you didnt say where you are located, so cant say for sure.

but probably not.

 

Oh sorry about that, I am in central MN. I just remember at the MSF class they kept telling us to use all 4 fingers all the time, but I don't all the time anymore. [/color]

 

Maybe you should ask the tester before you start.

 

29 states use the same test. its called the Alt-MOST test. im not sure if MN does, but looking at your motorcycle handbook, its exactly the same as the one I got in ohio (except the cover), so i assume MN does the same test. 90 degree turn and stop, cone weave, u turn, swerve and quick stop is what our test consists of.

you should only get points for going outside the lines, putting your foot down, and missing or hitting cones. also stalling your bike and dropping will get you points too.

honestly, if the proctor doesnt like you using 2 fingers, they will probably just tell you, but not dock you any points. when i took mine, the guy said something to me about having my visor open, but he wasnt a dick or anything. he was actually really cool.

 

Hmm thats interesting to know that our test is the same as most other states. Yes, our test is the exact same as yours too.
I will ask him see if he cares though. I doubt they would though. I only have experience with one tester from when I took my driving test and aside from sounding like a robot when going through the check list he was pretty nice. He actually got a little mad at me cause I kept saying "yes sir" and "no sir" all the time. I thought it was kinda funny. Thanks![/color]

 

highly doubt it. I don't even know how many fingers I used for the test (or for regular riding even now) and nobody cared cause I got a perfect score!

too bad the test is incomplete..I mean cmon where's the highspeed stuff, they should take you to a race track or something that has challenge curves (for a beginner) at 50-60 mph to prove they can ride on the roads too, not just 15 mph in driveways or parks.

oh well.. it's up to the rider to determine when they're ready anyway, not a useless test.

 

Well I passed it, not perfect but its done and I can always practice later. The tester didn't care at all and he was a very nice guy. Had some interesting conversations with the three other guys testing. The only other guy that passed was a big guy on a little moped. There were two other guys on cruisers, one on a Harley and one on a Vulcan. I talked to the guy on the Vulcan quite a bit, he had been riding for 35 years and had over 300,000 miles under his belt. What I thought was interesting was that he came from owning Harley's before getting his Vulcan. He had lots of good things to say about it coming from owning Harley's. And Cybrax, this kinda goes along with what you were saying, the guy on the Harley was saying how when his dad took his riding test down in New Mexico back in '71 I think, all that he was required to do was I quote, "Go drive around town for 20 min." I thought it was really funny that you could get your license by just riding around. I agree though, the only tough part on the test was the cone swerve, which got both of the guys on cruisers. Getting a license for anything is really a joke in this country, they need to make it a lot harder in my opinion, maybe taking drivers to a track to teach them how to really handle their cars/motorcycles. Ok enough rambling now. Glad its over, but I really enjoyed getting to meet some new bikers from the area.[/color]

 

Congrats on passing!

It's hard to say what should compromise a motorcycle test, but do you really want to see those Harleys on a track? LOL! Or the big guy who borrowed someone's moped?

 

Congrats on passing!

It's hard to say what should compromise a motorcycle test, but do you really want to see those Harleys on a track? LOL! Or the big guy who borrowed someone's moped?

YES PLZ

 

I have gotten really used to only using 2 fingers on the clutch.[/color]

Congrats on passing!

What do you do with the other fingers? I tried it the the other night, and squished my other fingers between the lever and the grip.

 

I think a lot of the emphasis on low speed maneuvering in the BRC and skills test miss the real danger of poor intermediate speed skills.

 

I always though that any driving test, for any vehicle should include a emergency stop from 90% of that vehicle's top speed . Achieved within 110% of it's min stopping distance.

FOG

 

I have gotten really used to only using 2 fingers on the clutch.[/color]

Congrats on passing!

What do you do with the other fingers? I tried it the the other night, and squished my other fingers between the lever and the grip.

I did too at first, but then I realized that you don't have to have the lever touching the grip to activate the clutch. I bring it back just to where it touches the ends of my gloves shift and go. I use 3 on the brake, it's just weird for me to not be touching the bar at all with my other fingers since I've been on a bicycle since I was 3. Got used to the little shorty levers on those.

I always though that any driving test, for any vehicle should include a emergency stop from 90% of that vehicle's top speed . Achieved within 110% of it's min stopping distance.

FOG

+1

 

I think changing a tire on a car using the included stock lugnut wrench and jack setup should be part of the car road test.

 

If we made everyone take their test...some their first time on a bike, going 120 to a full stop....some ppl would probably die lol.

I saw a guy take the stop test too fast on my MSF course (30-40 vs 20) and he went over the bars when he tried to stop...


(Insert survival of the fittest comments below).

 

but do you really want to see those Harleys on a track? LOL! Or the big guy who borrowed someone's moped?

Heck Yes!!! Haha even if all it gave me was a little chuckle inside my helmet as I watched them go around the track. Here is an idea to kinda get the best of both worlds. You can have the people do some basic riding/driving around town to make sure they know how to drive on the street and all that stuff, but then you take them out to a big skid pad/track where you can have them both do slow speed tight stuff. Also some high speed handling such as S-turns, increasing/decreasing radius turns, hairpin turns, and maybe throw in some road hazards (blown tires, boards, gravel) after a while and emergency maneuvers such as panic breaking from high speeds and swerving. I would think that would be enough to make people more skilled drivers/riders, but it would also be great if you could combine that with a lot of class room stuff as well. Thats just my idea about some of what should be included in the process of getting a license.

hzryr61, I leave my other two fingers on the bar. Like Damian said, you really don't need to pull the lever in all the way to shift like you might need to in a car. So I just pull it in about half way, change gears(or whatever else you need to do), then ease it back out. If you play around with the friction zone in a parking lot you can find out where the clutch engages and you really only need to pull it in just a little past that in my opinion.
[/color]

 

I think some European countries actually require a 'road test' where they follow you. Personally I'm happy enough with the system here. Sure, some people get through that 'shouldn't', but I think the alternatives would end up being worse for those of us with enough sense to know our limits. Look at the prices on insurance and testing in other places. At least on a bike you're less likely to hurt other people if you screw up.

Low speed isn't always indicative of overall skill, but it's tough to master and I bet there's a good correlation between people who are good at riding and low-speed stuff.

 

I do practice my emergency stops on a regular basis, but I still haven't had a bike up to it's top speed. So a test with an emergency stop from top speed would have scared the crap out of me. Plus, how realistic is that? You aren't supposed to be going that fast on public streets. I can see doing it from 65mph since that must be done on the highway on occasion.

 

I think some European countries actually require a 'road test' where they follow you. Personally I'm happy enough with the system here. Sure, some people get through that 'shouldn't', but I think the alternatives would end up being worse for those of us with enough sense to know our limits. Look at the prices on insurance and testing in other places. At least on a bike you're less likely to hurt other people if you screw up.

Low speed isn't always indicative of overall skill, but it's tough to master and I bet there's a good correlation between people who are good at riding and low-speed stuff.

The crazy formerly European country to your north has a road test where the examiner follows you in a car (with a driver) for getting an M endorsement. The test here (Kitchener, Ontario) includes residential with controlled and uncontrolled intersections, and a stint on the highway. The easiest way to lose points is not making clear and obvious head movements indicating mirror checks and looking for hazards at intersections, driveways and the like.

 

The crazy formerly European country to your north

formerly european country? meaning it came over from the continent of europe?

as far as i know, canada has always been in north america... well not counting laurasia/pangea