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    License test in the old days.

    I told this story at the table tonight and realised it's time to put it in writing.
    Long ago the bike test here consisted of the tester asking you to do a circuit along the quays, up cinema lane, along south main,up Barrack, down Parnell to Trinity and so on. He would ,on foot, observe and halt the procedure when satisfied or not but he issued a caution that at some point on the circuit he would emerge on to the roadway without warning to test the applicant's skill in emergency stops.
    We're talking two stroke Honda 50 here. On the day in question it was drizzling a soft rain and our hero donned a suit of yellow oilskins and set out on his test circuit with much apprehension. The tester elected to test the emergency stop skills on Parnell, a hazardous street which could have as many as half a dozen cars parked and offered opportunities to spring out from between them at the last moment.
    Spotting the Honda and yellow oilskins he carefully laid his trap and sprang it only to be run over, capsizing the bike and rider who swore at him roundly and threatened surgical procedures.
    As he lay dazed on the wet street he chanced to look up to the intersection with Barrack and saw another Honda 50 with a rider in yellow oilskins carefully picking his way , checking the gaps between the cars.
    97 R1100R
    Previous
    80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

    #2
    Have you seen the new riding test?

    Click HERE.



    For the four-wheel version of the driving test, click HERE.

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    hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
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    #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
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      #3
      In my dreams !
      97 R1100R
      Previous
      80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

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        #4
        A very old man once told me his driving test consisted of the Sheriff rising shotgun while they took a trip up and down the steepest hill in town.

        The guy was in his 80s sometime in the 80s.

        Some people get a cheap laugh breaking up the speed limit
        Scaring the pedestrians for minute
        Crossing up progress driving on the grass
        Leaving just enough room to pass
        Sunday driver never took a test
        Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west

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          #5
          When I was 17 I took the test on my 82 Katana (in 1983) the test consisted of pushing your bike through some cones etc. then I was told to go around the block, with no one with me. When I got back I got my license. I guess if you made it back alive you passed.
          Fast forward to a couple of years ago here in BC (I had to get my bike license again as I had lost it years ago, long story) I went out for a 30 min ride with a couple of instructors following me giving me radio directions while I rode.
          Last edited by trevor; 09-29-2013, 10:58 AM.
          No signature :(

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            #6
            Trevor that is exactly what I had to do , but I didn't even go on the road whole thing took 5 minutes at the most, Brian, Easy Sneazy

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              #7
              i had the same test when i took mine in 85. part 1 was round the cones. i took mine on a borrowed Honda CB100n. lucky for me i knew the tester very well as my trusty borrowed Honda broke down 1/4 way through the test. he spread the cones out slightly and let me retake the test on his GSX1100ET. needless to say i passed and he had some very cheap spannering done on his GSX for a while......
              1978 GS1085.

              Just remember, an opinion without 3.14 is just an onion!

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                #8
                Mine was similar. It was raining and the examiner came outside with a clipboard, stood under the awning and told me to drive around the block. He saw me turn out of the lot and from a distance turn at the stoplight, then reenter the parking lot. I don't know what he wrote down but I passed. LOL
                Old age and treachery will beat youth and skill every time1983 GS 750
                https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4256/3...8bf549ee_t.jpghttps://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4196/3...cab9f62d_t.jpg

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                  #9
                  old test

                  When I took my test in 1979 I think, it was just 1 lap around the DMV building with the instructor watching from the sidewalk. No cones, no anything. I was on my old Yammy 175 enduro.
                  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9zH8w8Civs8ejBJWjdvYi1LNTg&resourcekey=0-hlJp0Yc4K_VN9g7Jyy4KQg&authuser=fussbucket_1%40msn.com&usp=drive_fs
                  1983 GS750ED-Horsetraded for the Ironhead
                  1981 HD XLH

                  Drew's 850 L Restoration

                  Drew's 83 750E Project

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                    #10
                    No test. There was no motorcycle license. If you had a drivers license, it covered motorcycles.
                    Komorebi-The light filtering through the trees.

                    I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. H.D.T.

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                      #11
                      Originally posted by earlfor View Post
                      No test. There was no motorcycle license. If you had a drivers license, it covered motorcycles.

                      Too easy Earl. I just can't do it.....
                      Old age and treachery will beat youth and skill every time1983 GS 750
                      https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4256/3...8bf549ee_t.jpghttps://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4196/3...cab9f62d_t.jpg

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                        #12
                        Ah, the good 'ole days! In Victoria I remember a much more relaxed learners license program. You had to have your eyes checked and write a 25 question multiple choice test. If you passed you then received your learners license which allowed you to ride solo, (unaccompanied). After 2 weeks you could go for your full license. The learners was good for 4 or 6 months, tough to remember, (it was a long time ago), so I just kept letting it lapse and getting a 'fresh' one until I finally decided to get the class 6. The test was - I had to weave in and out of cones, accelerate quickly in the parking lot and hammer on the brakes, then go out in front of the BC Motor Vehicle Branch and go down the street a block and do a u turn while being observed. I rode back to the front of the building, parked, went inside and collected my license.
                        IBA# 12860
                        Iron Butt SS1000 & BB1500
                        1984 KZ1100R
                        2008 Kawasaki KLR650
                        2011 Concours 1400

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by eddie21 View Post
                          Ah, the good 'ole days! In Victoria I remember a much more relaxed learners license program. You had to have your eyes checked and write a 25 question multiple choice test. If you passed you then received your learners license which allowed you to ride solo, (unaccompanied). After 2 weeks you could go for your full license. The learners was good for 4 or 6 months, tough to remember, (it was a long time ago), so I just kept letting it lapse and getting a 'fresh' one until I finally decided to get the class 6. The test was - I had to weave in and out of cones, accelerate quickly in the parking lot and hammer on the brakes, then go out in front of the BC Motor Vehicle Branch and go down the street a block and do a u turn while being observed. I rode back to the front of the building, parked, went inside and collected my license.
                          You got your license last year ?
                          Old age and treachery will beat youth and skill every time1983 GS 750
                          https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4256/3...8bf549ee_t.jpghttps://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4196/3...cab9f62d_t.jpg

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by bccap View Post
                            You got your license last year ?
                            ??????!!! If last year was around 1978.... then yes!
                            IBA# 12860
                            Iron Butt SS1000 & BB1500
                            1984 KZ1100R
                            2008 Kawasaki KLR650
                            2011 Concours 1400

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by eddie21 View Post
                              ??????!!! If last year was around 1978.... then yes!
                              You must have had a stickler in Victoria. Tests were pretty slack back then. If my guy could have stayed inside out of the rain he would have....
                              Old age and treachery will beat youth and skill every time1983 GS 750
                              https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4256/3...8bf549ee_t.jpghttps://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4196/3...cab9f62d_t.jpg

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