Sparkzz

First of all, massive thank you, and huge respect to you for doing all you could to help. If it wasn't so serious you could have had a huge impact on saving someone's life in the golden hour. Unfortunate its sad that the injuries were just too great for him to pull through, but know your effects were amazing and you did exactly right. I also recommend getting to see a trauma counsellor. This is very important. I used to be in the fire service, and the things we went to were horrific, but back then no one ever did get help, just presumed we were too manly and heroic to need it and we all just got on with it. Well, 15 years later I still can not get out of my head a certain RTA I went to months before having to quit. Having someone to talk to is important and it will help no end!

I have two bikes and use both, I passed my test a couple of months, and wanted a commuter so bought the Aprilia Shiver 900, as this was a cheaper bike I ride & commute it in all conditions, As my "best" bike I purchased a Ducati 959 Panigale Corse, and that bike gives me butterflies each time I cock my leg over.. I LOVE it, and keep it for my best, only ride when its nice weather and to nice destinations. This keeps my love for it there, and keeps it very special. Nothing wrong with having multiple bikes if you have the space and can afford to run them, I want a touring bike next to do the overseas stuff, thinking of getting a Multistada.

Sounds to me that you're just going in to the corners too fast... I adopt the method slow in, fast out.. so basically do all your braking and gear changing before the corner, then pick your line and concentrate whats in front of you, then looking ahead as your going into the corner to find when the corner opens up and you can accelerate. I commute most days and i am a new rider, and also i pick the back lanes rather than go main road along my 22 mile route, so the these tight country roads are covered in farmers mud, gravel, potholes etc... and in the wet get proper messed up. But all i do is lower my speed and ride to road and weather conditions. In 3 months on my 125, and now a month expereince on my first big bike which is a 900cc, i havent had one moment where i thought "oh god, that was close" "Slow in, Fast out".. and when i say fast, i dont mean pinning it!.. just picking up speed. Hope this helps,

This was something I was extremely worried about, and lucky it never presented its self. Basically, if you are overtaking parked cars and its clear the other side, keep well over, and lean you head to exaggerate you looking for oncoming vehicles. The space is there so you can use it. If a car should come round a corner or into your path just check mirrors, slow up and pull in and sit and wait. Once the car has passed, do your checks and move back out, just go slow enough to make a decision without it looking like a panic. Nice and controlled. If you remember, that if you pass the car within a door zone you will fail, so just make sure you stay clear of it, and any doubt pull in, but to add to the confusion, dont overthink it as you may get done for hesiiation. But you will only get a minor for that, rather that a major fail for passing too close. Hope this helps Cheers Mark

I found the bike test quite a bit different to the car test. A lot of the revision and questions in the test covered riding. Things like braking distances, hazards when using a bike (manhole covers etc.), observations. So it was different to the car

I use a GoPro 7 for filming YouTube videos., I wouldn't use them for general recording, as being a gopro it sticks out of the helmet quite far. The quality is good and the stabilization is excellent. I think the Drift would be a better camera for recording general rides

I only used the "super" fuel when I was filling up my cars as it was strongly recommended, in fact the manufacturer actually said only use V Power and nothing else, so I did exactly that. With my bikes, I use V Power in my sports bike, as I am still in the habit of treating my bestie but I use normal unleaded in my commuter bike. I don't notice any difference in the slightest.

The theory test is easy, it was the Hazard perception that I struggled with. I still passed it, but when I did the online tests I was getting over 90%, but on the day at the test centre got a lot less. The real test is a lot different to the online practice tests.

I would have backed off, as soon as the car started pinning it, especially an RS6 then I would have just slotted in behind. There is an instruction video on YT that show the riders doing an advanced riding course and the rider was actually riding on the other side of the road and if he didn't feel comfortable he would just pull back in. There's absolutely no room to be a hero on a bike, trying to prove a point. I had to give myself a talking to as I went for a double overtake, two cars with about 3 cars lengths between them doing 50 in a 60. I went for it, saw a car coming the other way and instead of pulling in and going straight out again I went for the second car and just got in!.. was stupid and told myself off! Its all a learning curve, the ultimate price if you mess up

