MissBex

Good to hear you're making progress, I also need more time on the bike to get my riding better so can't wait for the nicer weather! I'm also doing the same as you, I have only really ridden routes I know over and over, mostly country roads with quite a lot of bends. I'm feeling loads more confident compared to when I first got the bike a few months ago after passing my DAS. I still get a funny anxious feeling in my stomache just before I ride out of the drive each time and I definitely need to work on my turns and roundabouts as I'm not doing them tight enough. I think once I'm able to get out more when the weather is nicer the progress will be a lot quicker. Ride safe and keep us posted! Bex

Hey all, I have a £10 off coupon code for http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk for use on Clothing & Helmets (excludes casual clothing, base layers, waterproofs and body armour). It expires on the 30th November 2014 and I'm not going to be able to use it by then myself so if anyone wants the code, (maybe you need a new pair of winter gloves or something?) then just PM me and first to do so can have it. I'll update the post if/when it's gone. RS all. Bex - x -

Big Congratulations Vbar! I can totally empathise with you as I did the exact same amount of tests (Passed 4th mod 1 and 2nd mod 2) and the feeling at the end of it all is just so amazing isn't it. That's why I like to come on here and post advice and my experiences to others to let them know it's worth it in the end. I know for me personally, it really helped reading others experiences and it reassured me that I wasn't the only one to make those mistakes. I think waiting till you're 24 would probs be the best option, especially considering the money and effort involved. I was lucky in that when I decided to ride I was already 24, but maybe someone else with more knowledge will be able to advise of the best rote to take.

Basically each clip contains several potential hazards but only the one that materialises into a real hazard that involves other road users is marked. This is called the “developing hazard”. You'll only receive a score if you spot the developing hazard before it materialises involving other road users. You'll know when this happens because the driver/rider will have to take evasive action (e.g. slow down, stop or swerve out of the way). The score you get will depend on how quickly you've spotted the 'developing hazard'. If you click the mouse just as the hazard appears on screen, you will obtain the maximum score of 5 points. What I did was click when I saw a Hazard once - A kid playing with a ball at the side of the road. Then if it looked like something was then going to happen, click once again - Kid loses control of the ball. Then I'd click once more again if it developed further, causing evasive action - Ball bounces into the road. Clicking once for each stage of a hazard, rather than continuously through the hazard should ensure you get points for the clip but not disqualify you from that clip for clicking too often. Apparently there is a certain maximum number of permitted clicks for any clip. However, they say this is far higher than the potential hazards anybody could reasonably perceive. This site is good to look at if you want more info and tips: http://www.theorytestadvice.co.uk/hazar ... n-test.php

Aww millie, so sorry to hear But I've got a good feeling you'll get it next time, I passed mine 4th attempt so maybe you'll be the same My 3rd attempt was the most nervous for me and failed on stupidly putting my foot down on the u-turn which I hadn't done before. There's not a huge amount of advice I can give you on how to deal with the nerves as they are very overpowering at times like these, but what I found helped me was to not talk or think about the upcoming test at all if I could, get plenty of sleep, and the biggest thing that helped get me through it was keep saying to myself (and anyone who asked) As long as I've got the funds to do it, I'll keep on trying till I pass! And as one of my instructors kept saying to me: Winners never Quit and Quitters Never Win. All the best!! Will be keeping my fingers crossed for you. Also, good luck to you Saxondale for your test coming up. An off of any kind can easily knock confidence. Although I never came off the bike at any real speed, I did drop it numerous times - once right before a mod 1 test as well - but the only thing I could think about was 'I hope the bike's ok!' haha I just wanted to get straight back on and redeem myself lol. The one thing I wished I had done before each of my failed mod 1's was to speak up and ask my instructor if we could do some practice on the maneuvers I was feeling nervous about and had failed on before. If you have any more lessons before your test or even just an hour or 2 before the test on the day, maybe you could ask your instructor to take you somewhere just to practice swerving to get the feel for it on the day? We got taken to a quite road with those mini square speed humps in and we practiced swerving around them right, then the next one left, then right again. Bex

Ooo yay Snap! What year is yours?

Ooo glad you got some training for it at the test centre, that previous school sounded aweful! Wishing you all the best for this weekend!

I do agree and it's definitely a lot better to have more time training than £100 for a few hours of cbt training and no matter how much it does cost you, it really is all worth it in the end

