[SafetyFirst]

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I’m taking my state on-cycle test.

Run one is a left turn in a box, that I am pretty good with… I just need to remember towards the end to push down on the handlebar or else I go too high on the exit.

Part two is the offset cone weave, steep turn, then a U turn in a box. This is the part I really have had the most trouble with.

Part three is a hot-as-hell start followed by braking. I should be fine, as long as I don’t wuss out on speed, and don’t hit the throttle when braking. (I thought I broke that habit, but it keeps reappearing.)

Part four is the swerve, but from what I remember from BRC, I never had problems with that. I forgot to practice it!

Over the past few days, and the past day in particular, I’ve spent more time on the range than is probably healthy.

My butt is sore, and I had to cut it off because I was so tired, the ride back was even a chore. Well, it wouldn’t have been so bad if my butt wasn’t so tired.

The only part I need to really watch is not oversteering. When I turn all the way, I get the front locked, and a foot needs to go down to stop from dropping.

It hasn’t been in vain, though. I’m finding low-speed turns on the road are quite better now.

[Munch]

Good luck!!!! first and foremost… RELAX!!!!
oh yea and those full lock turns ….. practice them and keep reminding yourself to use the friction zone with rear braking …it will help “stabilize” the bike better.

[Capt Crash]

Just take a breath before you start each run. Cleansing breath….out with the bad, in with the good…

[Candice]

Good luck, sounds like you will do a good job based on your sore BUTT! Practice makes perfect you know!

[bigguybbr]

But here in the magical, tropical paradise that is Conecticut, it’s a fact that you can duck walk your bike through the center of the double u turn blue box , not even making the slightest attempt, and you can still pass your riding test.

Just a few tips that helped me.

For the U turns – over exaggerate your head turns. If you are looking over your shoulder behind you, the bike will follow where you are looking. It makes all the difference in the world.

For the Cone Weave – Just watch the Crash video a few times. It helps a ton. Keep your head up and look where you are going a few cones ahead at least, not where you are. Feather the clutch to keep your speed. My MSF instructor would tell us “There is nothing on the ground that will help you get around these cones, so don’t look down!” And he was right. After a little practice this was my favorite drill. I still have fun throwing my sport bike through the offset cones.

Quick Stop – Again keep your head up, don’t look down at the line. Squeeeeeeeeezzzzeee both brakes and remember to down shift at the same time.

Swerve – I always just though “PUSH – PUSH – GO” Let the bike move under you rather than trying to lean with it and don’t break before.

So if you already have a bike, enter an empty lot and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!! It’s quite a bit of fun after a while, and I do enjoy showing up my friends who have ridden for years that I can school them on the practice course

[SafetyFirst]

I tried to get as much sleep last night as I could. Hard to do when it’s your day off any you’re used to working 3rd shift. I’m sure I got at least a full 10 hours.

Started out about a half-hour before the test time, practising on the BRC range in the parking lot of the vocational school about a block away from the BMV, to warm up. Very helpful!

Passed with ZERO deductions.

It all seemed like a dream. I was last in the group, so the fear of being watched was gone.

The left turn in a box went flawless, and the stop in a box was fine. He emphasised that he didn’t want any skidding, no problem.

Everything went perfect. Not a single cone missed on the weave! Wow! The U-turn in a box was fine.

The scorer actually said he was a little worried that I was going too fast for the emergency braking section, but my distance was good and I didn’t drop. So much for worrying about going too slow. The guy on the CBR600 in the group actually had to re-do it because he went too slow. *snickers* So much for displacement, huh? Still, very sweet bike.. a graphite color with special edition ‘urban’ graphics. If there’s one thing I’ve practised quite hard over and over, it’s emergency braking.

The swerve was a piece of cake. The scorer told me to go slower this time. No problem, I have a firm handle on swerving. I had to swerve around what looked like a broken clock radio in the middle of the road going 45 MPH the other day, so a ~12 MPH swerve on a clean parking lot is nothin’.

New license was issued with a new picture of me with helmet hair. Works for me!

First off, I have to give props to Capt’n Crash. Your videos are supurb. I’m sure many a life and bike will be saved from your Youtubes. Also thanks to all of you guys and gals on here for your advice and suggestions.

For all the newbs reading this, get into BRC if you at all can. If there is online scheduling, keep checking daily… or more often. Someone might drop the course, and you could get lucky. If you don’t pass on the first try, keep at it! I never sat on a motorcycle, let alone ever rode one before, and there was a lot of material to cover in a few hours on the range. Even with my full license, I’m still retaking BRC. Unless you can ride like Crash does (thinks of non-stop figure 8 in a box), there’s still skills to sharpen up on.

And last but not least, props to Kawasaki for making such a sweet beginner’s bike — the Ninja 250. I’d recommend it to anyone starting to ride.

[owlie]

Congratulations! Glad to hear that all of the practice paid off.

[Author]

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