Hey guys. I've been reading your site/forum for awhile now and I really enjoy it. All the info i've needed i've gotten from here. Thanks for that.

Now i'm looking for a place that will rent me a bike and let me do the road test as well. Besides Johnny Motorbike. Just finished the test there and the guy failed me. I'm very frustrated about that. I don't know if he was very grumpy or if he just didn't like me. The only time I noticed him enjoy himself was when he told me I had failed.

He dinged me for signals (30 points). I accept that. I forgot them at the stop sign in the parking lot. I'm a dummy and hit the horn instead of the signals. I accept it. I left them on too long. Once for sure I can remember but he dinged me twice for that. I can accept it.

He got me for a stalled bike. Well, I stalled it. What did I expect? It was my first red light and I wasn't used to the clutch. My bad. I accept that 10 points as well.

That's 40 points all at the beginning of the test. He claims I did not look at all at an uncontrolled intersection. He asked me what an UI was. I paused thinking it was a trick question and answered, "An intersection with no lights or signs to tell you where to go or what to do..." He asked me if there was anything else. Confused I tried by saying, "Maybe if the lights are out." I know to treat that like a stop sign though. At least that's what I think to do there (and would do) lol

He told me, "No, an UI is when there are no stop signs or no yield signs to control the intersection." That made me angry because that was what I basically just said. I told him that I understood he was the guy with the paper and he was going to fail me but I did look. It has been my job for the past 7 months to crew command an APC overseas and I know I look before and during every intersection and everything in between. It's my job. I recognize that my glance may not be as pronounced as he wanted but I did look.

He said no I didn't. Flat out. No. I told him I would not lie. He told me I did lie. I haven't been that angry in awhile. That was it. I took my paper work and left.

Everything up until then was awesome. Even though it was rush hour I had a blast riding. It was all fun. I felt I did a great job. I know I did and the paper proves it except for that UI.

Bah. Sorry, i'm frustrated and i'm putting this up here to try and find other places or maybe even to see if someone else more coherent and nice will also let me know what I did wrong so I may sort it out.

Sorry and thanks if you read this far lol

- Steve

Edit: I just finished my motorcycle course at Alberta Safety Council and they were awesome. Gave me a ton of tools to work with on bikes and I felt really, really comfortable during the test. I know I can ace the next one given my head swivels more during those intersections.

My own thread seems the best place to post this for anyone else looking. I sent out e-mails to nearly all the registries I could find to see if they offered testing as well as bike rentals. So far these are my results:

• West-End Registries/Johnny Motorbike: Combined total was $214 I believe.
• Millwoods Registries:  Test is $144.65 and the rental fee is $94.50 with a total of 239.15 (before taxes?)
• Monarch Registries: Test is $130.20 and the rental fee is $50.00 with a total of 180.20 (military discounts)

• Registries on Wye: Just the test ($125.75)
• MBS Registry: Just the test
• Abbey Road Registries: Just the test
• Edmonton Registries Services: Just the test ($144.65)

There were a few other replies but they did not offer bike tests at all.

Registries on Wye is the one in sherwood park? Seems to be the best price in the city for just the test?

All Season Motorsports in calgary does rentals. I think they have a BMW. They are having a BBQ and demo day today (July 17) at noon.  They are at 14th street and 10th ave sw. You either have to be heading south on 14th or east on 10th to get there.

I was looking at renting a bike in BC for a week, But decided against it. The company charges from 500ish(7 Days for a Moped, to 1600 a week for a harley) 11 - 12 for something like a 1000 VStrom. I could pay to have someone trailer mine out there for less than that. . .

Or you could ride your bike out there? That's a great ride no matter which highway you take.

Regarding the BMW test ride, that's good to know but my bike's in the shop now anyway so I'd have no way of getting out there, and it's too late anyhow, but I would have loved to ride their new supersport (which im sure would have been the first bike booked).

I rode an R1200gs once, and didn't want to give it back after the hour i had it for (turned that into 2 hours because I couldnt help myself lol). I'd really enjoy having it for an extended period of time. Great machine.