The road to passing your licence
Discussion
Mirrors on all bikes that I've ridden are useless. You get used to moving slightly to see out of them.
As for pressing the brake when you didn't realise you were. Ride with the balls of your feet on the peddles, You won't touch it then and it sounds daft but you have more control of the bike when like that.
As for pressing the brake when you didn't realise you were. Ride with the balls of your feet on the peddles, You won't touch it then and it sounds daft but you have more control of the bike when like that.
I had another lesson today, and the booking of the tests is now in the offing. When that'll be, I'm not sure. My shift pattern moves over to nightshift and late day shifts next week which severely limits the time during business hours for me to get my last lessons in (this is compounded by the Easter bank holidays).
Anyway, on getting there today I went out for an afternoon lesson with a different instructor, as the instructor I'd ridden with previously was off. The change of instructor is, I find, usually a good thing as you get a different perspective on your ride and a fresh set of eyes assessing your weak points. The instructor today really listened to what I was saying which meant the finer detail could be pored over. He was happy with my effort as a whole.
Today was the first lesson I've done on the 600cc, a Honda CB600. The majority of the riding students do seems to be on the CB500, with the CB600 introduced just before the tests for DAS. I felt my low speed control was a little glitchy but other than that, things went very well. The bike was very enjoyable too, I think I preferred the four cylinder engine which felt a bit more relaxed below 50mph and very docile at low revs, but it really had some top end punch and felt loads faster than the CB500.
At the end, we went back to the yard and did U-turns again, I'm pleased to be able to do them quickly and tightly. Today I focused on relaxing as I brought the bike to a stop. The front brakes on the CB600 are even stronger than the CB500, and I was too stiff on the bars when stopping (a habit of bracing for the dive on the CG125). Humming to myself to keep myself breathing, and flexing my arms to keep them loose solved that problem. Overall, I had great fun.
Anyway, on getting there today I went out for an afternoon lesson with a different instructor, as the instructor I'd ridden with previously was off. The change of instructor is, I find, usually a good thing as you get a different perspective on your ride and a fresh set of eyes assessing your weak points. The instructor today really listened to what I was saying which meant the finer detail could be pored over. He was happy with my effort as a whole.
Today was the first lesson I've done on the 600cc, a Honda CB600. The majority of the riding students do seems to be on the CB500, with the CB600 introduced just before the tests for DAS. I felt my low speed control was a little glitchy but other than that, things went very well. The bike was very enjoyable too, I think I preferred the four cylinder engine which felt a bit more relaxed below 50mph and very docile at low revs, but it really had some top end punch and felt loads faster than the CB500.
At the end, we went back to the yard and did U-turns again, I'm pleased to be able to do them quickly and tightly. Today I focused on relaxing as I brought the bike to a stop. The front brakes on the CB600 are even stronger than the CB500, and I was too stiff on the bars when stopping (a habit of bracing for the dive on the CG125). Humming to myself to keep myself breathing, and flexing my arms to keep them loose solved that problem. Overall, I had great fun.
Edited by Baryonyx on Tuesday 24th March 18:52
I passed Mod 1 today. What a great feeling! 
Things came together quite nicely. I'd taken half a night off work and finished at 3AM this morning to try and get a good sleep before setting off for the test. Before the test, I did about 45 minutes practice on the yard doing the manual handling through to U-turn section. We then headed off to a nearby industrial estate and on a disused section of road at the end, did more U-turns in a circuit with cones set out for the the three last three speed checked exercises. Riding alongside was a lad also doing his Mod 1 today, on an A2 bike.
I thought I was riding terribly for the practice session. Mostly the manoeuvres were coming off without a hitch, but I was making mistakes I could have kicked myself for. Particularly at the end, when the instructor was collecting the cones in, he set us away just doing U-turns in the road, whereas previously we'd been using a driveway to a disused unit to make the turns because the road was narrower than the markings at the test centre. I managed the U turns on the narrow road, but they felt cramped and choppy.
