REPRESENTATIVE MOTORCYCLES FOR TEST

(CATEGORY AM)

Two-wheeled mechanically propelled vehicle, not capable of being manually propelled. The machine must have a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm3, in the case of an internal combustion engine, or a maximum continuous rated power of no more than 4 kilowatts in the case of an electric motor. The vehicle must have a design speed of at least 25 km/h but not more than 45 km/h.

(CATEGORY A1)

A Category A1 motorcycle without sidecar, with a cylinder capacity of at least 115 cm3 and not exceeding 125 cm3, and capable of a speed of at least 90 km/h, with an engine power not exceeding 11kW and with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.1kW/kg. If the motorcycle is powered by an electric motor, the power to weight ratio of the vehicle shall be at least 0.08 kW/kg.

(CATEGORY A2)

A Category A2 motorcycle without sidecar, with a cylinder capacity of at least 395cm3, and an engine power of at least 20 kW, but not exceeding 35 kW and with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.2kW/kg., and not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power. If the motorcycle is powered by an electric motor, the power to weight ratio of the vehicle shall be at least 0.15 kW/kg.

(CATEGORY A)

A Category A motorcycle without sidecar, with a cylinder capacity of at least 595cm3, an unladen mass of more than 175kg., and an engine power of at least 50kW. If the motorcycle is powered by an electric motor, the power to weight ratio of the vehicle shall be at least 0.25kW/kg.

WHAT YOUR EXAMINER IS LOOKING FOR? 

• Your machine is roadworthy
• Your learner permit is (a) in date (b) correct category
• Your tax disc is displayed on your bike 

WHAT TO DO

• Wear fluorescent / reflective vest with Learner Plates Front and rear
• Wear protective clothing (gloves, jacket and boots) 
• Fasten strap on helmet 
• Have a clean bike/ clear visor 
• Arrive 10 - 15 minutes early 
• Switch off your mobile phone 
• Smile and be confident and positive

YOU’RE EXAMINER

• Will need you to sign a declaration (this states that the bike is roadworthy and insured) 
• Will need to check your learner permit 
• Will ask you questions on the Rules of the Road including identifying road signs. 
• Will get you to demonstrate your hand signals 
• Will check your brake light, indicators and lights front and rear are all working, the tax disc is in date and is properly displayed on the bike not concealing the number plate. 
• Will ask you several questions on regular mechanical/safety checks to be made to your motorcycle. 

THESE INCLUDE 

• Weekly checks; oil level (how to check it). 
• Tyres wear (1mm minimum legal tread depth), damage and pressures. 
• Chain (Lubrication and tension 25mm approx) May want you to explain how you tighten the chain. 
• Brake pad wear 1mm minimum. 
• And your daily checks are lights (working with clean lenses and no cracks) brake fluid level is full by squeezing the lever to ensure it’s not spongy. The engine kill switches purpose is for emergency use to stop the engine in case of  a fall should your examiner ask.
• REMEMBER! not all motorcycles are checked in the same way so you may need to refer to your handbook for the bike to find out specific ways of checking oil, tyre pressures, chain slack ett.

• YOU’RE EXAMINER
• Will equip you with a radio and earpiece and give you instructions on its usage.
• Follow you in a car or on a motorcycle and give you directions over the radio. 
• Will ask you to pull in and perform a U-turn with both feet up. But! If the motorcycle you’re
• riding, the width of the road and weather conditions don’t allow this then dropping your foot 
• towards the end or backing the bike up in order to complete the turn is totally acceptable. 
• Will want you to ride slowly at about walking pace whilst he drives behind you or walks beside you. 
• Will want you to push your motorcycle forwards (and maybe backwards) approx 5 metres. 
• Test duration will be approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour long from beginning to end. 
• For test centres that have a compound available these manouvres may be performed there instead of the public road.

WHERE YOU MIGHT FAIL! 

Your examiner will be marking your performance throughout the test.

There are three categories of mistakes. 

