Module 1 - members test experiences

[Guest]

that looks easy but i bet its harder on the day lol

is that all you have to do for the swerve just avoid a cone

[argentum40]

yeah you have to be doing 50K's or 31mph through the speed trap and swerve around the cone... its as easy as it looks really... the bit i found the hardest was the manual handling part due to a shoulder injury

just remember to do all ya obs and treat it like its a public road... everytime you move off from standstill do a double lifesaver and only put your feet down if your at a standstill... i was worried about it but it was easy in reality

[iiisecondcreep]

I passed my module 1 FOURTH time

I found the mod 1 very stressful, and people say this is meant to be the easy bit!

First time: I'd been practicing for aaaaaages (I never got my theory out the way- I didn't bother doing that til I was almost ready for the practical tests and of course the wait ended up being ages, and then the wait for the mod 1 once I'd passed was another 6weeks/2months ish!), but I'm quite a stressy person so I did extra lessons near the time. I was told I did not need a lesson the evening before, but I insisted!

What happened? On my very last practice emergency stop at the very end of the lesson I locked the back break- first time I had ever done it.

Any guesses what happened the next day?

Wheeling the bike- spot on

slalom- spot on

figure of eight- bit wobbly but otherwise fine

Avoidance- spot on

U turn- nae bother

Slow ride- best I'd ever done

Emergency stop- locked the flipping back break! ARGH!

No minors, just a big black mark next to the emergency stop. Bah.

Attempt 2

Turned up in the morning without my theory pass certificate. GUTTED. Fortunately they had a space in the afternoon so the examiner let me have that so I could go home and get my certificate.

On the test- braked before the bike was upright on the avoidance....

Attempt 3 (this was an odd day, there were 2 other bike schools there at the time doing mod 1's, out of 8 or 9 people- only 1 passed all day).

Never made the speed for the serve, 2nd attempt locked the back brake.

Attempt 4.

Internal narrative 'THIS IS NOT A CAR! GET YOUR FOOT OFF THAT BACK BREAK!'

Passed, YAY!

Got one minor because I arrived in the box at the end of the avoidance "like a bag of spanners".

[Guest]

well i passed my mod 1 after the 3rd attempt kept failing on the u turn putting my foot down i still can't do a uturn but the examiner passed me on the third time as i managed to recover it fluke i think! i then passed my mod 2 a couple of week later with 2 minor faults oh yeah yeah yeah

[haz_pro]

Passed my mod1 on wednesday (16/02/2011) , and this is my experience.

I dont my Mod1 at burgess hill, about a 1 hour or so commute from where i was learning, but i am glad. The tester i had was a very nice guy, put me completely at ease and so helped me i feel.

Everything i found fine, until the slow ride, i was getting a bit wobbly towards the end, but luckily i didnt put a foot down (although i think you are aloud? and in reality you would).

Now the worst part of the test for me, the emergency stop. Now i have done this countless times, how ever once i left the throttle open, i have no idea why, i just did. Guess what? This is what i done on my test, DOH!

I went into the center thinking i had failed, how ever when i went in the room the tester said since everything else was very good, he just put it as a minor. i was a very happy guy!

All in all not a bad experience, how ever i wouldnt want to do it again

[getready]

My Mod 1 test (passed first time), hopefully this will be of use to someone!

Arrived with my instructor at around 8.50AM at Atherton for a 9.15 test, we were the only people there and it looked like I would be the first of the day, as there was no speed trap set up yet, or any sign of life other than the cleaner!

Anyways, the examiner came out, set up the speed trap and then check my docs etc and asked me to sign the form.

Rode in through the gates and told to treat the area as if it was a public highway (double lifesavers before anything) and pulled into the right hand green cone bay for the manual handling. All ok, slalom fine, figures of eight fine (don’t try to count them, he’ll catch your attention when he’s seen enough and signal you over to him).

Avoidance – bit fast on the curve (25mph), blip of throttle for the trap (54), roll off, swerve and stop with the front wheel in the box. U-turn, I’ve never had issues with this, so all was good. Slow ride, again no probs, just look ahead and keep slipping the clutch/light revs, and back brake if necessary.

