DMV 'Road' Test
robert fries
bike for the California 'circle' test? I've got an appointment for
the test on April 21. I'm somewhat embarassed to admit that I didn't
pass it, on my new Buell M2. Love the bike, just don't like doing
small circles on it. I've practiced, and can do it, I just want to
guarantee success.
Had a license in NY for about a dozen years, passed that road test on
a 750 Honda in '71. Moved here in '83, didn't transfer the motorcycle
license. Haven't owned a bike since '81.
Suggestions? I'm taking the test in Santa Clara (or is it Sunnyvale?)
Robert
rfries at pacbell dot net
Denise Howard
> Any suggestions for a riding school or service to provide a smaller
> bike for the California 'circle' test? I've got an appointment for
> the test on April 21. I'm somewhat embarassed to admit that I didn't
> pass it, on my new Buell M2. Love the bike, just don't like doing
> small circles on it. I've practiced, and can do it, I just want to
> guarantee success.
Cancel the appointment and find out when the next MSF class is being held
in your area. Not only does passing the course entitle you to a waiver of
the silly DMV riding test, you'll get to brush up on your riding basics
which have actual practical application to everyday riding.
Don't be embarrassed about having failed the DMV circle test. It says
nothing about your real riding ability. Which is half the reason it's so
silly!
Denise
'91 Nighthawk 750
'95 CBR600 F3
Mookie CA
There's a guy up here who rents a 125cc Honda or something *just* for the
purpose you are describing.
He runs an ad *every* month in CityBike. Familiar with that pub? Usually
available at bike shops (Cycle Gear, etc. etc.), bookstores, coffee shops,
and the like.
Good luck!
Mook
Jason O'Rourke
if mostly beneath you, is worth it. Passing their harder, but more
worldly test passes you in DMV's eyes, you'll probably get a small
reduction on your insurance, and you'll get some practice doing emergency
proceedures (including the rear wheel skid) on someone else's bike and
tires.
It will cost you about 130, take 2 nights and two weekend days of your
time.
(And yeah, you'll probably find the first two drills rather silly. Push
the bike!)
--
Jason O'Rourke j...@best.com www.jor.com
'96 BMW r850R
last dive: March 27th, Gerstle Cove, Sonoma. 18 mins @ 20ft max (viz = 18")
Hillary Russak
Call 1800-ccRIDER to find out when a course is being offered near you. It's
well worth your time.
-h
robert fries
course, but there wasn't one convenient, and soon enough. I still plan
to attend.
Any insurance benefit will probably be negligible, State Farm has me
in their lowest rate, most preferred category.
Robert
BCSDN
Call me at 408 293-6961, I may be able to help you with a smaller bike to use.
I am in San Jose.
Dean
pablo
robert fries wrote:
> .. I'm somewhat embarassed to admit that I didn't
> pass it, on my new Buell M2. Love the bike, just don't like doing
> small circles on it. I've practiced, and can do it, I just want to
> guarantee success.
If it serves as a consolation - I'd been riding bikes for about 20 years
when I moved to CA, and it was a very close shave on my BMW R11 R - those
big bikes are simply not really designed to go small circles at very low
speeds, damit. Let us show our biking prowess doing a few wheelies, or
some serious lea angles at high speed! :-)
>
> Suggestions? I'm taking the test in Santa Clara (or is it Sunnyvale?)
I took mine in Los Gatos - I am not sure if the facility there is roomier
(it sure looked small to me), might be worth a check. But I'd definitely
try to take the test on another bike, the Buell must be even tougher than
mine. Imagine, just in front of me, a friend tried the test on a Duc
900SS that had modified clip ons that had him all leaned to the front.
Predictably, he failed.
He borrowed a Honda XR100 for his next appointment. There might be a
business opp renting these things out just in front of the DMV. :-)
...pablo
Srikanth Seshadri
pablo <pa...@samerica.com> wrote in article
<3727454A...@samerica.com>...
