The "I got my R class thread"

[polonY]

Good work. Mods, do you reckon we could get this thread stickied? It was hard to find when I got my licence, but having it easy to find would stop all the individual threads popping up, and the 250 version of this thread is stickied so it would make sense

?

[Towly77]

Got my R class on monday, dropped the indtructors bike in the hour before my test, didn't exactly instill much confidence... But still passed.

[Bealz]

Congrats man, I passed a week ago. Have you got a bigger bike yet?

[Decoy]

passed my R class this morning big thanks to Steve from Sixth Sense - good gear, good bike, good tuition

and thanks to my shadows Stephan, Rao, Milesiles, Buellord, Cappa, Aerobat

[MMiikkee]

passed my R class this morning big thanks to Steve from Sixth Sense - good gear, good bike, good tuition

and thanks to my shadows Stephan, Rao, Milesiles, Buellord, Cappa, Aerobat

Congrats Dave!

[SOLID]

do you reckon we could get this thread stickied? It was hard to find when I got my licence, but having it easy to find would stop all the individual threads popping up, and the 250 version of this thread is stickied so it would make sense

^^ +1

[Bowlen]

I have my test coming up in just under 3 weeks...eek

[Pascal]

Ya-bloody-marvellous-hooooo!



I finally got my R class at Morley today. Thank every known deity for that.

It was a challenging and arduous journey for this grasshopper, over 2.5 months and 3 failed tests in the making. Never has something so easy been so hard to do.

But I finally have it. You guys who passed the first time have no idea just how happy and relieved I am right now. I can finally ride my beautiful STR whenever and wherever I want to. Free at last!!!

Thanks to the guys who generously offered their time to be my shadows, and many thanks to Spock, the instructor who prepared me for the final test.

If anyone wants tips on what not to do, I'm more than happy to share my journey through R-class testing hell with you.

[Spock]

Congrats Pascal! It was truly a case of 'nothing worthwhile comes easy'. Glad I could be of assistance.

[Stoneville]

Congrats Pascal a deserved Win

[Pascal]

Thanks Stonie and Spock.

Too right. I feel like I've just won the lottery!

What I've found interesting is the difference in my riding before I started trying to get the T Class to after this final test.

I just rode into work and I feel significantly more conscious of what is going on around me in the traffic, and a lot less passive and lazy about positioning. In other words, I had to try so hard to pass this test, that I've picked up a lot of new roadcraft skills I didn't have before. Which, in many ways, is a bigger prize than getting the license itself.

Lastly - w00000000000000000t!

[Deano]

If anyone wants tips on what not to do, I'm more than happy to share my journey through R-class testing hell with you.

I've got my test in Morley in 37 days, 20 hours and counting hehe, but for an unknown reason nervous as shite! I passed my RE with no issues, but are they more attentive to certain things on your R because you already have RE??? Any tips, highly appreciated! Oh, and already got a 01 CBR Rossi-bike - my currently loved but unloved pride & joy.

[Pascal]

Any tips, highly appreciated!

Of course. Here goes...

My top tip is a broad one - rather be over-prepared than under-prepared. I was pretty cocky for the first two tests, thinking that as I'd been riding daily for over a year, and had ridden bikes for years before that, that I'd cruise it. But I didn't. What I did do was make really made dumb mistakes that cost me those tests. Get an instructor who's been recommended to you to give you a good assessment. They'll point out all your weaknesses, and then you can work on them well before the test.

Now, more specific things

- Get your slow speed manoeuvring, i.e. o-turns, well sorted out, especially if you're doing it on your own bike. I really struggled with this, and because I didn't practice them enough on my bike, it cost me my third test. Again, at the time I thought I could do them 'well enough', but add nerves into the mix on the day and suddenly I lost all co-ordination and confidence. So, to pass my last test, I practiced these till I had no doubt that I could do them. Come test time, I had no worries at all. (If you're doing your test at Morley or Joondalup, make sure you practice your o-turns on an incline too.)

- Make very sure that you not only use your indicators at all the right times, but also that you don't forget to disengage them promptly. I failed my, otherwise very clean, first test simply by leaving an indicator on for too long. I was doing a hill start that was a few metres away from a side street. Unfortunately, I was concentrating so hard on getting the hill start perfect and looking at the truck that was blocking the intersection I was heading for, that I forgot to switch off the signal before I passed the side street. Instant fail! So make triply sure that you use indicators and switch them off.

- Get your head swivelling like a barn owl for your headchecks. I got disqualified in my second test because the assessor didn't think I was looking enough. I still disagree with that judgement, but the point is that because I didn't make emphatic, exaggerated head swivels, he couldn't tell whether or not I was headchecking or looking in my mirrors. And he opted to fail me instead, which was a shitty move I thought, but entirely his prerogative. Also, if you have a solid black helmet, like I do, then do your self a big favour and put some bright stickers on the sides of it, so that the assessor will have a better visual reference for when your head moves.

- Road positioning is another big one to work on, and you definitely need an instructor to help you with this. I can't really go into detail about positioning here, but from a long-term survival POV, is definitely worthwhile getting a proper refresher.

- Even if you think you're really good, I'd highly recommend getting a good instructor and doing at least 3 or more lessons with them before the test. And space out the lessons so that you can practice what you've learnt between them. I learnt more from independent instructors than from the larger bike school guys. I found the bike school guys to work according to a rigid formula, whereas the independent guys I tried were more attentive to my particular set of issues and more able to take my riding to the next level. Having said that, I passed my RE with flying colours on a first attempt with a bigger school. If you'd like specific recommendations, PM me and I'll give you names.

