Foxy Stoat seeks Pig

this is what i have been taught for my MOD 1 and 2 trainging. Unfortunately i have picked up a bad habit when out on my own of using indicators then mirror. I curse myself every time.

MOD 1 test was last Thursday Two days before the training school phoned me to say that my test and been cancelled but luckily another location had become available. Both test centres are about an hour away from home. I wasn’t too worried by the change a training pad is a training pad I thought. Also I was looking forward to the ride there as I have really enjoyed having the opportunity to ride a bigger bike during the training. I usually ride a 125cc. So we set off about 8am, a real mixture of A and B roads, some duel carriageway and then through busy rush hour city traffic. Arrived at test centre about 9.15-9.30. Was calm all the way through the ride, in fact the concentration helped take my mind off the upcoming test. I went with a fellow trainee so was up first. As we were a little early the examiner said we may as well get started. I went outside with my instructor and watched the other trainee run through his test. This is when the nerves started to hit me and I really wished I was first up rather than have to wait any longer. Nerves didn’t settle any when we found out he had failed. My time came and the examiner looked at paperwork, licence etc. Nice friendly bloke actually, not what I expected for some reason. So on to the test pad. Manual Handling Deep breaths and through the gates and park facing forward into the bay. Then push bike back into next bay. Straightforward despite shaky hands/limbs, support the weight, don’t drop it and make good clear observations. Slalom I always found the start off is crucial, set off too fast and possibly overshoot the turning for the cone, set off too slow and you are in a world of wobble. Fortunately In my mind I could hear my instructor saying 2000 revs, 2000 revs. So up to 2000 revs, gently let out the clutch and remember turning at the right time. No real issues here, as I said for me was all about the start. Figure of Eight Through to figure of eight, kept revs at 2000 using blue cones as markers, twice round and ride over to examiner. Slow Ride Again revs up to 2000 just keep good clutch control and roll to a stop in between cones. U-Turn Now this was the biggy for me, my nemesis and ironically the move I have practiced the most on my 125. Why I hadn’t been told by my instructors was that the white lines we had ben practicing in were not as wide as the 7 meters on the test centre grounds so I actually found this ok. Set off at 2k revs with correct observations and a final look before making the turn. Round we go and bring it to a stop. Much relief after I could finally put my foot down ‘legally’ At this stop the nerves seem to go and I thought the worst of it was over Controlled Stop Round the corner at about 20mph through the cones and controlled stop in between cones. No problems here. Emergency Stop Again round corner, picking up speed to 32mph wait for the signal and stop quickly while maintaining control. Came to a stop, shoulder checks both sides and move on the final manoeuvre. Went through speed check at 32 Swerve/Avoidance The track layout was the opposite to how I have been trained so instead of swerving to the left we were swerving to the right. Out of the corner, twist the throttle to the same speed as the emergency stop, swerve missed the cones and come to a controlled stop. Called over by the examiner and asked to exit the gates. Going through gates and I forgot where and how to park. Just stuck it in the main car park facing forward. Don’t know why but I just didn’t listen to what he was saying to me. Fortunately he didn’t seem to care where I had park, and I fessed up and told him I didn’t actually take in what he had told me. He just laughed. Now through to the office and the shaking starts again. Joy of joys he tells me I’ve passed, one minor I was only doing 31mph for the swerve but was within tolerance. I really thought I was going just as quick if not quicker than the emergency stop. I was so happy and relieved in was over but didn’t want to make to much of a fuss as the other guy was clearly fed up after his fail, he will crack it next time though I’m sure. The ride home was a bit ropey if I’m honest, two stalls along the way and cut across a mini roundabout white disc. Are stalls marked down in the MOD 2 test? The test moves themselves were fine and I knew I was capable but it’s the nerves that got to me just like I knew they would and I know they will on my MOD 2 asweel. Not sure what I can do to combat that really. I could be the most competent rider in the world but under test conditions I’m going to be a shaky quivering mess. Just have to get through one more test now, I’ve come this far.

ha ha, phone call was made to the training scholl office as soon as I had the certificate in my hand

Cheers, i'm absolutely chuffed, can only imagine what it must be like to pass MOD 2.

I passed!!!! so happy. One step closer to losing the L-plates. Just a shame I have to wait until October. Two years to pass my MOD 2 now as I never want to go through that again. So nervy, proper hand shaking. Worked myself up about the U-turn. What I didn't know until my instructor told me today was that the U turn I have been practicing is a much tighter turn than the test centre so I will have plenty of room to nail it and nail it I did! One fault on swerve/avoidance 48kph instead of 50kph but he said within tolerance and didn't ask me to do it again. Thinking back it was all pretty straightforward. I was the 2nd to go, the fella who I trained with went first and unfortunately didn't go fast enough on the avoidance on both attempts. Really helped reading through the experience thread and trust in what your instructor has taught you. Might go for a little ride out later and I don't have to stop on the way back and practice bloody u-turns and figure 8 anymore!!!!!!!!

