The_Old_Bugga

It's been a while and I passed back in March and taking delivery of my brand new F700GS at the end of this month.

Ok so finally I've passed MOD 2 and had a very nice examiner in Burgess Hill called Nick. Since failing in Enfield (examiner: Mark J) for doing 24 in a 20 limit, I've done a bit of digging. First I spoke to two traffic police persons in the MET and both said they felt that was unrealistic. So then I called the local council who told me that the 20mph limit is only an advisory limit suggested by the council and not a legal limit. So Mark J at Enfield testing Center, you need to be re-tested on your local and Highway Code knowledge and in my opinion, until then, you are not sufficiently qualified to examin.

I have my third Mod 2 test booked for next week, the 27th in Bexhill. I've had enough now so it will defiantly be the last time whatever the outcome. Each of us have our own experiences and opinions and in my experience and opinion, it's a money making racket with little or no consistency, moody examiners and "some" up themselves instructors.

Thanks Northern Biker, Finger crossed I won't need to do it again. It's two weeks today, I'm nervous and can't wait at the same time.

Well I wouldn't do that even if I knew how. Ironically, I don't like speed! I was very annoyed that I wasn't allowed to complete the whole of the test that I had actually paid for and at least given the benefit of the doubt after assessing me on the whole test. I wasn't even given the chance to to the free ride part of the test. He had also already told me before we started that he had flu and was not feeling well, so perhaps he was keen to get out of the freezing cold as soon as possible. Or perhaps he thought I was worth a bit more money on another test. Who knows. I've done some research and it seems that Enfield has the lowest pass rate in the whole country. I also found out that examiners don't exactly get rich doing it on a starting salary of £24pa. Hmmmmm...... Having said all this. I was doing 24mph in a, all be it, 20mph limit and I hadn't noticed. So, so be it. I have another test booked at Bexhill on the 27th, so I'm going to put all my positive thoughts into that. Like I said, it's a life goal that I really want to achieve. Unfortunately, I don't have a motorcycle yet so I can't practice before the test apart from the day before with Tony. There is one waiting in the showroom to ride away the day I pass though!!!

Thank you, I'm not going to give up just yet. I have another test booked for the 27th. It's just a bit costly because I have to do it with a school each time so it's that cost of that plus the test.

I decided to take up motorcycling last year at 54. I did a CBT and theory, easy. Booked myself in for a weekend in Brighton (I live in London) and did the whole mod 1 and 2 training in the freezing February cold and had a really awesome instructor, Tony. Mod 2 was an hour after Mod 1. All was doing ok on the test, I thought, but as we all do from now and then, I ended up in the wrong lane at a top sigh on a one way street, I need to turn right instead of left, checked my mirrors and indicated right and I could see the examiner (Mark) in my mirror, in the right lane next to me. Nerves and knowing what I'd don't took over and as I pulled of to the right I missed doing a right shoulder check and failed only on that. The I booked into another training company in North london who I won't name and they arranged for me to re-test in Enfield. I have two different instructors and the second one who wasn't very nice was giving me very different instructions two hours before my test which didn't help. Started the test, the examiner was also called Mark (Bad omen). Ten minutes into the test all going well again and he told me I was doing 24mph in a 20mph limited, too me back to the testing station without giving me the chance to do the rest of the exam. A traffic policeman forced of mine told be that I failed for doing 1mph over the limit as you're allowed 10% + 1mph. This has been a life long dream for me and I'm very disappointed to say the least.