Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Taking the DMV Skills Test...Circle drill, msf course, lollie pop

Question
Hey Pat...

I live in Los Angeles,  It basically requires you to ride within the bounds of two circles (one inside the other) Painted on the road... It is also sometime referred to as the "lollie pop"  At the DMV is a small lollie pop shaped area.  You ride the bike down the path...where it ends at a cirle...and then you exit on the same path you went down on.  I'd say the circle is about 12' in diameter...

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Followup To
Question -
Hey Pat...

I'm pretty new to riding...(have my permit) and will be attempting the skills test in April.  In the test is the famed...circle test...  I will most likely be riding my sport bike (600cc) and I've heard that they are difficult to ride for this particular test.  

Do you have any advice pertaining to technique on how to practice for this skills test...such as speed while turning etc...  Thanks a ton!
Answer -
I can give you advice but I don't know what the "circle test" is. Can you describe it? In what state do you live?

Pat

Answer
First and foremost, if you haven't taken the basic MSF course, plan on doing so, even if you get your license. There are skills and tricks they'll teach you that are very difficult to figure out on your own. Call 800-446-9227.

12 feet sounds pretty small. I'd find out the exact measurements (it's probably more like 24 feet), then go set one up somewhere and practice it.

As far as the circle test, here's what you need to do:

Head position: Your head should face the direction you want to go, not the ground right in front of you, and DEFINITELY not the painted lines. When you enter the circle, turn your head to look back at the entrance to the circle as much as you can, but you should be looking at least as far as the opposite side of the circle, or about 90 degrees, or "3-o'clock." Keep moving your head and eyes around the circle as you go--by the time you get halfway through, you should be looking at the exit/entrance. Keep your eyes level with the horizon at all times. Use your peripheral vision to track where the painted lines are. If you stare at the lines, you'll run over them, I promise. In fact, use this technique (head and eyes up, looking where you want to go) constantly while you ride. It will change your life.

Body position: You want to be fairly upright with your weight on the outside peg. Lean the bike underneath you a little bit. The bike should be leaning more than you do.

Speed: Too many people try to do this too slowly and they're so unstable they wobble around and have to put their foot down. Go slow, but not so slow you lose your stability. You should be going 5-8 mph for this maneuver.

Clutch/Throttle: Depending on your clutch control, if you're good at it, use the clutch (not the brakes, not the throttle) to control your speed while turning. You'll have to give it a little bit of throttle, of course, but easing the clutch in and out will be a little smoother. If you're not very smooth with your clutch, consider entering the circle a little faster than you think you should, then squeeze the clutch and coast through it like you would on a bicycle. You'll have to ease the clutch out and give it more gas toward the end of the circle. This sort of thing can be difficult with the clutch out and just rolling on the throttle to control your speed--makes you kind of bouncy.

All this stuff I've told you here is taught and practiced in the MSF courses. That's a better way to learn it.

Good luck! Let me know how it goes.

Pat