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My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 6:15 pm
by Kwakka Kilt
Heyo all,
Well, I have my ZXR 250 up and running sweet now, " Ready " I thought, " For my P's !! "
Buuut - Been talking with a few blokes, who reckon the ZXR has no chance of getting round the cones due to the tight cone layout in the test, and short turning circle of the wee beastie (My Bike)
So, My question is, what do you guys reckon, anyone done the P's on the same bike, type of bike (Sports), and if so, was it do-able ??
My next question would be, if not possible, would anyone be willing to allow me to pay them to use a learner legal, 250 commuter style bike for the test later this November ??
I live in Sydney, and would be happy to lend out my bike for a run if they were mutually respectable of my bike (As I would obviously would be to theirs !!)
Just a thought, or I may just rent out a bike from somewhere, if anyone knows of a reasonable place in Sydney ??
Cheers !
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 7:47 pm
by Lone Wolf
It definitely can be done on a ZX2R. But I kinda know what they're saying, it isn't easy, especially for inexperienced riders. I found it extremely difficult at the time on the ZX2, but these days can do the same thing with ease on the ZX7.
If you are worried, hire one of their CB250's, it will be easier
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 8:26 pm
by jewjew
I did mine on a GPX250, download the course layout, get some witches hats and chalk, go out to olympic park at night and find a well lit carpark on the outskirts, Keep practicing until you get it right. You'll be fine.....
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:50 pm
by Neka79
yea mate u can hire their bikes....
i did my P's on my 2 stroke honda...i had no probs......
good luck either way
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:05 pm
by mike-s
i had an el250 when i did my p's test, rode there on it but thought id play it safe and had hired one of their cb250's. They area piss easy bike to ride, unfortunately felt a bit like a single they were so choppy but worked well enough for the purpose. I wonder if they've started using the CBF250 yet...

Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 11:22 pm
by GForce
it is possible mate.
you could do the U-turns but will go over one 1 line, do the S bend (ive done it on my old zx2r), slow riding and emergency braking. so you might lose points twice but u gotta be pretty good on the zx2r, otherwise u are screwed
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:49 am
by StuMiller
I did mine at HART on a CB250
Very easy, just take your time and relax and enjoy the epxperience.
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:57 am
by Glen
It's definitely doable, albeit slightly more difficult than on a less sporty bike. Get your slow riding and body up/bike in technique going and you'll do it easy.
In just about every course we always had one or two baby blades etc. The test is easier now than it was a couple of years back as the Uturn is now wider and the cones are spaced further apart.
Leading up to your P's course practise like buggery all the stuff you did in your L's.
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:01 pm
by bNiNja
I did the MOST Ps test on my GPX250. It was a piece of cake. I am not sure if it will be much harder on a ZX2R.
I am not sure if this is good advice, but ride the clutch. You can do all the low speed obstacles with ease if you play with the clutch.
This link might help:
http://www.netrider.net.au/forums/viewt ... light=lock" target="_blank" target="_blank
There is no point in asking someone to lend you their pride and joy, just hire one from the testing centre (but only if you have practised on your bike and are not confident on passing on it). Good luck
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:38 am
by penno
Hard on a ZX2R but possible as long as you are willing to put in a bit of practice. Remember when I did mine a guy failed the obstacle type stuff but was great on the road. Unfortunately the obstacle stuff is were you get most attention so he missed out. Two guys and a girl hired I think TT250 trail bikes with road tyres. They all passed the obstacle course easy but two of them were deadset woeful on the road. They got their "P"s though because as I said earlier the attention is on the obstacle course..........
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:12 am
by Glen
penno wrote:Hard on a ZX2R but possible as long as you are willing to put in a bit of practice. Remember when I did mine a guy failed the obstacle type stuff but was great on the road. Unfortunately the obstacle stuff is were you get most attention so he missed out. Two guys and a girl hired I think TT250 trail bikes with road tyres. They all passed the obstacle course easy but two of them were deadset woeful on the road. They got their "P"s though because as I said earlier the attention is on the obstacle course..........
You have to try real hard to fail the road ride. You either have to repeatedly break the road rules, bin it or do something considered dangerous by the instructor.
The test is completely objective however. Cross a line, put a foot down, hit a cone, not pull up in the required distance and you lose points.
Practise is the key. I've seen a dude put a Goldwing through the P's course and pass with 0 points. I've also seen a bloke do it side saddle. (both instructors I grant you but it's pretty impressive). The course is pretty easy these days, it really is designed to get students through. So long as you've ridden your bike regularly, done some practise of slow riding etc, you can brake reasonably well and steer a bit you'll be good. Most students who don't get through unfortunately get overcome by nerves. relax and enjoy the day, it's a pretty good course. If worse comes to worse you just do a retest the following week.
I used to have a map of the course but my computer got lunched. If I can find it I'll pm you and you can do some practise with some half tennis balls.
Where are you going for your course?
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:17 am
by Benno
I think you have a different course in NSW than Vic Glen. When I did my P's, all I had to do was some "speed turns" and emergency cornering and braking. That, and the usual slow speed stuff. I'm not sure if it's changed though.
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:20 am
by GreenMan
I was going to do my P's on my ZX2r but opted against it as I did like JewJew said make my own course to there specs but it was very hard to do the u turn and the cones but in saying that it also took me almost all day to get use to riding the bike they supply
so really you get screwed both ways lol just go with what you are confortable with.
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 8:55 am
by mick_dundee
I Vic they GIVE you a bike to do the test on, only for the test of course but none of this HIRE stuff. CB250's are the norm down here, about as placid as a 250cc bike can be. Trying to remember what it involved.... left turn (indicate and cancel ndicators) RH turn same thing, emergency braking and a slow ride, not sure if we done a U turn or not... some bloke dropped his bike and still managed to pass, some places are slacker than others with the strictness of the testing here...
Re: My P's are approaching .... I have a question !
Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:16 pm
by Kwakka Kilt
Okeee Dokeee !
Lots of replies, various answers
Thx for all the ideas, looks like it is going to be best to rent a bike, save me lapsing on my L's if I fail the P's due to lack of turning circle !
I can do slow and tight riding on the ZXR, due to filtering through Sydney traffic, but if I fail due to crossing lines etc, then I would have to do my L's all over agin, THEN repay for the P's again after another 3 months !
Better to just rent a bike that will allow me to sail through ??