Anger over motorbike 'swerve test'

The trouble is that I see. If it's OK at 50kph in the dry, but not in the wet, then why would you be riding at the same speed in worse conditions? Most of us would know to take it easier... but the people taking their test are forced to take it at a higher speed, they don't have that choice of the sensible speed.

Originally Posted by Hockeynut

The trouble is that I see. If it's OK at 50kph in the dry, but not in the wet, then why would you be riding at the same speed in worse conditions? Most of us would know to take it easier... but the people taking their test are forced to take it at a higher speed, they don't have that choice of the sensible speed.

Exactly, imho i think the test is stupid because it lacks "common sense".

Who would take a turn at exactly the same speed in glorious sunny day conditions when compared with sheet rain and high winds? Answer only a bloody idiot. When i ride i use my common sense and adjust my riding to the conditions accordingly. Werent people arguing in another thread to let people drive at their own pace when out with friends? So why on a test to get your license should you be forced out of your comfort zone? While i'm confident i could pass a "swerve" test I'd rather not.

I'm so glad i passed my test 3 years ago and dont have to put up with this rubbish these days. If i were paraniod I'd say the governement just doesnt want bikers on the road .

(BTW thats 25k miles in all weather including getting caught out in a snow storm or two)

Originally Posted by Hockeynut

The trouble is that I see. If it's OK at 50kph in the dry, but not in the wet, then why would you be riding at the same speed in worse conditions? Most of us would know to take it easier... but the people taking their test are forced to take it at a higher speed, they don't have that choice of the sensible speed.

It's a swerve: you don't get to choose what speed you want to swerve at in real life irrespective of what the weather's like.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Hockeynut

The trouble is that I see. If it's OK at 50kph in the dry, but not in the wet, then why would you be riding at the same speed in worse conditions? Most of us would know to take it easier... but the people taking their test are forced to take it at a higher speed, they don't have that choice of the sensible speed.

OK hows this scenario....

Your riding on a NSL ( 60mph ) your riding at a reduced pace because its raining say 40mph...

You approach a side road, you see a car there and you slow down some more, say to 31.5mph... car hasnt seen you and pulls out in front of you....

Now you've done the swerve part of your test on a wet road, so you turn the bike and then brake to a standstill all nice and controlled and you damage neither your bike, yourself or the other vehicle, but maybe your pants...

Or

You havent done the swerve test so you dont know how to avoid an obstacle, so you grab a massive handful of front brake then either fall off or hit the car..

Or are you going to ride everywhere in the wet at 20mph...

Or

Maybe you just dont go out if its raining or the forecast says its likely to rain...

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

OK hows this scenario....

Your riding on a NSL ( 60mph ) your riding at a reduced pace because its raining say 40mph...

You approach a side road, you see a car there and you slow down some more, say to 31.5mph... car hasnt seen you and pulls out in front of you....

Now you've done the swerve part of your test on a wet road, so you turn the bike and then brake to a standstill all nice and controlled and you damage neither your bike, yourself or the other vehicle, but maybe your pants...

Or

You havent done the swerve test so you dont know how to avoid an obstacle, so you grab a massive handful of front brake then either fall off or hit the car..

Or are you going to ride everywhere in the wet at 20mph...

Or

Maybe you just dont go out if its raining or the forecast says its likely to rain...

Or maybe you do 45 through every busy town because it's dry and you managed to do the swerve test in the wet at 30.

The test has obviously been devised with wet conditions in mind. Yes it will be harder to drop the bike by snatching the brakes in the dry- logically they should make the course even tighter when it's dry rather than easier when it's wet. That would ruffle a few feathers with MAG and the like.

Originally Posted by Kuze

Exactly, imho i think the test is stupid because it lacks "common sense".

Who would take a turn at exactly the same speed in glorious sunny day conditions when compared with sheet rain and high winds? Answer only a bloody idiot. When i ride i use my common sense and adjust my riding to the conditions accordingly. Werent people arguing in another thread to let people drive at their own pace when out with friends? So why on a test to get your license should you be forced out of your comfort zone? While i'm confident i could pass a "swerve" test I'd rather not.

