Deimos
Well-known member
+1
In my group at the brampton location, only an old zx-7 failed the slalom. A newer gsxr passed but not without putting his foot down twice. I cringed watching the kawi guy.
DriveTest Centre - WFT?
- Thread starter RodneyBR
- Start date
+1
In my group at the brampton location, only an old zx-7 failed the slalom. A newer gsxr passed but not without putting his foot down twice. I cringed watching the kawi guy.
Sundie
Well-known member
Why would it be more difficult? The only reason i can think of is throttle control being an issue with a high strung bike - but it's not *that* big of a deal.
Ya buddy.
The guy doing our testing said putting your foot down was a fail.
I've had to do it twice (i'm dumb, let license expire but passed both times). First time was on a ZX-7R, the steering stops are set up that you pretty much have to go lock-to-lock to get through it. Its hard to walk through it let alone ride through it. The 2nd time i did it on a Triumph Daytona 675. Idle in 1st gear is too fast to ride through it IMO, turning while feathering the clutch adds superfluous complexity.
Sundie
Well-known member
Oh, okay, that makes a bit of sense.
Uhm. So... is it timed? I mean... Is there any reason you couldn't just do it one foot on rear brake and feathering clutch with engine up at high idle for stability? Because it kind of indicates that it's set up to test that very necessary skill.
Turning at low speed while maintaining balance in a fairly tight slalom is tricky enough. Going slower, modulating the rear brake and throttle and clutch while maintaining balance going even slower wouldn't make it any easier. I think the slalom they have is unrealistically slow and tight. The only time i've ever need to ride a bike like that was during the test. In the real world when in tight situations like that there is no valid reason why you couldnt put your feet down and walk with the bike. A quicker wider slalom would show more about riding skill than the one they currently use does.
Sundie
Well-known member
So you're advocating simplifying an already simple test, allowing less skilled riders to get on the road? That doesn't seem to make much sense.
And i disagree that slalom at 20 or 40 would show more skill than at slow speed. Much easier to keep the bike upright at those speeds.
It's just another aspect of control - and any rider should be able to get past it easily.
Lucusice
Well-known member
Really? I went in for the m1 exit test and out of 5 people 4 passed. I was the only rider to do the s bend course without putting his feet down (one girl pretty much walked her harley through the s bends) and every one still passed. There was only one failure and it was because he dropped his bike during the s-bends.
If most places fail you, go to the power centre in burlington, i was really worried about failure as well and it went by fine.
So you're advocating simplifying an already simple test, allowing less skilled riders to get on the road? That doesn't seem to make much sense.
And i disagree that slalom at 20 or 40 would show more skill than at slow speed. Much easier to keep the bike upright at those speeds.
It's just another aspect of control - and any rider should be able to get past it easily.
I could get on a street legal enduro after 13 beers, blindfolded and ride with one hand through that slalom while sitting backwards on the bike... and pass it easily. Doing it on a sport bike does require some effort.
How about making the test applicable to "real world" situations?
Sundie
Well-known member
I believe that's called the "m2 exit".
So the M1 exit has "fantasy land" situations that have no relevance to riding a motorcycle anywhere.... except maybe a trials competition?
Ever made a u turn on a narrow street? If they changed it you could do it on an SS too.
I think that there's a Duck that no one could do it on. The turn radius is too big.
On an SS don't you just have to ride it faster to get it to turn enough? Surely all the hot shots around here can do that.
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Deimos
Well-known member
Mine was the first group in March 2010 in Brampton. Guess my mto agent was more lenient than yours. *shrugs*
Cruisers and 50cc bikes passed with flying colours.
silvrsurfr
Well-known member
its funny - cuz i saw this testing in the Handbook - but with the RTI course i took - they tested on so much more.
On a scale of 10 - RTI taught to 10 - the required course to pass was at a 5 - although in total there were 8 sections to pass.
and they spent a good amount of time training how to handle the bikes at low speed - feathering clutch, using back brake, and using throttle, manuvering, etc. And i am glad they did.
I tend to agree with what they spoke of - riding a bike at a quicker/faster pace is way easier then riding a bike a low speeds.
if you got the funds - i would recommend taking a Course. Granted were late in the season, but its worth the money. And its loads of fun.
On a scale of 10 - RTI taught to 10 - the required course to pass was at a 5 - although in total there were 8 sections to pass.
and they spent a good amount of time training how to handle the bikes at low speed - feathering clutch, using back brake, and using throttle, manuvering, etc. And i am glad they did.
I tend to agree with what they spoke of - riding a bike at a quicker/faster pace is way easier then riding a bike a low speeds.
if you got the funds - i would recommend taking a Course. Granted were late in the season, but its worth the money. And its loads of fun.
I honestly can't recall if i have, but i for sure have done my fair share of maneuvering in tight spots. Sometimes I put my foot down. BFD?! What does that prove?
One might be able to make it through by going faster but the lot i did the test in had enough gravel and sand in it that i would advise against it. Gymkhana type tests probably aren't ideal for testing novice riders as well. ha.
if you're in durham region you might check out RTI, they have a site at mosport.
Sundie
Well-known member
Because if you say "it's okay to put your foot down", it lowers the skill level required to pass the test. It's an extreme(ish) example of bike control that you would use every day if you don't only ride on wide open roads. It's also better/easier to teach "keep your feet on the pegs unless you're stopped" as a universal rule than "it's okay to put your feet down in case 1, b, and d but not 3, pi, and alpha."
They teach it and enforce it in classes and tests because you really don't want the people with no balance out on two wheels.
flameboy182
Well-known member
Good call, you'll definitely learn a lot. I know I did.
