Failed Mod 2, dropped the bike.
Discussion
My Mod 2 was a shambles on Friday, kept making daft mistakes on the lesson before the test so didn't feel too confident, felt the test was going ok, after 20 minutes we ended up on a bit of back road, wasn't sure of the speed limit, after a few minutes realised it was a NSL, got the bike up to 40 before I had to slow down for a corner, then on a s
tty side road junction, I dropped the bike, junction is slight downhill, poor visibility due to parked cars so have to creep and peek, surface leading up to give way is rough and pot holled, had the bars turned slightly right, edged out, stalled the bike and it went down, not so much a drop more of a slow motion lay down, picked the bike up (650 Gladius) myself before the examiner got out his car, examiner terminated the test, took the radio off me and left me there for the instructor to come and collect me, bike just had a broken brake lever end so I was able to ride it back.
Instructor said i'm not the first and wont be the last to drop the bike at that junction.
Back at the test centre the examiner said to the instructor I had failed at that point anyway as I was indeed going too slow in the NSL, wasn't looking for me doing 60 but if I had got it up to 47-48 i'd have been fine.
Been taking one lesson a week since doing the CBT in August, first time I've dropped the bike and it's during the bloody test.
I'm 49, had my car licence 32 years, been driving HGV's (all Class 1 artic) for 22 years, the bike is by far the hardest thing I've had to do, driving a 44T truck is a piece of piss in comparison (I found the learning and the tests easy in 98), been thinking about a bike licence for the last ten years. Bought a bike in July to give me an incentive, an 87 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500, then as my tests got closer I bought a K4 GSXR 600, the Vulcan has turned into a project (which I don't mind) but the GSXR is ready to go, MOT'd, insured, full tank etc, cant wait to get out in the nicer weather but at the same time pissed off with the whole thing.
tty side road junction, I dropped the bike, junction is slight downhill, poor visibility due to parked cars so have to creep and peek, surface leading up to give way is rough and pot holled, had the bars turned slightly right, edged out, stalled the bike and it went down, not so much a drop more of a slow motion lay down, picked the bike up (650 Gladius) myself before the examiner got out his car, examiner terminated the test, took the radio off me and left me there for the instructor to come and collect me, bike just had a broken brake lever end so I was able to ride it back.Instructor said i'm not the first and wont be the last to drop the bike at that junction.
Back at the test centre the examiner said to the instructor I had failed at that point anyway as I was indeed going too slow in the NSL, wasn't looking for me doing 60 but if I had got it up to 47-48 i'd have been fine.
Been taking one lesson a week since doing the CBT in August, first time I've dropped the bike and it's during the bloody test.
I'm 49, had my car licence 32 years, been driving HGV's (all Class 1 artic) for 22 years, the bike is by far the hardest thing I've had to do, driving a 44T truck is a piece of piss in comparison (I found the learning and the tests easy in 98), been thinking about a bike licence for the last ten years. Bought a bike in July to give me an incentive, an 87 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500, then as my tests got closer I bought a K4 GSXR 600, the Vulcan has turned into a project (which I don't mind) but the GSXR is ready to go, MOT'd, insured, full tank etc, cant wait to get out in the nicer weather but at the same time pissed off with the whole thing.
Don't beat yourself up. I didn't drop the bike training, but did twice since passing. It happens.
Examiner doesnt sound too friendly. Shame you didnt have one on a bike.
Seems like nerves got the better of you from the time you woke up, have a think about working on that for next time.
Examiner doesnt sound too friendly. Shame you didnt have one on a bike.
Seems like nerves got the better of you from the time you woke up, have a think about working on that for next time.
I'm extremely surprised the examiner left you there if the bike was still rideable and you were unhurt, I instructed for ten years and I have never know that happen.
In my experience, the examiner would normally finish the test no matter how many faults unless they felt the student was dangerous, in which case he would guide the student back to the test centre and cut the test short there.
You have paid for an allotted amount if the examiner's time and every minute on the road is practise.
What would have happened if you had just set off by yourself and ridden back alone?
You would have been breaking the law on several counts but he is the one who has abandoned you.
As a learner (DAS) the only time you should never be on the road unless you are accompanied by an approved instructor or examiner.
Speak to the training centre manager and ask what they think.
In my experience, the examiner would normally finish the test no matter how many faults unless they felt the student was dangerous, in which case he would guide the student back to the test centre and cut the test short there.
You have paid for an allotted amount if the examiner's time and every minute on the road is practise.
What would have happened if you had just set off by yourself and ridden back alone?
You would have been breaking the law on several counts but he is the one who has abandoned you.
As a learner (DAS) the only time you should never be on the road unless you are accompanied by an approved instructor or examiner.
Speak to the training centre manager and ask what they think.
Plenty of people who have full licenses had stalled, over balanced, dropped their bike. It happens ...hopefully not often and with further training and practice not all. You do have to have quick reactions if you stall unexpectedly, get the clutch in and start engine again. Whenever coming up to a stop check the road surface, watch out for off camber junctions on inclines etc.
All you can do is get your test booked again and try to get more practice in to get your confidence back. I failed my test twice for silly mistakes on traffic rules, feet up u-turn. Frustrating at the time but so glad I persevered and passed it easily the 3rd time.
All you can do is get your test booked again and try to get more practice in to get your confidence back. I failed my test twice for silly mistakes on traffic rules, feet up u-turn. Frustrating at the time but so glad I persevered and passed it easily the 3rd time.
Rubin215 said:
I'm extremely surprised the examiner left you there if the bike was still rideable and you were unhurt, I instructed for ten years and I have never know that happen.
In my experience, the examiner would normally finish the test no matter how many faults unless they felt the student was dangerous, in which case he would guide the student back to the test centre and cut the test short there.
You have paid for an allotted amount if the examiner's time and every minute on the road is practise.
What would have happened if you had just set off by yourself and ridden back alone?
You would have been breaking the law on several counts but he is the one who has abandoned you.
As a learner (DAS) the only time you should never be on the road unless you are accompanied by an approved instructor or examiner.
Speak to the training centre manager and ask what they think.
Yeah, I wouldn't have said laying the bike down was dangerous, just a silly mistake caused by stalling, been through that junction before during a lesson and did loose balance, had to put both feet down, should have remembered it in the test I suppose, didn't feel particularly nervous (like to think i'm too long in the tooth to get worked up), my Mod 1 was fine (which is the one most people struggle with), no nerves, was absolutely pissing down (test was nearly cancelled), was soaked through, thought "if I fail I fail" and I passed with a clean sheet. In my experience, the examiner would normally finish the test no matter how many faults unless they felt the student was dangerous, in which case he would guide the student back to the test centre and cut the test short there.
You have paid for an allotted amount if the examiner's time and every minute on the road is practise.
What would have happened if you had just set off by yourself and ridden back alone?
You would have been breaking the law on several counts but he is the one who has abandoned you.
As a learner (DAS) the only time you should never be on the road unless you are accompanied by an approved instructor or examiner.
Speak to the training centre manager and ask what they think.
Not going to make a fuss about it with the test centre as they may remember me and have my card marked the next time, maybe the examiner was just following procedure, I did see similar on a YouTube video (RJH training) where a learner took a wrong exit off a roundabout, went up a motorway slip road by mistake, he stopped when he realised but the examiner left him, drove back to the test centre and told the instructor to go and rescue him.
) up.Cheers guys, i know one lesson a week has not been ideal but it's time and money, work Monday to Friday so have been taking a two hour lesson either Saturday or Sunday, lessons are £80, so have been spending about £320 a month since August, Friday was £185 (two hour lesson and test fee etc) plus a day off work, got another test booked in a few weeks, need to keep going with it, far too far into it now to give up, pretty sure it'll be well worth it in the end.
As far as I know a lot of bike examiners use the car (some don't ride at all), bit of a disadvantage I think as joe public doesn't know you are on a test (not that anyone would care anyway), all they see is a bike with big daft L plates, at the start of the test I had to move back into lane one on a duel carriageway after exiting a roundabout, car in lane one was reluctant to let me in, I got in safely but would have been a lot easier with two bikes there, if the examiner is in a car you feel on your tod, even though he's in your ear with the radio .
As far as I know a lot of bike examiners use the car (some don't ride at all), bit of a disadvantage I think as joe public doesn't know you are on a test (not that anyone would care anyway), all they see is a bike with big daft L plates, at the start of the test I had to move back into lane one on a duel carriageway after exiting a roundabout, car in lane one was reluctant to let me in, I got in safely but would have been a lot easier with two bikes there, if the examiner is in a car you feel on your tod, even though he's in your ear with the radio .
bogie said:
Plenty of people who have full licenses had stalled, over balanced, dropped their bike. It happens ...
Yep! I've done silly stuff a few times now - the day I picked my first bike up I tried to make a getaway from some lights too fast and stalled it, little did I know that the clutch switch was dodgy so it wouldn't restart. Cue pedalling the bike to the inside of a huge roundabout (it had a bit of a shoulder) and fiddling about trying to figure out why the bike I'd done 5 miles on wouldn't restart...First day I went out on it proper I came up to a very tight, off-camber downhill junction - nearly stalled and dropped the bike trying to get round it, managed to catch it but swore at myself for being such a plum.
And of course the time I got home, turned the engine off and tried to get off the bike before putting the side stand down. Slow-motion tip over with me stuck under it trying not to burn my leg on the hot downpipe. Bugger.
Moral of the story is - have another go and you'll nail it I'm sure.
Slow riding and manouevring is difficult for a lot people, but it just takes practice and you'll be fine. Maybe consider concentrating on that in your next couple of lessons and making sure you do some exercises on it in each lesson ?
Missing the NSL is an observation issue, so perhaps practice your scanning, I've found that looking "Far, Near, Rear" & repeat & repeat.... is a good way of getting into the habit. You can do that while driving any vehicle for practice, I'm sure you must be pretty road aware when driving a truck anyway.
yonex said:
Missed the bit about the examiner in a car, doesn’t that make it a bit awkward in traffic? I was the first of the pursuit type, having flunked the previous riding around the block version 
My examiner followed in a car as bike wasn’t available for whatever reason. Was perfect really, easy to lose him so less chance of them seeing me make minor mistakes haha.Don’t give up now, you’ll learn from your mistake and crack it next time. Good luck.
TheInternet said:
How long are those lessons? All the ones I've found are one day minimum, not an hour here and there like driving lessons.
My lessons are two hours and cost £80 for the 650, think they are about £65 for the 125, think i'd find a day lesson a bind, two hours is perfect, I found the CBT a drag, wanted to go home at lunchtime."Far, Near, Rear" observation is a good tip, will put that into practice, the RJH training guy on YouTube uses "new road, check mirrors, cancel signal, get up to speed whether it be 30, 40 or 60", was trying to keep that in my head, unfortunately left my head in the NSL during the test.
My observation and planning skills are pretty good from driving the lorry (far better than the average car driver) but the big difference is things move a lot slower in the lorry so you have more time to take in info, you can take a roundabout or a junction as slow as you want in the lorry, not got that luxury on a bike, probably 95 percent of my driving has been in HGV's for the last 20 years, on exiting roundabouts on the bike for a while I was doing three left life savers as i'm used to pulling a 45' trailer and checking the mirror multiple times.
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