U-turn in 20 feet?

[RVertigo]

Suffice it to say that I have never ridden without a helmet

I rode in my garage without my helmet...  I didn't like it.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

[

[simon79]

If the applicant's motorcycle has an
automatic transmission, two (2) penalty points will
be assessed.

WHISKEY, TANGO, FOXTROT?

And this gem:

"If the course is wet, this exercise will not be
conducted and the applicant will be assessed two
(2) penalty points."

Because that's clearly your fault...

OMFG, I live in the (not so) proud homeland of bureaucracy, but...let me say, this all sucks!

here when performing the test with an auto tranny motorcycle (=ok, a scooter) the result is simply your driving license limited to such motorcycles (which makes sense), but not penalty points or such... Do I have to be punished just because I don't like shifting gears?? 

And as regards the wet course...well, no comment.

Yes, balance test's quite the same, you gotta pass at the slowest possible speed in 1st gear (idle rpm or so), so they see if you can keep it all balanced, I wasn't required other than that.

here too, during the skill test (not in the city ride) you're allowed to put down your foot once (twice in case of Direct Access License), after which you automatically fail, and you fail if you drop the bike, or stall it, but you must really show yourself unable to ride the bike in order to be rejected. And never I heard of intimidating examinators or such; getting MC license is quite easy here after all.

Lamps,
simon

[TheUnHun]

My test got rained out.  When I mentioned my need to time the test when my licensed friend can come along the testing guy said something like "I don't care how you get the bike here and won't notice how you arrive at the test, but be careful" and implied that if challenged he never ever said that.  Fair enough.

MD sounds like the worst case scenario, designed to prevent riding at all rather than to foster safe and capable operation.  It is an odd stance.  I am surprised the industry doesn't fund and improve access to MSF courses for their own self-interest.  It seems as though more safe and legal riders would equal more MC sales.

Jeffrey

[Sicarii]

When I took it in New York State (near Buffalo) the instructor tried his hardest to fail me.  I had no problems doing the figure 8s, U-Turns, and circles within a very narrow road.  (I don't know exactly how wide it was because I didn't measure it, but I was expecting it to be wider).  But this jerk just couldn't see or something.  I got points taken off for:

"Leaving Curb:  Uses mirror only/fails to check blind spot"
OK, this guy must have just been blind.  I made DAMN SURE to check over my shoulder not once, not twice, but at very least 3 times EVERY TIME I left the curb.  I knew he would watch for this, and I had my driver's license for years before getting into motorcycles.

"Turning and Intersections:  Poor judgement approaching or stopping at intersections"
He said I rolled over the crosswalk.  I did not roll over the crosswalk.  He counted off for this on 3 separate occasions.  I am not stupid, I know not to drive over the crosswalk on a drivers test!  Did you ever consider a career as a referee?

"Parking, Backing, or U-Turn:  Fails to adequately observe"
OK, he told me this was because of a "double stop"  I stopped at the stop line, which was very far back, then after a complete stop I couldn't see down the street to check for traffic.  So I rolled up and stopped again to check traffic, JUST LIKE THE NYS DRIVER'S MANUAL SAYS.  He tells me this could have gotten me rear ended and was "extremely dangerous".  WTF?  As dangerous as not being able to see oncoming traffic and just driving out?

I am convinced that they deliberately try to fail you.  I just don't know what other conclusion to draw, this guy took off points for things that were just untrue.  He failed to adequately observe the road test.  Whether he needs a new prescription for glasses or just has too much ADD to pay attention to what I'm doing doesn't really make a difference.  He is unfairly judging my skills.

Anyway, I thought for sure I would fail with that many points taken off but I did in fact pass.  Which is a good thing because I probably would have had a confrontation with him about these points, but since I passed it really didn't matter, so I just drove off.  There aren't really any penalties to getting points, as long as you pass.  Seriously though, do these instructors have something to prove?  I noticed he was also administrating car tests and he failed all 4 people ahead of me...

[debtman7]

Here in Ohio the learner's permit is a 40 question test which I think anyone could pass if they read the 15 page motorcycle pamplet given out by the DMV. I was actually rather pissed because my permit says my test score was 75% (the minimum required to pass) but that's because once you get 30 questions right, the test ends. In reality I had 30 out of 33 = 91% but my permit makes me look like I barely passed

Once you have the learner's permit you can operate your bike during daylight hours without a passenger. The road restriction I can't figure out, as it says you cannot ride 'on congested roads or interstate highways'. But it seems that 'congested road' leaves a lot to the imagination of the ticketing officer...

The permit is good for 1 year, to get your full endorsement you have to take a skills test or pass the MSF course. Sounds like other states require you to take the skills test, or is it common for passing the MSF to be all that's required? I'm glad I don't have to take the test, took me three tries to get my driver's license here after they deliberately failed me. They actually claimed both times that I ran a stop sign. Seriously, claimed I ran a stop sign during a driver's exam. You'd have to be incredibly stupid to do that...

[fenderjonesy]

Wow compared to all of you guys PA has it great. The MSF is offered every week from March til Sept. 24 people a week. The test is a figure 8/U-turn (two u-turns in a row, one to the left and then back to the right) in a 20'x30' box. Then a quick swerve to the right between cones. A quick emergency stop using both brakes. And finally a sweeping right turn in 2nd gear. Thats it and your done. You can get 20 points before you fail (21 and you fail). Three points for a foot down an additional two for any more after that, going over a line is three points and an additional two for any other time after that. Skidding is a five point penalty. Not bad at all...I got my permit on a saturday and had my license the following sunday. The course is free and they are fun.

In your case with the crappy nazi officials and test, I would write a letter to my senator and or representative to see if you can get that changed or at least fight to make a difference. That is what they are there for.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

&&

[simon79]

MD sounds like the worst case scenario, designed to prevent riding at all rather than to foster safe and capable operation.  It is an odd stance. 

+1.
hey,this all seems more Orwell's 1984 than getting a driving license or MSF course or whatever...

[Wrecent_Wryder]

[&&

[ohgood]

Thanks for reminding me to slow down. I played in a parking lot today to refine skills. Nothing like super slow speeds to check an ego. It'll do figure 8's all day and 18' circles. It just prefers to make me nervous doing so.

Then I took the wife for a 3 hour tour.

Man that little bike is fun.

[TheUnHun]

So, I rode 15 miles to the test site and easily passed U-turns and cone weaves with no lost points.  I lost a few points for just ticking the edge of the target line in the obstacle avoidance, but I was happy overall.

Thanks to all those many who contributed useful advice.  Pulling a U in 18' seems straightforward now.  Then I hauled tail home just in front of an arriving monsoon ...

Jeffrey

[ohgood]

Yikes. I understand there are quite a few accidents caused directly by folks trying to 'hurry up' and get out of the rain.

Also, I understand bridges (overpasses) are terrible places to stop and seek shelter in heavy storms. People get killed there by idiots in cages.

Congrats on the passing part. Enjoy the supreme coolness of not worrying about the LEO behind you !

[TheUnHun]

In my other hobby I ride a road racing bicycle about 150 miles per week.  When it rains, then we get wet.  Even on bicycles you have to be careful in the wet, just as on a MC.   It's slicker than snot on a door knob, the brakes don't work, you can't see diddly, and the drivers all want to kill you.  It all seems familiar some how.  It's always safety first.  Every bicycle ride I lead begins with a 1 minute safety talk, and we boot repeat offenders off the ride if need be as a last resort.