>
>
> robert fries wrote:
>
> > .. I'm somewhat embarassed to admit that I didn't
> > pass it, on my new Buell M2. Love the bike, just don't like doing
> > small circles on it. I've practiced, and can do it, I just want to
> > guarantee success.
>
> If it serves as a consolation - I'd been riding bikes for about 20 years
> when I moved to CA, and it was a very close shave on my BMW R11 R - those
> big bikes are simply not really designed to go small circles at very low
> speeds, damit. Let us show our biking prowess doing a few wheelies, or
> some serious lea angles at high speed! :-)
>
> >
> > Suggestions? I'm taking the test in Santa Clara (or is it Sunnyvale?)
I took the test in Santa Clara (and passed) on my FJ600. I could not have
passed it on my GSXR. If you put your feet down, or drop the bike, you
FAIL. The other problem with Santa Clara is the surface is sloping from
side to side. To maintain constant speed is all but impossible. My
suggestion - borrow a smaller bike. It will be a cinch.
Srikanth.
Doug from California
something wrong with the steering of the scooter that I tried it with. IT'S
TRUE.
I'd recommend trying another DMV office, like I did (also with another
scooter, too), where I found a MUCH more reasonable examiner.
Over and out...Doug, Oakland, Elite 150
pablo wrote in message <3727454A...@samerica.com>...
>
>
>robert fries wrote:
>
>> .. I'm somewhat embarassed to admit that I didn't
>> pass it, on my new Buell M2. Love the bike, just don't like doing
>> small circles on it. I've practiced, and can do it, I just want to
>> guarantee success.
>
>If it serves as a consolation - I'd been riding bikes for about 20 years
>when I moved to CA, and it was a very close shave on my BMW R11 R - those
>big bikes are simply not really designed to go small circles at very low
>speeds, damit. Let us show our biking prowess doing a few wheelies, or
>some serious lea angles at high speed! :-)
>
>>
>> Suggestions? I'm taking the test in Santa Clara (or is it Sunnyvale?)
>
do...@53.usenet.us.com
: > when I moved to CA, and it was a very close shave on my BMW R11 R - those
: I took the test in Santa Clara (and passed) on my FJ600. I could not have
: passed it on my GSXR. If you put your feet down, or drop the bike, you
tsk.tsk.
My son passed the test the week after he took MSF on a 1982 Honda 750.
If that cow could go around little itty bitty circles, driven by a 16 year
old kid who had less than five miles riding experience...
--
---
Clarence A Dold - do...@network.rahul.net
- Pope Valley & Napa CA.
Joel Garry
>
>: > when I moved to CA, and it was a very close shave on my BMW R11 R - those
>
>: I took the test in Santa Clara (and passed) on my FJ600. I could not have
>: passed it on my GSXR. If you put your feet down, or drop the bike, you
>
>tsk.tsk.
>My son passed the test the week after he took MSF on a 1982 Honda 750.
>If that cow could go around little itty bitty circles, driven by a 16 year
>old kid who had less than five miles riding experience...
Some bikes it is just plain easier than others. I failed on my then-new
Vision, because there was no reasonable throttle setting for that circle.
They let me retake it on my other bike as long as it was the same day -
no problem at all with it. I get the idea it would be easy on a big
police bike, too (anyone see that video of the trainee policeman doing
a low speed lowside, picking up the bike then falling over it... :)
jg
--
These opinions are my own.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/joel_garry Remove nospam to reply.
mailto:joel-...@nospam.home.com Oracle and unix guy.
do...@53.usenet.us.com
: >My son passed the test the week after he took MSF on a 1982 Honda 750.
: >If that cow could go around little itty bitty circles, driven by a 16 year
: >old kid who had less than five miles riding experience...
Joel Garry (joel-...@nospam.home.com) wrote:
: Some bikes it is just plain easier than others. I failed on my then-new
I suppose that I thought the point was obvious. I made the wrong
assumption that "everyone" knew what an awful low-speed beast the old Honda
was ;-) At the speeds required, the Honda would jerk and stumble.
