Shananigan

[MaybeGuy]

isnt that the best word for a title?

anyways...
ive searched for a while looking for what i would expect to have to do for my A2 test, but at the moment im scraping change together for my test.
i really cant afford lessons that teach me this, i've done my theory, its just the £60 odd for the actual test thats kind of hard
(another question, is it a LOT more to take the test on the centre CG125's?)
i found a post that talked you through the A2 from start to finish but i cant find it anymore.

what i'd like to know really is what EXACTLY i need to be able to do for my test.
as in: when to look in what circumstances, speed limits for different roads, the questions im likely to be asked etc...

basically verbal lessons!
i know its a lot to ask, but if everyone could chip in it would be awesome, and maybe help other people in the same situation as me.
anyone want to start?
____________________
Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[st3v3]

I will for 'speed zone's', it will generally be a 30 if in residential(town) area, or lit up with street lights in urban, unless marked as other speed, and there should be a speed marker indication type thingy ever few hundred yard. HTH
____________________
Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[stinkwheel]

Honest to goodness, it is worth getting at least a couple of lessons. If nothing else, the instructor will take you round the test routes.

You meet the examiner. He'll check your documents and give you the eyesight test (reading a numberplate across the carpark).
First exercise is getting the bike off its stand and getting on it.

They'll be following you on a bike or in a car and will give clear instructions for where to go such as: "At the next junction, turn left". "At the roundabout, take the second exit". "At the next available junction, turn left" (watch this one, there might be a no-entry on the nearest one).

Don't worry if you take a wrong turn, it's not a navigation test, just be safe.

At various points they will ask you to pull in to the side of the road and do some exercises such as a hill start, an angle start and an emergency stop.

Then there's the dreaded u-turn. They'll ask you to get off the bike and put it on the stand, then take it off the stand. Then they'll ask you to push the bike through a U-turn then get back on. Then they'll ask you to ride it through a U-turn.

They might ask you to do a slow ride by riding alongside the examiner at walking pace.

When you get back they'll ask you how taking a pillion would affect the handling of the bike.

I'm not sure if they do 'show me, tell me" on bike tests these days? They didn't when I did mine.

I've probably missed some set exercises there.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[repiV]

I passed my DAS on Friday, and it's the exact same test only on a bigger bike so I'll share with you what I can...

The first thing he'll do is check your eyesight. Then he will ask you a combination of two show me/tell me safety check questions. The key is in the first two words - if he says "show me", then you have to physically demonstrate what you are doing by using the bike as a prop.

Some questions he might ask you involve how to check the engine oil, brake fluid, operation of brakes, horn, engine cut-out switch (if applicable), that the lights and indicators are clean and working, how to check that tyres are roadworthy and safe to use, checking the chain, steering etc. There should be a list somewhere online and the answers you need to give.
These questions are actually really important. You'll only get a maximum of one minor mark if you answer incorrectly, but by being wrong about something so basic, you'll get his attention. And he will watch you like a hawk.
I clearly failed my test by forgetting to do a lifesaver before I turned right into a minor road (and he was right behind me), but he didn't even notice. Ok, it was a residential street and I knew that nothing was there, so he may have just given me a minor, but the point is he didn't even realise the error. Bore him and you're half way there.

The ridden portion of the test probably lasts about 25 minutes, and what they're really looking for is that you ride accurately in accordance with their system. If the road is clear and it's safe to do the speed limit, do the speed limit - no more, no less. Consistently riding at 28mph could be cause for test failure - you want to be at eg. a steady 30-31.
Get up to speed quickly, don't hesitate unnecessarily.
Always do observation - signal - maneuvre and always in that order. Always do a shoulder check before changing direction and a mirror check before changing speed. If you miss a shoulder check and he notices, you will fail.
The other thing is that you have to make your observations bloody obvious, so he can see. Nod at your mirrors, and stick your chin on your shoulder to take rear observation.
Always do these checks before pulling away also, or you will fail.
Never cut corners, always be in the correct lane for roundabouts, maintain good lane discipline etc. - basically follow the Highway Code to the letter. If you stay out of a bus lane at a time when you are permitted to use it, you will fail for bad lane discipline.