I passed my RE with no issues, but are they more attentive to certain things on your R because you already have RE?

I think they judge you to a higher standard as you've had a least a year to practice all this stuff.

Having said all the above, it is still a very easy test, if you get it all right. It's not rocket science by any means. Unfortunately, as I found out, it's also really easy to screw up if you haven't done your homework.

Also, remember that any lessons you take will always be an asset, so rather take too many than too few. Although it cost me a small fortune in lessons and bookings to get my licence, I don't regret taking any of them as I'm a much better rider now than if I had remembered to disengage the indicator and passed that first test.

Best of luck with your test, and feel free to ping me for any more questions.

[Pascal]

Any tips, highly appreciated!

Of course. Here goes...

My top tip is a broad one - rather be over-prepared than under-prepared. I was pretty cocky for the first two tests, thinking that as I'd been riding daily for over a year, and had ridden bikes for years before that, that I'd cruise it. But I didn't. What I did do was make really made dumb mistakes that cost me those tests. Get an instructor who's been recommended to you to give you a good assessment. They'll point out all your weaknesses, and then you can work on them well before the test.

Now, more specific things

- Get your slow speed manoeuvring, i.e. o-turns, well sorted out, especially if you're doing it on your own bike. I really struggled with this, and because I didn't practice them enough on my bike, it cost me my third test. Again, at the time I thought I could do them 'well enough', but add nerves into the mix on the day and suddenly I lost all co-ordination and confidence. So, to pass my last test, I practiced these till I had no doubt that I could do them. Come test time, I had no worries at all. (If you're doing your test at Morley or Joondalup, make sure you practice your o-turns on an incline too.)

- Make very sure that you not only use your indicators at all the right times, but also that you don't forget to disengage them promptly. I failed my, otherwise very clean, first test simply by leaving an indicator on for too long. I was doing a hill start that was a few metres away from a side street. Unfortunately, I was concentrating so hard on getting the hill start perfect and looking at the truck that was blocking the intersection I was heading for, that I forgot to switch off the signal before I passed the side street. Instant fail! So make triply sure that you use indicators and switch them off.

- Get your head swivelling like a barn owl for your headchecks. I got disqualified in my second test because the assessor didn't think I was looking enough. I still disagree with that judgement, but the point is that because I didn't make emphatic, exaggerated head swivels, he couldn't tell whether I was or not. And he opted to fail me instead, which was a shitty move I thought, but entirely his prerogative. Also, if you have a solid black helmet, like I do, then do your self a big favour and put some bright stickers on the sides of it, so that the assessor will have a better visual reference for when your head moves.

- Road positioning is another big one to work on, and you definitely need an instructor to help you with this. I can't really go into detail about positioning here, but from a long-term survival POV, is definitely worthwhile get an proper refresher on.

- Even if you think you're really good, I'd highly recommend getting a good instructor and doing at least 3 or more lessons with them before the test. And space out the lessons so that you can practice what you've learnt between them. I learnt more from independent instructors than from the larger bike school guys. I found the bike school guys to work according to a rigid formula, whereas the independent guys I tried was more attentive to my particular set of issues and more able to take my riding to the next level. Having said that, I passed my RE with flying colours on a first attempt with a bigger school. If you'd like specific recommendations, PM me and I'll give you names.

I passed my RE with no issues, but are they more attentive to certain things on your R because you already have RE?

I think they judge you to a higher standard as you've had a least a year to practice all this stuff.

Having said all the above, it is still a very easy test, if you get it all right. It's not rocket science by any means. Unfortunately, as I found out, it's also really easy to screw up if you haven't done your homework.

Also, remember that any lessons you take will always be an asset, so rather take too many than too few. Although it cost me a small fortune in lessons and bookings to get my licence, I don't regret taking any of them as I'm a much better rider now than if I had remembered to disengage the indicator and passed that first test.

Best of luck with your test, and feel free to ping me for any more questions.

[darkfibre]

I don't go with this judged to a higher standard for the R class theory.

When you read all the threads written by people who failed every one of them has reasons like 'pulled out in front of a bus' 'broke the speed limit' 'left indicator on for 5 mins'
Thinking about a mythical higher standard will just fray your nerves to the point you will do silly things that normally you would not do.

Want to pass?
Practice, get as many hours on the bike as possible. Read the rules again and again. And the hardest part is not to stress out on the test.

[wheresmybike]

Congrats on passing the test Pascal !

[Pascal]

Thanks, Andrew

I'm finally riding the bike without needing a shadow. Happy, happy, joy, joy.

(btw, a headsup: yer inbox is full)

[Mutiny!]

Passed this morning. Very stoked.

Shout out to Tai from Elite who was not my instructor, and had nothing to do with me and my test this morning, probably wouldn't know me from a bar of soap (I recognised him from the decals and the two lessons I did over a year ago).

He was just leaving with another learner and noticed me standing next to my bike with L-plates, outside the licencing centre, asked if I was here for my test and said "You'll probably have _____, she'll take you down through Northbridge, now remember its a 40km/h zone all through there, you'll do your e-brake just down that road over there, good luck!".

Sure enough, it all came true, and if I hadn't been looking for them there is every chance I'd have missed the 40km/h zone and be booking another test as we speak. Cheers mate.

[SOLID]

Congrats Mutiny. I love it when all the planets align and lady luck smiles on ya.

[Pascal]

Happy days, Mutiny.