Anger over motorbike 'swerve test'

[rowdy]

Originally Posted by JohnMcL7

You're right, out on the road is not a controlled environment hence riders should demonstrate the ability to correctly assess the conditions and adjust their speed accordingly. What exactly is 50kph, how does passing at that speed mean anything in the real world? You're right, I don't ride everywhere at under 50kph because I'd like to think I have the ability to judge the conditions I'm riding in and I still can't see how being able to swerve at an arbitrary speed ignoring all other conditions helps me there.

John

your missing the point, the cones that are there to swerve around are supposed to represent an unexpected hazard, so its all very well saying that you adjust your speed to go around the cones that you can see infront of you but that isn't a representation of an unsighted hazard then.

Originally Posted by rowdy

your missing the point, the cones that are there to swerve around are supposed to represent an unexpected hazard, so its all very well saying that you adjust your speed to go around the cones that you can see infront of you but that isn't a representation of an unsighted hazard then.

According to the test layout, the rider has to perform two turns before the swerve which is what I'm basing my comment on because if I was out in wet conditions on a road with tight turns as that I sure as heck wouldn't be going particularly fast.

John

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by JohnMcL7

No, an A-level is an on paper theory exam to test

Lol, you dont say. Point i was making was about suitable parameters. But i think Ralph just said it far better than i did.

It's a test of motorcycle operation. Go and do a moderate/gentle swerve in the soaking wet. Now ask everyone to do that same swerve regardless of conditions at the same speed. Yes it's asking you to ignore the conditions to some extent, yes it's saying "show us you can steer a bike" and nothing more, but then that's the point of that part of the test.

[rowdy]

Originally Posted by JohnMcL7

According to the test layout, the rider has to perform two turns before the swerve which is what I'm basing my comment on because if I was out in wet conditions on a road with tight turns as that I sure as heck wouldn't be going particularly fast.

John

That is a fair point, but I think the people that have fallen off in the test so far have come unstuck in the swerve test (could be wrong).

Originally Posted by Spiderman

Lol, you dont say. Point i was making was about suitable parameters. But i think Ralph just said it far better than i did.

No, Ralph made a different point to you (or appeared to, it's difficult to tell when someone tries to communicate without text) although I don't know if you're using the correct terminology to represent what you mean - I see nothing wrong with setting parameters or guidelines for expected performance which is how the tests have always worked but I do think there's something wrong with applying an arbitrary limit.

John

Originally Posted by JohnMcL7

So why don't we apply that to other portions of the test then? Why are riders expected to perform better in the dry than in the wet? Taking that same approach to the emergency braking out on the road gets you a fail.

John

We do, various parts of the test have a minimum speed at which they must be performed, including the cornering test (30kph) and the emergency stop (50kph).

They are not, the minimum speed is the same wet or dry. Sure it can be done quicker in the dry but riders are not expected to.

I don't follow. What approach and why does it fail you?

Did anyone even bother to listen to the interview on the radio in the link I posted?

I cant believe they say that the surface is good in wet weather, surface might be good put still doesnt stop aqua plaining or the fact the bike might have s**t tyres, and the fact that you have to be doing 31 mph or what ever no matter what the weather and especialy on a 125 where its going to take forever to reach the spped, surely no one goes round a corner in the wet at the same speed as what they would in the dry. The DSA says its to make the biker safer in these situations or what ever but i like the coment i heard on radio 1 "Teach car drivers to be more aware"

Originally Posted by ArtyLady

Did anyone even bother to listen to the interview on the radio in the link I posted?

Nope, sorry, maybe if you hadn't told me how long it was I'd have listened to the first 10 minutes.