Last one – emergency stop, again I was too fast on the curve and ended up through the speed trap at 66.

Out of the yard, parked up, did my checks and into the office where he just filled out the pass certificate whilst chatting to my instructor. Job done, but I wouldn’t have minded being told, rather than him just filling out the form and giving it to my instructor!

I got a little reprimand afterwards from my instructor about the speed issue on the e-stop (he’d already pointed out to me that there was no point thrashing it first thing that morning, where in car park practice I hit about 45mph!)

One bit of advice I would give is to take a little breather (only 5-10 seconds) before each of the exercises, to regain a little composure.

[Guest]

09.50 at Atherton test center, turned up well early so watched a guy do his flawlessly and also gave me a good idea how its done.

Next up me, rode into the test area and the guy gave me the instructions and off I went.

Park, easy.

Slalom and 8, piece of the proverbial.

Set up for the swerve test, accelerated to 20 ish round the back doing the right hand cornering, saw the cones and what did I do, yip went straight through as though I was doing the emergency stop. As soon as I stopped I knew I had fecked up so he explained this to me and said don't worry we will do it again at the end now for the U turn..

Set up ready, obs all done and set off nice a gentle, did it easy.

Next emergency stop so set off and pissed it so now time for the hazard avoidance again. That went like a dream so just the bit where you have to ride the bike out of the gates and park up, still aware I was on my test I did everything I should.

Still thinking I would fail because of the balls up regarding the swerve test I thought bugger it, there's always next time.

Sat in their office and when he said "Sorry you have failed it didn't surprise me in the least but when he said you have failed on the U turn because you didn't look over your shoulder I nearly fell of the chair, WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought, I bloody well did because I was so wound up that I might have chucked my chances but maybe I might be able to get something back by doing everything spot on.

Its not sour grapes and all that but I distinctly remember looking over my shoulder and also looking over my shoulder whilst turning as I have been taught to do. Oh I looked over both shoulders everytime and I even thought I might be overdoing it

Update

Passed today and guess what I did again, yip, hazard avoidance went straight through instead of going round, what a dork. I thought thats it now so just went for it with no worries, did every thing spot on and in the office he didnt even mention the HA balls up, so its MOD 2 17th May.

Edited May 4, 2011 by Anonymous

[Sparky65]

Did Mod 1 at the Shieldhall DSA Centre in Glasgow this morning and passed at the first attempt - well pleased with the result.

My test was booked for 0840 (or so I thought) so I arrived at 0815, to be told the centre had no record of me for the 0840 slot. Several phone calls later and it transpired the test slot had been cancelled because no name had been put against it.

This was because the training school had been holding the slot but hadn't submitted my name as the candidate. Ach well, these things happen.

Big thanks to the examiner and the instructor, who got it sorted out with five minutes to go. Meanwhile, I was a bag of nerves, shuffling around, not knowing whether or not it was going to happen.

I'd had a two-hour lesson on Sunday (first time on a big bike - a Kawasaki ER-6F) after which my confidence was absolutely rock-bottom.

I had a two-and-a-half hour lesson yesterday and the difference was like night and day. I still wasn't brimming with confidence but I knew that if I failed today, I could at least do all the manoeuvres individually and it would just be a case of stringing them all together next time.

In the event, I had just one fault - not looking over my shoulder before the slow control. Hit 52kph and 56kph respectively on the swerve and emergency stop.

Now for the second of this week's challenges, running the London Marathon on Sunday.

Life would be boring if we didn't make it interesting.

Aiming for Mod 2 at the end of May.

Oh - and thanks to everyone who's contributed advice on this forum. I've read loads of tips and they've helped me big time.

[Stuno1]

Mod 1 is a fantastic money making scheme! Soooo many people take multiple attempts to pass.

1st attempt - Forgot theroy pass, so that was that!

2nd attempt - Got nervous and put a foot down on figure of eight.

3rd attempt - Pass!!! One minor. Once i got passed the slalom and figure of eight i was fine. I think the hardest thing is overcoming the nerves.

