Update your motorcycle licence to 6R or 6F
CBTA 6R restricted licence competency assessment.
You may sit the restricted rider competency assessment immediately after obtaining your 6L learner licence. Using the non-competency testing method will result in a six-month waiting period before you can apply for your 6R restricted licence riding test.
It's best to attend some tuition before this rider assessment. You should have your own motorcycle and enough road-riding confidence to complete the assessment.
Once you have your 6R restricted licence, having a L ("Legends") plate on display is no longer required.
CBTA 6F full licence competency assessment.
You may take this rider 6F competency assessment 9-months after obtaining your 6R restricted licence.
Using the non-competency testing method will result in an 18-month waiting period before you can take the 6F full licence riding test.
If you pass the competency-based 6F full licence assessment, you cannot submit your new rider competency certificate to a licensing agent until 12 months have elapsed from the issue date of your 6R restricted licence. (Moto Basics didn't make the rules!)
Once you have a 6F full motorcycle licence, you may operate any motorcycle and ride at any hour of the day as the curfew restrictions are removed.
See external resources for NZTA links.
CBTA assessments.
- The motorcycle 6R assessment is longer, around 50 minutes.
- The motorcycle 6F assessment is shorter, around 25-30 minutes. This assessment is similar to the 6R assessment and confirms you have retained good rider habits since the previous rider assessment.
This website and the material found here is designed to give new riders the chance to absorb and retain relevant information for their own "learning to ride journey".
The complete index for guides can be found here: https://motobasics.nz/knowledgebase-articles
Mirror, head-checks and road scanning #402 see general guides section
Moto Basics handy road scan tool #301:
NZTA Ride Forever 10 point vehicle checklist #305:
NZTA Ride Forever online road education guides #306:
For 6L learner riders preparing for the 6R restricted assessment
Please see the Mirror, head-checks and road scanning #402 ASAP.
- Print and stick the "Handy Road Scan Tool #301" to your motorcycle and start practising your road scanning and mirror checks!
- Mirrors and road scanning is not an assessed part of the BHST training but it is part of your 6R/F assessment.
After passing your BHST assessment and gaining your 6L motorcycle licence, you should look to purchase a LAMs motorcycle (Learner Approved Motorcycle) to acquire the rider experience needed.
Before you go for your 6R or 6F assessment, aside from effective control of a motorcycle you will need to have good habits for head and mirror checks, positioning and speed control and all the competencies expected.
It is unlikely you will pass any assessment without understanding what is actually needed. ACC Ride Forever courses are cost-friendly solutions to obtain some information on your rider progress and get valuable feedback on what you need to work on as a motorcycle rider.
Rider habits - The good and the bad
It takes a few hours to embed one habit properly through repeated actions so it becomes automatic, that's why good habits should be practiced soon as possible so you don't have to un-learn bad habits!
What are bad habits?
Speed management (too slow or too fast), crossing solid white lines at intersections, not turning off indicators after use, not checking mirrors before stopping at any intersection, not doing head checks when changing lanes or being too close to other vehicles through corners (centre-line riders on right corners… looking at you!)
You should have your own motorcycle for 6R and 6F competency assessments
To obtain your 6R (Restricted) or 6F (Full) motorcycle licence, you will need to be confident that you have acquired all the road skills and rider confidence to complete this riding assessment - That is assuming your time spent on two wheels was used to create good rider habits!
It is estimated a new rider may need around 100 hours practicing good riding habits to be confident, If you only ride for two hours once a week, and only in fine weather, it may take a while to build a good skill level.
Moto Basics recommends you ride as often as possible like commuting to work and ride regardless of weather conditions unless temperatures are sub zero. (sub-zero temps = black ice risk!)
The skills you learn do have a purpose and will keep you alive vs. the large fleet of four (4) wheeled vehicles not paying attention while moving down our roads.