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The British have a pretty serious motorcycle skills test for licensing. I think I read that they even test you on how you push your bike from one place to another. What I understood is that one is to hold the handlebar grip with one hand and have the other hand on the seat to balance the bike. I've tried to do this in order to benefit from the method of someone much more practiced than myself. When I'm trying to push the bike forward,though, I have to use both hands on the bars.

Is there anyone in our English contingent who will clarify this matter of the tests?

Also, if there is any particular skill you know along those lines, please chime in.

Chuey

Extra points if, upon reading the thread title, you thought, "Well, I don't push my bike. I keep it in tip-top shape".

I only break down at the top of a hill.

I push mine around a lot! More than I ride it so far.

Two hands on the handlebar. My bicycle background wants me to do it one handed, holding the upper triple, but I really don't want to drop the bike.

I'll try the British Standard technique later and report back.

I've done it both ways, but I have both hands on the handlebars most of the time. An important trick I learned the hard way is to have the bike leaning toward you a bit. It's less likely to fall away from you that way.

The one hand behind the seat thing only works for me if the bike has a rack or grab bar behind the seat. Many do not. It's idiotic if they make you do that on a bike that is not designed for it. Besides, I'm much more comfortable on the left side of the bike, which means I don't have a brake if I'm using one hand on the bars.

Like Jeff, I normally use both hands on the bars and have the bike leaned against my hip.

I push my bikes in and out of a lock up everyday. Going forward I always start with both hands on the bars but once rolling I often put my right hand on the seat. Backing the bike up I always have my hand on the seat.

Jeff in W.C. wrote:I've done it both ways, but I have both hands on the handlebars most of the time. An important trick I learned the hard way is to have the bike leaning toward you a bit. It's less likely to fall away from you that way.

I've been of this camp. I'm thinking that the seat balance point has its place but I can't see doing it all the time. It seems that Garnet has come up with the method I'm gravitating toward.

I'd still like some clarification of whether or not I understood the British testing method.

Chuey

A hand on each grip, I guess, standing on the left side of the bike so I can reach the side stand. I definitely want my right hand on the brake.

I just use my right hand holding the seat of my bicycle, 'cause I think it looks cool as if the bike knows where it's going. My motorcycles are too heavy for that and don't have a good place to hang on to.

With the starter motor?

To the limit, and ever so slightly beyond.