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Why is the DMV motorcycle test impossible on certian models?

Kornholio said:
I'd love to see this! I've never seen a sportbike pass the test. :laughing
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I passed last year on my 2007 R1 :rolleyes when the enduro I took down didnt have rear turn signals. I passed everything first try granted there was a lot of first gear idling, draggin the rear brake and balancing goin on but it IS possible
 
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Charmed said:
Can I have my 5 min back, please? :cry

I thought something cool was going to happen:laughing
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Like what? Wheelies,Stopies, your basic squid maneuvers? NAH......

I lived through my adolescence. Hopefully, you'll live through yours.

About the 5mins.... Sorry, no refunds.:party

But maybe I'll buy ya a slice of pizza..:teeth
 
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I passed on my ZZR1200

it was not easy - had to ride it like a dirt bike. First loop I failed. but since I was on a larger ST bike she gave me another go passed it. From what I remember both tires had to stay in the lines. But I could be wrong.
 
A ducati 848 will (usually) smash your fingers at full lock. I don't recommend trying it!
 
My former 2004 1000RR would make it easy. Close to the lock, but still easy.
 
Your turning radius is being measured when the bike is upright and you turn the wheel and walk in a circle. That's not how bikes turn and it's not a true representation of how tight your bike can turn.

Turn the wheel, lean the bike to the side the wheel is turned, and walk in a circle. It will be much smaller.

You need lean angle to turn -- at slow speeds also. That's why it's difficult, and why it takes "rider skill."

I'm no great rider and I can do a 15 foot circle on a BMW RT1200 without much drama.
 
ScottRNelson said:
My Ducati 888 has a 27 foot turning diameter. I don't believe any amount of rider skill will keep that thing inside of the 24 foot outer circle.

My ST2 has a 20 foot turning diameter, so that means that it is going to be at FULL LOCK for a lot of the circle. I can easily do a U-turn within the 24 feet, but one and a half times around the circle is really difficult.

My XR650L probably has a turning diameter of about 12 feet. That one is rather easy.

I would like to watch you do the Pleasanton DMV circle on your Monster sometime. It turns just a tiny bit sharper than my ST2. If you make it first time both directions, I'll buy lunch. If you fail, you buy lunch.

Are you willing to back up your opinion on this? :cool
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I'll take you up on that bet. I could swing my BMW's fat ass around that all damn day.

my scooter I can spin in a radius of only 6 feet.

and just so its a gentlemans bet, lunch will be at a fast food of the winners choice.

you down :bounce
 
9M61 said:
Your turning radius is being measured when the bike is upright and you turn the wheel and walk in a circle. That's not how bikes turn and it's not a true representation of how tight your bike can turn.

Turn the wheel, lean the bike to the side the wheel is turned, and walk in a circle. It will be much smaller.

You need lean angle to turn -- at slow speeds also. That's why it's difficult, and why it takes "rider skill."

I'm no great rider and I can do a 15 foot circle on a BMW RT1200 without much drama.
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Absolutely Correct.

Its all about hinging the bike to the desired lean angle. That is why I posted the vid of me going through the eliminator pattern. There probably isn't a street bike made that can do that pattern with out the proper lean.
Good clarification 9M61.
 
Rimmy said:
I'll take you up on that bet. I could swing my BMW's fat ass around that all damn day.

my scooter I can spin in a radius of only 6 feet.

and just so its a gentlemans bet, lunch will be at a fast food of the winners choice.

you down :bounce
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You have to do it on a Ducati, either Monster or ST2, and the Monster has to be older than 2000. I'm sure your BMW turns sharper.
 
ScottRNelson said:
You have to do it on a Ducati, either Monster or ST2, and the Monster has to be older than 2000. I'm sure your BMW turns sharper.
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any bike you wish brotha.

if anyone has a Monster they want to loan me for this, i'll buy them lunch too.

I'll even do it with the VFR.

its ALL practice and skill not the bike.

i'm not slammin on your parade, but I truly believe it can be done.
 
my neighbor has a Ducati 1000 SS he'll let me use probably.

that or I can use my buddies DS... but that doesn't count really.
 
Hooli said:
:bs I've seen a full-dress Goldwing easily navigate the DMV circle.
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:thumbup I've DONE it on a full dress Goldwing,..JUST to prove a point.

it's a stupid test, BUT if you have to rent some dinky bike to pass THAT part of the exam, you need to PRACTICE on YOUR BIKE, because if you can't lean it and work the clutch/throttle, then you shouldn't be riding PERIOD.

you SHOULD actually be able to handle the thing in a parking lot or at a stoplight.

p.s.: I'm 5'8", and 165 lbs, so don't gimme that "the bikes too big" BS

I see this all the time, blaming the test, and you should be looking at your riding skills, instead of trying to fault the exam.
 
Some models insist on wearing high heels to match their sequined gowns. The height and slender build of most models will create balance and steering problems, and often will lead to a wardrobe malfuntion with long gowns and broken shoes. The result can be catastrophic if the rider falls onto an orange cone before having time to protect one's face.

It's known in some catwalk circles as a "face-cone."
 
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Kornholio said:
Too bad he didn't do inside the portion actually required on the test. :rolleyes
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I'm not so sure about that...two parking spaces is roughly 22-24', which is the outer diameter (19.5' is ID) of the DMV circle.

You might very well be watching him do it, right there. Here's a guy who does it on a VTX 1300, and nearly does it twice on a wing (mostly due to a lack of visual references) -- he goes on to do a tighter circle on the wing without references, and then measures it off at about the ID of the DMV test:

http://community.cruisercustomizing...ycle-Circle-Ride-Test/video/471404/22960.html

And finally, here's DMV's video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N5GqJqw4Rg

Anyway, wheelbase is irrelevant, because you're not required to keep both tires within; just the front tire. You're even allowed to touch the lines, just not cross them. Keeping a single tire within a 2.5' wide circle isn't that difficult. Practice would be good, and DMV publishes the pattern dimensions.

Take a measuring tape, some string and chalk with you to your favorite practice area.
 
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