Stu

[Throttled]

I have had a look but cannot get a definitive answer to

Can I book and take my own test with the test centre, or does it need to be through a training school? (I think the answer is I can book myself onto the test)

Can I practice on the site before sitting the test there? (I think the answer is no)

[Sparky65]

I have had a look but cannot get a definitive answer to

Can I book and take my own test with the test centre, or does it need to be through a training school? (I think the answer is I can book myself onto the test)

Can I practice on the site before sitting the test there? (I think the answer is no)

 

Question 1: Yes. Here's the link to my local Mod 1 centre. The "Book test" button is on the right. http://www.dft.gov.uk/dsa/AddressDetail ... howRoute=0

Question 2: Almost certainly "no". If I'm wrong, I haven't heard of an individual being given practice time on a test pad.

Good luck!

[Throttled]

Thanks. A 9 week wait for Mod 1. I may as well book a test date now as 9 weeks is plenty of time to practise.

[Guest]

the day before my mod 1 test i was panicking like crazy! i had only had one go on the pad as practice and on that day i was awful. each time i got something wrong I just got more frustrated and my riding got progressively worse. it didn't help that i knew my test was booked in 7 days time and i had no more time on the pad in those 7 days.

needless to say when test day came around i was terrified!

i met up at my training centre with my instructor and Richard (another student). We rode to the test centre and Richard went first. he made it look very easy and after going into a room with the examiner came out waving a pass certificate. So there was a small amount of pressure building. i then met my examiner who was actually very nice. i did expect them to be scary

i put my gear on and for some reason rested my helmet on the seat of the bike (i never do this!) which the examiner did then speak to me about, not brilliant first impressions but he did follow with the phrase, just some friendly advice this will not affect your test

PHEW!! . . . but still...

he opened the gate and i stalled (very rare for me to do that as i have been riding a geared bike for over 1yr on L's)

stay calm,started the engine mirrors lifesavers stalled AGAIN!!

started the engine mirrors lifesavers Stall!!!! aaaah!

now i was panicking! what an idiot i must look. Right two deep breaths mirrors, lifesavers slowly and yay movement!!!! pulled into the box sidestand down STALL!! the bike was in 1st gear. I calmly got off the bike and as the examiner was closing the gate quickly tapped it into neutral heehee

the rest of the test went without a hitch i took two deep slow breaths before each manoeuvre and it really did help the examiner walked excruciatingly slow between the cones but hey! I had to do my emergency stop again because i only got 49 on the first attempt but 53 on the next

staying calm for me is really difficult because i am generally a stressful person so my main advice is to breath before each exercise, dont worry about taking a moment as the examiner always says move off when you are ready so deep breath mirrors deep breath lifesavers and move off

in the end I received my mod 1 test pass with 0 faults

[Remy]

I booked my Mod 1 with a training school, I felt I needed some training to see what it was all about. I'm glad I did because I think if I'd just gone ahead and booked it on my own I would have failed. I had a morning's training (which should have been at the test centre but they double booked, so I had to go to the instructor's place). I did a very comprehensive three hours along with a couple of other lads who had been riding longer than me, doing all the slow manouevres and then we progressed onto the emergency stop and swerve.

I found it was very difficult to get up to speed as you instinctively know you will have to stop or swerve immediately afterwards and it kind of goes against the grain!

Before the test I had more practising beforehand which again, was very useful. Then had to sit for the best part of an hour waiting for mine, which was rather nerve wracking! The two lads had passed theirs so I felt a bit of pressure, but once on the compound realised it was huge and although I was nervous I managed to do everything I had practised.

I passed first time with one minor (49kph instead of 50 on the swerve).

[Lynn]

Booked mine via Brighouse Motorcycle Training had the 2 day course with the test at the end mine was 13:05

We were in a group of 4 split into 2 groups i was in the 2nd group so we spent the morning riding round the mock test course i was struggling with the U turn as used to my little 125 but was on a 650 Gladius (Nice bike! )

Was really calm up until arriving at the test centre in Wakefield then i was shaking like a leaf my instructor was laughing at me as my vocabulary consisted of "oh god".

