As you guys would have known by now, I signed up for Class 3 (manual) lessons @ BBDC, and at the same time, signed up for class 2 as well. For the ppl who know nuts about motorcycle licenses, there are 3 types. Class 2B is where everyone starts from, allows u to ride up to 200cc. 1 year later u can take 2A, which lets u ride up to 400cc. Another year from that means u can take Cl 2, open class, any bike pun boleh
Class 2B is the really tedious one, with so many things to cover. I remember that when i took it in 2002, there were 13 subjects that u have to take and pass in the prescribed order. You have to pass subj 1 then can take subj 2.. Subj 10 was the circuit evaluation and 13 was the final evaluation. On top of that, you have to take the Riding Theory Test to apply for ur PDL and eventually to sit for ur actual practical test.
Class 2A/2 is usually simpler, only 3 stages. The notion is that as qualified riders, they dun need to spend so much time on us teaching us the highway code etc..So the primary focus is on skills and handling. Essentially u have to do the following skills in the test
- Narrow Plank: A long metal board that is mounted onto the road stretches about 15 metres, 30 wide, and 3 cm off the ground. I have to ride down the length of the plank, maintaining 1st gear half clutch, and not taking less than 11 secs. Taking shorter than that or wobbling minus points, falling off is immed fail.
- Pylon Course: 4 cones are placed in a straight line. Just have to go to 2nd gear and weave through the cones, not taking more than 6 secs. Touching a cone with any part of your body and bike is immed failure.
- Figure of 8: Negotiate a figure-8 course, where the lane is 1.5 metres wide within 9 seconds. Touch kerb fail, wobble minus points
- Crank Course: Negotiate a crank course, right turn in gear 2, then 1 m later, right turn…5 m later, left turn and out. Touch kerb fail wobble minus points
- Emergency Brake: Travel down a straight lane, achieving and maintaing 40 km/h at 3rd gear by the end of the lane, then come to a complete stop safely within 11 m. Stall minus points, fall immed failure
- Bumpy Course: Over a 5 m stretch of road, small bumps that resemble rods embedded into the ground are placed in a row. In a half standing posture and maintaining 1st gear half clutch, bump over them, keeping balance. Timing to meet is more than 8 secs
Of cos u have all the mundane stuff of riding ard in the circuit, trying not to get points deducted for dumb stuff like not checking blind spots, keeping ur left foot below gear lever when not using it..blah..
Have passed 2 stages so far, just waiting for the evaluation next wk. Today stage 2 was really er..i dunno wat to say… now motorcycle seat-design is a both a science and an art. You want something that’s comfortable and ergonomic, yet looks nice. I’ve tried quite a few bike seats, ranging from the scramblers with their ultra skinny seats that double up as a butt wedgie; and the ultra wide types that make u wonder if the manufacturer envisions that every rider can do splits or are born bow-legged. The bike that they use for Cl2 lesson falls into the latter category.
The moment i sat on the bike today, I heard a loud praak!! and immediately felt airy down there. Looking down, my worst nightmare’s confirmed.
WARDROBE MALFUNCTION
I somhow managed to complete the lesson and get home later w/o indecently flashing myself, all thanks to lowslinging my slingbag in front of me… As if to compensate for the bad luck in ripping my quite-new pants, i passed stage 2 easily.
Final evalulation’s this saturday, n i havn’t even started my class 3 practical…more on that in another post..
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