I am doing the MOST test this w/end, besides the cone weaves ect is there any thing I need to be aware of they can get you on.
Not worried about the skills test but have heard of people loosing points on the road ride for getting of the bike and leaving the keys in the ignition ect.
Also heard the person on this weekend has a reputation for high failure rates.

Where are you doing the test? Are you doing the road ride as well?

Be serious about the head checks. If they recommend going up to 2nd gear for the swerve, don't on a GS. Staying in first is easier to control your speed.

They may have a practice course that you use for a little while before the test. The u-turn box is likely to be smaller than the one for the real test. If you can nail it in practice, you should be fine for the test.

doing both, going for "P"'s

errr.... dont know your instructor/testers style...

but when i did mine... last year?.... the bloke said.... "ok people, I am not the cops!!, you dont have to ride super slow and careful on the road ride... ride how you have been normally!!... without of course breaking the speed limits and/or other rules, I need to see you are up to the task, not how you are riding like a frightened rabbit!!".... i took this on board and rode my ride... no problems...

in the skills test part.. biggest common problem .. emergency stop, having enough speed to qualify it but without going overspeed.. one guy out of the 7 group went down... hired a range bike last minute before the skills test because he was scared to scratch up his 1 week old new bike... silly bugger... not even hire it for day to get familiar .. we were all  ... it happens .. but if you are familiar with your machine (as you should be) and in the right mental space you will be cool!

but again look at each part of the test as a singular piece .. which is what you will do it as... each rider gets to do each thing one at a time... ie.. in turn the group will do the cone weave ... then the group moves onto the next skill ..

calm breath and confidence as you about to start your turn... you can pause a few moments if you are nervous... but once you start that particular skill section you have to complete it.

dont goof off ... pay attention to the instructor .. and if you have questions .. ask them!! .. these guys usually prefer to have a well informed group thats slightly behind schedule ... rather than a shy uninformed group that has faults! 

Don't know where you did the test Janx but when I did it some of the test items were paired. eg left turn between lines + stop in the box.

But yes, each rider in the group was on the course by themselves for the proper test.

You didn't say where you are doing the test but some testers are very strict on headchecks and people fail for not doing them properly.

Mmm yep now that you mention it.. Couple of the easy ones were paired... Kinda made it easier .. But anyone fail left turn and stop in box!! ... To the bus queue matey!!

And yeah head checks for sure... It got kinda comical at one point.. In practice session the head checks were flicflikgo!! .... Cos people were just way too wound up and getting stressed... Then the instructor pointed out that it wasn't a race... Have a look .. Relax ..

And I did the test at Unanderra RTA NSW ... With Jethro (yes really!) the guy from StayUpright Training ... He is a genuinely good bloke and even apart from him passing me on the test... I'd be happy to invite him to a BBQ or beer/prawns arvo anytime... He really does LIKE his job!! 

did the test today, passed forgot 2 head checks but everything else was ok you get plenty of practice before the test. As soon as I took of on the left turn and stop in the box I realised I didn't head check!  There were 2 guys in the group of 6 that failed.

 

Well done young chap!! Don't get giddy when you hit the awesome extra 10kph!!! 

Quote from: ausgs on February 16, 2013, 12:31:05 AM
did the test today, passed forgot 2 head checks but everything else was ok you get plenty of practice before the test. As soon as I took of on the left turn and stop in the box I realised I didn't head check!  There were 2 guys in the group of 6 that failed.

Shoulder check! Shoulder Check! Shoulder Check! Even when you don't need to - Shoulder Check! ( I can remember my instructor yelling this at us as we went past on our Q ride course.

Reason being - When you are in heavy traffic the more you move on the bike the more visible you become. Car drivers think "Why's that guy on the bike keep looking over?" Bingo! He has seen you. You are now visible.

I always head check when riding but in the test even though he reminded me just before taking off..... no head check!     

there was another GS500 there also 

if you didn't do it in the test it is not yet automatic enough for you. Well done, despite those two indiscretions. 

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