My BMW, on the other hand, will move smoothly at an idle in first gear.
Don Lewis
> ;-) At the speeds required, the Honda would jerk and stumble.
=================================================
That's what the clutch is for.
Don
Joon-Mo Ok
On 28 Apr 1999, Srikanth Seshadri wrote:
>
>
> pablo <pa...@samerica.com> wrote in article
> <3727454A...@samerica.com>...
> >
> >
> > robert fries wrote:
> >
> > > .. I'm somewhat embarassed to admit that I didn't
> > > pass it, on my new Buell M2. Love the bike, just don't like doing
> > > small circles on it. I've practiced, and can do it, I just want to
> > > guarantee success.
> >
> > If it serves as a consolation - I'd been riding bikes for about 20 years
> > when I moved to CA, and it was a very close shave on my BMW R11 R - those
> > big bikes are simply not really designed to go small circles at very low
> > speeds, damit. Let us show our biking prowess doing a few wheelies, or
> > some serious lea angles at high speed! :-)
> >
> > >
> > > Suggestions? I'm taking the test in Santa Clara (or is it Sunnyvale?)
>
> I took the test in Santa Clara (and passed) on my FJ600. I could not have
> passed it on my GSXR. If you put your feet down, or drop the bike, you
> FAIL. The other problem with Santa Clara is the surface is sloping from
> side to side. To maintain constant speed is all but impossible. My
> suggestion - borrow a smaller bike. It will be a cinch.
>
> Srikanth.
>
>
Joon-Mo Ok
gen...@Leland.Stanford.EDU
Mark ?? ;-)
Joon-Mo Ok wrote in message ...
>borrow a 50cc scooter. In CA I believe it is a motorcycle.
If I remember right you have to take the test on a bike of at least 250cc to
get a motorcycle license that allows you to ride all bikes bigger than
250cc. If you took the test on a 50cc scooter you would get a license that
would allow you to ride up to 250cc. I think they are class M1 & M3
respectfully.
Greg Leopold
his DMV Road Test. He could not do the "circle". I went down to the DMV
testing area with his bike and tried it. I have 30+ years riding
experience and I had a helluva time doing the circle. I measured the
circle and pulled out the Buell's owner's manual. The turning radius of
the Buell was one (1) foot wider than the test circle!!!! That means that
virtually any sportbike or any bike with a limited turning diameter cannot
be used to pass this test. Can you say "discrimination"?????
Greg Leopold
eas...@mother.com
Can you say, "It's a worthless test that proves nothing?" :P
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
James Clark
Greg Leopold wrote:
> Just had to add my $.02. A friend of mine with a Buell S1 could not pass
> his DMV Road Test. He could not do the "circle". I went down to the DMV
> testing area with his bike and tried it. I have 30+ years riding
> experience and I had a helluva time doing the circle. I measured the
> circle and pulled out the Buell's owner's manual. The turning radius of
> the Buell was one (1) foot wider than the test circle!!!! That means that
> virtually any sportbike or any bike with a limited turning diameter cannot
> be used to pass this test. Can you say "discrimination"?????
Francois Shetalat (sp?) has a solution for that problem.
James Clark
Don Lewis wrote:
Clutch-slipping is a capital offense to a BMW rider.
The World Renowned Landshark
that you had to stay in the circle or the lines.
It was that you had to do it smoothly, without
significant problems"
The Landshark
> Greg Leopold
--
"A day without riding a Buell, is like
a day without Sunshine"
98 S3 Thunderbolt powered
83 Honda 1100F
99 F150 for Antenna platform
"A few more months now till baby's Born"
Gregory d'Orso
On Sat, 1 May 1999, JB Cole wrote:
> In article <3729C62F...@ix.netcom.com>,
> "\"\""@lnds...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
>
> > Well when I took mine, the examiner said "It wasn't
> > that you had to stay in the circle or the lines.