• Grade 1 (minor mistakes which have no effect on the overall test result). 
• Grade 2 (medium mistake) which your allowed to make up to 8 overall OR up to 5 under one heading (see below) OR up to 3 for one single aspect of your riding. 
• Grade 3 (serious mistake) 1 of these will result in automatic failure. 

1. LACK OF REAR OBSERVATION 

• Shoulder checks (safety glance) must be done before each turn (left shoulder going left, right shoulder going right) or before any lane changes or significant maneuvers on the road. 
• Regular mirror checks whilst riding (move your head slightly to prove this!). 
• Regular mirror checks even when stopped and waiting on the road. 

2. ROAD POSITIONING 

• Ride in the centre of your lane at all times, when necessary change position, and then return to the centre of your lane.
• Correct positioning at junctions on the approach and arrival at.
• Do not ride too close to parked vehicles (keep a doors width away if possible if not reduce speed). 

3. INADEQUATE SIGNALLING 

Not signaling correctly, lack of, overusing or forgetting to cancel signals (which can result in a Grade 3 fault!). 

It is not always neccersary to use a signal to move past parked vehicles in town. Assess the situation and see if a signal would be of benefit to anyone else. If you stop behind a parked vehicle to allow oncoming traffic through then a signal is required to let others know you are waiting to move out and not parked. Misleading signals are also a cause for faults during the test.

4. LACK OF PROGRESS 

• Going to slow, if it’s safe to ride at 50kph (30mph) then do so. Watch for any changes in the speed limit throughout the test and adjust your speed to those limits if it’s safe to do so. 
• Breaking the speed limit by more than 10kph (6mph) will result in a Grade 3. 
• Being over cautious at junctions especially when turning right. 

5. NOT OBEYING ROAD SIGNS / MARKINGS / TRAFFIC LIGHTS 

• Not stopping where there is stop sign or solid white line across the road or at a red light will result in a Grade 3. 
• Entering chevrons (diagonal white stripes), crossing over a continuous white line or stopping in a box junction. 

6. REACTION TO HAZARDS

A hazard is something you will either have to change your position or speed for or both. 

How soon you react to parked vehicles, pedestrians, buses stopping or stopped, emerging 

vehicles, potholes etc.

ALWAYS

1. Mirror check 
2. Signal. 
3. Safety glance (in direction your going)
4. Change position. 

TIPS. 

• Always hold front brake getting on off your bike. Hold/press rear brake when stopped so that brake light shows. 
• Thank other road users who give you the right of way (nod of the head). 

EMERGENCY REDUCTION OF SPEED

This exercise is done whilst travelling at roughly 55kph (in a 60kph zone) your examiner will instruct you over the radio to brake down to about 25kph. This will be done using both front and back brake and without skidding.

Once the braking is completed change down to a lower gear, check both mirrors and your examiner will then tell you to ‘’move on’ accelerate immediately but gently back up to 60kph if it’s safe to do so. 

This exercise is NOT an emergency stop. You are displaying to your examiner your ability to use your brakes if a situation arose where a hazard would cause a 30kph (18mph) reduction of speed

2. STATIONARY VEHICLE OVERTAKE EXERCISE.

Whilst riding in a 60kph zone you will then be asked by your examiner to ‘pull into the left and stop’. 

Your examiner will then drive his vehicle around you and pull in further up the road (about 150 metres away). 

He may then instruct you to ride towards him and then move out of the way of his vehicle.

As you ride towards him in the middle of your lane you will accelerate up to 55kph then check your right mirror, shoulder check, indicate and then move out leaving more than a car doors width of clearance on the overtake. 

You will then be instructed to ‘pull in and stop and wait’. 

He will then return to his vehicle and when he is ready he will then instruct you to ‘move off’. 

This exercise is NOT a sudden swerve. You are displaying to your examiner your ability to adjust your position on the road safely should a hazard happen to alter it. 

Important message please read.

