MissBex

Getting on the bigger bike (XJ6N) was a great feeling for me (once I'd got used to stopping it without being all wobbly cause it was slightly taller) I loved the position and handling a lot more than the old GN125 I had on my CBT the day before. Since you've already been riding a 125 around you'll already have a bit of a head start with slow control I think, but since you've got a while to wait, maybe you can take some mini cones or some other objects with you to a quiet car park or industrial place and practice the Mod 1 maneuvers like slalom, figure 8, u turn etc.. Enjoy the training days, how many did you book? (I did the full 6 day course which involved cbt and 3 days training). If possible it's good if you can get a while on the actual Mod 1 test area. The school I was with was allowed it on Wednesdays and one of my training days was a Wednesday which was good, so might be worth asking about that if you don't already know. And hopefully they've booked your Mod 1 & 2 about a week apart? Last thing you want is to lose your Mod 2 fees if Mod 1 doesn't go quite right, which is what happened to a guy I was with for my 2nd Mod 1 attempt. if you feel like you want to practice anything more, let them know so you can do it as much as you need. I was terrible for not doing that and wish I'd spoken up a little more at times so I felt more confident before moving on to other things hehe. Enjoy Yourself!

Good Luck, Have fun! Update us later

That was the same for me too, fine on the first attempt but a lot more nervous 2nd time. I've got the gear, although helmet, gloves and jacket need replacing really from years being pillion. Just gotta save for the bike. Seen sooo many out today in the nice weather too, makes you want one even more! But got about another 2 paydays before I can afford anything.

I don't know anything about the area but congratulations on passing Mod 1 and Best of luck with the Mod 2! Try not to panic too much, try and be relaxed, take your time and enjoy the ride. Some nerves are ok but too much can make you tense and make silly mistakes. Get a nice nights sleep and have a good breakfast in the morning to help your concentration. Remember your mirrors & lifesavers and make them clear and obvious for the examiner. I was advised to park the bike as far away from the examiners bike as possible at my test centre so you've got lots room to turn out of the space. Don't make the mistake I did on my first test of missing speed limit signs so I didn't know the limit on the road (ended up failing for going to slow). Fingers crossed for you.

Yay, Congrats gbtcof! Don't worry bout 9 faults, a Pass is a Pass, the 'Test' word does funny things to people.

Congratulations gjpollitt! Best of luck with your Mod 2. Looking at the ER6's for myself, they seem like good first bigs bikes.

Congratulations mrk123! Mine was 2nd attempt also, such a great relief ey! Just waiting to hear from gbtcof to pass his now!

Not sure if anyones already mentioned it as only quickly skimmed through the replies, But what I'd suggest is if you don't already know about stuff in the highway code, road signs, road rules etc.. try and learn it before you go. When I had my CBT, I already knew it all as I've been driving a car for years and had to do it all on my car theory and again on my bike theory, but the 2 young lads that were there doing their cbt on scooters did have a clue and the instructor wasn't impressed. Make a good impression by knowing your stuff In regards with gear, I had my own full gear anyways but the school I was with had loads of spare jackets, gloves, helmets, waterproofs for people to borrow. Hopefully yours will too out of a safety perspective. As previously mentioned, don't be afraid to ask questions also, you need to make sure you fully understand everything before you go out on the road. 1 more important note: Look where you want to go! It really does work just like that. First time I got on the 125 and attempted a small turn, I didnt look where I wanted the bike to steer to and ended up just going in a straight line hehe

