MC. Skills test for license on Chinese dual sport ?

China Rider 27 · 02-28-2021, 06:30 PM

In my state you can go on line and see the actual tests. If you can do that, I would get some cheap cones off amazon, set up the tests and practice the actual tests. It will help when under pressure. I agree with Franque though a good course lowers insurance and you will learn something. I took one we practiced the test for 1 and half days, then took it, even then some failed.

Bill Hilly · 02-28-2021, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by China Rider 27

In my state you can go on line and see the actual tests. If you can do that, I would get some cheap cones off amazon, set up the tests and practice the actual tests. It will help when under pressure. I agree with Franque though a good course lowers insurance and you will learn something. I took one we practiced the test for 1 and half days, then took it, even then some failed.

The course here in West Virginia cost $100, and is 17 hrs long, from what I have gathered, so I don't know how many days they divide it into. I live about halfway between Parkersburg, and Charleston, both cities offer the course at certain times. I would much rather take the course in Parkersburg than South Charleston. I64 can be a nightmare certain times a day on that stretch of 64. I will hold off on getting my 90 day permit until I register the bike in about a month if all goes well, and maybe I will feel more confident. I have been riding up the road to were some storage units are in a gravel lot just right off the road, and I go down one aisle , and up the other to turn. I have to put a foot down to make the turn between aisles. I can tell that is an area I need to practice on.

zero_dgz · 02-28-2021, 08:01 PM

Taking and passing the parking lot based "skills" (snerk) test on any of the Chinese dual sports should be easy. They're low powered and quite lightweight, so should be easy enough and confidence inspiring to sling around at low speed. Mine certainly is. I would ensure that all of your controls are in proper operating condition first, i.e. clutch cable is adjusted, not a bunch of slack in the throttle, etc. so you're not fighting with the machine the whole way.

Re: the scooter idea. I'm not a huge fan of the idea of taking the easy way out and using a little scooter, or even a markedly smaller bike than your daily ride, just for the test. If you don't have the skills to get an already small actual motorcycle through what passes for the exam, I would argue that you probably should have some more seat time anyway before being handed your full license. (FWIW, my state actually does not allow you to "cheat" by showing up with a twist-and-go scooter for the test. No word on what happens if you turn up with a Honda DCT, or something.) If you run into a situation out in the real world where you have to dodge an obstacle in the road or stop in a hurry it's no sense having your only experience being on a 50cc scoot and not the bike you'll actually be riding. You can't pause the world, go switch bikes, and then resume handling your emergency stop or whatever it is.

Anyway, my Bashan Enforcer is so light that I can basically treat it like a trials bike. Your mileage may vary based on how big and tall you are... Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I can ride it around feet on the pegs at idle, and stand up on the pegs balancing it at a complete stop indefinitely. Or at least until I got bored.

Some perspective: I took my parking lot exam on a KLR650 and passed with no trouble. If I even owned my Bashan at that point in time, I probably could have passed with my eyes closed.

China Rider 27 · 02-28-2021, 08:57 PM

When I did the course, they provided the bikes and I didn't have the HAWK together yet. Most of the bikes were Cruisers Suzuki 250 probably 30 inch seat height. Beat to death dropped weekly. I passed the test with one after practicing during the course. I will say I believe they are much easier to test on I think than the HAWK or similar. They are much better at slow speed maneuverability and that is the key to testing. The HAWK is a dirt bike with a high rake and high front end, maybe higher center of gravity, that does not lend itself well to slow speed turns. Can you pass the test on one, absolutely. They key is practice, the right kind, right before the test, the actual test if at all possible.

I taught my girlfriend to ride from scratch on a Honda Grom clone. She was going to take the course on it to pass the test. Night before the test I ran a drill bit into my hand and I could not load it up. She went to the two day course and was given a Suzuki 250 and she passed. She knew the test, she had shown she could pass the test with the Hellcat, all she had to do was learn the bike.

Megadan · 02-28-2021, 09:01 PM

I work part time in the summer as a skills test administrator for the safety council motorcycle training course in my state, just as a qualification of my experience.

