Any tips or tricks

[Iam]

Originally Posted by A7_UFO

When I was learning I was taught to ignore flashes and friendly hand gestures.

Same here.

Highway code says:

110
Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.

[Bogof]

Originally Posted by Bogof

If you ignore the flash and don't move, you create a stalemate. He is waiting for you to go and ends up not sure what you're doing. You sit there waiting for him to go, and you both end up impeding other traffic, which for you taking a test is a fail.

Strange that some of you were told to ignore flashes, as that above happened to me on test.

Examiner spoke about it at debrief afterwards and said had I not acknowledged the van drivers' flash by going forward ahead of him, I would have been marked down for failing to make good progress.

[john orentas]

Whilst I was taking my test I was required to make an emergency stop.. As I was doing so I felt the rear wheel 'patter' on the very damp road surface, though without locking.. I knew then that I had passed..

Mind you I was riding a BSA B33 and the year was 1961, in fact is was my uncle's bike, he lent it to me as my Sun Overlander (197 Villiers) had been nicked the week before.

[A7_UFO]

my instructor taught me to press the rear brake with 1% strength (ie token effort) and do the 99% on the front...to ensure no lock up on the rear.

In 1961, was an emergency stop the only maneuvre?

[Katiree]

Originally Posted by A7_UFO

my instructor taught me to press the rear brake with 1% strength (ie token effort) and do the 99% on the front...to ensure no lock up on the rear.

My instructor told me that as well. He said it was especially important for me because I'm smaller than his average student, so the rear wheel has hardly any weight over it anyway in hard braking. I pretty much just twitched my ankle for my emergency stop, and the examiner passed me.

On the subject of light-flashing, I'm never sure either. I remember being extremely thankful that I didn't encounter it in my driving test, and I'm praying it doesn't happen in my bike test either. I was in the car with my younger brother the other week and stopped when a guy coming the other way started pulling out around a parked car. He then stopped in the middle of the road when he saw me so I flashed my lights to tell him to carry on (given that he was in my way anyway). And my brother (who passed his test 2 weeks before) told me off for it, at which point I said we'll have that conversation again when he's had his licence 2 years and see what works in the real world. I wasn't going to sit there waiting for the guy to realise I couldn't move anyway.

Stupid grey area...

[Prosecutor]

My only tip has to be 'stay confident' and ride confidently.

[Ibbo]

In my experience, flashing the main beam is almost never used for the reason given in the HC, ie. to indicate your presence as a warning.

It is always used either as a signal saying 'I'm giving way' or as a remonstration.

Because it is very often used as a give way signal, I would never use it for the 'correct' reason. Imagine riding along a main road with a car waiting to pull out from a near side junction. You're not sure he's seen you....do you:

1. Slow down, move to the off-side a bit more if safe and consider using the horn to warn him you are there; or

2. Flash him to let him know you're there?

If you do 2, what are the chances he will interpret it as you flashing him to come out?

[devilsdipstick]

Originally Posted by A7_UFO

In 1961, was an emergency stop the only maneuvre?

Don't be silly, you had to do hand signals as well.

[FazerPhil]

Emphasise your on bike movements, when looking in the mirrors etc. Never flag a copper, or wheelie as it is frowned upon whilst taking ones test lol. Seriously, just chill out, relax, ride safe, concentrate and enjoy it. Good luck.

[john orentas]

Originally Posted by A7_UFO

my instructor taught me to press the rear brake with 1% strength (ie token effort) and do the 99% on the front...to ensure no lock up on the rear.

In 1961, was an emergency stop the only maneuvre?

Instructors in 1961 ? We didn't have any of them..

But yes the examiner would often leap out of a shop doorway holding his clipboard above his head, the jesture that gave rise to a thousand appocrofull tales usually involving jumping out in front of the wrong bike and ambulances being summoned..

The test was no doubt easier to pass in those days but there were a few extra difficulties, I was a punney 16 year old having to maul around a (what seemed at the time to be a very big 500 Beeza), I certainly could nowhere near touch the ground with both feet at the same time and I remember the instructor bloke made me do a hill start on the steepest hill he could find, a very rough cobbled street by the side of Strangeways prison..