Hya JWat, don't worry, you're not the first and certainly not the last to drop the training bike a fair few times! Here's my longwinded story of my training fails! I also did my training on a XJ6N, lowered as I'm short. The first day I got on the bike, he told me just to ride forward and stop. It was on a gravely area but that wasn't even what I was worried about. I had a funny feeling that when I stopped that my feet wouldn't reach the ground properly and I'd drop the bike. I just sat there. The instructor kept calling me to ride to him, but I didn't. He eventually walked over and asked what was wrong. I said I had a bad feeling. He rode it into the tarmac'd car park area and said ride around on it and get used to the feel of it. So I did. I rode around.. and around.. and around.. Eventually I knew I'd need to stop. I rode the bike round to where my instructor was. He was talking to another instructor. Came to a gentle stop and.... Panicked! Flung both legs out in the air and the bike tipped over. Footpeg snapped off. After that I was ok, but then I didn't have my next lesson till about 3 weeks later (I had spread them out over 2 paydays). There was another guy with us who we had to take to do his mod 1, so we were straight out on the bikes, on the road. Instructor told me to lead. I was nervous as I felt all new again. Got up the road a little jerky and then told to turn right into a side road. As I went to turn, I dropped the throttle and the bike tipped over in the middle of the road. Footpeg snapped off. After that, my instructor made sure he carried a couple of spare footpegs whenever he was training me!! I dropped the bike 2 more times doing U-turn practice, first time the footpeg snapped. 2nd time the bike dropped on the other side and was fine! And once more turning left out of a parked up position as we were leaving from the burger van outside the test centre before my mod 1 test! Luckily the footpeg stayed intact that time! Now onto Mod 1. I failed Three times and passed the 4th attempt First was E-stop skid. 2nd was E-stop - took too long to stop. 3rd I was a nervous wreck and foot-down the U-turn. 4th, I passed with a minor for going 2kph under on the avoidance. *Phew!* Mod 2: I failed my 1st Mod 2 for basically not going fast enough "Making progression" and apparently I was in the wrong lane to turn somewhere at some point, but still to this day I don't know when or where that happened. *Shrug* Passed 2nd attempt with a different examiner with I think it was 2 minors for steering - which was because the schools bike I was on was a different XJ6 than what I had ridden all through my training. The steering felt so loose, like it was slipping about. I told my instructer when we arrived at the test centre and when he looked at it he said it had flat spots and on the tread limit Keep at it, don't give up. The feeling when you pass it all is worth every penny, knowing all the hard work has paid off.

Yes, very similar to Mailee66, I did my DAS course from never ridden to pass. £700 for the course, everything included, but had to take my mod 1 Three extra times and my mod 2 one extra time, totaling around £1400, (which doesn't include the petrol cost of getting there in my car and back each time!) I do think it's all very overpriced but that Pass Certificate is Priceless.

Haha, Yeah does doesn't it!

Well done, Keep it up!!! It's all positive progress so that's awesome ^_^ Don't worry, use the clutch to help control the bike at slow speeds, If I was told correctly, I think they are different from cars as they have a 'wet clutch' (?) So they don't get worn out like a car would if you was constantly riding it. (Did I get that right? haha) At least the weathers been holding up, hopefully it'll stay nice for longer still.

Big Congratulations!! Have a see when they can fit you in for your DAS. Thing is, I think it'd be ok now to do it weatherwise but it will soon be getting colder, rainier and darker quicker, so might be best to just a get a 125 for the Autumn/winter. Although, I know some schools do put winter deals on their courses as they are not as busy. I booked from from the end of Feb this year and got 10% winter discount (With Camrider) which was a saving of £77 from the course.

Big congrats!! Just to nail that Mod 2 now

Best of Luck! Let us know how it goes

Aww Well Done Spacemonkey! Such a relief after all the time and effort isn't it

Heya, I had to retake my mod 1 three times and each retake cost me £125.50 which was based on £15.50 Test fee and £110 4 hour session (Which worked out to a couple hours riding before the test, going to the test centre, waiting around at the test centre for a while before the test, taking the test, waiting for the other person with us to take their test, then riding back to the school or to do a little extra practice if we failed afterwards or to stop off for tea and biscuits when I passed hehe) Mod 2 I failed the first and the retake fee for that was £185 (£75 Test fee and £110 4 hour session) So I think you are being slightly ripped off if you ask me... And just to put it out there, these were Camrider Prices.. A good, reputable school and not the cheapest around.

Good to hear it went well for you Scaredylady! Keep it up and keep us updated

Aww thanks Miguel The Penguin! And best of luck to you, I'm sure you'll do great! Keep us posted Bex

That first school you was with sounded right dodgy! I went with Camrider (Peterborough), did a 1 hour free get-on session with them, straight on a geared bike and then booked my DAS which included CBT. I was the only one there doing it on a geared bike, the rest were all on scooters (By choice!). If the London Camrider is anything like the one I was at then you should find it a much more enjoyable experience I passed my CBT that day I did it but still did an extra hour the next day on the 125 to get back into it before moving to the XJ6.

Ahh nice to hear you've gone with a new school, I saw this thread just after replying to you're other thread about trying a new school!! haha Hope the lesson goes well, let us know

Aww keep at it Scaredylady, you'll get there in the end! I was reading a post from another lady biker today and she was saying that after she'd failed her Mod 1 a certain amount of times and confidence was really knocked, she changed school. She said there was nothing wrong with the training she was getting at the first school, but new instructors, new bike, was like a fresh start and she described it as a revelation and ended up passing her tests next time round. Might be worth considering?

Congratulations Stan!!

CoNgRaTs StaninGrimsby!

Well Done Karmin!