I'm so glad i passed my test 3 years ago and dont have to put up with this rubbish these days. If i were paraniod I'd say the governement just doesnt want bikers on the road .

(BTW thats 25k miles in all weather including getting caught out in a snow storm or two)

I understand all the similar points to this one above but maybe you can explain something in case I am missing it.
The bike test is a test, its meant to be testing to single out those capable from those incapable. The test is surly aimed to take place at normal road speed. Hence the 30mph, that is acceptable wether it is wet or dry we'll all ride almost any road at 30mph. I dont believe anyone here would honestly ride along at 20/25mph I've certainly never seen a biker travel at that speed anywhere ever except maybe in snow. (but saying that I did my CBT in snow and took my test in icey conditions it was very alomst called off but we were given the final choice).
ANNYWAYYY
Point still remains, that the swerve test is what would be expected of a capable rider. Its already been said that its not a case of its too risky in the wet I just think its a piece of **** in the dry.

The previous test was far too easy and too many knuckle heads passed it. Now the test is more reasonable so some people are failing and everyone is jumping on the back of the DSA.
I think bravo DSA, better late than never making the bike test harder like this. It has no doubt saved lives and more importantly for us which have already passed its cut our insurance premiums. Now we wont have as many muppets claiming for the damage when they come off doing a simple manvourer.

[Stingo]

My view (not that I'll have to ever do a test again) is that the core issue here is that this thing is forming part of a complete test. We can all 'what if' for ever and a day. This thing is still part of a test where people are supposed to be trained. If they are getting hurt then there is a problem somewhere. Now, we can hypothesise up the bl00dy khyber till the sun comes down and goes back up the other side that the people doing the test are not up to it etc and that they shouldn't be allowed on the road.
But hang on for a moment. Maybe they aren't being taught properly. And maybe, just maybe, somebody's good idea hasn't actually been thought through properly. It's a training thing. People shouldn't be getting hurt...end of.

Me? I haven't got a scoody-do what this special 'swerve' is...and I've been on two wheels for 33 years. Does that mean that I should now get myself on a course and risk life and limb? I'd rather stick wasps up my jacksie!! You must be having a laugh.

People are getting hurt during training?

Stop doing the training and revise it.

Ok...I'll get back to sleep mode.

[SoulKiss]

Right - I don't think that the "swerve" is an issue.

What IS an issue is the mandated speed.

Think about it, you have just done a 180degree bend, while concentrating to make sure you are doing 50mph, then you have to swerve round a fixed point.

Fair enough in the dry, but these new test centres all have nice new tarmac down, which can be slippy due to oils coming to the surface while they bed down.

It is ridiculous to set a mandated speed that this MUST be done at - there should be a lower speed for bad weather.

All the examples above of real-life examples are totally invalid - how often do you have to take a 180degree bend at a fixed speed, then swerve and stop around an object you can see?

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

Right - I don't think that the "swerve" is an issue.

What IS an issue is the mandated speed.

Think about it, you have just done a 180degree bend, while concentrating to make sure you are doing 50mph, then you have to swerve round a fixed point.

Fair enough in the dry, but these new test centres all have nice new tarmac down, which can be slippy due to oils coming to the surface while they bed down.

It is ridiculous to set a mandated speed that this MUST be done at - there should be a lower speed for bad weather.

All the examples above of real-life examples are totally invalid - how often do you have to take a 180degree bend at a fixed speed, then swerve and stop around an object you can see?

It's 50kph.

Have you actually seen video of the swerve or how gently you have to brake?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctIfIXlPmYk

Like I said earlier, it probably should be harder in the dry, not easier in the wet.

[hindle8907]

The tarmac on the Test Sites is race tarmac . it drains faster than normal roads/tarmac ( Just for info lol )