Apparantly a real shortage of DSA examiners around. 2 month waiting list already for MOD 2.

Thanks all. Even more nervous now as time creeps on, had a good long read through the experience thread and it seems its the nerves that cause the issue. Just got to suck it up and get it done.

Mild panic setting in. Had a full days training on Monday, first time on a ‘big’ bike. Oh my…the speed, need to get me one of those. So the training went well, really really well. I hope it hasn’t left me over confident. The fella who was always training had foot down, skids and trashed cones but that’s fine he has got it out of the way now. I didn’t have any of that so I hope I’m not saving it up for a massive fail!! I know I can do the moves, flew through the mock tests, it just nerves that will get me. Even typing this and my stomach is churning. Any tips to help tomorrow?

I took mine last weekend. Not much help for you tomorrow I'm afraid but I used this and it really helped. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Motorcycle-Theory-Hazard-Perception/dp/1843266210

Will try that again tomorrow.

It looked fine on Sunday though, although haven't checked today.

it seems to have 3 positions, up and middle (level) and down. Always been set to middle, never up as engine just cuts out. just a mystery why now it doesn't like the middle position

Given it a spray when I got home. BUT when I left work, still juddery maybe not as bad as earlier but noticeable. Rode for a couple of miles pulled over got off and adjusted the choke so its in the pointing down position. No more juddery ride or loss of power. Now I have never even touched the choke before, never needed to, always starts and always run fine. Now all of a sudden I need it in the down position. strange.

Thanks - So when its dried out all is well? or is it not that simple?

Noticed something strange last night riding home and i should mention it was hammering down the bike started to get very juddery at high revs in 2nd and 3rd gear, maybe a bit in 1st aswell. Cant say i noticed this over teh weekend when it was dry. But very noticable last night and today. Spark plug looks fine, only changed it 500 miles ago. Choke set correctly (although i never actually move it) and no problem starting this morning, although again it was very wet. Only thing i have done it over the weekend was an oil change. Any ideas? too wet? replace plug? ballsed up the oil change? Thanks all.

Thanks all, will try the grips and see if i can pick up a pack of those screw removers. Not sure what screw i need to replace it with but i guess i wont know until i can get the old one out.

Thanks, probably should have mentioned I have given it a good soak a few times. The screw just starts to crumble now so it really is becoming a mess.

Need some help if possible. I eed to put a new bulb in the headlight on my Honda CG, hopefully before MOT. Problem is screw wont budge. Its all rusted and also the screw slot is mangled. How can I get it out and also would a need a special screw to replace it? Thanks. http://s800.photobucket.com/user/martash2009/media/IMG_20160731_205102130_1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0 http://s800.photobucket.com/user/martash2009/media/IMG_20160731_205102130_1.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Success!! 48/50 theory & 56/75 Hazard Perception. Disappointed I got 2 wrong in the theory, asked which they were but they couldn't tell me which. Hazard was very dodgy, clip 6 saw me click to quickly and no score registered!! Really thought I had chuffed it up then but carried on. So not a great score but a pass anyway. Was very nervous, not sure how I will be for MOD 1 and can't even think about MOD 2. Really looking forward to my MOD 1 training though, never been on anything bigger than a 125cc. So all in all very happy, so much so I almost rode off with my lock still on the bike, DOH!! Thanks for the help so far. I'm saw I will be seeking further advice about the MOD 1 soon....

Thanks all. Really need to smash this as my MOD 1 in a couple of weeks depends on it, otherwise the waiting list is long..........

Theory test tomorrow at 11am. nervous? yep. So I have spent hours upon hours this week revising using The Complete Motorcycle Theory Test DVD. Started off a bit ropey but now getting 50/50 final marks. Happy enough with that but the hazard perception worries me after reading about all kinds of issues with the software. Also I started to revise using the old grainy video clips, which are tricky to make out if i'm honest. But I am correct in thinking they use CG clips now? The ones on the DVD are going well but probably only because I now what to look out for now. There are not many new clips im coming up against or is it just there as a taste of whats involved in the test?

Wow this is scary reading regarding the Chinese bikes and to think that only last week I was undecided whether to take my full test or buy a brand new Chinese bike....what a fool.

Great info, Thanks!!

so was out again practicing u turns and figure 8's today but have a few questions I hope you can help me out with. I know it will be covered in my training but that is a couple of weeks away (theory test permitting) and two weeks = a lot of practicing time for me. is the direction of the u turn on test always a right hand turn? what is the width of the turn? which gear do you perform the u turn in? should I only be using the back brake to control speed and if so are you allowed to use front brake so come to a stop after you have finished the u turn?

Tis a 2001 (x reg) had 15000 miles on the clock. Main reason it was cheapish was it has been dropped on both sides so the fairings all scuffed but I ride it every day in London so for my first bike a bit of superficial damage wasn't a bad thing! Not having the ARGH I HOPE I DON'T RUIN MY PERFECT BIKE voice when you're getting used to a new bike is quite nice Oh yes, definitely nothing too shiny for my first 'big' bike