Tips and Advice for the Irish Motorcycle Driving Test!

I'm also aware this thread is old, but it comes up high in Google searches, and it helped me out. So I figured I'd post my experience from a week ago, about what was involved:

I passed mine, on my first attempt, last week. So it's fresh enough in my head.

Arrive at the centre a little earlier than your time. Reverse your bike into the parking space, as far back as you can (but leave enough room to walk around behind it).

Have your learner permit, your logbook (if your logbook doesn't show the bikes power output, or if it just says 55555, then you may need a certificate of power output). Bring your insurance details and bring your IBT certificate. Make sure to bring a pair of standard, 3.5mm jack headphones (with no microphone, just a normal pair of headphones).

When you arrive and park the bike, make sure you've a helmet and hi-vis vest with the L front and back. That's all that's legally required, but you'll set a good impression if you also have pants, jacket and boots that are bike gear/safety gear (I had a leather jacket and jeans, with obvious kneepads/shoulder pads etc.).

Examiner will bring you into the office and sit you down. He'll ask for the above documents and confirm your name/address. He'll ask a couple of questions, for example:

Q: What would make a road surface slippery?

A: Wet weather, fallen leaves, oil or fuel spills, etc

Q: What affect would wet weather have on your stopping distance?

A: It would double it.

Q: When would you see two red lights flashing together? (this one caught me out)

A: A railway crossing (or fire station, apparently).

Then he'll have a few pages of road signs on the desk, and he'll randomly point at them. You tell him what the sign he points at means.

At this point, you whip out your headphones and he gives you a walkie talkie with a strap that goes over your shoulder. You connect the earphones to it and he tests that you can hear him okay. Then you move out to the bike in the car park.

He walks around the bike and makes sure your legal (tax disc displayed, tyres aren't obviously bald, number plate is legal). He'll ask you where different things are on the bike (horn, killswitch, etc.) and will get you to demonstrate that all lights are working. He will ask you some practical stuff now, like:

Q: What's the legal minimum tread depth on a bike tyre?

A: 1mm (1.6mm on a car)

Q: How would you check the oil/brake fluid/coolant?

A: Varies from bike to bike, answer specifically about your bike

Q: What checks might you carry out regularly or before a long journey?

A: P.O.W.D.E.R Checks (this is what i rambled on about, and he was happy enough).

You'll then be asked to push your bike forward. They can ask for about 5 meters, but if you've parked your bike back in the space, like i advised above, they may only get you to do 2-3 foot to keep you within the parking space. Move the bike forward by using both hands on the handlebars, and leaning the bike on your hip for extra stability. Before you move the bike, look around you, make sure it's safe to move it and there are no hazards.

Then he'll go to his car, you'll get onto your bike. When getting onto the bike, reach your right hand over and engage the front brake before you try to get onto the bike. Remember: it's not a driving test, it's a safety test. Safety, safety, safety.

You'll then ramble around on the roads for half an hour doing nothing in particular. If you cross a solid white line at a stop sign, it's game over. So be careful of road markings.

Every 20 seconds check your mirrors. One at at time. Look at left mirror, look straight ahead, then look at right mirror. Don't do it like you're watching a tennis match.

Every turn you take: Mirror, Indicate, Lifesaver, Manoeuvre.

(don't forget to cancel your indicators)

Every lane change: Mirror, Indicate, Lifesaver, Manoeuvre.

(don't forget to cancel your indicators)

Approaching your Roundabout exit: Mirror, Indicate, Lifesaver, Manoeuvre.

(don't forget to cancel your indicators)

Also, incase i haven't mentioned it: don't forget to cancel your indicators!

Follow all speed signs accurately. You'll get away with speeding up and down a couple of km/h, but not large amounts. Practice holding a steady speed.

Mirrors and Lifesaver when entering a higher speed zone. Mirrors when entering a lower speed zone. Mirrors and reduction in speed for speed ramps.

When sitting gormlessly in bumper-to-bumper traffic, don't tune out because you're not doing anything. Still be checking your mirrors. Never put two feet down at the same time unless it's a fraction of a second (to make sure you're in the right gear, etc). Should always be just your left foot down.

You have to do Four different tasks in the test.

U-Turn

Arguably the most difficult. You'll likely be taken to a road that's approximately 7 meters wide (a standard 2-lane roadway). You'll be asked to stop on the left where it is safe to do so (ie; don't stop in a bus bay, on double yellows, in hatched markings, etc). Then do the U-Turn

In order: You're currently parked on the left, so: Right Mirror, Right Indicator, Shoulder Check (don't take your hands off the handlebars), move off, Lifesaver, U-Turn. Now pull in and park on the left (left mirror, indicator, lifesaver, and stop).

Obstacle Avoidance

Examiner will tell you to pull in on the left and stop. He'll drive down the road in front of you and park. You'll then move off towards his car, getting up to the speed limit. You'll Mirror, Indicate, Lifesaver and Manoeuvre around his car. You treat this like any other car on the road, it's not a sudden swerve or emergency move.

'Slow Walk'

This goes by a few names, but this is the one I've seen it go by a few times. Tester will walk at a fast pace on the footpath beside you, and you'll match his speed. You'll do this by feathering the cluth or gentle braking (or both).

You won't be panic-wobbling your hands left and right to keep your balance. To avoid this, you'll look straight ahead and focus on a point in the distance (a road sign, a car, etc.).

Reduction in Speed

For this one, you'll be brought to a road with an 80kph limit. You'll be instructed to get to a speed of at least 65kph, and then will be instructed to hit the brakes, and reduce your speed to 20kph (but not stop, and don't lock/skid your wheels). You'll do this by using both brakes at the same time.

You'll then be told to move off, and you'll swiftly move down through the gears and ride off (again, without stopping).

This is not an emergency braking exercise. You get a couple of seconds to reduce your speed.

You'll get back to the test centre and the tester will tell you to park in an available space. You'll drive forward into the space to make life easier. Tester will tell you he'll see you inside the centre. You'll go in, give back the radio/walkie talkie (with a €100 note and a wink*) and he'll tell you whether you've passed or failed.

(*meant as a joke, obviously)

Is there any reason why you bothered? I assume that, outside of the RSA Practical Test, you never need it? (or if you do, you have the letter from Honda, anyway?).

I'd be tempted to get my logbook rectified but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle. Do you just send them a cover letter explaining what you want to change, along with the logbook and the letter from the dealer?

I got mine off Ronan Pentony Motorbikes (rpm) in Drogheda. He charged a tenner. Maybe give him a shout?