Most of these dual sports would be ok for doing the test on. However, they also have some drawbacks to them. If you can't flat foot, you are at a disadvantage. Their high seat position also makes them very top heavy with a rider, so shifting your weight around can be a little more tricky for certain maneuvers. As previously stated off road knobby tires can make things a bit more tricky.

The best thing you can do was already mentioned. All of the tests are listed online. Look them up, and then practice them. The U-turn test, corner brake, "cone dodge" (low speed weave) and obstacle avoidance tests are the ones that catch most people out.

Some empty cans or other cone substitute and a parking lot are all you need.

02-28-2021, 09:01 PM	#5
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 8,030	I work part time in the summer as a skills test administrator for the safety council motorcycle training course in my state, just as a qualification of my experience. Most of these dual sports would be ok for doing the test on. However, they also have some drawbacks to them. If you can't flat foot, you are at a disadvantage. Their high seat position also makes them very top heavy with a rider, so shifting your weight around can be a little more tricky for certain maneuvers. As previously stated off road knobby tires can make things a bit more tricky. The best thing you can do was already mentioned. All of the tests are listed online. Look them up, and then practice them. The U-turn test, corner brake, "cone dodge" (low speed weave) and obstacle avoidance tests are the ones that catch most people out. Some empty cans or other cone substitute and a parking lot are all you need. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
	2

02-28-2021, 06:30 PM	#1
China Rider 27 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: PNW Posts: 982	In my state you can go on line and see the actual tests. If you can do that, I would get some cheap cones off amazon, set up the tests and practice the actual tests. It will help when under pressure. I agree with Franque though a good course lowers insurance and you will learn something. I took one we practiced the test for 1 and half days, then took it, even then some failed.
	1

02-28-2021, 08:01 PM	#3
zero_dgz Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 254	Taking and passing the parking lot based "skills" (snerk) test on any of the Chinese dual sports should be easy. They're low powered and quite lightweight, so should be easy enough and confidence inspiring to sling around at low speed. Mine certainly is. I would ensure that all of your controls are in proper operating condition first, i.e. clutch cable is adjusted, not a bunch of slack in the throttle, etc. so you're not fighting with the machine the whole way. Re: the scooter idea. I'm not a huge fan of the idea of taking the easy way out and using a little scooter, or even a markedly smaller bike than your daily ride, just for the test. If you don't have the skills to get an already small actual motorcycle through what passes for the exam, I would argue that you probably should have some more seat time anyway before being handed your full license. (FWIW, my state actually does not allow you to "cheat" by showing up with a twist-and-go scooter for the test. No word on what happens if you turn up with a Honda DCT, or something.) If you run into a situation out in the real world where you have to dodge an obstacle in the road or stop in a hurry it's no sense having your only experience being on a 50cc scoot and not the bike you'll actually be riding. You can't pause the world, go switch bikes, and then resume handling your emergency stop or whatever it is. Anyway, my Bashan Enforcer is so light that I can basically treat it like a trials bike. Your mileage may vary based on how big and tall you are... Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I can ride it around feet on the pegs at idle, and stand up on the pegs balancing it at a complete stop indefinitely. Or at least until I got bored. Some perspective: I took my parking lot exam on a KLR650 and passed with no trouble. If I even owned my Bashan at that point in time, I probably could have passed with my eyes closed.
	1

02-28-2021, 08:57 PM	#4
China Rider 27 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: PNW Posts: 982	When I did the course, they provided the bikes and I didn't have the HAWK together yet. Most of the bikes were Cruisers Suzuki 250 probably 30 inch seat height. Beat to death dropped weekly. I passed the test with one after practicing during the course. I will say I believe they are much easier to test on I think than the HAWK or similar. They are much better at slow speed maneuverability and that is the key to testing. The HAWK is a dirt bike with a high rake and high front end, maybe higher center of gravity, that does not lend itself well to slow speed turns. Can you pass the test on one, absolutely. They key is practice, the right kind, right before the test, the actual test if at all possible. I taught my girlfriend to ride from scratch on a Honda Grom clone. She was going to take the course on it to pass the test. Night before the test I ran a drill bit into my hand and I could not load it up. She went to the two day course and was given a Suzuki 250 and she passed. She knew the test, she had shown she could pass the test with the Hellcat, all she had to do was learn the bike.
	1