On getting to the test centre, I was up first for my test and it went over like a breeze. I had expected to feel nervous, but I felt very calm throughout. Everything came off absolutely without a hitch. The toughest part was probably the slalom due to the clutch on the bike I was using. I don't know who adjusted it, but they must have f
king massive hands, as I have big hands and found it a strain to balance on the clutch due to the length of the extension, which made it tricky to trickle the bike along the little course. I dragged the back brake to smooth it out, and that was that. No issues, before I knew it I was riding through the gate to the finish. The examiner was spot on, the ride went well and I can now look forward to booking my Mod 2 test.
I would still question the usefulness of the Mod 1 test, having discussed it with my instructor asking for his thoughts on it. He reckons you can really see the difference in riders who had passed their Mod 1 and are awaiting their Mod 2, as they have a new confidence in an 'I can do this' sense, since all that then stands between you and your licence is the road test. As for the slow control, surely that sort of thing has always been marked on the road test as whatever the conditions, no doubt at some point you'll find yourself having to crawl up to traffic or pulling away slowly. The U-turn, which seems to be the easiest way to fail a Mod 1, is a bit of a moot point. I love being able to do them, but if they weren't marked as part of a test now, would most riders do them? I doubt it. Most of my mates and colleagues who ride avoid U-turns for fear of dropping them bike and would rather just paddle, which I probably would with hundreds of pounds of luggage and fairing to think about. I understand on the continent, the Mod 1 is performed on the road rather than on a closed circuit, although I can see the benefit of consistency when you're testing on a marked yard.
Things came together quite nicely. I'd taken half a night off work and finished at 3AM this morning to try and get a good sleep before setting off for the test. Before the test, I did about 45 minutes practice on the yard doing the manual handling through to U-turn section. We then headed off to a nearby industrial estate and on a disused section of road at the end, did more U-turns in a circuit with cones set out for the the three last three speed checked exercises. Riding alongside was a lad also doing his Mod 1 today, on an A2 bike.
I thought I was riding terribly for the practice session. Mostly the manoeuvres were coming off without a hitch, but I was making mistakes I could have kicked myself for. Particularly at the end, when the instructor was collecting the cones in, he set us away just doing U-turns in the road, whereas previously we'd been using a driveway to a disused unit to make the turns because the road was narrower than the markings at the test centre. I managed the U turns on the narrow road, but they felt cramped and choppy.
On getting to the test centre, I was up first for my test and it went over like a breeze. I had expected to feel nervous, but I felt very calm throughout. Everything came off absolutely without a hitch. The toughest part was probably the slalom due to the clutch on the bike I was using. I don't know who adjusted it, but they must have f
king massive hands, as I have big hands and found it a strain to balance on the clutch due to the length of the extension, which made it tricky to trickle the bike along the little course. I dragged the back brake to smooth it out, and that was that. No issues, before I knew it I was riding through the gate to the finish. The examiner was spot on, the ride went well and I can now look forward to booking my Mod 2 test.I would still question the usefulness of the Mod 1 test, having discussed it with my instructor asking for his thoughts on it. He reckons you can really see the difference in riders who had passed their Mod 1 and are awaiting their Mod 2, as they have a new confidence in an 'I can do this' sense, since all that then stands between you and your licence is the road test. As for the slow control, surely that sort of thing has always been marked on the road test as whatever the conditions, no doubt at some point you'll find yourself having to crawl up to traffic or pulling away slowly. The U-turn, which seems to be the easiest way to fail a Mod 1, is a bit of a moot point. I love being able to do them, but if they weren't marked as part of a test now, would most riders do them? I doubt it. Most of my mates and colleagues who ride avoid U-turns for fear of dropping them bike and would rather just paddle, which I probably would with hundreds of pounds of luggage and fairing to think about. I understand on the continent, the Mod 1 is performed on the road rather than on a closed circuit, although I can see the benefit of consistency when you're testing on a marked yard.
Good luck with the mod 2, I had similar feelings during my mod 1. Nervous building up to it but once I was on the pad I was well away, no nerves and just got on with it. Mod 2 went more or less the same way, although I was a little less worried before hand having had the recent experience in test.
Good luck with the next part!
Good luck with the next part!