> > It was that you had to do it smoothly, without
> > significant problems"
> >
> > The Landshark
> >
> > Greg Leopold wrote:
> > >
> > > Just had to add my $.02. A friend of mine with a Buell S1 could not pass
> > > his DMV Road Test. He could not do the "circle". I went down to the DMV
> > > testing area with his bike and tried it. I have 30+ years riding
> > > experience and I had a helluva time doing the circle. I measured the
> > > circle and pulled out the Buell's owner's manual. The turning radius of
> > > the Buell was one (1) foot wider than the test circle!!!! That means that
> > > virtually any sportbike or any bike with a limited turning diameter cannot
> > > be used to pass this test. Can you say "discrimination"?????
> > > Greg Leopold
>
> I took this test at the Westminster DMV on a Ninja 600R and they required
> me to keep the front wheel between the lines while I mad the figure 8
> without putting my feet down. The first time my front wheel slipped out a
> little and the examiner let me try again. I passed no problem the 2nd
> time. So, it can be done on a sportbike.
Unfortunately, not all sportbikes are the same!
-- Greg
_____________________________________________________________
Gregory d'Orso do...@bok.net
nick
MAryland had a moto licence there...had to take the written test only...
Nick
pablo wrote:
>
> robert fries wrote:
>
> > .. I'm somewhat embarassed to admit that I didn't
> > pass it, on my new Buell M2. Love the bike, just don't like doing
> > small circles on it. I've practiced, and can do it, I just want to
> > guarantee success.
>
> If it serves as a consolation - I'd been riding bikes for about 20 years
> when I moved to CA, and it was a very close shave on my BMW R11 R - those
> big bikes are simply not really designed to go small circles at very low
> speeds, damit. Let us show our biking prowess doing a few wheelies, or
> some serious lea angles at high speed! :-)
>
> >
> > Suggestions? I'm taking the test in Santa Clara (or is it Sunnyvale?)
>
Joel Garry
>Why do u have to take the ride test? I moved to CA 3 years ago from
>MAryland had a moto licence there...had to take the written test only...
I had to do it because I had forgotten to renew my M class! D'Oh!
robert fries
have a bike, and didn't expect to get one, so I just said 'NO' when
they asked if I wanted to transfer my MC certification from NY.
What was I thinking!?
Anyway (I'm the one who started this thread), I re-took the test, this
time on some incredibly boring old Honda 250. Good thing, the
inspector was pretty picky, and wanted the maneuvers done at walking
speed. The Honda could putt-putt along just fine at idle, so there was
no tricky throttle/clutch work. I passed. Whew!
/RF
On Sun, 02 May 1999 01:14:58 GMT, nick <ni...@hm.org> wrote:
>Why do u have to take the ride test? I moved to CA 3 years ago from
>MAryland had a moto licence there...had to take the written test only...
>
>Nick
Vadim Zaliva
robert> Anyway (I'm the one who started this thread), I re-took
robert> the test, this time on some incredibly boring old Honda
robert> 250. Good thing, the inspector was pretty picky, and
robert> wanted the maneuvers done at walking speed. The Honda
robert> could putt-putt along just fine at idle, so there was no
robert> tricky throttle/clutch work. I passed. Whew!
Let me share my DMV riding test experience. I've been passing it on
BMW R90/6 which is pretty big bike. I've failed first time. Maybe
because of big bike, maybe because I was little nervous and forget to
switch off choke :-) Second time I did OK.
Another thing I've noticed, is that in Fremont DMV, test circle is
located in the corner of brick wall, and have curb on 2 of 4 sides. I
think psychologically it is little harder to ride circle not having
space custion around for error.
