My DAS Journey

[dar1976]

Hi all.  Thought I'd give a diary log of my week last week and how I got through the training and tests..

 

Day 1 of DAS training.

10 minutes on a 125 just to get my eye in again. Then onto the Honda CB650R Naked. What a beast. We went round some quiet roads, then some busier roads. Covered roundabouts and junctions. It needs a bit of work but all good.

Back to the rugby club car park for some Mod1 practice. Slow Speed stuff today.  Oh My God U-Turns are so much easier with a big bike. Job done. Manual Handling was in the bag. Slalom and FigOf8 was challenging but I got it cracked in the end. By the end of the day, I had a clean sheet in mock test conditions. And it was drizzling with rain too.

Just have to work on the power delivery. I seem to stress about the next part of the course and then stall it - putting foot down - instant fail.

A bit of start stop start stop up the length of the course brought the best out of the situation.

Got a bit of cramp in my clutch hand by mid afternoon, and thighs were starting to cramp too. But nowhere near as much as they were on the little Benelli.

I’m actually looking forward to the rest of the week now. Lots of positive feedback from my instructor.

And to think I hadn’t ridden anything in 6 months since my CBT.

 

Day 2 of training.

The morning was road riding and needs lots of honing and refining before Friday. Bad habits from 20 years of driving cars, and overzealous on the blind spots from commercial driving for the last 13 years.

After a Greggs (who doesn’t feel better after a sausage roll and a yum yum?) we went to the test centre to have a look over the course. Poole is an odd one as it has an odd layout for the high speed manoeuvres.

Back to the Rugby Club car park for some slow speed practice after a great session yesterday. And pulled it off

Then onto a high speed course. A bit shorter than the test centre so couldn’t get up to full speed. But techniques were spot on.

I then did a full Mod1 Mock Test and clean sheeted it

I think I’ll be ok if I can hold my nerves together in the morning. Instructor is happy with it

 

Day 3 - MOD1 Test

Mod1 in the bag. 1 minor for stalling after controlled stop. I was already in the box - just had a brain fart and forgot to bring clutch in.

 

 

 

Day3 - More Training

Ironing out the bad habits and getting up to test standard.  

Generally it’s going ok.  I’m a little bit over-cautious sometimes about opening up the throttle to ‘get up to speed’ or ‘stop holding up the traffic behind’.  As the afternoon went on, it got better and I was going round twisties at 60ish without too many hiccups.  In my mind though - it’s due to me struggling to kick it up between 1st and 2nd - often getting a neutral instead.  I then have to look down to check which throws me off line or slows me right down.  

So in my Mod2 mock test (ready for Friday) I picked up 6 minors.  

Hesitation in getting up to speed x2
Too many lifesavers (I never knew this was a thing - as an HGV driver of 13 years - it definitely isn’t) x2
I pushed on up to 34 in a 30 .  Apparently the examiner has to match your speed to prove that you’re speeding
And finally Positioning at a Junction.  Again it comes from the day job.  I’m used to being away from the kerb to swing an artic round a left bend without catching the kerb.  Often I’ve been told I need to come away from position 3 whilst riding and tuck myself in more at junctions.  Hopefully I get myself out of this for Friday.  

The only other feedback he gave was not getting into Pos1 early enough on a left bend - personally I thought I was ok.  And then leaving it late to get back to Pos2 when coming out the bend.  

Other than that - and on the whole - it has been a buzz today.  Flying round the twisties and up dual carriageways with such rapid acceleration.  

I can’t wait to get out on my own bike. 

Just gotta keep it together.   

I get from 8.15 to 11am Friday to refine my ride.  The same examiner will be taking me out - he’s a rider himself and very down to Earth.  

 

Day 5 (Day off in between) - Finishing touches and MOD2 Test

 

 

The day off did me good.  I was able to focus and put my all into the morning.

 

Wobbly start. Was not sure I’d pass. Was well shocked when he said congratulations. Followed me in a car. Lost him a couple of times. Radio went quiet on dual carriageway

But a pass is a pass.

 

So all in all - a good week last week.  Took my XL700 Transalp out for a spin over the weekend and loved every second.

 

 

I was so nervous that I wouldn't get on with it.  U-Turns were a nightmare on my CBT.  SOOOOOO much easier on the 650.  

 

Stay safe people.  And if you are on the fence about taking your tests - Do it!!  You won't regret it.  The grin is still there  If anyone is on the South Coast looking for a good instructor with reasonable pricing - Costello Motorcycle Training in Poole is worth a look.

 

Dean

Edited September 1, 2022 by dar1976

[Bender]

@dar1976well done and great write up  

[MikeHorton]

Congrats you have that out the way just enjoy riding now! 

[S-Westerly]

Well done and enjoy the riding to come!