Make your own Basic Handling Skills Test course (BHST)


By creating your own course similar to the official testing item, you will actually learn more and improve your riding ability in your own free time.


The BHST course is actually a great learning toolset for learners as it tests many essential handling items needed for the public roads in a realistic manner at low speeds. 


Many people think you can only practice at the learning school’s setup BHST course, that is a limited approach to learning and only slows you down from understanding your own handling skillset. 


Practice is the only way to be good at riding a motorcycle.



What will you need to setup your own course?


A quiet street or road with no parked cars (Preferably)

It should be 10 meters wide and have at least 30 meters long free space. You will find a quiet street nearby or in an industrial park that is dormant in the weekends. Maybe a large carpark is near by so early mornings might be best before the stores open and shoppers arrive.


Chalk

The bigger the better, kids chalk comes in convenient sized packs and it is the best tool for the job. Chalk is far more portable than cones and very easy to see. If you have to let a car pass you won’t need to be blocking a public areas with road cones. (The budget low cost road cones are too light, they blow around easily in the wind) 


Rope

One 5meter piece of trailer tie down rope is all that is needed… 


Cable ties (optional)

Helps to mark the 2.5 meter and can easily be used to make tight loops in the rope for your finger to hold on to while drawing the course out with chalk. 


Measuring Tape

Just to mark out the rope at 2.5 meters and 5.0 meters. If you purchased a longer rope section, cut to 5meters. 


Anchor for the string (optional, only needed if you are by yourself)

This is merely a weight with a easy point the string can rotate around, like a small wood item heavy enough to stay put while you use the string and chalk.

Get creating your BHST!


The BHST course is essentially 3x 10 meter circles joined end to end with 3x 5 meter inner circles. 


This is why we made a video to show how easy it really is to mark out. Words don’t do it justice.


Circle A

That one piece of rope, a friend or your anchor holds one end at the center of circle A, do the 5 meter circle (2.5 meter radius!) and then a 10 meter (5.0 meter radius!) outside half circle and mark the where a cone exists between circle’s A and B


Circle B

Put you anchor or friend to the center of circle B using the 5 meter rope as your distance from the cone position as marked between circle’s A and B.

Only mark the outside 10meter side edges and the next cone position between circle’s B and C, do the 5 meter inside circle.


Circle C

Put you anchor or friend to the center of circle C using the 5 meter rope as your distance from the cone position as marked between circle’s B and C.
Same as Circle A, only mark the outside 10 meter half circle, add the 5 meter inside circle.

You do not need to make solid lines, just make dashed lines so it is clear to see - Solid lines uses a lot of chalk!

Most roads will be 10 meters wide so there is no real need to mark out the outside lines from the sides of Circle’s A, B and C but if you need to, use the 5 meter rope to show a straight line between each circle edge and mark a chalk dash line.


Use any colour you want!


There are some additional start and stopping positions shown in blue to mark out to make life easier.


Summary

Create your BHST course 

Moto Agent Helper chose 10 meters width to fit on most accessible paved road areas or to line up with car park lengths (most carparks are 5 meters long, *2 = 10 meters!), this makes it easy to create the official 5 meter internal circles and spacing. We are fairly sure the official course is actually wider at 12 meters wide.  


If you can do it all within a 10 meter wide course near home, you will turn the day of your 6L assessment into a great day.


You must watch the NZTA BHST video, other items are still worthy video demonstration items

*Credit to Cars N Bikez for making a BHST video (External Demonstration)


Once you are confident, book a session with your local Motorcycle NZTA approved learning school and pass the BHST

Contact Moto Agent Helper

EMAIL: assist@motoagenthelper.com

FACEBOOK https://facebook.com/motoagenthelper

“Ride better every day” - Moto Agent Helper