Motorcycle Licence Lessons,

koeksGHT said:
Found motorbike more difficult than car(did on a 660 lol), the emergency stop and swerving to lights takes some practice.
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I find it easier because there's no bull**** outside the yard etc.

You either can or you can't do it.

TW200 is the bike of choice.
 
koeksGHT said:
Found motorbike more difficult than car(did on a 660 lol), the emergency stop and swerving to lights takes some practice.
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Agreed. The motorcycle tests was harder than the car. Might've been because I did the motorcycle test first though.
 
My opinion is that you have a better bet getting your own bike, and having a biker friend or someone take you for some lessons. In that way, you get the feel of your own bike, while getting lessons on control and balance and so forth. Sure, they might then teach you all the wrong things, according to the K53 method, but they'll teach you how to survive on the streets, which I feel it's more important.

Also remember that K53, whether in a car or on 2 wheels, is more a guide as to what to do, and how to do it than actual gospel as some instructors might tell you. Even freshly passed out drivers soon forget 90% of the K53 lessons when they really start blending in with road traffic.

In my case, I'm riding for a month and a half, I basically taught myself how to ride a bike, and manage traffic. From watching countless Youtube videos, and actually taking note of what they were saying, I was able to within days begin riding in peak hour traffic and being comfortable on the road. All this with my own bike, so pressure was on not to drop or crash the bike. Now I know not everyone will be as mad as I am to do it that way, but I thought I'm going to be my best teacher, I best learn my own style from the beginning, and with the help from friends, work my way around the challenge. Some might find going to a riding school the best option, but that's perfectly acceptable. I'll give myself another month or so on the roads before I book for my drivers test and get info on K53 classes.

You said your mom gave you the ultimatum to do lessons in order to get a bike, well, then best shop around for lessons. I'm not too clued up in the Gauteng region on that, I'm from the flat mountain crew. There must be places that's under R1000 for beginners classes, including the bike hire for the session. Here in Cape Town, there's a guy that charges R600 for a 5 hour course on beginners, including bike and helmet hire. So shop around, make phone calls, check the Think Bike website, there might be info there too.
 
@SauRoNZA

No, I was talking about the days you need to get a pass for the certificate at the beginners class, before even taking the learners test.

Such beginner's certificate at some "bike school" proves to be meaningless in the first place, they even spelled my name wrong. *facepalm*

But thanks for your note.

I got my own bike in the meantime.

And passed my Learner's Licence without paying R 2000.00 for some "biker academy" to get same.

You can apparently pass the electronic test first time around, if you study hard enough and work through K53 computerized generated tests.

My problem now is, TIME to practice, I come home from work, then it is almost sundown...
 
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TwistedAngel said:
@SauRoNZA

No, I was talking about the days you need to get a pass at the beginners class, before even taking the learners test.

But thanks for your note.

I got my own bike in the meantime.

And passed my Learner's Licence without paying R 2000.00 for some "biker academy" to get same.

You can apparently pass the electronic test first time around, if you study hard enough and work through K53 computerized generated tests.

My problem now is, TIME to practice, I come home from work, then it is almost sundown...
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Why on earth would you pay someone to get your learners?

You buy the book, read it and to write the exam.

I advocate people do a beginner "on bike" course to make sure it's for them.

Normally less than a grand and infinitely cheaper than buying a bike and gear and getting license only to realise you don't like it.

That's if you don't crash of course.
 
memphis32 said:
My opinion is that you have a better bet getting your own bike, and having a biker friend or someone take you for some lessons. In that way, you get the feel of your own bike, while getting lessons on control and balance and so forth. Sure, they might then teach you all the wrong things, according to the K53 method, but they'll teach you how to survive on the streets, which I feel it's more important.

Also remember that K53, whether in a car or on 2 wheels, is more a guide as to what to do, and how to do it than actual gospel as some instructors might tell you. Even freshly passed out drivers soon forget 90% of the K53 lessons when they really start blending in with road traffic.

In my case, I'm riding for a month and a half, I basically taught myself how to ride a bike, and manage traffic. From watching countless Youtube videos, and actually taking note of what they were saying, I was able to within days begin riding in peak hour traffic and being comfortable on the road. All this with my own bike, so pressure was on not to drop or crash the bike. Now I know not everyone will be as mad as I am to do it that way, but I thought I'm going to be my best teacher, I best learn my own style from the beginning, and with the help from friends, work my way around the challenge. Some might find going to a riding school the best option, but that's perfectly acceptable. I'll give myself another month or so on the roads before I book for my drivers test and get info on K53 classes.

You said your mom gave you the ultimatum to do lessons in order to get a bike, well, then best shop around for lessons. I'm not too clued up in the Gauteng region on that, I'm from the flat mountain crew. There must be places that's under R1000 for beginners classes, including the bike hire for the session. Here in Cape Town, there's a guy that charges R600 for a 5 hour course on beginners, including bike and helmet hire. So shop around, make phone calls, check the Think Bike website, there might be info there too.
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Hi, yes I am fortunate to have such a "biker" friend.

Thank you for your notes.

I am thinking to go to the "biker school" closest to me, I am thinking going to a training school with an actual track where they train people like professionals, and don't merely hand out a piece of paper (certificates) as an ego boost or proof of value for your money invested.