Got called in filled out all the bumph then went to the bike, rode it into the test arena and stopped parked the bike up then did the wheel back and park that was a pass, then came the slalom and figure 8 i never do figure 8's real life the slalom was easy but was a bag of nerves on the fig 8 i was convinced id failed as i felt like i went really wide and was really wobbly, was just concentrating on keeping feet on pegs, if id have fallen over id have made sure my bloody feet would still be on the pegs hehe, and im sure the examiner had to move out the way but he gave me a pass, slow ride was easy as i do it regular in traffic the u turn was ok but instead of checking and turning i checked then moved off and failed to check again before turning gaining 1 minor, cornering and controlled stop was good as was the emergency stop.

My Hazard avoidance was slow first try i reached 42 kph so at the end of the test luckilly you get 2 trys so on my 2nd attempt i just thrashed it around the corner and hit 52 in the trap So i passed with only 1 minor

[Throttled]

Turned up early, so saw the instructor take out two people before me. He was very officious with them as he was with me when it came to my turn to have my documents checked.

Once I had ridden into the yard he became a new man and was very encouraging and smiley. When I came to push the bike out of the parking space it would not move and he calmly said that I had left it in gear. Turns out that is not even a minor, phew. The slalom was fine but I had to do three figure of eights as I was not central through the cones the first time.

The slow ride started off with him shouting too fast as I gave it a bit too much throttle. I then had enough impetus to free wheel the rest of that part.

The U turn was fine, but as I continued to ride on with him looking at me I thought I better ask, should I stop now?! He came over, still all smiley and asked if I was listening to him. I apologised and said I was feeling very nervous. He explained the next part which was a run round the fast bend and through the speed trap and stop at cones. I had not realised you get a wee practice and pointed at some cones to confirm where he wanted me to ge and my hand was shaking. He said that I could pause if I wanted to, but I went on, booted it and recorded 50mph through the speed trap

He advised that I keep the speed down for the emergency stop which I did at 33mph.

The last part was the swerve, which I had been dreading as 5 practices had resulted in only one success. I went through the speed trap at 32mph and I am sure I felt my foot hit the cone, so a real downer as I came to a halt. But when I looked round, the cone appeared not to have moved.

Thankfully it had not moved, so a pass with no minors!!! Yeah And that was with leaving the bike in gear, being made to an extra figure of eight, being shouted at to slow down for the slow run, being incredibly nervous and I am sure I touched that cone.

[Lumor_uk]

2006 XR 125, 13 stone weight, under half tank of fuel.

Arrived 10 minutes early with no one else around, which suited me as I didn't want anyone watching. An indian guy asked if I was the 3:10, which I confirmed he went running off into the stadium. The instructor then came out and introduced himself showed me the circuit and what he wanted me to do. He went through my paper work looked a bit puzzled at my photo licence as it was taken when I was 17, I'm now 28 and it's still got another 2 years left on it

He went over to my bike and checked it over, he pointed out my rear L plate was too flimsy and I should get a stiff one or the Police might pull me up on it.

Bit of a nervous flapping about getting my helmet on and the bike started I drove round and back on myself into a parking bay. Did my observations, lots of them. He then came over to tell me to push the bike into the other bay, no probs.

Now for the slalom, went in a bit hot and my clutch control wasn't great making the turns a bit juddery I blame the nerves my hands were shaking and I couldn't make them stop.

We moved on over to the U turn exercise, he had to get me to move twice as I didn't know where I was supposed to be positioned Double, triple life savers to be sure Pulled off fine, is much bigger than the 6m roads I've been practising on.

I then had to drive round to the back of the stadium to the start of the curve. Told me to take any route as long as I don't knock over any cones. It's not like the one pictured as there isn't enough room. It's more a straight then a corner. I shouted at an indian dude, do I go now? as I couldn't see the instructor at that point. He waved me on so I blasted it round the corner through the trap to do my stop in the blue cones, my speed wasn't recorded here. Didn't know about this one? Is it just a practice?

