Inspiration and Encouragement
Inspiration and Encouragement
Author
Discussion

MrRee145

Original Poster:

158 posts

189 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
All,

This probably won't go how I am expecting it to smile.

Having Failed Mod 1... for the second time (I know) I'm in need of some encouragement to keep at it and try again as i am currently thinking of not attempting it again and just giving it up.

Help

JC

CBR JGWRR

6,580 posts

175 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
What did you do?

MrRee145

Original Poster:

158 posts

189 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Put my foot down after I turned in too tight on the final slalom cone into the figure of Eight.. this is being done on a CBF600 FYI

Maruchino

958 posts

210 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Your life will be more enjoyable on a bigger bike. What more inspiration do you need?

Given that you have a 125, are you practicing the figure of 8's/ u-turn / etc in a car park? You should be!

Rawwr

22,722 posts

260 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Don't put your foot down next time.

MrRee145

Original Poster:

158 posts

189 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
I am practising however it is a mind thing i think being on a much bigger bike

CBR JGWRR

6,580 posts

175 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
MrRee145 said:
Put my foot down after I turned in too tight on the final slalom cone into the figure of Eight.. this is being done on a CBF600 FYI
Could do worse, I failed on speed through speedtrap on my first attempt at it. (Attempted the bend at 40 in 4th, which is the same rpm as 30 in 3rd, and I was going by engine note, went in too quick, panicked, slowed, thought "fk, accelerate!" Only got it up to 2nd gear in time.)

I had already used the previous run as a sighting run...

N Dentressangle

3,453 posts

248 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
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Anything worth doing takes time to get good at - no-one learns to paint really well or play an instrument beautifully after only a few hours practice.

We all learn things at different rates, even though we end up at the same point. Have another go, learn from your mistakes, and you'll get there eventually.

creampuff

6,511 posts

169 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
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You put your foot down both times you failed?

Practice slow turns. Practice slipping the clutch and dragging the rear brake.

And most important: get a good night sleep before the test and relax smile

Prof Prolapse

16,163 posts

216 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
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Look where you want to go, don't let the revs drop.

Nobody gives a st how many times someone failed their bike test, so take your time. Worst case scenario you do it again.


MrRee145

Original Poster:

158 posts

189 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Yes I did put my foot down both times. first time was nerves, second time was a turn in that was too tight and I couldn't rescue it

Steve Evil

10,810 posts

255 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Do remember that you can use as much space as you want for that figure of 8, go out really wide for the turn and come back perfectly straight between the cones, going out wide again and repeating.

As someone else suggested, get a bit of time in practising low speed manoeuvres until you're more comfortable with them. My instructor was really helpful for this as he'd put on a Mod 1 workshop every weekend whilst the CBT students were going through the theory section of their day.

creampuff

6,511 posts

169 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
MrRee145 said:
Yes I did put my foot down both times. first time was nerves, second time was a turn in that was too tight and I couldn't rescue it
As I said, practice, practice.

You will get comfortable with practice, but just as an FYI (this will come naturally after a while, so don't over analyse it):

The bike is quite stable if there is power going to the rear wheel. If you feel yourself falling over, you can release the rear brake a bit and release the clutch a bit. This will bring you back upright. Don't let the revs go too low, esp on the CBF600 which is an inline-4 with less torque than say a V-twin.

This should keep you upright evey time. That occasion I fell over sideways in a carpark was an abornmal gravitional field, really it was wink

MrRee145

Original Poster:

158 posts

189 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Thanks everyone.. I know I can do it ( iwas was doing it perfectly for an hour before in a practice environment. just very frustrating when I do the simple things wrong.

Prof Prolapse

16,163 posts

216 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
MrRee145 said:
Thanks everyone.. I know I can do it ( iwas was doing it perfectly for an hour before in a practice environment. just very frustrating when I do the simple things wrong.
The test is easy to pass, easy to fail. Don't kick yourself.

MonkeyBusiness

4,219 posts

213 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
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I failed the Mod one first time so I feel your pain.
Can you turn up to the test centre early and simply watch? That might help.

The figure of 8 reminded me - on my successful test there were two worms, both right in the middle of where I needed to turn in/out. I like to think they helped me in a small way. sperm


R1gtr

3,440 posts

180 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
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Don't worry about it, it is easy to mess it up, next time keep revs up reasonably high, work the clutch and use gentle pressure on back brake if you start picking up speed, also keep your head up looking where you want to go.
Not sure the exact distance between the cones but say it is 15ft got to a carpark and put some items down 13ft apart and practice practice practice till you can do it easily, this way when you do test at 15ft(or whatever) you will find it so easy, the same process can be applied to practising for your U-turn.
Keep at it.

moanthebairns

18,827 posts

224 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Prof Prolapse said:
MrRee145 said:
Thanks everyone.. I know I can do it ( iwas was doing it perfectly for an hour before in a practice environment. just very frustrating when I do the simple things wrong.
The test is easy to pass, easy to fail. Don't kick yourself.
this

I don’t think the test makes you a safer rider in anyway. It’s a waste of time.

my reasons are

A) push a bike into a garage - I’ve never once got off my bike to push it into a garage. I’ve always rode it or been on it. I’m less likely to drop it I feel.
B) A figure of 8 – when the fk are you going to do one of these on the road.
C) Slalom – unless I’m scrubbing in new tyres or bored going through road works I don’t really do many slaloms on the road.

Ok things like U turns, emergency stops, swerves and slow riding you will do on the road.

But I don’t really see the big deal if your foot goes down for a second just for some metal reassurance.

Who the hell has died or been seriously injured from putting their foot down whilst fking up a U-turn at 5 mph

Even now I have been known to put the old foot down doing U-turns or when coming out from a car park. Looks a lot less doss than dropping it I’ll tell you.

MrKipling43

5,788 posts

242 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Yeah, keep at it.

My advice would be don't try to go too slowly. You can go as quick as you like through the figure of eight and the slalom - I know that my wife cocked up because she was trying to go too slowly and 'stalled' (balance-wise, not the engine).

And yeah, slipping the clutch and dragging the brake are both essential.

MaxMX5

387 posts

181 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
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Well it took me 4 attempts to pass my Mod 1, and with each attempt I was more of a gibbering wreck then the one before. You will get there, I did and its so worth it in the end. Good luck!