Getting license question - SV650.org

11-04-06, 05:32 PM

Ok, so I really have to get a UK license or they'll stop giving me insurance. Can anyone tell me how much space I get to do the U turn? In a parking lot, if I start on the line that is the border of one parking bay, I usually end up about on the other side of the next bay over after a 180.

And on the emergency braking section, what are you supposed to do? downshift w/o clutch? w/clutch? pull in clutch once stopped? or just stall the bike out?

Thanks

fizzwheel · 11-04-06, 05:49 PM

I dont know how much room, But if you can do a U turn on a road in a housing estate or somewhere like that you should be OK. I would have thought that it would be more than the width of a parking bay. But I'm not sure for certain what the actual official distance is. When I did my test I had to push the bike round in the road and then ride it round on the U turn so I ended up facing the same way I was before I started to push the bike round, if that makes sense. I think they make you push it round so that they know the bike can be turned in the space you have as different bikes have different amounts of steering lock.

As for your emergency stop. Get up some speed about 30mph is about normal IIRC, Then brake with the front, then bring the back brake in and then more front brake and pull the clutch in as you stop so that you dont stall the engine. Dont change down through the gearbox. Once you have stopped get the bike into 1st gear and then do all your normal checks and then pull over to the side of the kerb.

If you get some training in with an instructor they'll go through all of this with you before you do your test. Its probably a good idea to do this as then you'll know what to expect.

HTH, good luck with your test.

11-04-06, 06:04 PM

Thanks for the advice. I've been riding for two years and about 10k miles, so I figure I should probably pass the test; the idea just makes me nervous for some reason. It wouldn't just take me a bay, it'd take two (but side-by-side, not lengthwise) to 180. Does anyone know what the turning radius of the old naked SV is? Maybe I'll go look around just to give myself a space to practice in.

11-04-06, 07:48 PM

Hi

I passed my direct access about 6 weeks ago. For practise on u-turns we used half the width of a tennis court marked out with cones. This was easy on a Suzuki GS500. Do the turn in 2nd gear blipping the throttle and slipping the clutch. On the test the road will be a reasonable width. The road on my test I would say you could fit 2 HGV's side by side with room to spare.

For test procedure you must do the following.

Make sure you are not stopped in front of somone's driveway. Make sure you are well clear of any junctions and parked cars. Before moving off do not use indicators, check for oncoming vehicles, check both mirrors and do a right shoulder check. Pull away straight ahead in 2nd gear slipping the clutch and blipping the throttle. When you have reached a suitable speed and are balanced check your mirrors again and do another shoulder check, if it's clear carry out the u-turn still slipping the clutch and blipping the throttle. Bring the bike to a rest on the other side of a road but not across a driveway.

When I did my CBT I was taught to drag the rear brake to help control the bike in slow speed manouvers. Do not do this, you will be marked down on your test.

U-turns are a lot easier on the GS500 than the SV650 but then they are a smaller lighter bike with tighter turning circle. Get lots of practice and you wont go wrong.

If you do do a test just remember to relax, be confident and dont panic. Nobody is a perfect rider and the examiner expects you to make a few minor mistakes. If you do make a mistake don't dwell on it, forget it and get on with the rest of the test. If you let it bother you you will mess up something else as you will not be paying attention at a crucial moment.

Hope this helps

Tim

fizzwheel · 11-04-06, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I'm_a_Newbie

When I did my CBT I was taught to drag the rear brake to help control the bike in slow speed manouvers. Do not do this, you will be marked down on your test.

With the greatest of respect thats complete rubbish. Who told you that ?

I was taught to do that I did so on my test. I find it easier to control the speed in the U turn by holding constant throttle, slip clutch and then drag back brake to slow down.

I got 1 minor fault on my test and it wasnt for dragging the back brake during slow speed manouvers.