I then had to do a recorded one with him putting his arm up, recorded 56kmph and at the very end of the braking zone I skidded the rear tyre one foot. I thought damn I've failed after hearing you lot saying it's an instant fail. He didn't mention it not even minor.

I then had to do the swerve was easier than I thought it would be as I haven't had the space to practice it at work. I braked fine this time and went through the trap at 59kmph. He came over and told me to go park the bike up. He then invited me in to the office where he said I had past and to get my mod 2 booked up. Job done

[Lumor_uk]

2006 XR 125, 13 stone weight, under half tank of fuel.

Arrived 10 minutes early with no one else around, which suited me as I didn't want anyone watching. An indian guy asked if I was the 3:10, which I confirmed he went running off into the stadium. The instructor then came out and introduced himself showed me the circuit and what he wanted me to do. He went through my paper work looked a bit puzzled at my photo licence as it was taken when I was 17, I'm now 28 and it's still got another 2 years left on it

He went over to my bike and checked it over, he pointed out my rear L plate was too flimsy and I should get a stiff one or the Police might pull me up on it.

Bit of a nervous flapping about getting my helmet on and the bike started I drove round and back on myself into a parking bay. Did my observations, lots of them. He then came over to tell me to push the bike into the other bay, no probs.

Now for the slalom, went in a bit hot and my clutch control wasn't great making the turns a bit juddery I blame the nerves my hands were shaking and I couldn't make them stop.

We moved on over to the U turn exercise, he had to get me to move twice as I didn't know where I was supposed to be positioned Double, triple life savers to be sure Pulled off fine, is much bigger than the 6m roads I've been practising on.

I then had to drive round to the back of the stadium to the start of the curve. Told me to take any route as long as I don't knock over any cones. It's not like the one pictured as there isn't enough room. It's more a straight then a corner. I shouted at an indian dude, do I go now? as I couldn't see the instructor at that point. He waved me on so I blasted it round the corner through the trap to do my stop in the blue cones, my speed wasn't recorded here. Didn't know about this one? Is it just a practice?

I then had to do a recorded one with him putting his arm up, recorded 56kmph and at the very end of the braking zone I skidded the rear tyre one foot. I thought damn I've failed after hearing you lot saying it's an instant fail. He didn't mention it not even minor.

I then had to do the swerve was easier than I thought it would be as I haven't had the space to practice it at work. I braked fine this time and went through the trap at 59kmph. He came over and told me to go park the bike up. He then invited me in to the office where he said I had past and to get my mod 2 booked up. Job done

[Lumor_uk]

2006 XR 125, 13 stone weight, under half tank of fuel.

Arrived 10 minutes early with no one else around, which suited me as I didn't want anyone watching. An indian guy asked if I was the 3:10, which I confirmed he went running off into the stadium. The instructor then came out and introduced himself showed me the circuit and what he wanted me to do. He went through my paper work looked a bit puzzled at my photo licence as it was taken when I was 17, I'm now 28 and it's still got another 2 years left on it

He went over to my bike and checked it over, he pointed out my rear L plate was too flimsy and I should get a stiff one or the Police might pull me up on it.

Bit of a nervous flapping about getting my helmet on and the bike started I drove round and back on myself into a parking bay. Did my observations, lots of them. He then came over to tell me to push the bike into the other bay, no probs.

Now for the slalom, went in a bit hot and my clutch control wasn't great making the turns a bit juddery I blame the nerves my hands were shaking and I couldn't make them stop.

We moved on over to the U turn exercise, he had to get me to move twice as I didn't know where I was supposed to be positioned Double, triple life savers to be sure Pulled off fine, is much bigger than the 6m roads I've been practising on.

I then had to drive round to the back of the stadium to the start of the curve. Told me to take any route as long as I don't knock over any cones. It's not like the one pictured as there isn't enough room. It's more a straight then a corner. I shouted at an indian dude, do I go now? as I couldn't see the instructor at that point. He waved me on so I blasted it round the corner through the trap to do my stop in the blue cones, my speed wasn't recorded here. Didn't know about this one? Is it just a practice?

