markr333

Just a quick one to introduce myself. Name's Mark and I'm just outside Glasgow. I posted in the Mod2 Experiences thread but long story short, passed today at the second time of asking - absolutely delighted. Have a couple of bikes - a Kawasaki Vulcan 650S which is sitting in the garage (needs an MOT) and a Honda NC700S which I've decided will be the 'winter bike' (fitted a touring screen and some heated grips to help make it a bit more tolerable in the crappy Scottish weather). Managed to get out for a few hours this afternoon on the Honda - had lots of fun - it really is a new freedom being out there without an instructor or examiner in your ear or breathing down your neck! Looking forward to learning how to ride now!

Passed my Mod 2 today at the second attempt. Great feeling! Passed at Hamilton in Scotland. I failed on the 6th of December at the same test centre. I was as nervous as I can ever remember being for anything. Generally I rode pretty well only picking up only two minor faults, problem being that I failed about 5 minutes into the test and I knew it. It was a horrible feeling. I'd pulled over in a safe place as instructed however when I went to pull out, I never spotted a Nissan Micra pulling out from behind the examiner who was in his car behind me. Not helped by a horrible low sun which made it very difficult to see anything when I was looking over my shoulder. I pretty much tormented myself about it for a couple of weeks and all I could think about was not wanting to experience that feeling again. However, I think knowing what the test felt like and what a fail felt like helped me this time. Whatever the reason, I was much less nervous, managed to get a good night's sleep last night and set off from the riding school at 8am down to the test centre. It was a different examiner today (on a bike this time!), seemed like a really decent guy albeit very 'by the book'. He took me on a test route which was much more 'technical' than last time round and I was on a number of roads that I just hadn't ever been on before. Lots of speed limit changes (few mandatory then advisory 20s into 30s and vice versa), country roads that were completely new to me and that I didn't actually know were part of the test route(s) and then right at the end of the test I had a bit of a nightmare scenario right next to the test centre with Learner drivers pulling out and blocking traffic, parked cars all over the place and a flatbed truck that decided to start reversing off of someone's driveway onto the same bit of road. It was one of those one's that you've just never come across in your lessons and I just had to do what I thought was right/safe at the time. Anyway, ended up back at the test centre eventually with a pass, one minor fault and a compliment from the examiner saying that it was a very good ride. Not that I was caring much about the last part - any pass at all would've done me just fine. Straight home, taxed and insured my Honda NC700s and got out for a few hours this afternoon in the pissing Scottish rain. Happy days! Great feeling!