Well done good luck with Mod 2 that's the easy part.
I thought I'd blown mine when I miss heard which exit to take off a roundabout. Really thought I'd failed but I got back and he told me I had passed. When I had a surprised luck on my face he said I know you took the wrong exit but what you did was safe. So don't worry if you have a bit of a balls up.
Nothing to worry about it's the easy part getting your licence.
I thought I'd blown mine when I miss heard which exit to take off a roundabout. Really thought I'd failed but I got back and he told me I had passed. When I had a surprised luck on my face he said I know you took the wrong exit but what you did was safe. So don't worry if you have a bit of a balls up.
Nothing to worry about it's the easy part getting your licence.
theshrew said:
I thought I'd blown mine when I miss heard which exit to take off a roundabout. Really thought I'd failed but I got back and he told me I had passed. When I had a surprised luck on my face he said I know you took the wrong exit but what you did was safe. So don't worry if you have a bit of a balls up.
Apparently you can completely ignore the moderator and just keep going around in figures of eight on the road junctions until you pass. As long as you do it safely they can not mark you for it - you just really really annoy them.Obviously i would not recommend it.
I passed my test this afternoon. It felt like it took ages in the sense that I rode up with the instructor and another lad, the other lad did his test and I went out whilst he was doing his for another 45 minute circuit, and then came back and did mine. In total, mine felt like it blew by in about twenty minutes but I guess I did much the same route as the other lad. Passed with one minor, which I was quite happy with - having missed a 20mph on a road I drive all the time, but slowing down for the traffic calming further up the road. I remember consciously thinking at the time 'is this a 20 or 30 zone...should I press on, drop back or bimble in the middle?', but my mind was made up for me when I got to the traffic calming.
Anyway, that's that done and dusted and for all it was a slog having to arrange lessons, I quite enjoyed the lessons I had, though if I could have had my time again I'd have worked harder to compress them into a shorter timespan. Not that it matters now.
Now, thinking turns to bikes. Not sure what I'll end up with. I had really fancied a 955i Speed Triple, applying the common sense that I'm not some young lad who can't contain himself, and that it'll only go as fast as you want it to. My instructor today (not the usual instructor I've had, but I had done a session with him before and he's a very sound and down to earth sort) reckoned it wouldn't be an ideal place to start. Not that the handling is too twitchy, but it'll apparently put a lot of power down very quickly which could lead to spinning the back wheel or hoisting the front, both of which I'd be on the lookout for. More than that, the weight of it doesn't lend it to quick corrections mid corner if you find you're in trouble. That was food for thought, as he was signing their praises as a tool for an experienced rider, but I might be better off looking elsewhere. I shall see. I know I don't have the talent to really use a Speed Triple but I had hoped to work on my skills on one.
Perhaps I'll look towards a smaller bike, like the TT600, instead. That's for another thread though, on another day.
Anyway, that's that done and dusted and for all it was a slog having to arrange lessons, I quite enjoyed the lessons I had, though if I could have had my time again I'd have worked harder to compress them into a shorter timespan. Not that it matters now.
Now, thinking turns to bikes. Not sure what I'll end up with. I had really fancied a 955i Speed Triple, applying the common sense that I'm not some young lad who can't contain himself, and that it'll only go as fast as you want it to. My instructor today (not the usual instructor I've had, but I had done a session with him before and he's a very sound and down to earth sort) reckoned it wouldn't be an ideal place to start. Not that the handling is too twitchy, but it'll apparently put a lot of power down very quickly which could lead to spinning the back wheel or hoisting the front, both of which I'd be on the lookout for. More than that, the weight of it doesn't lend it to quick corrections mid corner if you find you're in trouble. That was food for thought, as he was signing their praises as a tool for an experienced rider, but I might be better off looking elsewhere. I shall see. I know I don't have the talent to really use a Speed Triple but I had hoped to work on my skills on one.
Perhaps I'll look towards a smaller bike, like the TT600, instead. That's for another thread though, on another day.
Baryonyx said:
as other colleagues (also bikers) shouted "no one does fking U turns except for their test".