I then had to do a recorded one with him putting his arm up, recorded 56kmph and at the very end of the braking zone I skidded the rear tyre one foot. I thought damn I've failed after hearing you lot saying it's an instant fail. He didn't mention it not even minor.

I then had to do the swerve was easier than I thought it would be as I haven't had the space to practice it at work. I braked fine this time and went through the trap at 59kmph. He came over and told me to go park the bike up. He then invited me in to the office where he said I had past and to get my mod 2 booked up. Job done

[Lumor_uk]

2006 XR 125, 13 stone weight, under half tank of fuel.

Arrived 10 minutes early with no one else around, which suited me as I didn't want anyone watching. An indian guy asked if I was the 3:10, which I confirmed he went running off into the stadium. The instructor then came out and introduced himself showed me the circuit and what he wanted me to do. He went through my paper work looked a bit puzzled at my photo licence as it was taken when I was 17, I'm now 28 and it's still got another 2 years left on it

He went over to my bike and checked it over, he pointed out my rear L plate was too flimsy and I should get a stiff one or the Police might pull me up on it.

Bit of a nervous flapping about getting my helmet on and the bike started I drove round and back on myself into a parking bay. Did my observations, lots of them. He then came over to tell me to push the bike into the other bay, no probs.

Now for the slalom, went in a bit hot and my clutch control wasn't great making the turns a bit juddery I blame the nerves my hands were shaking and I couldn't make them stop.

We moved on over to the U turn exercise, he had to get me to move twice as I didn't know where I was supposed to be positioned Double, triple life savers to be sure Pulled off fine, is much bigger than the 6m roads I've been practising on.

I then had to drive round to the back of the stadium to the start of the curve. Told me to take any route as long as I don't knock over any cones. It's not like the one pictured as there isn't enough room. It's more a straight then a corner. I shouted at an indian dude, do I go now? as I couldn't see the instructor at that point. He waved me on so I blasted it round the corner through the trap to do my stop in the blue cones, my speed wasn't recorded here. Didn't know about this one? Is it just a practice?

I then had to do a recorded one with him putting his arm up, recorded 56kmph and at the very end of the braking zone I skidded the rear tyre one foot. I thought damn I've failed after hearing you lot saying it's an instant fail. He didn't mention it not even minor.

I then had to do the swerve was easier than I thought it would be as I haven't had the space to practice it at work. I braked fine this time and went through the trap at 59kmph. He came over and told me to go park the bike up. He then invited me in to the office where he said I had past and to get my mod 2 booked up. Job done

[Guest]

Test booked for Sunday 8:30am Leighton Buzzard, arrived with the others in our group just after 8.. This was my first attempt and the other two with us had failed the weekend before..

I was hoping one of the others would be up first so I could watch it first as it happened luck was on my side so was able to watch on.. I was up next.

Went throught the documents and then out it was.

Was advised to move the bike over between the cones ready for manual handling no problems here. then completed the move... Like others nerves set in at this point and I could feel the hands shaking! not even done anything on the bike yet! Slalom and figure of 8 went well although I was wider than I had been doing but i was to fast which was a result of the old hands.. but still had the control.

Time for slow ride.. setting off had barley moved! and a little wobble foot down.. gutted! but carried on before he advised i stop or ask me to carry on so re-did observations and proced with slow ride.. had now calmed down lol on the basis a fail was inbound! U turn next which went without an issue. controlled stop no problem. emergency stop no problem. and avoidence no problem and we were done.. so felt really deflated over such a small thing! went through to the office and was told i had passed! instead of keeping mouth shut! foolish i know! I questioned.. "I put my foot down?" his response I had not technically started the slow ride and was just setting off.. I followed on with a second set of observations and completed no problem.. He advised had I not done that second set observations then it would have been a fail.. My instructor had drummed it into me observations on everything and again if you have to! so that went as a minor and had another minor for figure of 8 on the basis I was a little quick but control was good. Speed traps. Emergency stop 52kph and Swerve 53mph..

so really pleased.. job done and first time which i was not expecting!

