Inspiration and Encouragement
Discussion
.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 "f
k, accelerate!" Only got it up to 2nd gear in time.)I had already used the previous run as a sighting run...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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 f
k 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 f
king up a U-turn at 5 mphEven 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.
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.
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.
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