yes you do the circle strate brake hard...   its not to bad cause look at some of the riders not to smart good luck

Interesting side note...  Just re-read my own post. My observation that the test is a "b*tch" somehow automatically came out reading:

"I tried the riding test and it's a pregnant dog!"

I suppose I can accept this unusual restriction on free speech, but how amusing! One wonders what other default euphemisms our site administrator has cooked up for us! Anyway, i do love dogs, pregnant or otherwise, so it's cool.

Marin newbie wrote on 10/30/08 at 08:52:27:


You don't want to mention VP thingy Cheney, or the censor will get you, too.  Or old west gunfighter, Deadeye thingy... See..

88pagan-

Trying to find out what the test really consists of is a good idea. Might want to check and see if your state DMV has information on-line or available in written form (I'll bet they do - Illinois does). For example the two concentric circles to me would indicate that they have two standards (maybe one for MCs at or below 250cc and one for above). The smaller circle being required for smaller MCs. Good news for the Savage, in Illinois it qualifies under the larger class, but really isn't bigger than most MCs with small engines.

As far as the "real slow, rpms high with brakes on." advice from the guys at work, you might want to get other advice. Their method can be done, but it isn't near as easy as - dragging the back brake, feathering the clutch (AKA using the friction zone), and looking through the turns - lots of other things - like counter-weighting - can be added to really make parking lots easy, but most DMV tests aren't that stringent. Using the front brakes with the engine rpms high will end up with a lot of upset in your riding position (diving and then bouncing back) and that makes staying on course harder than it needs to be. There is a lot to be said for practicing also. I took my son to practice for his test and he flew through the test with no problems.

I can already tell ya i'd flunk that calif test every time! The S-40 and i dont agree with eachother when it comes to slow turns. I wonder what the fail rate is on that Calif test.

Rustbucket wrote on 10/31/08 at 18:31:58:

It is high enough that a LOT of people take the course to "get legal" -- people who have been riding for many years.  I did.  I started riding in '64, got my DT175 in '74, about '76 or so went down to the DMV on a sunday to try the course.  Failed as you aren't allowed to dab and in low speed maneuvers I tend to dab.  So I never bothered with a license.  Restarting in '04 I figured since I have a family I'm responsible for I ought to be legal.  So I took the course.  Quite a few old folks who's stated purpose was, like me, to get legal.

During the course they taught the "stay upright and lean the bike" to do the slow turns.  "Oh, so that's how you do it!"

while slow speed maneuvers are important, they probably wont save your life.

awareness and being able to brake and/or countersteer will