Hello again everyone, Originally I was having to wait till June 17th for my Mod 2 retest, however last week my school called and told me there was a cancellation for the 30th of May (Today). I said yes as it was an early test (10:14) as I have work in the evening. Went down there and had the other lad on the 500 who was with me last time there for his 3rd attempt. They put on me a different xj6 that I had briefly ridden before but didn't like the steering as it felt really light and loose but I said I'll use it anyway. When we pulled up outside the centre I told my instructor about it and he had a look and said it's probably being cause by the front tyre as it seems to be right on the limit and has flat spots. I was told we've got a different examiner this time, Seemed a pretty friendly bloke really. The lad went first and we went out for a little ride. We got back the the test centre after a while and then lad returned, but unfortunately he had failed again Apparently he didn't do enough observations. Just before my turn, my instructor said to make sure I do plenty of obvs everywhere as this guy is hot on them. Did my questions and went out for the ride. I felt I was making more little minor mistakes this time and didn't hold up much hope for passing, but when we got back to the test centre, he told me I'd passed with only 2 faults, of which they were because sometimes when I moved over in the lane of went around things, sometimes my steering was a little quick & sudden rather then smooth - which I said to him part of the blame for that is the funny steering on this bike. hehe! I'm am soo relieved and soo happy!

I'm about 5ft 2 and I'm doing my DAS on a XJ6 thats been lowered and had some foam taken out of the seat. I can Flat foot one side and nearly flatfoot the other side. The school I'm with has 2 other XJ6's that have also been lowered, one of them has been lowered a little more (on the front suspension) than the one I've been using but when I tried it out the steering felt too light and different so I went back to the other one lol. I'm also wearing Dainese Grace Boots which give me a nice little bit of height increase also. (Around £120) Go around to all your local schools and ask if you can just sit on some bikes to see if you are comfortable Also, this is a nice website where you can play around with bikes and rider height, inseam, seating position, lowering etc.. might be useful for you: http://cycle-ergo.com/

A real shame it's knocked her confidence so much, I hope shes doing ok now. She may come round eventually in time and want to try again, but I'll tell you, I'm currently doing my DAS. I did a day for my CBT on a GN125. Whilst practicing U-turns in the small training space, I took the turn too wide, panicked seeing the oncoming wall, forgot to pull the clutch in and ended up scraping the bike down the wall lol! It was fine, just a few scuffs hehe Just felt like a wally in front of the other 3 guys scooter training All was good after that and I thoroughly enjoyed myself riding around the roads and passed the CBT. I had about an hour the next day on the 125 to get back into the feel of it, then went straight up to the XJ6. It's got huge crash bars on and the price includes CDW (Crash damage waiver). When I first got on it, I was quite nervous as I couldn't plant both feet flat. I was fine riding around the car park, but as I went to stop I panicked and put both feet out but the bike just went over. Footpeg snapped. After that I was ok that day, just felt like a wally again. Next lesson was about 3 weeks after as I had it spread across paydays. This time we had a guy with us going for his mod 1. I felt a little nervous as I hadn't been on the bike for 3 weeks and had only done a few hours on it but we went straight out onto the roads with me in the lead. Got to the first right turn and I dropped the revs on the turn and laid it down again. Footpeg Snapped again! After that I was ok again, just felt like a big wally again! Next lesson, Mod 1 training. U-turn, first one I tried... Laid it down again! Footpeg snapped again! Then again later practicing in a car park, Laid it down again.. this time the footpeg didn't snap! Phew lol My instructor said that it's good that I've not been put off and said that I'm "Quietly Determined." I ended up passing Mod 1 (4th time lucky!) after some silly little mistakes, and only need to get this Mod 2 out the way now. I know reading this probably won't make her any likely to change her decision, but maybe she'll find a little comfort knowing that she's not the first and definitely not the last to drop/lay/crash the bike on lessons.

Sorry to hear mrk123 & gbtcof No calls for any cancellations for me so looks like I'll be waiting till the 17th. By the look it seems we've all written that we thought we did ok, but I guess we don't see it the way the examiners do. gbtcof, I had 3 marks against the box labeled "appropriate speed" with the 'S' fault box marked next to it, but also had 3 marks in the "undue hesitation" box but no mark in the S box next to that, so I guess it's just down to if they consider it to be a 'Serious' fault or not, and not generally how many marks you get in it. I've looked on Google maps to see if I can trace the route for my test so I could have a look to see where it was that I was in the wrong lane to turn off. I can only remember the route for the independent ride but then after that I can't remember which ways I was taken, but I've looked along that whole route on that part and can't see anywhere where I would of made the mistake, so it must have been after it. I also had a look at the bit where he said 'follow the signs for the station', and then I went to take a left turn and he said no not into the car park.. Well there's a sign just before that car park that clearly says 'Station' with the train picture and a left arrow, so I must have seen that and thought it was left, then reassured by a glance at the sign for the left turn which says 'Station car park' - obviously I didn't read the car park bit. Best of luck for your next attempts guys, hopefully you won't have to wait as long for yours!

