Saxophones Carrying a tenor on a (motor)bike?

[jonf]

Excellent. Well Done. Did you have fun wobbling around the traffic cones?

I remember talking to my instructor when I did my test years ago. He said to me that, whatever I did on the day, I shouldn't worry, as whatever I did, he'd seen worse.

 

[Jay]

They kept telling us horror stories, I'm sure just invented to make us feel better.

Once I had got my head (hands and feet) round the peculiar business of riding the clutch, having throttle on and then controlling your speed with your brake, the traffic cones were ok. We just did figure of 8s and U turns.

Managed not to fall off - though a bit close a few times.Really enjoyed the road ride. I redeemed myself on the road, the 16 year olds on scooters, and the 22 yr old former scooter rider also on a geared bike today, being much quicker to pick up the slow stuff this morning.

 

[kevgermany]

Years ago I trained as an advanced instructor (not in the UK). There were quite a few traffic cops on the course. I was horrified to see how badly their bikes were maintained. One complained his bike didn't like corners, which had us surprised. We checked it out, found a lot of play in the swinging arm bushes and the headstock bearings were so bad, turning the bars felt as if there was a ratchet in there. Not roadworthy by any description. This was a patrol bike, blue lights, siren, radio, used for emergencies as well...

Another came in on his private Guzzi. Managed to drop it on the braking test.

 

[Jeanette]

I always fancied doing my advanced car test, just never got around to it. 🙂

Jx

 

[Jay]

Years ago I trained as an advanced instructor (not in the UK). There were quite a few traffic cops on the course. I was horrified to see how badly their bikes were maintained. One complained his bike didn't like corners, which had us surprised. We checked it out, found a lot of play in the swinging arm bushes and the headstock bearings were so bad, turning the bars felt as if there was a ratchet in there. Not roadworthy by any description. This was a patrol bike, blue lights, siren, radio, used for emergencies as well...

Another came in on his private Guzzi. Managed to drop it on the braking test.

I sort of assumed there were fleets of mechanics maintaining cops' bikes!

 

[kevgermany]

I sort of assumed there were fleets of mechanics maintaining cops' bikes!

I think these ones were doing little more than oil, plugs and tyres on a service. But like I said, not in the UK.

We did ask about the servicing. Was contracted out to the dealers. He'd been complaining about it for a long time, but they'd told him there was nothing wrong with the bike, it was just him... I guess they didn't test the bikes or worry much about quality control.

 

[richardr]

They kept telling us horror stories, I'm sure just invented to make us feel better.

Once I had got my head (hands and feet) round the peculiar business of riding the clutch, having throttle on and then controlling your speed with your brake, the traffic cones were ok. We just did figure of 8s and U turns.

Managed not to fall off - though a bit close a few times.Really enjoyed the road ride. I redeemed myself on the road, the 16 year olds on scooters, and the 22 yr old former scooter rider also on a geared bike today, being much quicker to pick up the slow stuff this morning.

"Having throttle on and then controlling your speed with your brake" sounds weird to me but I've realised that driving to pass a test nowadays is a whole different ballgame compared with driving in the real world and I suppose it's the same for bikes as well.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Standard practice for slow maneuvering is trailing the rear brake. Test or real life. Do keep up old boy! You'll be questioning counter steering next.

 

[richardr]

Standard practice for slow maneuvering is trailing the rear brake. Test or real life. Do keep up old boy! You'll be questioning counter steering next.

Eh?

 

[ProfJames]

Never used the brake to control my speed when I was trials biking! Strange how things change

 

[richardr]

On reflection, no-one ever taught me to ride a motorbike. I learned the basics on other peoples' bikes in the fields and subsequently bought a 125, fortunately after I'd had ten years' road experience on four wheels because the dealer simply asked whether I knew where the controls were then sent me off. I learned to ride on the road by dicing with the rush-hour traffic in Manchester then took my test and passed.

I have to agree that some training is better than sending 17-year-olds out on the road when they don't know how to ride a bike or keep themselves out of trouble but I suspect that a load of silliness has got into the syllabus - after all, it was invented by the Government..

 

[jonf]

The bike test is far more relevant than the car one. It involves riding on a range of roads, high speed (70mph is the expectation) roads, demonstrating an ability to use the power of the machine, slow speed handling, pushing the bike around, general road awareness, emergency stop and positioning in traffic (vital). Training is all geared around those key skills, rather than passing a test per se, and is generally very sensible. When CBT came in about a quarter of a century ago, fatal accident statistics fell significantly. (Whether it was direct cause and effect is up for discussion, but I would say that, working in a statistical analysis organisation).

 

[richardr]

When CBT came in about a quarter of a century ago, fatal accident statistics fell significantly.

Do you know whether this applies to non-fatal accidents equally? I would expect so, considering that prior to CBT one simply got a provisional licence, bought a 125 and taught oneself to ride it on the public highway. Broadly speaking I'm against tests and qualifications for everything but I have to make an exception for motorcycling.

 

[kevgermany]

The slow stuff is incredibly important. The balance at walking speed and below really helps in traffic, maneuvering, going up the drive.

Slipping the clutch, brake on is something we never used to do. Certainly for off road it's a liability as the slightest bump affects the clutch. However it's something I might have used if I'd known about it when I rode a Laverda. The electronic ignition was a bit crude and it went from fully retarded to fully advanced without any progression. Great when you're riding hard, but tricky when you're in heavy traffic at walking pace.

 

[Vlad]

V different from the 70s, as kids we learned, age about 12, down back alleys, woods etc, ( and occasional cheeky bit down road ) by trial and error, then age 17 you could get prov. licence, wind sticky L plates round a front fork & a rear shock ( if you were law abiding ) jump on a 250, and go....Happy days

 

[ProfJames]

That advice above should be presented to all new bikers.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I can remember the 250 restriction coming in and the age rise from 16 to 17. Some of the boys at school turned up on 500cc bikes and there were several Reliants parked at the gate. There was some sort of regulation regarding reverse gear. If it was blocked off you could drive one at 16. A little bar riveted across the reverse slot, with one loose rivet to swing it out of the way, was the norm.

 

[Vlad]

^ Yep, didn't the Reliant then technically count as a sidecar outfit like that, which you could therefore drive on L plates etc...
Also remember those mad blue invalid 'cars' of the day, with 200 Villiers engines 😉

 

[Colin the Bear]

Tricycles.

 

[Jeanette]

Also remember those mad blue invalid 'cars' of the day, with 200 Villiers engines 😉

I remember them lol

Jx