Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I've got a mate who has just done the first day of their learner course and tells me that the day is actually half a day and not the full day I described.

Back when I did my l's I spent 2 full days and on the first day all we got to do was sit on the bikes and start them. Now he tells me that he got to go around in circles in second gear. We didn't do that until half way through the second day.

Wtf are they doing shortening the days and cramming more into less time? The day started at 8 and finished at 11:30, how could that be enough time to practice all that they show you before venturing into the open road?

Another thing he was told that made me laugh was that they make you counter weight against the direction of the bike, so if you turn left your body should go right...did I miss something here?

The counter weight technique is for slow speed riding only, but something I learnt from Glen, not in the l's course.

I agree the 2 full days were great, and made for a very good learning experience!

Maybe just preparation for the cones they require in the "p"s Test
see here.... http://www.ksrc-au.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=35447

When I did my HART course many moons ago, I'm pretty sure I did two full days of cruising around the Colchester Road, Kilsyth testing centre on the CB250.

Can't remember riding around in circles but I do remember having to ride as slow as you can between two lines....practicing the balancing of the bike.

Good fun couple of days.

MrWasabi wrote:
Another thing he was told that made me laugh was that they make you counter weight against the direction of the bike, so if you turn left your body should go right...did I miss something here?

yeh they also teach the "to turn left - push on the left bar" idea, which took me a while to get my head around

Youre on drugs Owen (and Tim). The learner course has always been two half days. Day one gets you to going around changing gears, day 2 from Slow riding to braking. Been like that from 1986 and the training provider aint allowed to vary (even HART)

The P's course is a full day

Did mine 5 months ago after 25yrs on the side line and Glen you are totally correct there is 2 half days,you can have the option of doing the morning course or the afternoon course

Maybe I'm going senile...i could swear that I did 2 full days...first day we got someone to push us around because we couldn't start the bikes till the end of the day. Then day 2 we practised gear changes... I'm not arguing your point Glen, I know you did this for a living, I'm just confused now

I did my L's 3 months ago (Just got my P's) and yes it's 2 half days and we did basically start pusing the bike b4 starting the motor and all of it at slow speed and we didn't get out of second gear (and not out of first until maybe late in the first day, maybe?)

I felt the length and content of the course gave me enough to ride on the road but the instructor is the one who needs to make that call and as to whether you are competent or not at the end of the 2 (half) days.

I believe my course was just fine but also believe that there was at least one person in the course that shouldn't have been given a license to go out on the road without further training or practice in a controlled environment.
Counter weight was not in my course.

I guess what I'm saying is that I think the course is okay (there can always be continuous improvement) but there needs to be better methods for determining whether a person is competent or not and a path for these people (after all we don't want to deny anyone from being a fellow rider )

oh BTW im not trying to disagree with anyone, thats just how i felt about my course, u guys that are more expeienced could have a better view of what the course should entail

Yep just read through my learner course thread. I was still at home at 11am on day 2 so it was a half-day. Also at the end of day one we were riding around the loop in 2nd.

Power of suggestion on the human mind aye...

StuMiller wrote:When I did my HART course many moons ago, I'm pretty sure I did two full days of cruising around the Colchester Road, Kilsyth testing centre on the CB250.

Can't remember riding around in circles but I do remember having to ride as slow as you can between two lines....practicing the balancing of the bike.

Good fun couple of days.

I have the same memory, but I think thats for Vic rather than NSW. Think they finish about 3 so its not really a full day.