Obviously you're an experienced rider, and no doubt quite a bit better than me, but sadly being a good rider won't make you pass the test. It's silly mistakes and bad/non-politically correct habits that will make you fail the test, and they're oh-so-easy to make. The most common cause of test failure is leaving your indicators on. The second most common cause is forgetting to take rear observation before performing the U-turn.
The other guy I was doing my DAS with failed his test for causing a car to brake when he pulled onto a dual carriageway - he didn't even realise it until the debrief. He'd been riding for a year as opposed to my two weeks and was clearly a far better rider than myself. So don't do anything dumb - the test isn't fair. And if you get confused about where you're supposed to be going, don't change lanes at the last minute. Just choose a route and follow it in accordance with the system, and he'll pick it up from there. You can't fail your test for deviating from the planned route.

The special exercises he will ask you to perform are the U-turn, emergency stop, angle start and hill start (although in the case of the hill start, that may well happen in the usual course of your test). He will also ask you to pull in and pull away again between four and eight times - remember to pull in in a safe place and indicate, and turn your indicator off as soon as you've pulled in. Also, don't stop in a driveway or you'll fail (that applies to the U-turn aswell). And, of course, do your checks before you pull in and pull away.
On the U-turn he'll first ask you to push the bike in a circle, easy enough - keep good control of it and feather the brakes. If you lunge for the brakes when the camber of the road changes, you'll receive a minor for control, and if you drop or nearly drop the bike as a result, you'll fail. Just remember to leave it at the kerb and not in a driveway. Also, check that the road is clear before moving the bike and be obvious about it. Do this a few times in the course of your push.
For the U-turn, you ride it around in a half-circle - check behind you before doing it - a good, full rear check, not a shoulder check. Try resting your hand on the seat so you can turn your head right behind. Then check forward and go. Don't hesitate and then go, or you'll fail for not checking as your check is now redundant. Unless you check again, of course. And don't indicate.
For the emergency stop, he wants to see the right order - throttle off, front brake, rear brake (so make it obvious), that you stop quickly and without losing control of the bike or skidding. Squeeze the brakes and don't snatch them, also pull them in the whole way or you'll fail for performing an "emergency slow down a lot". Ride at about 26mph to make it easier for yourself. He'll then ask you to pull aside - do a mirror and shoulder check both sides, then indicate and pull in.
Don't roll back on the hill start - and don't just think of that in terms of the hill start exercise. He could choose any eventuality where you pull away on an incline as the "hill start", so be aware of that.

At the end he'll ask you a question about carrying a pillion. Keep it short and simple.

Just remember to ride in accordance with the system, relax, bore him and be professional. You should be fine. And don't start the bike before you get on it...that's a minor for control. It's bullshit, but there you go. I had to start the 125 I hired for a little while up before I got on it, because it needed to warm up first!

[LeeR]

I thoroughly recommend the "The Official DSA Guide to Learning to Ride" It's £3.04 New + P&P from the Amazon reseller paperbackshop1 www.amazon.co.uk/Official-DSA-Guide-Learning-Ride/dp/0115526455/ref=pd_bowtega_1/202-9631572-1081417?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179949163&sr=1-1

The book takes you through from start to finish, of what's expected during: CBT, Theory/HPT, and the Practical test covering every area of the Practical test, do's and dont's, tips and hints etc... I used it and it really put my mind at rest, I did a DAS in March and my instructor reckons the tests only differ in that the examiner will expect more control from a DAS candidate.
____________________
My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[BanditBitch]

This will give you some idea what to expect:


https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=27360

[MaybeGuy]

thanks!!!
thats the one i found before but couldnt find again.
____________________
Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith