How to Pass the Motorcycle Test to Get Your M2

Different Spokes TV

Different Spokes TV

Active member
Forum Sponsor
So my wife just passed her M2 at the Beaches location. It brought back a lot of memories from when I got mine in 1998. I thought I'd make this instructional video for those who are about to take the course and the test. Hope this is helpful. Feel free to add more details below or ask any questions.

 
Mostly accurate ( I was an examiner for several years)
One error is that you have 12 demerits. You have 11, if you end up with 12 or more you fail the exam.
 
Also in exercise 2 where you stop in a box it should be noted that when you come to the stop you cannot skid (lock the rear wheel) that counts as 1 demerit if you do. All other stopping exercises ( straight line stop and stop in a curve) there is no demerit for a skid. As long as you do not pass the end line however you manage to stop is fine.
 
Some of the elements seem off and some seem backwards. i.e. you don't pick your swerve direction, right turns should be left turns.

Was that the actual test, where people were going through multiple times?
 
Baggsy said:
Some of the elements seem off and some seem backwards. i.e. you don't pick your swerve direction, right turns should be left turns.

Was that the actual test, where people were going through multiple times?
Click to expand...
The test was conducted as shown in the video and each participant was allowed one try at each element as far as I could tell. In the swerve test some people swerved right and some left. I'll have to ask my wife if they were told which way to swerve. I will comment and clarify after I ask her. My test in 1998 was largely the same but it's been so long that I don't recall the details.
 
o.k. On the big curve it looked like people were coming back around to go through again.
 
I remember my 'M' test....
Lol.
Few runs through some pylons in a parking lot and then riding on the road out front of the examination centre... Left turn through a parking lot and back... While the examiner stood on the sidewalk watching.
'Almost 30 years ago and to date not one accident... yet.
 
The swerve is supposed to be directed by an instructor. You don't know which way to go until you are signaled.
 
Not sure who runs the course lot you used. Technically the 2nd exercise is supposed to be run in the opposite direction. 1st exercise you are on a curve going right and 2nd exercise you are on a curve going left.
 
So is this the M1 exit to get your M2..... or the M2 exit for your M...
 
sburns said:
So is this the M1 exit to get your M2..... or the M2 exit for your M...
Click to expand...
This is the M1 exit to get the M2. I just called it the M2 because calling it the M1 exit would needlessly confuse people. The M2 exit is done on the road with an instructor behind you on a motorcycle instructing you on a headset.
 
Different Spokes TV said:
This is the M1 exit to get the M2. I just called it the M2 because calling it the M1 exit would needlessly confuse people. The M2 exit is done on the road with an instructor behind you on a motorcycle instructing you on a headset.
Click to expand...
Ahh so using the incorrect terminology is more clear.... gotcha (y)
 
We never had a chance to "try" each section before the official test. Were told if we even went over to that part of the parking lot during practising we would be sent home.
 
Allistonfjr said:
We never had a chance to "try" each section before the official test. Were told if we even went over to that part of the parking lot during practising we would be sent home.
Click to expand...
Wow! Not sure what those instructors were thinking. Both my wife and I (who did the test 20 years ago) got to practice the maneuvers before the test. How else are riders supposed to learn the skills?
 
We learned and practised all the skills over the weekend but could not ride on the actual test coarse before final test. Worked out fine.
 
The concept is to teach beyond the test and not to it.
That way the test is just a confirmation that you've learned something.

I always thought that the curriculum was standardized and taught all across the country.
It's possible that they have permission to teach it differently, if they are, or they may change to the standard in the future.
 
That is the idea of a test. You don't know what is on it until you do it! The training course exercises were designed to be more difficult than what you were expected to do on the test. The test was designed to have you demonstrate that you learned the skills to complete each task on the test.

Some training facilities would run students through the test exercises which technically is against the MTO guidelines but they did it anyhow. When I was an instructor/examiner our facility did not allow students to try the test exercises which I fully agreed with. As an examiner if I was going to pass you and give you the right to drive on the street I wanted to know you could demonstrate to me you learned the skills. Not that you practiced the test and got good enough to pass the test exercises but if I were to change them up slightly and asked you to do them you couldn't, then you were not ready for your license upgrade to M2.

Several times I did see a student that was clearly not ready to ride safely on the street but managed to squeak through the test and pass. I was never shy to pull them aside and have a chat with them, and I was honest with them that I felt from what I saw over the weekend they should not just go jump on the road thinking I am a motorcyclist because I passed my test.

I am no longer an instructor/examiner (I left after 16 years to get my weekends back to ride) but personally I felt the test was too easy and many times I worried about some students afterward but my job was to administer the test and I did that fairly and by the book. If you passed you passed and if you failed you failed. Sometimes excellent riders failed the test not because it was too hard but mostly because of nerves and they psyched themselves out and or did not listen to the instructions and did not do what they were asked to do.
 
taximan62 said:
That is the idea of a test. You don't know what is on it until you do it! The training course exercises were designed to be more difficult than what you were expected to do on the test. The test was designed to have you demonstrate that you learned the skills to complete each task on the test.

Some training facilities would run students through the test exercises which technically is against the MTO guidelines but they did it anyhow. When I was an instructor/examiner our facility did not allow students to try the test exercises which I fully agreed with. As an examiner if I was going to pass you and give you the right to drive on the street I wanted to know you could demonstrate to me you learned the skills. Not that you practiced the test and got good enough to pass the test exercises but if I were to change them up slightly and asked you to do them you couldn't, then you were not ready for your license upgrade to M2.

Several times I did see a student that was clearly not ready to ride safely on the street but managed to squeak through the test and pass. I was never shy to pull them aside and have a chat with them, and I was honest with them that I felt from what I saw over the weekend they should not just go jump on the road thinking I am a motorcyclist because I passed my test.

I am no longer an instructor/examiner (I left after 16 years to get my weekends back to ride) but personally I felt the test was too easy and many times I worried about some students afterward but my job was to administer the test and I did that fairly and by the book. If you passed you passed and if you failed you failed. Sometimes excellent riders failed the test not because it was too hard but mostly because of nerves and they psyched themselves out and or did not listen to the instructions and did not do what they were asked to do.
Click to expand...
Good point. Many riders who pass need to have the humility to recognize that they are not ready for downtown TO traffic or to go group ride with their friends just because they have their M2. In my wife’s case, we will do quite a bit more practice in the parking lot and on quiet, deserted country roads before she tackles traffic or challenging roads.
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom