New Test Part 1 - Mini Review
Discussion
Steve Evil said:
So we went and watched the first one from the fence, his first bit was fine, slalom etc. all looked good, then he went for the hazard avoidance, looked like he was going really slowly round it and took it more like a 50 pence piece, rather than a smooth arc, then he accelerated towards the speed trap, but instead of letting off I think he'd realised he was going too slow, so simply held onto the accelerator all the way through the swerve, made that OK, then realised he was going way too fast to stop in the box, grabbed the front brake whilst trying to turn towards it and flew off, dropping the bike which skidded along for about 20 metres (examiner pointed out the marks on my go later). Guy was totally fine, bike was OK after a new brake lever and taping the indicator up, but they abandoned his test.
That must have shook you up a bit!... glad to hear you passed tho. I had to really think about my breating as well to keep me calm. I seemed to calm down a lot once i had started the slalom. Bring on part 2!... when do you have your part 2?
.Hi guys, I passed module 1 yesterday with no minors. Got 55kph on my swerve test and 65kph 
on my emergency stop. It was reassuring to have abs on the bike i was using but actually on my test i didn't feel it kick in.
Neals review is very good, my only bit of advice or comments really are the swerve test is no way near as bad as you might think. My instructor taught me to not use the brakes until i had gone through the second set of cones and was back in an upright position. The people who have fallen off so far (in norwich) have done so because they have hit the brakes while mid swerve. So basically it was a case of as soon as im through the speed trap, let go of the throttle after just gunning it in second gear, swerve, get upright and then anchor on to the brakes and stopping in the green cones.
The one thing i will say which can catch you out, once everything has done and the examiner comes over to say "right that is all done, if you would now like to move toward the exit, i will open the gate for you to ride out of and into a parking space" MAKE SURE you do a safety check! This is where people get another minor.... Just one to watch out for
Best of luck to everyone who is going to take the test, just go easy, breathe deep and visualise the win (as such).
Editted to mention: there are usually tyre lines on the tarmac showing other peoples swerve test lines. If you are on those, you know you are basically positioned about right.
on my emergency stop. It was reassuring to have abs on the bike i was using but actually on my test i didn't feel it kick in.Neals review is very good, my only bit of advice or comments really are the swerve test is no way near as bad as you might think. My instructor taught me to not use the brakes until i had gone through the second set of cones and was back in an upright position. The people who have fallen off so far (in norwich) have done so because they have hit the brakes while mid swerve. So basically it was a case of as soon as im through the speed trap, let go of the throttle after just gunning it in second gear, swerve, get upright and then anchor on to the brakes and stopping in the green cones.
The one thing i will say which can catch you out, once everything has done and the examiner comes over to say "right that is all done, if you would now like to move toward the exit, i will open the gate for you to ride out of and into a parking space" MAKE SURE you do a safety check! This is where people get another minor.... Just one to watch out for
Best of luck to everyone who is going to take the test, just go easy, breathe deep and visualise the win (as such).
Editted to mention: there are usually tyre lines on the tarmac showing other peoples swerve test lines. If you are on those, you know you are basically positioned about right.
Edited by Touring Remo on Thursday 11th June 15:29
Touring Remo said:
Hi guys, I passed module 1 yesterday with no minors. Got 55kph on my swerve test and 65kph on my emergency stop. It was reassuring to have abs on the bike i was using but actually on my test i didn't feel it kick in.
Neals review is very good, my only bit of advice or comments really are the swerve test is no way near as bad as you might think. My instructor taught me to not use the brakes until i had gone through the second set of cones and was back in an upright position. The people who have fallen off so far (in norwich) have done so because they have hit the brakes while mid swerve. So basically it was a case of as soon as im through the speed trap, let go of the throttle after just gunning it in second gear, swerve, get upright and then anchor on to the brakes and stopping in the green cones.
The one thing i will say which can catch you out, once everything has done and the examiner comes over to say "right that is all done, if you would now like to move toward the exit, i will open the gate for you to ride out of and into a parking space" MAKE SURE you do a safety check! This is where people get another minor.... Just one to watch out for
Best of luck to everyone who is going to take the test, just go easy, breathe deep and visualise the win (as such).
Editted to mention: there are usually tyre lines on the tarmac showing other peoples swerve test lines. If you are on those, you know you are basically positioned about right.
That's where he got me! Although I still swear I checked whilst his back was turned. Well done for passing though fella, I'm leaving it a while before I do my module 2, for both monetary reasons and the fact I'm enjoying sleeping without worrying about an impending test. on my emergency stop. It was reassuring to have abs on the bike i was using but actually on my test i didn't feel it kick in.Neals review is very good, my only bit of advice or comments really are the swerve test is no way near as bad as you might think. My instructor taught me to not use the brakes until i had gone through the second set of cones and was back in an upright position. The people who have fallen off so far (in norwich) have done so because they have hit the brakes while mid swerve. So basically it was a case of as soon as im through the speed trap, let go of the throttle after just gunning it in second gear, swerve, get upright and then anchor on to the brakes and stopping in the green cones.
The one thing i will say which can catch you out, once everything has done and the examiner comes over to say "right that is all done, if you would now like to move toward the exit, i will open the gate for you to ride out of and into a parking space" MAKE SURE you do a safety check! This is where people get another minor.... Just one to watch out for
Best of luck to everyone who is going to take the test, just go easy, breathe deep and visualise the win (as such).
Editted to mention: there are usually tyre lines on the tarmac showing other peoples swerve test lines. If you are on those, you know you are basically positioned about right.
I wish I spotting this thread a few weeks ago!!!!
Failed my first MOD1 by locking the rear on the emergency stop. It was howling down with rain and I just didn't feel it. I could have kicked myself! because given the conditions if I had lifted of the brake and unlocked it before I came to a stop he would have passed me. It was my only fault!!
Passed it second time with zero defects :-)
I heard that there had been a huge outcry in the press (biking press I guess because I didn't read it) about it being dangerous or something? If anyone is due to do it so, don't worry it's pretty easy as long as you've had a chance to practice it in a closed car park like we did. One guy even passed it on a 125, he had to muller the crap out of his bike to get upto speed but he did it.
As for locking up on the emergency stop, two things I would consider now. 1) You've got a huge distance in which to stop, use as much as you want, no need for the full "oh s
t a kid's run out" stop. 2) unless you really have too, don't botheer with the rear, in all the excitment and the weight transfer it's dead easy to over do it.
Passed MOD2 first time without any faults, again if you've got it coming up, I guess most people would have had at least a few years of driving under thier belts. Just relax and act like you would in the car (I don't mean picking your nose or singing along to the radio) so look ahead, take notice of signs especially about lane closures, they do not like riders to have to push into lanes because theirs has closed when there was 4 signs telling you about it. Try not to check your speedo every 5 seconds, you can drift over the limit for short periods without even a minor fault. But if you're looking at your clocks and don't spot a hazard or worse speed because you didn't see and change in limit you'll fail. Also don't be afraid to overtake. I nailed it past a very slow truck on my test, drifted slightly over the limit (2-3mph) to get back in safely and he was full of praise.
Failed my first MOD1 by locking the rear on the emergency stop. It was howling down with rain and I just didn't feel it. I could have kicked myself! because given the conditions if I had lifted of the brake and unlocked it before I came to a stop he would have passed me. It was my only fault!!
Passed it second time with zero defects :-)
I heard that there had been a huge outcry in the press (biking press I guess because I didn't read it) about it being dangerous or something? If anyone is due to do it so, don't worry it's pretty easy as long as you've had a chance to practice it in a closed car park like we did. One guy even passed it on a 125, he had to muller the crap out of his bike to get upto speed but he did it.
As for locking up on the emergency stop, two things I would consider now. 1) You've got a huge distance in which to stop, use as much as you want, no need for the full "oh s
t a kid's run out" stop. 2) unless you really have too, don't botheer with the rear, in all the excitment and the weight transfer it's dead easy to over do it.Passed MOD2 first time without any faults, again if you've got it coming up, I guess most people would have had at least a few years of driving under thier belts. Just relax and act like you would in the car (I don't mean picking your nose or singing along to the radio) so look ahead, take notice of signs especially about lane closures, they do not like riders to have to push into lanes because theirs has closed when there was 4 signs telling you about it. Try not to check your speedo every 5 seconds, you can drift over the limit for short periods without even a minor fault. But if you're looking at your clocks and don't spot a hazard or worse speed because you didn't see and change in limit you'll fail. Also don't be afraid to overtake. I nailed it past a very slow truck on my test, drifted slightly over the limit (2-3mph) to get back in safely and he was full of praise.
Great write up.
I did my MOD 1 a couple of weeks ago.
On the U turn I watched a few people go from the 4 blue cone box and ride into the yellow lines, do a life saver check and do the u turn. They all looked as though they were rushed and a little nervous which I can understand.
My instructor did it a little different and the examiner never said a word. He told us to ride to the middle of the line, stop. Then do a full observation and set off, by the time you have done the u turn you have ages to pull up against the other yellow line. It felt so easy as I didn't have to do an life saver on the move.
I did my MOD 1 a couple of weeks ago.
On the U turn I watched a few people go from the 4 blue cone box and ride into the yellow lines, do a life saver check and do the u turn. They all looked as though they were rushed and a little nervous which I can understand.
My instructor did it a little different and the examiner never said a word. He told us to ride to the middle of the line, stop. Then do a full observation and set off, by the time you have done the u turn you have ages to pull up against the other yellow line. It felt so easy as I didn't have to do an life saver on the move.
Just done mine so I’ll bang my opinion in too! Passed with zero minor faults but the 3 others from my riding school failed on various things. One girl did everything perfect up to the swerve-did the swerve but didn’t come to a stop in the coned box rather a couple of yard to the right. She was on a 125 and I think she was concentrating too much on tailing the speed.
Second lad also did his on the 125. Didn’t get the required speed on his first swerve so the next time he nailed it then forgot to do the swerve completely and went straight through. His dad was doing his on a 500-was very nervous and failed on the U-turn and did a like father like son on the swerve and went straight through.
Speed just isn’t a problem on the 500 you can pee role around the corner and easily get the required speed. I did it in 2nd so beware of engine breaking as you ease off to swerve as this may end up making you not hit the required speed. I got 49 kph on my first attempt so got a second go and got into the 60’s.
My overall opinion is it’s a very easy test to pass and very easy to fail. The Tarmac they used is so grippy even when the rain was bouncing off it was draining so well there was no surface water.
My recommendation are-use all the space available, take the slalom and figure of 8 as wide as you like. In practice I was doing it too much trying to get it tighter and tighter and just ended up tying myself up and putting my foot down. Same goes for the stop and swerve you’ve plenty of room to stop in so use it! Look over BOTH shoulder every time you pull off just to be safe. The annoying thing is there’s barely any margin for error between a pass and a fail except if you don’t get the required speed. If needs be use the first as a practise to get a feel of how grippy the surface is.
Second lad also did his on the 125. Didn’t get the required speed on his first swerve so the next time he nailed it then forgot to do the swerve completely and went straight through. His dad was doing his on a 500-was very nervous and failed on the U-turn and did a like father like son on the swerve and went straight through.
Speed just isn’t a problem on the 500 you can pee role around the corner and easily get the required speed. I did it in 2nd so beware of engine breaking as you ease off to swerve as this may end up making you not hit the required speed. I got 49 kph on my first attempt so got a second go and got into the 60’s.
My overall opinion is it’s a very easy test to pass and very easy to fail. The Tarmac they used is so grippy even when the rain was bouncing off it was draining so well there was no surface water.
My recommendation are-use all the space available, take the slalom and figure of 8 as wide as you like. In practice I was doing it too much trying to get it tighter and tighter and just ended up tying myself up and putting my foot down. Same goes for the stop and swerve you’ve plenty of room to stop in so use it! Look over BOTH shoulder every time you pull off just to be safe. The annoying thing is there’s barely any margin for error between a pass and a fail except if you don’t get the required speed. If needs be use the first as a practise to get a feel of how grippy the surface is.
Great write-up from Neal, which proves that even fat men can write.
Passed it on Friday, 1 minor fault (missed a left hand shoulder when moving off for the emergency stop - annoying!).
Spent all day on a bike on Saturday, preparing for the big test. It was huge fun - especially learning how to deconstruct and tackle bends properly on a bike - wonderful feeling.
Passed it on Friday, 1 minor fault (missed a left hand shoulder when moving off for the emergency stop - annoying!).
Spent all day on a bike on Saturday, preparing for the big test. It was huge fun - especially learning how to deconstruct and tackle bends properly on a bike - wonderful feeling.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 12th July 09:25
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