I was off the scale nervous with my Mod 2. Mod 1 I still had the normal nerves but dealt with it ok, however for Mod 2 was unbelievable!.. to the point on the morning of the test I was trying not to be sick as I woke up. The sickness stayed with me for a couple of hours, and when I got the training centre I couldn't concentrate I was pacing up and down and to be honest I couldn't control my nerves. Never experienced anything like it. We then rode to the test centre, and in the reception I was still in a bad way... and then the examiner came into the room and called me over, I did start to settle a little, kept taking deep breathes and the examiner was really nice which helped. But then, I got on the bike and everything went away!.. all the sickness feelings, stomach butterflies and head spinning all disappeared!. I brought in my A Game, and within 1 mile into the test, I felt confident and calm. So don't worry about nerves, this is perfectly normal and I can assure you as soon as it starts you will be fine, I still felt nervous but not to the point where it will ruin your ride as you have so much to think about. Dont worry.

Yes, it was me that recommended you to go out and practice, and I can say 100% it does help, I rode a 125 for 3 months before taking my Mod 1, and I did my Mod 1 on a Z650. The handling skills from the 125 (for me) were 100% transferrable.. so yes, all practice is good practice. To be fair the Z650 and my 125 didn't actually feel that much different, a little bit heavier and faster, but it is easier to ride, so if you can master the techniques on a 125, then on a 650 is a doddle! all to add, I am 42 so I have also come into late!

strange, as for me it was totally the opposite I really enjoyed the Mod1 experience, but the Mod 2 was so stressful. My advice is not to panic.. you know you can handle the other exercises as you proved this, Are you riding a 125 on CBT currently?, (sorry haven't read your profile), if so then go up and down roads avoiding stuff at last minute, I don't mean cars , i mean man hole covers or painted lines etc as if you were avoiding them. I had a country road on my commute so i used to ride up to 3 separate drain covers at 35-40mph and swing round them at the last minute. I learnt to move the bike with my hips and found this to be so helpful in the avoidance test. Rock the bike from side to side as well when riding, like you see the gimp suit riders (no offence intended ) doing on a Sunday morning.

Hey, I am 6ft tall, I did the learning thing.. so I did my CBT and bought an Aprilia Tuono 125cc and rode for 1 month gaining experience, then booked my Mod 1 & Mod 2 which I was given 2 months wait time which for me was perfect. This gave me 3 months experience on a bike on the roads. During this WHOLE time I never got into bad habits, so I practiced all the stuff you need to get through the tests, even when out with mates, I was doing the whole shoulder check thing. Then went through my test flawless, now on a 900cc bike and LOVING it!. For me the best way was to take my time and dont rush the test process, time flies when your having fun and the test soon came around!

Thanks for the replies, I will give it a month of commuting and see where I am. I have been on several longer rides and I am getting used to it, but still trying to work out if I like it.

Just over a week ago I passed my Mod 2, and obtained my full licence so the hunt for first bike was on. I did my lessons and test on the Kawasaki Z650 which on the first day thought this is perfect to start with and spoke with the shop about buying an ex demo they had. By the time the Mod2 came and went I decided that I wasn't that comfortable on the Z650 as I am quite tall and felt the bike was uncomfortable. I was happy with the weight/speed but I felt it wasn't for me. So I went on the hunt, choices were MT-07/MT-09, Suzuki GSX-S750, Aprilia Shiver 900, Ducati Monster 821, after sitting on all of them, I decided on the Aprilia Shiver 900. This was the lowest power being 93bhp and when sitting on, was the most comfortable by a mile. Beautiful position, its a tall bike and it just felt right! However, I am a week into ownership and although I like the riding position, power is great, sound is marvellous, it ticks ALOT of boxes... but there is one thing that is troubling me and that's the weight. The bike feels very top heavy and it's actually making me nervous. Going from the Z650 to this is day and night. Once up to speed and going it's fine, but my confidence when coming to a stop or when trying to do tight slow speed manoeuvres is a little bit worrying and stresses me out. Sorry for my long post, but what do I do?.. Is it a case of sell up and buy something more suited and suck up the £2k I will lose or do I persevere with it and its a case of "I will get used to it"? I don't want to ruin my experience of the wonderful hobby Thanks for any help in advance

Don't worry about the CBT at all!, you don't even need to get nerves up, its very laid back and fun! They will start you off with learning where the controls are and what they do, then you will sit on the bike and learn how to find the biting point and moving away under control. Once you master that, you will learn moving around the car park round corners. Then how to shift gears and braking under control. Then advance to moving around cones, figure of eight, performing life saver checks etc etc.. Once you've mastered that, they will stop for lunch have a bit if classroom lesson and then head out on the road. It is all done under supervision, and great instruction, , so seriously don't overthink the CBT, its a great day. The real stress bit is the next step of the Theory/Mod 1/Mod2! Have fun and enjoy it! i loved the CBT.