Ride back to MK was a sweet ride!! only to be gutted by the large number of bikers that had collected at the yard! (they were all of for a blast for the rest of the sunday!!) how i wanted to be joining them!

[olidavey]

Booked the test in May for a July test.

Arrived about an hour early as the test centre was around 40 miles away I wasn't going to take any chances. Watched a few Mod1s being conducted, it all looked easy. The place is masssive.

I got called into the office, usual documents check, the examiner asked me how severe my dyslexia is and how he could help. He was very helpful, and told me if I had any questions to fire away.

Start the bike up, do observations and ride into the test site.

He tells me to park in any green box. I take the easier one. Next manouvre, the slalom. The key here is not to go too slowly. Don't use lots of rear brake. Next are the figure of 8's. Take them wide, dont make the angle too tight for yourself. Look where you want to go. Maintain a decent speed otherwise your foot will go down.

Slow ride next, again take it slow. I saw someone else who took it far to fast, and he was made to repeat the exercise.

U turn next, there is plenty of space so don't be scared. Do a final observation before you perform the U turn. I looked back, because the bike naturally goes where you look.

Next is the controlled stop. Use this as a opportunity to get to know the circuit. Stop with your front wheels in the box.

Next is the emergency stop. Make sure you really hammer it, especially if you are on a 125cc. Aim for 20-25mph on the bend and then full throttle. Do not brake early. Ensure you do not lock up the rear wheel. Imagine there is a grape under your rear brake. If you lock, release and re apply. With the front brake use more than 2 fingers.

Next is the hazard avoidance, people really made me worried about this, but its literally nothing. Ensure you have enough speed, and look where you want to go. Not that hard really.

The key to passing is practice. Download the measurements and go to a empty supermarket and practice. Make it tighter for you, so when the real thing comes it will be a breeze.

ALWAYS DO OBSERVATIONS before any manouvre.

Good luck!

[dispersion]

So doing my CBT with a guy who was a bit arrogant and did not understand I was slow to begin with getting grips to the bike made my confidence a little weak. However I booked my DAS with a school in Bristol, ACE, next to fowlers and highly recommended.

Nervous and never been on a 500, let alone in control of a bike for 6 months I turn up early for my 9 o'clock start. However I found 9 o'clock really means 10 o'clock. After first 2 days of slallomn, figures of 8, u turns I was confident-ish with my u turn a bit dodgey but when i turned up to that test center i was shaking, sweaty and plain nervous.

My examiner called me out and i chocked on the slalomn, just knocked a cone, there was no need for me to do it, i just did no idea how just forgot to turn the bike = FAIL, everything else, pass - with speeds of 57 and 58

2nd attempt and i got as far as the U turn this time, little nervous and was within the line and thought thank god, speed manouvers are easy. Finished everything and thought "you know what, i think i've done it". Apparently not, I didnt knotice but when doing the u turn, i just went over the white line (or touched it) which resembels the curb which = FAIL

3rd attempt, less nervous than the other two, had practiced u turns with my fav instructor and did everything PERFECT, untill the serve, left hand bend, knocked the cone FLYING! = FAIL

4th attempt was a repeat of the 3rd, the two score sheets are identicles for speed, and minor in figure of 8.

5th attempt and alot of money later I was getting sick of it, thinking im never gonna pass. This time I spent the day doing mod 2 training, and my instructor was explaining how dangerous my CBT could have been to me because my riding is/was (hoipefully) quite poor. However he took me down some country lanes and we did some nice counter steering, then when eating lunch he said "oh god were gonna be late". I dont know if he did this on purpose but it worked, we jumped on the bike and rode to the test center, when I turned up, someone swas doing there mod 1 on the swerve and my examiner was ready for me straight away.

I spoke to him, lovely chatty guy and we went into the cage. But due to the fact someone had literally jsut left I had to put my bike in itself which meant a u turn practically because my bike was parked near the entrance to the cage, but i pushed it in instead

Started the test and i took my time, I spent 1-2 minuttes before each manouver explaining what to do in my head, concentrating on just that manouver and even tlaking myself through it when going around the bend doing one little bit at a time. Everything went well, and it was a right hand bend so i was quite confident.

