Finally I got that license! Drove to the DMV with my teacher, and was the first to start the tests in a group of people. I must say I was quite nervous, even more than when I got my car license couple of years ago.
First, A maneuverability test where you drive as slow as you can through a narrow corridor painted on the ground, make a 90* degree turn, drive slalom around 6 cones and make a U-turn in an limited area around the last cone and drive back the same way
Here’s a map of the first course: http://www.minuskel.com/mc/vv_2.jpg
Second, A “high”speed course. This is about showing that you dare leaning the bike when doing a sharp turn to avoid an simulated obstacle. Also to show you can come to a controlled stop when braking from 35mph Map: http://www.minuskel.com/mc/vv_5.jpg
Third, Brake test, simply to brake effective without locking either tire, there’s no absolute limit as to where the bike as to have come to a stop, rather just showing you have control during the braking. First at 45mph and second run at 55mph.
And last, traffic! This was the easiest bit for me since I’m use to traffic. You basically drive trough all kinds of traffic, suburban, freeway, country roads and inner city traffic.
All went well and it took about 1,5hour.
However I had a small incident on the maiden voyage on my own bike later today. Somehow dirt had come in to the head brake cylinder on the front brakes. I noticed this when I was approaching a roundabout and pressing down the clutch the bike slowed down really fast as if I was really working the front brakes hard. After I stopped the brakes were so warm and had expanded so much due to the heat that I couldn’t even roll the bike. Had to sit on the side of the road for half an hour to let the brakes cool down enough to let me continue home. I’m gonna clean that brake cylinder tomorrow and change brake fluids. A sad start to my motorcycling, but I’m really just glad the front wheel didn’t lock up entirely when I was doing 60mph. Really got me to realize just how easily accidents can happen even if you’re just on a short trip home.
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