They'll be the ones you see paddling their bikes around car parks as they don't know how to ride slow, if you use your bike as more than a toy then slow riding is damn handy. Be it slotting into tiny parking spaces to zig zagging around cars in stationary traffic to get to the lane you want (ie turning right at lights after filtering down the middle of a dual carriageway).king U turns except for their test". Congrats on the pass.
I got a GSX14 eight months after my test & what they say about weight is true, I know I'd have leant faster on a smaller bike. However it was what I wanted & I was comfy on it so it was right for me.
Congrats on passing your test, Don't buy a TT600, buy a Speed Triple, they are a pussycat and very very easy to ride, yes they could spin the back wheel up in the wet (it won't in the dry on normal tarmac so don't worry about it) but the power delivery is very linear and not peaky like a 600 can be, the throttle works both ways remember 
Congratulations on the pass, and thanks for giving us the whole story instead of announcing you're doing your test then never posting again.
With regard to not getting a Speed Triple, you should really just buy the bike you want, not the one you think you should get or you won't enjoy riding it so much and you'll just end up with the hassle of selling it to get the bike you've really wanted all along. I actually think the Speed Triple will be an easier ride than a TT600, for what it's worth. My instructor advised me against getting a sports bike as my first bike, and while I respected and still do value his opinion - he had been riding longer than I'd been alive after all, I have not for one second regretted getting the bike I actually wanted. Make your own mind up.
With regard to not getting a Speed Triple, you should really just buy the bike you want, not the one you think you should get or you won't enjoy riding it so much and you'll just end up with the hassle of selling it to get the bike you've really wanted all along. I actually think the Speed Triple will be an easier ride than a TT600, for what it's worth. My instructor advised me against getting a sports bike as my first bike, and while I respected and still do value his opinion - he had been riding longer than I'd been alive after all, I have not for one second regretted getting the bike I actually wanted. Make your own mind up.
Congrats on the pass!
I'll echo above. Get the speed triple, if you're ham fisted then yes you can spin the rear in less than ideal conditions, but then so can a lot of bikes. My CRM 250 does!!
As for it hoisiting the front it really won't be that bad. I deliberately tried to provoke a daytona 595 into getting the front up more than a few times and it isn't easy. It's not hard but unless you're being stupid it won't.
Big lovely engine with a beautiful sound and some great 90's looks. You know it makes sense.
I'll echo above. Get the speed triple, if you're ham fisted then yes you can spin the rear in less than ideal conditions, but then so can a lot of bikes. My CRM 250 does!!
As for it hoisiting the front it really won't be that bad. I deliberately tried to provoke a daytona 595 into getting the front up more than a few times and it isn't easy. It's not hard but unless you're being stupid it won't.
Big lovely engine with a beautiful sound and some great 90's looks. You know it makes sense.
Aye, fk it, I'll stick with the plan to get the Speed Triple. I'm 15 and a half stone so I'll just lean over the tank to keep it steady 
I'm now looking forward to buying a new bike, albeit it might take a couple of months waiting for the right bike to show up close enough to make it worth going for. I can see some lovely bikes for sale all around the country but I'd prefer just waiting a little longer for something more convenient. It does give time to save (I never finance anything if I can help it).
k it, I'll stick with the plan to get the Speed Triple. I'm 15 and a half stone so I'll just lean over the tank to keep it steady I'm now looking forward to buying a new bike, albeit it might take a couple of months waiting for the right bike to show up close enough to make it worth going for. I can see some lovely bikes for sale all around the country but I'd prefer just waiting a little longer for something more convenient. It does give time to save (I never finance anything if I can help it).
Congratulations sir, and as others have said, thanks for posting the road to getting there, I enjoyed reading it.
Not sure of any further plans you might have regarding development, but I found Bikesafe to be useful regarding riding position on the road, and the odd track day regarding riding condfidence and bike ability.
Happy trails either way.
Cheers,
Tom
Not sure of any further plans you might have regarding development, but I found Bikesafe to be useful regarding riding position on the road, and the odd track day regarding riding condfidence and bike ability.
Happy trails either way.
Cheers,
Tom
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