Under no circumstance should these exercises be practiced where they could interfere with any other road users. It is therefore very important before carrying out practice exercises to be aware of what is happening behind you and that you are in a 60kph speed zone. 

These exercises can be done in everyday traffic situations such as moving out around a parked vehicle/obstruction or slowing on the approach to traffic lights or junctions where no other road users are driving directly behind you. Please be aware of the potential risk of an accident occurring whilst braking unpredictably and unexpectedly on a public road. 

CHECK YOUR MIRRORS CAREFULLY BEFORE PRACTISING ANY BRAKING EXERCISE.

QUESTIONS 

It is important to know your road signs from the Rules of the Road Page 209 to 223 or read HERE

Question

When can you overtake on the left/ inside?

Answer

(a) When the vehicle in front is turning right 

(b) when the lane on the right is moving slower. 

(c) When turning left and you have indicated to do so.

Question

When would you dip your lights from high beam? 

Answer

(a) Oncoming traffic 

(b) following behind traffic 

(c) when riding in an area with street lighting 

(d) When approaching cyclists and pedestrians 

(e) in foggy or snowy conditions.

Question

How would you react to being dazzled by the high beam of oncoming traffic? 

Answer

Slow down and look to the verge

Question

Box junctions; how would you treat them? 

Answer

Only enter if your exit is clear and you can only stop and wait in one when turning right.

Question

When can you use a bus lane? 

Answer

Outside the hours displayed on the time plate.

Question

A continuous white line in the centre of the road; what does it mean? 

Answer

You cannot cross over it unless in an emergency or to avoid an obstruction and to make a right turn.

Question

When can you use a hard shoulder? 

Answer

If you breakdown or in an emergency

Question

Motorways; what is not allowed to use them? 

Answers

(a) Learner drivers 

(b) vehicles under 50cc 

(c) vehicles less than 50kph 

(d) pedestrians 

(e) cyclists 

(f) animals 

(g) Invalid carriages (disabled wheelchairs)

Question

Traffic lights ;(a) green (b) amber (c) flashing amber; their meanings?

Answers

(a) Proceed if it’s safe to do so 

(b) stop if it’s safe to do so 

(c) give way to traffic or pedestrians.

Question

Zebra crossing; how would you know you’re approaching one (road markings and features)? 

Answers

(a) Flashing amber lights on black & white poles 

(b) zigzag white lines (no parking or overtaking) 

(c) painted black and whites stripes.

Question

What is the speed limit for (a) motorway (b) national route (c) on a regional road (R road) 

(d) built up area? 

Answers

(a) 120kph 

(b) 100kph 

(c) 80kph 

(d) 50kph unless otherwise indicated.

Question

What would wet weather normally do to your braking distances? 

Answer

It would double the distance.

Question

What brake would you apply first? 

Answer

Front first then rear.

Question

Which has the most stopping power on your bike? 

Answer

The front brake.

Question

Which brake would you rely on more in wet or slippery conditions?

Answer

The back brake.

Question

What types of road surfaces could cause you to skid or slide? 

Answers

Road paint, manhole covers, metal plates, Railway lines, tar banding, cobblestones and leaves are all slippery especially when wet. Also loose gravel, mud, diesel, oil deposits, road kills, potholes, cat’s eyes, icy and snowy conditions should also be avoided.

Question

Shoulder checks; when or where should they be considered? 

Answers

Moving off from a parked position, pulling into park, before doing a U-turn, before turning either left or right, before changing lanes, before overtaking a moving or stopped vehicle/obstruction, before merging onto a dual carriageway or motorway from a slip road, before leaving a roundabout, dual carriageway or motorway.

Question

How would you go about turning right / left at a junction? 

Answer

Check mirrors then indicate then change position to centre / left of junction then stop check left then right when it is safe to move off do a safety glance to your blind side then turn.

Question

Who would have the right of way on a crossroads of equal importance? 

Answer

Traffic from your right.

Question

Whose responsibility is it to ensure the pillions helmet is fastened? 

Answer

The rider’s responsibility.