11-04-06, 08:52 PM

yep, fizz's words are indeed correct. constant revs, slip clutch and back brake to control speed.

as for the emergency stop, don't worry if you stall the engine, they'll not mark you down. the whole point is to stop the bike as quickly as possible in a safe controlled manner. when i was practicing (on my DAS) i kept shifting down andkept getting shouted at, i even did it on the final practice run on the morning of my test. thankfully my nerve held at showtime and no gears were touched! the examiner confirmed afterwards that he expected me to stall and yet it wouldnt matter.

i've waffled enough now.

11-04-06, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Quote:

Originally Posted by I'm_a_Newbie

When I did my CBT I was taught to drag the rear brake to help control the bike in slow speed manouvers. Do not do this, you will be marked down on your test.

With the greatest of respect thats complete rubbish. Who told you that ?

I was taught to do that I did so on my test. I find it easier to control the speed in the U turn by holding constant throttle, slip clutch and then drag back brake to slow down.

I got 1 minor fault on my test and it wasnt for dragging the back brake during slow speed manouvers.

Richard at ADT Portsmouth. He told me that for years people were taught to drag the rear brake and that now it is not acceptable practice. This guy taught the examiner at Portsdown Hill testing centre how to ride and knows him well. He was giving us advise on what the examiner will be looking for including changes in acceptable practice. Even the advise for shoulder checks has changed, but not by much.

Kind regards
Tim

fizzwheel · 12-04-06, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I'm_a_Newbie

Richard at ADT Portsmouth. He told me that for years people were taught to drag the rear brake and that now it is not acceptable practice. This guy taught the examiner at Portsdown Hill testing centre how to ride and knows him well. He was giving us advise on what the examiner will be looking for including changes in acceptable practice. Even the advise for shoulder checks has changed, but not by much.

The examiners are being told that. That a complete U turn ( geddit

) on everything I was taught when I was learning to ride and also what I've found since I started riding on the road.

Did he say why its no longer acceptable ?

12-04-06, 08:04 AM

Long Cut -

Where is your original licence from that is not deemed good enough to ride in the UK ? I'm guessing USA ?

12-04-06, 10:32 AM

Yeah, USA. I mean, I know how to ride. I don't have any problem turning with the bars locked; I could ride in circles all day like that at 1mph or whatever. It's just when all of a sudden there's some guy with a radio watching me and telling me what to do, it freaks me out. If I get the space of 2 HGVs, I don't think I could possible choke. That's what I was looking for, I guess, confirmation that they won't make me do this in one of these little alleys you guys have!

In real life, of course, if I have to stop quick, the last thing I am worried about is stalling (depending on how quick, of course). But you never know with these tests.

In CA, USA, there isn't a test. You walk in, pony up the cash, and walk out the door to the scariest ride of your life.

Thanks everyone, I'll let you know how it goes.

11-04-06, 05:32 PM	#1
LongCut Guest Posts: n/a	Getting license question Ok, so I really have to get a UK license or they'll stop giving me insurance. Can anyone tell me how much space I get to do the U turn? In a parking lot, if I start on the line that is the border of one parking bay, I usually end up about on the other side of the next bay over after a 180. And on the emergency braking section, what are you supposed to do? downshift w/o clutch? w/clutch? pull in clutch once stopped? or just stall the bike out? Thanks

11-04-06, 05:49 PM	#2
fizzwheel Super Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,614	I dont know how much room, But if you can do a U turn on a road in a housing estate or somewhere like that you should be OK. I would have thought that it would be more than the width of a parking bay. But I'm not sure for certain what the actual official distance is. When I did my test I had to push the bike round in the road and then ride it round on the U turn so I ended up facing the same way I was before I started to push the bike round, if that makes sense. I think they make you push it round so that they know the bike can be turned in the space you have as different bikes have different amounts of steering lock. As for your emergency stop. Get up some speed about 30mph is about normal IIRC, Then brake with the front, then bring the back brake in and then more front brake and pull the clutch in as you stop so that you dont stall the engine. Dont change down through the gearbox. Once you have stopped get the bike into 1st gear and then do all your normal checks and then pull over to the side of the kerb. If you get some training in with an instructor they'll go through all of this with you before you do your test. Its probably a good idea to do this as then you'll know what to expect. HTH, good luck with your test. __________________ Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over. K5 GSXR 750 Anniversary Edition

