I passed it last year and it was raining for both parts. The offroad part 1 was performed on the probably the best surface I've ever ridden on. If anyone does come off then perhaps they just are not yet ready and better to happen in a controlled environment than on the road.

Perhaps if the motorcycle press had not made such a big deal the numbers would not have dropped so much - I was certainly put off but decided to go ahead anyway.

Posted: 21/12/2010 at 20:09

They are not going back to the original test.  All they are doing is looking at how the test can be carried out as a single event instead of the 2 modules.  This test was always designed to be a single event.  The problem has been the delivery of the test centres there just is not enough and that was why it was split to reduce the amount of travel.  So now we are in a situation where candidates are going to do a hazard avoidance (swerve) and emergency stop exercise on the road!  That said it looks as though the swerve will be carried out at slower speeds after reaching 30mph (ish) as per the German model.  The incidents that have occured are mainly in the swerve/controlled stop and emergency stop exercise.  Now if people think that doing those on road is an improvement......  You see where I am coming from.  I am somehow supposed to teach that on road aswell!  Personally it is a backward step IMO    

Posted: 21/12/2010 at 20:58

I have failed Module 1 twice so have never got to Module 2. The annoying thing is failing the test for trivial things such as knocking a cone with the toe of your boot.

I propose that the Module 1 be trained, tested and certified by your motorcycle trainer, much like the CBT. Whilst it's possible this might be open to abuse, the motorcycle trainers I have met take their responsibilities very seriously and I wouldn't expect them to send someone for their Government test who is inadequately prepared.

In NSW in Australia you do two courses: a pre-learner course and a pre-provisional course conducted by private training centres. Pass both those and you can get a provisional licence. You only do a Government test if there is no private training centre in your area (basically country areas). In the equivalent of the Module 1 (administered by the trainer) the emergency stop and swerve are done at 20km/h!! And in the emergency stop you are permitted to lock the wheels and skid!

Posted: 22/12/2010 at 13:43

Stewart Williams2 , I agree fully with you!

The 2 Part test, is in reality a good thing IMHO. 

Yes, we all know that riding on your own on the roads is the best way to learn and lots of old bikers like to boast about how their test was only a ride around the block observed by a man with a clipboard, well all well and good back in the good old days when road condition were what they were!

These days I think its a good idea to have the manouvers tested off road, in reality it is easier for the candidate, it cost 10 quid and you have near perfect riding condition, granted the swerve test can be a contentious point but if someone just pointed out to the poeple who havn't worked out countersteering from their pushbike days, it wouldn't really be a problem!

If you can't swerve a bike around a cone well you really shouldn't be riding down a road with people on it. I think countersteering should be actively taught instead of shying away from a swerve test!

Just think if it went back to the good old test, for every swerve test you failed on the road it would cost about £70 these days.

I say keep the test the same, its a piece of piss but have the option to waiver the swerve test in adverse weather conditions.

On a last note, its really up to the instructors to get your student up to scratch, some instructors are great other seem like they are just on a show off trip with more stories than vietnam vets but whoever you are get your students out there and teach them how to ride not just taking them around the test route again and again, thats how they will fail the mod 1!

Posted: 23/12/2010 at 01:16

I passed the current 2 part tests with no errors at all. What's all the fuss about? If you fall off during the test your not ready to be released to test yourself against the multitudes of utterly shite car and van drivers. Simple as.

Posted: 23/12/2010 at 11:57

jees you're invinceable now gobshite72

Posted: 26/12/2010 at 23:11

I would not want to see the two tests combined into one and therefore each failure to get to 52kph results in a loss of £80/£100 as opposed to £15.  I have struggled to get to the speed on my YBR125 - even my experienced instructor could not get it faster than 53kph in the space allowed.

Posted: 28/12/2010 at 08:34

i took the test before the new modular one was implimented and i want to see what the differrence was so i went to watch my younger bro take his tests

the swerve looked bloody dangerous! he passed but admitted to me that that was the scariest bit of the test and saw a girl in his group fall off at training and break her wrist

Posted: 03/01/2011 at 13:46

What about the theory test then? I have been driving with a full license since 1990, why would I have to retake that? I have been riding a 125 on L plates for four years...that seems dumb when I'm almost 40 years old too. I'm saving up to do the main test, guess I will wait.

Posted: 28/06/2011 at 11:13