Hi,

I have recently purchased an r6 and am in the process of doing my direct access. It was just the 4 day course and i have already had 3 different instructors, i am now confused as i have been told 2 different things regarding when to do life savers. Should i be doing life savers on both sides before pulling away? and before entering a roundabout? one instructor says yes and the other says no?? Also, i when taking right turns at traffic lights do i still do a lifesaver over the right, even tho i am positioned in the in front of the island where the lights stand? Please help, i have my test tomorrow and am getting very frustrated with the school i have used!

If you are in the situation on your test where you are turning right and you have a traffic island which you'd presume was safe.. personally I'd do the life saver!. If they ask you why you bothered, you can always argue that some idiot might have been overtaking, nutter driving stolen car, etc, etc, who knows what could happen, safety is the key. There is some leeway at the end of the test where the instructor while talk to you and ask your reasoning behind certain decisions you made.

Have a look here (http://www.motorcycle-training.f2s.com/tips.html) mate.

The motorcycle test is completely different to the car from what I found. The instructors are looking obviously for safety, but when on the move, progress is a big issue during the test.

Rear observation will be a major part of your test. Make sure you know where your instructor is, as they will try and get into your blind spot at some point.

Just relax and make it safe, don't dawdle though, as you'll get minor marks for not making progress.

Do some searches on the net about your other questions, I know how I'd play them, but can't tell you as I may well be wrong, especially as you have two instructors dissagreeing!

Good luck!

Calm down mate, take a couple of deep breaths :)

I passed my direct access last week. Life savers used as follows:

-Turning left: mirrors, signal, lifesaver left, into position and turn
-Turning right: mirrors, signal, lifesaver right, into position, lifesaver right again just before turning
-Roundabouts: mirrors, signal, lifesaver before getting into position, look right, enter roundabout

Pulling away doesn't use a lifesaver but a full rear observation:
-left mirror, right mirror, signal, good rear observation, pull away

Hope this helps, main thing - relax!

Good luck.

T

I have instructed hundreds of people and agree that Tommy is right. Basically, you do a lifesaver over the shoulder relevant to your movement in the road i.e. moving left - left shoulder, moving right - right shoulder. If in doubt, give it a quick look anyway. The examiner cannot mark you down for erring on the side of caution, unless you are constantly gazing behind you.
Most importantly, do not get flustered or be too nervous as you will tend to make more mistakes. I know it is easier to say than to do but just treat it as a normal enjoyable ride.
Good luck!:)

Observation and Planning, and above all safety, is the route to passing your Test, I own a training company in the South, and know that sometimes it is hard to keep a Pupil with the same Instructor, as in this business we operate 7 days a week, so Instructors do need time off, but what we do, is have a regular meeting to ensure that we all sing from the same hymn book if you know what I mean, so if you are being given different information from different Instructors please check with the Boss or Senior Instructor, first thing to clarify what 'System' they are using.
My experience is that every Examiner wants things done his way, and an Examiner in London may have a different way of interpreting the manual to say, the Examiner here in Pompey, We dont call them the 'Different Standards Agency for nothing'!
My advice, as others have said before me is 'Lifesave' the side you are turning, prior to the turn, leave no room for anybody to get up your inside when about to turn, rear observations ie mirrorchecks, before every hazard, ie Junctions, roundabouts, crossings, traffic lights, and speed limit changes. And finally for the 'Uturn', look where you want to be, not where you are going!
Good luck and let us know how you got on!

I passed direct access last month, 4 day course and had same instructor throughout (who was excellent)..

Main Lifesavers I was told about were:

Major road turning right onto minor road, right shoulder as you pass the kerb at the junction. if you have to stop for traffic then do the life saver check as the last car passes you.

Exiting a roundabout, left lifesaver over shoulder before you change direction to leave the roundabout.

When normal riding frequently check mirrors (every 10 seconds) and when moving out to pass a parked car do a right mirror check and check your blind spot, and likewise the other side when moving back in.

When moving away from a stationary position check both mirrors remember to indicate and check your right shoulder (blind-spot).

After the emergency stop make sure you check over both shoulders before you get the bike to the kerb.

Make sure you do a right lifesaver before you pull away on the U-Turn and before you turn after you've gone a few metres.

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I was absolutly cacking myself on test day and was convinced I'd do a silly mistake under pressure and fail, luckily the examiner was a top bloke and down to earth so I just got on with it and proved that I'm a safe confident rider and managed 2 minor faults (1 was late lifesaver, the other control out of a tight Junction up a hill nearly put my foot down).
Advise for passing I was given by someone on this site was a can of Red-Bull and a Mars bar before the test.. Worked for me too!!

Anyone in the East-Kent area wanting to do their Direct Acess, I'd recommend Kent Motorcycles Training Centre at Manston. Tel:01227 832601.

Good luck, let us know how you get on...

Well, by now he'll have sat the test, but for what its worth, consider an additional lifesaver over the left shoulder when emerging on to a roundabout turning right. This allows you to spot the clown in the left lane on the approach who is going to turn right and cut you off.

This actually holds true to the advice given before about looking over the shoulder of the direction you wish to travel in; on a roundabout you go left to turn right ;)

Well?......How did you get on?

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the feedback, it is much appreciated. I passed with 2 minors, i couldnt believe it! I was convinced that i had failed when arriving back at the test centre.

Again, thanks very much!

Regards,
Chris

Nice one, 2 minors same as me..

Good luck and have fun on the R6.. :D

What is the rule on riding something like an R6 before you have your full license - ie can you use it with L plates whilst in the middle of a course? I thought you could only ride a 125 until you pass the test?

Cheers

Yes - 125cc with L plates until u pass - but u can ride a bigger bike provided u are with an instructor who is in radio contact with you.

I think - although the guys above have covered it all - that lifesavers are fairly logical. You dont do them "cause you are required to to pass your test" - you do them cause one day "they will save your life".

Therefore - as a rule of thumb - if you think about it - anytime you have to turn or move out - you do a life saver to make sure no one has moved / is about to move where you want to go.

In my 5 years of biking, i have only ever actually saved myself with a life saver - a kid on a bike decided he'd overtake me to turn right - when i was turning right as well - if i'd have not life savered - i would have run straight into him (albeit hos fault).

As it happened i saw him and was able to swerve and just kick him off his bike later down the road ;)

Just cause you have passed your test - dont think of them as "only for the test" - do them all the time.

Jza

I passed my DAS last year and its amazing.
but then Dave already knew that... ha ha

didnt see you last night mate, you both ok?
Andy

Sorry Andy, I missed that one!, been busy, busy!, havent seen you about recently, but saw Nick the Head this afternoon!

Dave