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11-04-06, 06:04 PM	#3
LongCut Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for the advice. I've been riding for two years and about 10k miles, so I figure I should probably pass the test; the idea just makes me nervous for some reason. It wouldn't just take me a bay, it'd take two (but side-by-side, not lengthwise) to 180. Does anyone know what the turning radius of the old naked SV is? Maybe I'll go look around just to give myself a space to practice in.

11-04-06, 07:48 PM	#4
I'm_a_Newbie Guest Posts: n/a	Hi I passed my direct access about 6 weeks ago. For practise on u-turns we used half the width of a tennis court marked out with cones. This was easy on a Suzuki GS500. Do the turn in 2nd gear blipping the throttle and slipping the clutch. On the test the road will be a reasonable width. The road on my test I would say you could fit 2 HGV's side by side with room to spare. For test procedure you must do the following. Make sure you are not stopped in front of somone's driveway. Make sure you are well clear of any junctions and parked cars. Before moving off do not use indicators, check for oncoming vehicles, check both mirrors and do a right shoulder check. Pull away straight ahead in 2nd gear slipping the clutch and blipping the throttle. When you have reached a suitable speed and are balanced check your mirrors again and do another shoulder check, if it's clear carry out the u-turn still slipping the clutch and blipping the throttle. Bring the bike to a rest on the other side of a road but not across a driveway. When I did my CBT I was taught to drag the rear brake to help control the bike in slow speed manouvers. Do not do this, you will be marked down on your test. U-turns are a lot easier on the GS500 than the SV650 but then they are a smaller lighter bike with tighter turning circle. Get lots of practice and you wont go wrong. If you do do a test just remember to relax, be confident and dont panic. Nobody is a perfect rider and the examiner expects you to make a few minor mistakes. If you do make a mistake don't dwell on it, forget it and get on with the rest of the test. If you let it bother you you will mess up something else as you will not be paying attention at a crucial moment. Hope this helps Tim

11-04-06, 08:52 PM	#6
keithd Guest Posts: n/a	yep, fizz's words are indeed correct. constant revs, slip clutch and back brake to control speed. as for the emergency stop, don't worry if you stall the engine, they'll not mark you down. the whole point is to stop the bike as quickly as possible in a safe controlled manner. when i was practicing (on my DAS) i kept shifting down andkept getting shouted at, i even did it on the final practice run on the morning of my test. thankfully my nerve held at showtime and no gears were touched! the examiner confirmed afterwards that he expected me to stall and yet it wouldnt matter. i've waffled enough now.

12-04-06, 08:04 AM	#9
tricky Guest Posts: n/a	Long Cut - Where is your original licence from that is not deemed good enough to ride in the UK ? I'm guessing USA ?

12-04-06, 10:32 AM	#10
LongCut Guest Posts: n/a	Yeah, USA. I mean, I know how to ride. I don't have any problem turning with the bars locked; I could ride in circles all day like that at 1mph or whatever. It's just when all of a sudden there's some guy with a radio watching me and telling me what to do, it freaks me out. If I get the space of 2 HGVs, I don't think I could possible choke. That's what I was looking for, I guess, confirmation that they won't make me do this in one of these little alleys you guys have! In real life, of course, if I have to stop quick, the last thing I am worried about is stalling (depending on how quick, of course). But you never know with these tests. In CA, USA, there isn't a test. You walk in, pony up the cash, and walk out the door to the scariest ride of your life. Thanks everyone, I'll let you know how it goes.