robert_the_line

2 passes and posts in 1 week - i was trying my hardest to get it through before the rule change in 2013 on a 125 as well. to be honest i was getting really worried as the weathers started to turn nasty. i passed mod 1 on my 3rd go, i failed fast time on emergency and 2nd time on the swerve, found the swerve to be the hardest on the 125.

passed my mod 2 on monday, its been a bit of a haul over the last 2 months to get through. so glad i did it before the new rules come into affect, such a relief. took it at greenham newbury, 2nd time, found the motorbike examinors to be alot more friendly than the car test. the guy remembered me and is a really friendly chap. I realised yesterday that it was the same route as my 1st test but in reverse, it was around school finishing time and the roads near the schools were pretty busy. Few nervous moments when there were parked cars on the opposite side of the road and people were moving onto my side without giving way, thought i had failed as i just kept going and there were a couple of awkward moments. Steep Hill start, couple of angled starts, thought i might tool the hill start but it was ok. Got 1 minor for lane positioning on a roundabout, which ironically i failed my first test on. When the roundabout has markings im fine, but when its blank i seem to move more into the middle like im in a car.... probably to used to that. Glad i dont have to drive all the way from windsor to newbury again.

Unfortuantely failed my mod 2, thought i failed alot earlier in my test than the 5 mins before the end of it lol! Struggled to hear the examinor when we got seperated and that happened almost immediately at the begenning. I think he thought i was trying to blag it that i couldnt hear him, the unguided riding was the first thing i did and i he told me where to head towards and i didnt have a clue. Bit of a shakey ride as a whole but i failed on roundabout positioning, 3 lanes on approach, left only, straight and right. i was going straight and he said i was too over to the right whilst on the round about but moved over as exiting but was too late. It didnt help that i came onto it in too high a gear so was a bit sluggish. Maybe next time!

you should get a second attempt, i think from what i read that doesnt apply if you already did the emergency stop too slow.

Another £130 thats really steep, where abouts are you based/taking the test? When i did mine i had to pay for the days training, and then every retest after that was £60. If they are charging £130 for module 1 then i would definetly clarify what the cost of module 2 would be as if you cant afford another 130 i imagine that would be even more. 2 years isnt that long in the scheme of things to ride restricted, i found really useful before taking the test to make sure i knew the sound/pitch when up to 30ish in gear 2 of the bike. I practiced this on the training centres bike at least 3 times on the road near the test site, then in my actual test on the controlled stop i went through a little slower, asked the guy the speed and that helped me mentally prepare for emergency stop.

thanks for the reply much appreciated but im doing it on a 125 - so going into third will no way allow me to make the 32mph speed needed. I think i did 51kph on emergency stop and 52 on swerve yesterday and that was up into the max revs. do any of you think that letting off the throttle slightly earlier i.e. just before the bike goes through the speedo rather than just after will drop me under the requirement? my way of thinking is that if i let off a little earlier so its not all one big rush will give me that split second to focus more on the swerve. if i get lucky might be fast enough, worst case i get another go?

on my mod1 training ( a 1 hour lesson) i figured a way of getting up to around 35mph + in 2nd gear (thats the important part) and letting off the throttle about ten metres before the speed trap and using engine braking to do most of the work for me, then after i'd swerved around the cone and straightened up it didn't require as much braking because the gear is slowing you down going at a steady 31 ish mph and having to slam on the brakes was more difficult for me i dont know if that tip makes any sense ? Did you take it on a 125? I found the engines almost screaming as i come up to the speed trap, 10 metres would be quite far back no? So you let off the throttle just before going through the speed trap rather than as soon as you go through? That makes sense to me that as you have already let up off the throttle it would give you more time to get in line, im just concerned about not making the speed limit... no mate i was on a 500cc bike and second gear was just about perfect to give me sufficient engine braking, and that is screaming a bit on the gs 500 i took my test on! but in answer to your other question yes i let off before the speed trap, it just gives you more time to concentrate on the manoeuvre and your slowing all the time too! just thinking and that doesnt sound too much of a bad idea letting up jus before the speed trap, i 100% agree more time to concerntrate on the actual swerve just worried about the speed being under but then again if it is id get another go!

on my mod1 training ( a 1 hour lesson) i figured a way of getting up to around 35mph + in 2nd gear (thats the important part) and letting off the throttle about ten metres before the speed trap and using engine braking to do most of the work for me, then after i'd swerved around the cone and straightened up it didn't require as much braking because the gear is slowing you down going at a steady 31 ish mph and having to slam on the brakes was more difficult for me i dont know if that tip makes any sense ? Did you take it on a 125? I found the engines almost screaming as i come up to the speed trap, 10 metres would be quite far back no? So you let off the throttle just before going through the speed trap rather than as soon as you go through? That makes sense to me that as you have already let up off the throttle it would give you more time to get in line, im just concerned about not making the speed limit...

failed my module 1 for the second time today, first time i locked the rear brake on the emergency stop and clipped the blue cone on the test today looks like i wont be joining SOA any time soon lol. Any tips for the swerve? - I also find it hard to get back on line to stop within the 2 blue cones after i have completed it. After i have come out of the swerve should i be straightening up before applying the brake, also should it only be front brake? i just find the cones are almost upon me as soon as i have swerved and panic a little thanks guys