The Bike test from hell

[Dick_Stilton]

Shite and double shite.. here is a tale of woe.

Test number 1. Pitch up on my bike, check in to the examiners office, he checks my docs and declares that my bike is underpowered! Apparently, in Switzerland you need 35Kw of power for a 'A' licence and the R65 serves up just 33Kw. I am stunned on three counts. Firstly that my wife took her 'A' test on the same feckin bike four years ago. Secondly that my bike instructor who took wads of cash off me did not warm me and thirdly that the Swiss Police have been trying to catch criminals on underpowered bikes! I go home and drink beer, lots and lots of beer. Its a little know fact that beer, in large quantities is good for shock.

Test number 2. Pitch up on rented (Sorry fellas) H**** with 57Kw of power. Take test. Fail test because I was not instructed on method of driving on (Motorway/Interstate) Autobahn. That is redlining all the way down the ramp to hit the road at max speed plus 5%. Instructor didnt even tell me Autobahn riding is part of the test in Switzerland, it certainly isnt in the UK. Went home drank more beer.

I am depressed.

Dick [smiley=thud.gif]

[Justin B.]

Damn, I think I'd be asking for at least a partial refund from your "instructor" as (at least in my opinion) it should be his job to make sure you know everything you need to know in order to pass.  Leaving out these key points makes me seriously doubt his credentials...

Get the "official" handbook and maybe third time will be a charm.  Did the examiner fail you on any other sneaky points or just the one autobahn thing?

[thrang]

God thats a real Pi**er Dick! I have serious words with your instructor for not warning you about the power issue especially if you made it clear that you would be sitting the test on your R65.

The Swiss riders rights group IG-Motorrad is FEMA (Federation of Euro Motorcycle Associations) recognised so it might be worth contacting them for advice about getting your first tests fee back or your instructor to pay for your next one?

[Jon_P]

well have another beer with me, do you know any motorcycle songs? i dont :-/ and once your beer goggles are off go try again! good luck next time, i'll have a beer ready for when you pass!!!

[Dick_Stilton]

Thanks for the advice and comments. I have been contemplating my reaction towards my 'Instructor'. They have wavered between a full can of gas and a box of matches (His bike school is two stacked portable buildings) and a firm letter copied in to his governing body. On reflection, I will face him out first and if that fails the letter to him and his society. I don't think 30% of fees returned is an unreasonable demand do you?

Next bike test is 7th Sept.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Very reasonable.

At least you have a fall-back plan.  Very important!  

[thrang]

Ask for thirty percent (or what ever) and if he says no... tell him,  the line on the right one cross each! LOL

[Bob_Roller]

The only 'official' riding test that I have taken lasted all of about two minutes, done in a parking lot with an instructor watching. That was back in July,1979. Have not been required to take a written exam or road test since.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

The only 'official' riding test that I have taken lasted all of about two minutes, done in a parking lot with an instructor watching. That was back in July,1979. Have not been required to take a written exam or road test since.

But if you had the choice, would you rather be on the roads with European drivers or U.S. drivers?  (excluding parts of Italy)

[Bob_Roller]

Rob, I can't comment on european drivers, never been there, but I don't like riding with US drivers here in Occupied Mexico, that's for sure.

[nhmaf]

I tell ya, I've been in England, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, and Italy; and the place
with the scariest drivers I found was in the northern part of Italy !   The worst riders/drivers seemed to be the
teenagers on their scooters, as they couldn't be insured to ride/drive anything more powerful at the time until
over 18, I think.    

It has been a few years since I took my first motorcycle licensing test, I think it was around 1980 and
we had a 20 question written exam that you weren't allowed to get more than 4 incorrect answers on to
get your learners permit.  The permit was good for 6 months, and you had to take a skills/riding test
in a parking lot with an instructor watching to get your permit stamped to get an official riding license.

In some states I've lived in over the years (Massachusetts is one) required one to retake the written exams
for both auto and motorcycle licenses in order to get resident licenses in that state.   I think this is a good idea,
as the state vehicle laws do vary and it encourages one to get the booklet on the laws to read to pass the exams.
Haven't had to retake a riding test yet.

[thrang]

I found Northern Italy a crazy place to ride, but not for me the scaryist. That for me had to be Paris and specifically the Champs-Élysées, at rush hour mad, mad place to be on a bike when you're lost and not quite sure how you got there...

[Semper Gumby]

Had a great time riding around Tuscony (north of Rome).  But I was not on a bike.  Had Turbo Desil Fiat mini van - nice drive.  Good food, never a bad bottle of wine *anywhere* and hilltop villiages on.  I had zero problems with other drivers.  I was astonded.

[dewjantim]

The wildest place I ever rode was on Deals Gap on a Saturday afternoon. All those guys on Harleys and Crotch Rockets flying around a very curvy road that they dont know, dragging shit and running wide on curves. Oh yeah, it was some serious fun........Dew.

[Dick_Stilton]

Just to let you guys (and gals) know that I nailed my test this morning.

Just in the nic of time too. We leave for the USA in 2 weeks for our little tour of Yellowstone and the Bearstooth.

Regards

Dick