Friday was Mod 2 day, and I PASSSSEEEDDDDD.. First attempt for me, and I picked up 3 minors, these were all for roundabouts, basically the instructor said I was too confident, as I was moving out onto the RAB too soon as cars were still moving in front of me, but I am not dwelling on them, its done! Hearing the examiner say the words "congratulations you've passed" was a surreal feeling, and I actually nearly welled up! was very emotional through the stress of it all, and losing a lot of sleep the previous nights, but omg I am over the moon!. I actually found the test weird, because of the nerves, I didn't find the test go quick, but then it didn't drag.. was very odd!.. But that's it, out of the way, and to all those reading this and about to go through it, my advice is OBSERVATIONS!!! SHOULDER CHECKS!!! MIRROR/SIGNAL/MANOUVER, take your time, be confident in your riding! You got this!!

So everybody keeps telling me, I really hope you're all right!!!

Just to add to this post for others.. You don't need to layout the whole course, it would be great if you have an area large enough to, however I was doing it on a 125cc and when you do it on a larger bike, its 10 times easier. Just find a train station car park, layout some cones task by task. You can then practice the emergency stops on quiet country roads.

Thought I would post up my experiences and "tips"... I passed my Mod 1 yesterday at the Oxford Utd football ground which to be honest looks a lot less stressful than an official test centre. (one with gates and fence around it) This is at the side of the ground in a car park and when you do the fast stuff, you actually go around the back of the stadium out of sight to turn around before re entering. The tasks are laid out different as well. So on arriving the most important thing is to relax. My nerves were sky high, hand shaky and feeling sick!.. My name was called, did the paperwork bit and started the test. Shoulder check Left...Shoulder check right then begin, my advice is to take your time, don't rush and repeat in your head what you have to do for that task, forget what's coming up, concentrate on the one your on and think about all the YouTube videos you've been watching Work out the gears for the fast stuff on the controlled stop, as you do this you can feel for how fast the bike will pick up. My bike was the Z650 and although the bike was telling me to shift to 3rd I found leaving it in 2nd gave a much faster acceleration and hit 55kmph for the ESTOP and 56Kmph on the swerve. Also, for the U-turn/Slalom/8, make sure you look where your ending up, not where your going.. by fixing on a point or the next bit and letting the bike flow round is how you do it!. bit hard to explain, but it works. Anyway, there's my little added bit, I now have Mod2 to crack next week! wish me luck !

AWESOME! made my day!

Yesterday I passed the Mod 1 at the Kaasam Stadium, Oxford Utd's ground. Strange to be doing it in the car park, so it felt just like all my practicing at the train station for weeks. It also wasn't the official layout that I have been watching on YouTube. But got through it with no minors, my biggest issue was the nerves which i couldnt control, but the breathing technique worked, so thanks for that! I will post up my tips on the other thread. Anyway, ONE MORE STEP next week for my Mod 2, then big boy bikes fingers crossed!!

Congrats, so any advice??? I have mine two weeks today!! (hopefully if I pass my Mod 1!)

I cant wait for the mods to be over.. so much on my mind at the moment about trying to get through it all. Like the Theory, all the revision, and now the hours of watching Mod 1 & 2 videos on youtube. Also another thing I have been very obsessed with is riding like I have an examiner behind me ALL the time. OSL PSL...OSL PSL...OSL PSL as I don't want to pick up and dirty habits while riding. Cant wait just to ride and enjoy!

I have my Mod 1 & Mod 2 test booked over the next 2 weeks, and if I pass yes I intend to get a bigger bike, however the journey on the 125 has been amazing, I have a 20 mile commute to work through back lane country roads, and combining riding and this weather we are experiencing actually makes me arrive to work feeling like a million dollars!.. I have literally never been happier in life! The fact I have a 125 means nothing, like someone says above, "It's your journey", this is so true. Just because you choose to take a different path to someone else does not mean you will be less happy or your doing it wrong!. 125's rock!!