Swerve the bike inbeteen the two blue cones, "ok" I replied the examiner then said "stop inbetween the 2 blue and 2 red cones (which is quite an open statement of the DSA).

But 2 minutes of loking at these cones, hopeuflly for the last time, and i set off. Ok speed is fine - check, speed clock past - check, throttle off - check, no brakeing - check, push right - check "OMG ive done it thank you". As i hadnt started braking at this point and the blue cones were quite near and i hadnt swerved in, i swerved in quickly atthe end but past the blue cones DOH!

But I have been told u just have to be inbetween them at any point, uve shown control stop and emergency stop so I should be fine right?

I had to thank the examiner because he passed me, he gave me no minors, and 56/56 speeds on the manouvers. I would love to say yes sounds like a perfect run, it wasnt, I am just glad I dont have to do it again!

Good Luck to anone doing the mod1 Hope this teaches you that pursistance can make a difference

[Guest]

Ok so ive just got home from my mod 1 and can gladly say passed it cleanly. All i can really advise from my experience today is listen to every word from your instructor and think calm dont panic it will affect your riding but i will say i found the test actually easier than the training

[mealexme]

Posted this earlier, didnt realise there was a mod1 section

Just got back from my first Mod 1 so its fresh in my mind.

I shall start at the beginning. I have done a few bits of training here and there (with no instructor). About half an hour doing u-turns and figures of 8 in the driveway and about an hour at the local train station car park using stones as cones for the u-turn and slalom. I also did one emergency stop, but thats because the only quiet road i could find was wet and slippery and had a speed bump in the middle of it, so i decided doing it once was enough lol

I was going to do some more practice yesterday but I went on the MAG demo then got distracted playing with a couple of 600cc's on the moores and pushing the little 125 to its limits... but thats a different story

So, the actual test. I got to the test centre 15 minutes early and went and sat in the waiting room. Noone to greet me, and i wasnt sure if i was in the correct place because the instructor was out with someone else so i couldnt ask if he was expecting me. Anyway, after 15 minutes he came in and asked me to step into his office...

He checked my theory, licence and CBT certificates. He then took me out, i got onto my bike and he asked me to go into the offroad area.

So I got into the offroad bit and stopped just inside the gates, put it in neutral and you know the YBR has a habit of giving a false neutral every now and again... well it showed neutral and i let out the clutch and stalled it... I just looked at him, smiled and said "that didnt happen". First thing i did on my test was stall it, and i wasnt even moving off :/

Anyway, straight into the parking bays and flew through it all including the figure of 8 (you can go round the end yellow cone if you want to, because i did ask, although i didnt need to go that wide)

Now yesterday it was nice and sunny when it was suppost to rain, so i though it would be a nice day today, but we had heavy rain last night so the course was wet and the corner seemed tighter than it looked, and i hate banking over in the wet. But thinking "this is test conditions and the test has been changed to make it safe", I was able to convince myself it was fine and bank it over more than i normally would. Hit the speed trap at over the minimum speed and did my controlled stop perfectly. Almost stalled it again because of false neutral, but managed to realise before it cut off.

Then onto the swerve... minimum of 50kph.. first time i went round i hit it at 47kph and he gave me a second attempt. So on the second attempt i got it faster, but started slowing down just before the speed trap and clocked 51 kph. One kph over the minumum...

So I rode out after the test and parked up (badly, at an angle in the bike bay) wandering if my stalling and slow speeds on the speed trap had been marked down...

As I was still parking (putting it on the side stand) he told me I had passed

He then looked at my parking and had to look closely to make sure i was in the lines haha *whistles*

So with minimal training, and no instructor, first time, in the wet I passed! (one fault, being the speed) I am pretty damn pleased with that!

And thanks to everyone for the advice (doing lots of observations and treating it like a road rather than a closed off piece of tarmac, and for exact measurements between the cones etc)

Mod two is booked in October and I cant wait. I just hope it doesnt start to get icy :s