Tips for road test?

[Jarod]

I'm going to be taking my road test next week, I've been practicing a fair amount doing city riding, circles and figure 8s.
I was wondering if anyone had tips or suggestions on how not to fail?
Anything that I shouldnt do, anything I should definetly do.

I'd also like to know if theres a better way to do the circles and fig-8s, i can only seem to turn so tight, we went to a parking lot today, and I can make turns between the width of 2 parking spaces, but not with much room to spare.

Is there some better way to make low speed turns? I can't lean a whole lot since I'll start to tip, and have to put my foot down.

Any suggestions or anything you might have to help me would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

[kkim]

to go slow when turning, I drag the rear brake a bit, throttle up a bit and slip the clutch, much like you do when you are stuck on a hill with a manual transmission car.

this allows you to go slower when doing tight maneuvering.

[muffinman]

Originally Posted by kkim

to go slow when turning, I drag the rear brake a bit, throttle up a bit and slip the clutch, much like you do when you are stuck on a hill with a manual transmission car.

this allows you to go slower when doing tight maneuvering.

+1, I do the same.

Good luck!

[Snake]

Just try and remain calm and don't be nervous and you will do fine.

[CC Cowboy]

I think the registry would be pissed if you tried to tip the officer at the road test.

[g21-30]

Originally Posted by Jarod

I'm going to be taking my road test next week, I've been practicing a fair amount doing city riding, circles and figure 8s.
I was wondering if anyone had tips or suggestions on how not to fail?
Anything that I shouldnt do, anything I should definetly do.

I'd also like to know if theres a better way to do the circles and fig-8s, i can only seem to turn so tight, we went to a parking lot today, and I can make turns between the width of 2 parking spaces, but not with much room to spare.

Is there some better way to make low speed turns? I can't lean a whole lot since I'll start to tip, and have to put my foot down.

Any suggestions or anything you might have to help me would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

2 Parking lot spaces is 18 feet - that is excellent, since the minimum is 20 feet for up to 500 cc. When you do the braking test, try not to lock up either brake. If you're asked to stop with the front tire in a box, the entire tire must be in the box, i.e. imagine a perpendicular line to the ground from the front part of the front tire and the same from the rear part of the front tire. If either line is outside the box, you lose points.

Back to the u-turn, the max points off is 8, so don't sweat it. Relax and stay in the friction zone while in the box. Where you look is where you will go, so enter the box and go close to the end on the right and turn your head as far to the rear and left and you will go there. Then move to the left of the box and turn to the rear and right and you will exit the box.

And dragging the rear brake while giving a little gas in the friction zone will make the bike stand right up. So, if you want to put your foot down, touch the rear brake lightly and a little throttle and bingo, you won't put that foot down.

Here is Virginia's test layout, which conforms to the Alternate M.O.S.T. given by 29 states:

http://www.virginia-motorcycle.com/dmv34.pdf