gilly_uk

After passing my mod 1 way back in November I decided with a month left on my CBT it was time to attempt the Mod 2 test. After visiting Geneva in July and seeing all of the lads riding Aspilla RSV4 or fireblades and hearing them roar up the roads my mind was set I wanted to pass my test and one day join them. Back in England I got back to work and the booking of Mod 2 got put back a bit in priorities but eventually in July I booked it. Come to this week, nerves are killing me im looking at all the test routes that could be taken and on the sunday I went out for a ride to try out some of the test routes. This helped me relax a bit but my main concern was high speed riding. Having spent the last two years riding in town I never really had the opportunity to get onto dual carrigeways or country roads so was quite a bit nervous about this. After a really bad nights sleep with Flu i really thought the gods were against me for my test today. Arrived at the test centre 30 minutes early and sat in the boiling hot waiting room. (Didn't do my nerves any good). Then some teenagers came in to take their driving test and having passed my driving test about 5 years ago I couldn't believe I was putting myself through this experience again and knew how they all felt. Then my instructor turns up and after checking my details and certificates we had outside for the eyesight test. After fumbling around with the ear piece which is quite difficult to put on when your hands are shaking and sweaty, he asks me a few questions. What affects would a pillion make when riding, what checks should you make before riding and also what checks to make on the chain. We set off for the test and did a few town routes and then through an industrial estate when he asked me to pull over and the pull off. Then off into the countryside. This is where it got interesting. Unbeknown to the instructor a road on the test route was closed for maintenance meaning we had to turn down a road that lead out into the countryside. My instructor not being from my town said over the radio that he was now lost and had no idea where we were or where we were going. After he noticed I was making all the decisions at the junctions on where to turn he asked if I knew the way, to which I nooded and he sat back and followed me. After spending all the test in the countryside we headed back into town and then too the test centre, where he thanked me for a lovely ride on a very scenic route. I passed my test with only 2 minors but more surpisingly not one minor for observations which was amazing. I didn't have one lesson and did the test on my R125, i know im stuck on this for 2 years but just knowing its over and I can ride any bike in two years time is bliss. My advice which has been given so many times is think of the instructor as a sat nav in your ear. It made me relax loads. Safe riding

I passed my Mod1 on an R125 and passed my Mod 2 today on it. The U turn was my biggest concern but as the previous poster stated the area is huge and I had no problems turning it.

Yeah I have 6 years car driving which has helped with road awareness etc and that sorta 6th sense. At first when I did my CBT it seemed my driving experience didn't help at all, i had that tunnel vision but now im comfortable on the roads and aware of whats around me.

I agree that it should be compulsary to take lessons and think the log book idea is a great. I totally agree with the 125cc step up to a 1000cc after 2 years with no experience but not really sure how they could change this. I personally would never make that step and have already decided that a 600cc is the biggest bike I will ever need. But dont quote me on this, in 10 years time if i buy a thou

I agree with both sides of the arguement on here. Whereas you cant deny proper instructor training will be very advantagous to a biker I do also feel that experience on your own on the roads is also a must. If you manage to pass the test without lessons then you are no different to someone that has paid to do a 3 day DAS lesson. I hear of people that go from CBT right through to fully licensed within a week. I have been riding on CBT now for a year having driven for 5 years previous. I know all about observations, mirrors spacial awareness etc etc. I passed my module 1 on Monday after one failed attempt which I wasn't all to fussed about. And I intend to do my module 2 in the next few weeks. The examiner is going to be looking at me in the same way as someone that has been taking lessons for months and will mark me the same. So if I pass then I believe that I am just as safe as any next person that has passed just managed it without lessons. Everyone can become a safe rider if they take there time and are sensible. I have no doubt that if I fail my test then I will seek training maybe after my second attempt and see what it is im failing on. It is going to take many years to get experience riding and you will always be learning as road conditions differ, weather conditions change etc. So personally I think I mixture of both is the best way forward but just wasn't a route that I took. You will never replace what you learn on training with an experienced instructor and you will never replace the experience you pick up on the road on your own. Give the tests a go if you pass then congratulations and enjoy riding safely. If you dont pass then seek some lessons and go from there. At the end of the day you want to be safe and enjoy the ride safely. And I think that everyone on here wants the exact same for you. Hence why they want you to pursue lessons... To make sure you are safe on the road.

i haven't had any lessons yet passed mod 1 this monday and going to book mod 2 next week.

thanks josh. but yeah i passed on my r125 and it was only the u turn i was really worried about everything else was fine so go for it and give it a try

i failed my first attempt because of my back end fish tailing. second time round i only used front back

haven't booked it yet. Im going to book it for November. Getting nervous about it already lol. Not sure what to really expect i have only really done urban riding so my country road riding and high speed cornering isn't great so not sure about how I will perform on that during the test as I will slow dramatically for corners on national roads.

Got a big smile now as i know im one step closer to a full license. Passed my module 1 test this morning on the R125 no problems turning the thing at all and controlled stop went smoothly only using the front brake.... Now for module 2 and im already getting nervous about it lol

when you say supersport what sort of bike are you talking about? Something like a 125cc R125?

lol so i hear.

I knew as soon as I did it what my mistake was. Im just surprised I can do it on the R125 thought I was going to have to book and instructor with a naked 125 but now I can do it on my lonesome I feel a lot better. It is a downer that I was so close to it but looking at the positives.

Well i failed my module 1 exam about 30 minutes ago. I should be upset but im actually really happy.... I managed to complete every skill successfully and the one thing i failed on was emergency stop where I applied a tad to much rear brake and locked it up. But I managed to do all the other tests on my Yamaha R125 which is what I was worried about expecially with its turning abilities but found that the cones were actually quite generously spaced apart and had no problems turning. Even the examiner said it was very unfortunate and that I should get booked in as soon as possible and on the Controlled stop as they now call it, just dont use any back brake and bring it to a nice steady stop. So for me this is good news as fingers crossed another £10 and I will have done the first module on my own with no instructor which has saved me a good few hundred quid...