Vadim
--
;;----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
;; Vadim Zaliva + Those who do not understand Unix +
;; mailto:lo...@crocodile.org + are condemned to reinvent it, +
;; http://www.crocodile.org + poorly. (H. Spencer) +
;;----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Doug from California
Heck, I took my circle test at the DMV by the Oakland Coliseum. The circus
happened to be in town that week, so it was "theme day" at the DMV. The
examiner made me go around that darn circle with 8 Chinese acrobats
pyramiding off my shoulders. One of the acrobats dropped one of his
twirling rings which instantly disqualified me. For my retry, they forced
me into one of those steel, caged, balls, where I had to zoom around upside
down and sideways with two other people taking their motorcycle driving
test. Geeesh!
Over and out...Doug, Oakland, Elite 150
Vadim Zaliva wrote in message ...
Don Lewis
James Clark wrote in message <3728A4E4...@ibm.net>...
>
>Clutch-slipping is a capital offense to a BMW rider.
Then how do you take off from a dead stop? Going very slow in a tight
figure eight isn't exactly what most BMWs are made for either.
Don Lewis
Mark ?? ;-) wrote in message
<3T0W2.9096$oU1.7...@typhoon-sf.snfc21.pbi.net>...
>If I remember right you have to take the test on a bike of at least 250cc
to
>get a motorcycle license that allows you to ride all bikes bigger than
>250cc
If that's true, and it may be, the law has changed. We used to loan people
Honda Trail 90s to take the test. Automatic clutch and a lever that made it
geared way low so you could ride at a crawl with no problem. Also, they
only weighed 185 pounds.
Andy Burnett
"Greg Leopold" <pro...@scronline.com> wrote:
> virtually any sportbike or any bike with a limited turning diameter cannot
> be used to pass this test. Can you say "discrimination"?????
Unless you could manage a rolling burnout around the circle. Wonder how
they'd feel about that?
ab
do...@53.usenet.us.com
: James Clark wrote in message <3728A4E4...@ibm.net>...
A dry clutch (any BMW) doesn't take well to slipping as a method of low
speed control. The CHP is relearning their low speed handling as a result
of frying clutches on the new R1100.
The advice is if your clutch isn't fully relesaed by the time your back
wheel clears the cross walk, you're slipping too much. That aside, my BMW
will travel quite comfortably at an idle, which I think is about 6mph.
The DMV test, as I saw it, was a keyhole, not a figure eight. Drive down a
narrow lane, then go either right or left around the circle, depending on
the instructors choice.
pemb...@hotmail.com
I read in this news group (I've forgotten who posted) some great
advice.
Use your back brake! It really helps on slow speeds.
Actually I was a bit lucky. Some twit before me was totally abusive
to the DMV person. He blew it big time. I was a paragon of respect
with lots of "yes mams, no mams (it was an older woman)".
It pays to be polite.
Richard Gorin
wrote:
Your memory differs from mine. I was driving little Hondas
(50/70/90cc) before CA required separate licensing. When they
instituted it, I ended up with a license that said "may also operate
motor driven cycle". In order to upgrade to a full motorcycle
license, I had to take the road test on a freeway legal bike (at that
time, 160cc or more). When I got my CL350, I took it on that -- I
don't recall that it was any problem.
Rich
'84 Ascot
Joon-Mo Ok
mopeds, and another for motorcycles/scooters. I was pretty sure
motorcycles and scooters were in the same category. I looked in the
license guides about 6 months ago.
Joon-Mo Ok
gen...@Leland.Stanford.EDU
Don Lewis
licences first came out, and, as I said, the laws may have changed
since then. I took it on a Trail 90 and have never had to take it
again.
Don
Jason O'Rourke
>The test was very dumb, the examiner wasn't. The course they had
>layed out had a straight section of about 100 feet, the rider was
>supposed to accelerate through all forward gears, then come to a
>stop in 100 feet. A bit difficult on a ported 6 speed Suzuki X-6.
what a contrived 'test.' Probably easiest on a Hayubusa that starts in
6th gear. How do they verify gear changes anyway?
--
Jason O'Rourke j...@best.com www.jor.com
'96 BMW r850R
last dive: May 2nd, South Monastery Beach, 54 mins at 32ft max