This bike story has become quite a journey.

Now I just need to make time to bond with my bike.

I am still scared to go out on the open road, or to go to work with the Bike or take on traffic with little practice and/or training.
 
Oh I see now you had a terrible training experience.

Sucks. Down here it's quite cheap and also quite casual.

If you weren't in Jo'burg and since you now have your own bike I would have happily offered to give you some lessons.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Why on earth would you pay someone to get your learners?

You buy the book, read it and to write the exam.

I advocate people do a beginner "on bike" course to make sure it's for them.

Normally less than a grand and infinitely cheaper than buying a bike and gear and getting license only to realise you don't like it.

That's if you don't crash of course.
Click to expand...

The place I did my "beginner's course" at flat out said it in my face that I will never pass the learner's test on the computer and they cannot help me or provide me with study material unless I pay them R 2000.00.

Way to get the Biker flame going -- starting with something that felt like a scam.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Why on earth would you pay someone to get your learners?

You buy the book, read it and to write the exam.

I advocate people do a beginner "on bike" course to make sure it's for them.

Normally less than a grand and infinitely cheaper than buying a bike and gear and getting license only to realise you don't like it.

That's if you don't crash of course.
Click to expand...

The place I did my "beginner's course" at flat out said it in my face that I will never pass the learner's test on the computer and they cannot help me or provide me with study material unless I pay them R 2000.00.

Way to get the Biker flame going -- starting with something that felt like a scam.
 
TwistedAngel said:
The place I did my "beginner's course" at flat out said it in my face that I will never pass the learner's test on the computer and they cannot help me or provide me with study material unless I pay them R 2000.00.

Way to get the Biker flame going -- starting with something that felt like a scam.
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Yeah that is terrible.

It's just theory. R100 for the book and one night of proper studying and you'll have it (as you do already).

I got 100% on mine both times.

Whole point of a beginners course in my mind has nothing to do with a learners and all about messing around with the bike for a few hours.
 
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SauRoNZA said:
Yeah that is terrible.

It's just theory. R100 for the book and one night of proper studying and you'll have it (as you do already).

I got 100% on mine both times.

Whole point of a beginners course in my mind has nothing to do with a learners and all about messing around with the bike for a few hours.
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Yes I feel that more "messing around" was taught than anything else.

Now I will beginner's course myself again this weekend, on my own time, with my "biker" friend.

I only have to pay him fuel, he is happy with R 100.00 a ride.

LOL:)
 
TwistedAngel said:
Yes I feel that more "messing around" was taught than anything else.

Now I will beginner's course myself again this weekend, on my own time, with my "biker" friend.

I only have to pay him fuel, he is happy with R 100.00 a ride.

LOL:)
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Well messing around is how you learn, but not for R2000.

Down here it used to be R500 for 5 hours probably a bit more.

Basically a "here's a bike learn to ride it at your own pace with some tuition" course.

It's to see if you want to take it further or not. Not meant to prepare you for the road or a license. Those need a sit down and a smack or two once you can ride.

If I could see it making enough money I would start a riding school.
 
TwistedAngel said:
My problem now is, TIME to practice, I come home from work, then it is almost sundown...
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Commute to work? Before you get on the bike remind yourself that your are the squishiest thing on the road today, cars will piss you off and that you are ok with it. Then leave the ego at home and hit the road.

If you have no experience at all - pick n pay parking lot after hours for a day or two.

Will advise you to go to a bike training academy/school before you go for your real license, preferably one with a replica testing ground. There are many many small things you'll never know that the traffic officer will deduct points for (just for one or two lessons).

I got my A1 when I was 17 back in 2003, need to go through the whole learners + real license schlep again myself and I'll most likely go to the training school myself.
 
Just posted a similar thread about using my R6 to do the test on, it has integrated tail lights and flush mount indicators. Do you guys think that'll be a problem?
I also for the life of me can't find anywhere that offers some basic licence prep classes. I stay in Pietermaritzburg so that may be my problem. I really just want a yard with the correct markings on so I can practice this slow speed maneuvering and get an idea how confined the test yard is going to be.
I have a sneaking suspicion that chugging 2nd gear on an R6 at 25kph is going to be a bit tricky.

Any thoughts? Bro tips?
 
Well, IIRC, you're going to need to get that R6 into 3rd gear for the emergency stop procedure.
 
Hamster said:
Well, IIRC, you're going to need to get that R6 into 3rd gear for the emergency stop procedure.
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Most of the test involved getting into third gear so a 250 makes it a hell of a lot easier.
 
Blu82 said:
Most of the test involved getting into third gear so a 250 makes it a hell of a lot easier.
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250 duel sport (e.g. XT250) or something upright with thinnish wheels.

...would love to see a guy attempt it in a 1400 cruiser :D
 
I've got the actual instructors manual on my pc for the license test. They only mention going to a higher gear, and you can be penalized for going too fast. They also mention allowing the student to negotiate the turns at a speed they comfortable with, but not too slow....

When I read that manual for the first time, it seems they just wanna make sure you can balance the bike during normal driving, and he able to stop
 
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