On waking up on my big bike practical test day the first thing I did was look out of the window….oh no no no, how could this possibly be happening…..it was raining, not particularly hard but enough to make the roads a little slippier for us novices and for me to quake a little more in my snug fitting BMW boots. I had decided to have a one hour lesson prior to the test just to get myself warmed up for the big event although I am not sure this was a wise move as my practice U turns started to go to pot. First it was the leg down a few times and then I began to venture on to the pavement with alarming certainty much to the amusement of a few locals in Hartlepool who ventured out of their terraced houses to watch the fat bloke on a bike. However, I managed to nail a few therefore I decided a few emergency stops would not come amiss. Although the rain resulted in me yanking the front brake like a puff’s handshake I headed to the test centre with an air of confidence.
It started easy enough with my demonstration that the horn worked and explaining to the examiner how to check the oil level. Fortunately I was blessed with a good memory therefore repeating word for word what I had read the night before was no problem. But just to make sure you all understand that I am not totally thick I could have actually answered the above questions without revising. So off we set, weaving and turning down the little side streets of the town centre. No major problems here until I reached the first set of traffic lights. To my surprise they were not red, green or yellow (cant remember reading about that scenario I thought). It later turned out that most of the lights in the town were down for a short while due to some fault. I was later congratulated for being positive and not aggressive at these lights although eyes closed and trusting to luck may have been a more appropriate description. It was then onto the U turn and emergency stop which both went smoothly. One of my faults has always been not getting close enough to the kerb when pulling up at a junction to turn left. This was highlighted to me on the test by the examiner who, at one particular junction, pulled up on the inside right next to me. What do I do now I thought…...should I let him go….should I just cut across him…..yes I will do that otherwise he will be in front of me. The rest of the test went ok although I admit to indicating far too early approaching one roundabout, when I say too early I actually mean about half a mile away. In a flash it was all over and we were back at the test centre. A couple of pillion questions and I was told to go and wait inside.
With my helmet still attached I could hardly hear what he said to me as he entered the room but as he proceeded to fill out a certificate with the word ‘passed’ on it I realised my quest to become a biker was fulfilled. Yippee Yippee Yippee.
As you probably all know by now my first bike is a 03 GS Adventure (the fast silvery coloured version no less) purchased a few weeks back. On arriving home I decided to take it out for the fourth time (sorry I meant to say first time). All I can say is what a big grin it puts on my face although by now I can understand why people occasionally fall of motorbikes. I have nothing to compare it with but it certainly does it for me.
I have a boat load of questions I want to ask about the GSA, and indeed biking in general, so the next instalment will include several newbie type queries which no doubt you will all laugh at.
The wife has even requested a ride on the back next weekend…always thought common sense was not her strong point.
Richard
It started easy enough with my demonstration that the horn worked and explaining to the examiner how to check the oil level. Fortunately I was blessed with a good memory therefore repeating word for word what I had read the night before was no problem. But just to make sure you all understand that I am not totally thick I could have actually answered the above questions without revising. So off we set, weaving and turning down the little side streets of the town centre. No major problems here until I reached the first set of traffic lights. To my surprise they were not red, green or yellow (cant remember reading about that scenario I thought). It later turned out that most of the lights in the town were down for a short while due to some fault. I was later congratulated for being positive and not aggressive at these lights although eyes closed and trusting to luck may have been a more appropriate description. It was then onto the U turn and emergency stop which both went smoothly. One of my faults has always been not getting close enough to the kerb when pulling up at a junction to turn left. This was highlighted to me on the test by the examiner who, at one particular junction, pulled up on the inside right next to me. What do I do now I thought…...should I let him go….should I just cut across him…..yes I will do that otherwise he will be in front of me. The rest of the test went ok although I admit to indicating far too early approaching one roundabout, when I say too early I actually mean about half a mile away. In a flash it was all over and we were back at the test centre. A couple of pillion questions and I was told to go and wait inside.
With my helmet still attached I could hardly hear what he said to me as he entered the room but as he proceeded to fill out a certificate with the word ‘passed’ on it I realised my quest to become a biker was fulfilled. Yippee Yippee Yippee.
As you probably all know by now my first bike is a 03 GS Adventure (the fast silvery coloured version no less) purchased a few weeks back. On arriving home I decided to take it out for the fourth time (sorry I meant to say first time). All I can say is what a big grin it puts on my face although by now I can understand why people occasionally fall of motorbikes. I have nothing to compare it with but it certainly does it for me.
I have a boat load of questions I want to ask about the GSA, and indeed biking in general, so the next instalment will include several newbie type queries which no doubt you will all laugh at.
The wife has even requested a ride on the back next weekend…always thought common sense was not her strong point.
Richard
)......the Adv is by far the best pillion carrying machine in the world IMO (though some moan about comfort)...handling once moving isn't changed that much although you'll feel the difference in corners a little....she'll dip in quicker and you'll find your lines different through them.
, I remember passing my test a ew years back, it's a great feeling, now go out and enjoy.