Hi all, bit of a long one (Sorry). So here we go again, I had my Mod 2 today after passing my Mod 1 last Thus. It was me & a lad doing his A2 Mod 2 2nd attempt. He went first and me and the instructor went for a little ride around. I was pretty calm and the sun was shining. After we came back the the test centre, the young lad finished his test about 5 mins later, pulled in the bay and just shook his head. He failed for following too closely to cars in front and going too fast Sad I could tell he was very very gutted/upset/angry. He hardly spoke to anyone and ask the instructor to take him back the the training school so he could go home. So I waited outside for a while until the examiner came back out to do my test. Questions and number plate went ok and then started the riding. Independent ride first straight away, I felt alright although I did make 1 little mistake when he said follow the signs for the Station I indicated to go into a left hand turn what I thought said Station on it, but then he radios through with "No, follow the signs for Station, not into a car park" God knows what I read on the sign Carried on through the rest of the test, thought I wasn't doing too bad, kept a nice distance from cars and did loads of obvs. Didn't wobble about on stops etc.. Came to some areas where I looked about for speed limits but for the life of me couldn't see any or had missed them when entering the area so I was a bit worried about what speed to go. Got back the the test centre behind a car turning in and he just sits and waits in the turning looking at the parking spaces. I sit and think to myself.. do I go on the other side of the road and go road.. hmmm he's a learner, maybe I should wait in case he moves off as I go around.. I decided to wait. Parked up, end of the test, took my helmet off and said to my instructor "I've got no idea how it went." Go over to examiner (Same one I've had for the mod 1's) and he says those gutting words "Sorry It's a fail". :( On the debrief he told me on the independent ride bit I was in the wrong lane at one point to turn left (I think). He tried to explain where it was but I don't know Peterborough well and in general I can never remember my way round places until I've been there loads of times lol. He said he had to hold the traffic back because of it. Fair enough. 1 serious in road markings I also didn't get up to speed/make progress enough. I guess that might have been those areas where I didn't know if it was 20, 30 or 40 maybe. 3 minors for that which he turned to a serious fault. He also give me 3 minors for hesitation, apart from sitting behind that learner at the end I didn't think I was hesitant at any junctions or roundabouts? Unless he was saying that not going fast enough is hesitation? 1 minor for awareness and Planning 2 minor for change of speed I really didn't think I did too bad at all, but I guess I did I am generally a more laid back rider not a speed demon, but he said it was like I was not confident or scared of the speed, but really I was just keeping a nice distance between me and other vehicles, going slower through built up areas and ofc the thing that I think caught me out was not knowing the speed limits on a couple of roads. Just to top it all off, my school can't get me a retest for 1 month! My instructor said that's quite a wait and to book another day training just before to brush up and not feel rusty, but I don;t know if i'll have the funds to do that yet.

UPDATE: Hey again! Just a little update from me. I did my 4th Mod 1 retest today... and I passed it!!! Woohoo, what a relief 1 Minor for doing 48 on the avoidance. Absolutely chuffed

Thanks, I've just posted an little introduction there now I agree with you, I was quite suprised about it too and he basically said to me that he knows I can do it already He's a nice enough guy but I think I need to speak my mind more and not be so shy. This time round when he asks if there's anything I want to particularly go over I'll say anything and everything possible please! Specially slow maneuvers & uturns to get back into the feel of the bike. After I failed my first Mod 1 I had to wait near 3 weeks for my retest for booked an extra 4 hour day in between which included an hour in the test centre to practice again. That makes it a total of 4 days of training on the XJ6 + a few extra hours of training/riding around before & after each of my Mod 1 attempts. I'm not sure that having the extra training will help much as I know how to do all the maneuvers but I think it's now my nerves more than anything from failing time after time that's knocking my confidence.

