Just wondering if anyone knows:
I paid £400 for two days training any my test about 3 years ago… anyone know what this new fangled test is going to cost?
Also, what are the differences… how much more/less/easaier/harder stuff do you actually have to do… I saw a “proposed” suggestion in MCN, but never believe what they say, half of them can’t even spell…
Sorry don’t know about the cost of the new test but they will probably be more expensive. The training schools are not looking forward to them because there are not enough test centres and they don’t know how they will get the students to and from the centres.From my experience, having only just passed my test my instructor said the u turn is probably easier as it’s on a nice wide flat road no camber but the rest is probably harder.Here is a link to a school that have reviewed the new test which hopefully is pretty accurate.http://www.dexteritytraining.co.uk/New_Motorcycle_Test_2008.htm
I am not sure of all the differences to the new test, but here are a few:
The new test is going to cost £80 as opposed to the current £60.
There is a swerve and brake exercise, so instead of just the straight forward emergency stop, you are going to required to manoeuvre through a couple of cones, achieve a speed of 30mph and come to an emergency stop.
The first half of the test will be off road and will cover the U-turn, emergency stop and a few other manoeuvres and only then will you go on your road ride. However, I believe that if you do not pass the off road manoeuvres you will not proceed to the road ride part of the test.
Rather than a test time of 45mins, the time is increasing to an hour.
Agree it will probably be easier to do the U-Turn off road now.
from what i read the main problem for the schools is lack of off road tarmac space.
Most of them dont currently have the room to carry out the new bits they wanna add in…
The test track includes a speed trap you need to trigger to show you are doing 30mph before the emergency stop - how many schools are going to have one of those?
Is that for real?:w00t:
It’s a long way from when a bloke with a clipboard jumped out from behind a tree;):D:D
If it is a speed trap, least you know you’ll be able to stop in real life when the rozzers are with their lazer guns. 
BTW, this is what the DSA FAQ on the new test says -
"How will you measure my speed?
Vehicle speed is usually measured using the time taken to travel between 2 points a known distance apart. The examiner will use highly accurate ground based speed measuring equipment. This equipment uses two light beams, a speed value is then calculated when the two light beams are interrupted by the leading edge of the motorcycle tyre.
A remote controller is also provided which is linked to the measuring equipment, using Bluetooth, to allow the examiner to read the speed achieved whilst conducting the test.
What will happen if I fail to reach the required speed?
You will be allowed one more attempt at the exercise."
See I dont get it. In S.A., this is how you do both ur car and bike licences. I nevrn managed to get out on the road 3 times in my car cause of the stupid cone which kept moving into me every time I tried to reverse park!
Was talking to Jimc the other day, he told me the speed is actually 50kph which is 31mph which is one of the reasons that the test is now off the road.
Also looking at the press and other comments on line, people have not been able to book the new test.
What a pointless exercise in wasting time.
I am really beginning to abhor bureaucracy and politicians.
Yes it is 31mph, but no bike has a speedo accurate enough to really tell whether the speed is 30 or 31 so riders will be guessing their speed at that point.