I was nervous about it the first time I was going for Mod 1 but as I did it fine and again on 2nd attempt I wasn't initially worried about it the 3rd time. It was more the Estop that was bothering me as that is what I'd failed on twice beforehand. But as I was already shaken up with nerves when I got to it on the 3rd attempt I think it was just all too much and all what I usually do went out the window. Thing is, on the few hours we had of riding around with the instructor beforehand, we went to an area so the younger lad could practice his uturns and as I sat and waited for him to get it right after a few goes the instructor said right lets go and I didn't get the chance to do it. This time round I'm going to speak up and make sure I get a chance to practice beforehand too. I don't have a bike to practice on, I'm on my DAS with no prior motorcycle experience other than being pillion a lot. I have 6-7 years of road experience through driving my car so hopefully Mod 2 wont be too bad, but not going to worry about that till I get this darn Mod 1 passed. I know I can do it as I've managed to do the whole thing fine in practice and over the 3 attempts have done all the maneuvers fine, I just need to do them all right in a single attempt. I feel that it's easy to pass, yet easy to fail.

Hya all, I'm doing a full DAS course, having no previous riding experience behind me but have been driving a car for 6 years. Here's my Mod 1 journey so far... First Attempt: Don't feel too nervous, in my mind I was very worried about the u-turn as this is what I most struggled with in lessons. I thought I had a 50/50 chance to pass or fail. Went in, was quite windy and was asked if I wanted to continue. I'm here now so might as well. Did all the slow maneuvers fine and did a good u-turn. Found myself relieved. Controlled stop was fine, then comes the E-stop. Not had any issues before with it, went through at 50km and pushed too much on the rear brake. Back wheel locked, skidded about a bit. Instant fail. The retest was booked for almost 3 weeks later so booked an extra days lesson in at to practice at the test centre again where I worked on Estop over and over as well as all the other things to make sure I could do them right. Second Attempt: A tiny bit more nervous than the first time but nothing major. Went in, did all the slow maneuvers well including the U-turn again. Kept thinking to myself to hardly even touch the back brake at all on Estop. Came round the bend, accelerated, started slowing down, stopped... Examiner stood where he was for a minute looking at me, the cones, his speed reading machine thing, his clipboard. Walked over to me and said, "I'm sorry but it's a fail" I was so sad and asked why. He said I hadn't stopped soon enough for the speed I was going - which was 49km. Didn't get another attempt or a chance at the swerve. Test 2 over. Third Attempt: Sat in the waiting room, I was 2nd to go in after a young lad doing it for his A2 this time. I was very very nervous this time, I felt spaced out. My instructor kept looking at me and smiling to try and make me smile but I felt like I was in another world. My turn and I ride into the test area. Did the slow maneuvers, was a little slow and wobbly with a high rev on the slalom and figure of 8 this time. Rode around to the examiner when he signaled me over but I didn't realise he wanted me to go around a cone he was standing next to on the other side to the side I was riding at, so made a quick swerve around it missing it by about a cm! Stopped ready for the slow ride, did my observations, went to pull off and stalled! Sat for a few seconds and thought to myself omg Is that a fail!? Examiner came over and said, "don't worry, that's not a fail" Pheeeww. Big sigh of relief. Did slow ride and stopped ready for uturn. He explained it to me and then I sat for a min and I was shaking and so nervous. I said to him "I just need a minute, I'm really nervous" And he said to take my time theres no rush. Deep breaths, looked at what I needed to do, Obvs and started the uturn... Too slow, Too nervous, Foot down. Examiner comes over and says "Now that IS a fail". Gutted. He asked if I wanted to continue the test and I said yes. I proceeded to do everything else perfectly. Estop & Swerve were great and did them both at 52km. Got Attempt Four booked and is coming up in a few days. I don't know what I'm going to be like. I know I can do it all, I just need to not make a mistake. Easier said than done