Arghhh...test on Monday! :yikes:
Arghhh...test on Monday! :yikes:
Author
Discussion

pedal2metal

Original Poster:

47 posts

242 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
Right, I've got the last two days of my Direct Access Course tomorrow and Sunday, with my test on Monday. Doing the lot on a Honda CBF500, I think.

Any top tips to ensure I'm not wallowing in self pity, having failed?!

hollypop

810 posts

242 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
No tips, not got that far yet! Good Luck!

Davel

8,982 posts

281 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
Don't worry too much and treat it like a normal ride out with your instructor.

Concentrate on what you're doing at the time and not what you've just done previous and don't forget your lifesavers!

Good luck!

Rawwr

22,722 posts

257 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
Don't mow down any pedestrians.

Top tip.

mrandy

828 posts

241 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
remain calm and dont pull any mingers in front of the examiner

Carrera2

8,352 posts

255 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
pedal2metal said:
Right, I've got the last two days of my Direct Access Course tomorrow and Sunday, with my test on Monday. Doing the lot on a Honda CBF500, I think.

Any top tips to ensure I'm not wallowing in self pity, having failed?!


Impress the examiner with your stoppies and wheelies and you'll be fine

Good luck - remember to look where you WANT to go when doing your U-turn!

pedal2metal

Original Poster:

47 posts

242 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
All good advice, thanks. It's gonna be quite a step up tomorrow from what I've been commuting through the city on for the past six months...

adi

514 posts

298 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
If you've got a helmet without too many graphics on, stick a fluorescent dot or stripe on the back. That way the instructor can clearly see your head moving when you are doing your checks. Worked for me (1st test - failed due to him not seeing me moving my head enough, 2nd test passed with no comments at all about head, despite me doing exactly same things)

Good luck!

tone

297 posts

306 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
adi said:
If you've got a helmet without too many graphics on, stick a fluorescent dot or stripe on the back. That way the instructor can clearly see your head moving when you are doing your checks.


Second that, I put two flourescent dots on the back of my lid as my instructor queried whether I'd been doing lifesavers appropriately. Got through no bother.

Oh and good luck too!

huckster6

245 posts

240 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
When I did my test the guy who spent the week instructing me hadn't bothered to show me how to put the bike on its centre stand...I couldn't figure it out. The examiner gave me HINTS about the stand...remember to push down HARD!
I also put a foot down first time in the U-turn...
the examiner was so sweet, gave me all the time I needed for the turn, I did some very deep breathing, got it right second time.

I did a clear run and passed with no problems.
I think you have to demonstrate you're not a menace, and they'll try to be as fair and understanding as possible.
Good luck. Be safe. Enjoy yourself.

F.M

5,816 posts

243 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
Life saver when moving off...
2 lifesavers required when turning..1 B4 taking road position,1 B4 turning..
Nice prompt stop on the controlled stop , don`t lock a wheel..
Look as far ahead as poss to identify speed limit changes..
Good luck!

dern

14,055 posts

302 months

Friday 17th March 2006
quotequote all
Listen very carefully to all instructions passed to you via the coms system. I was so nervous I missed two instructions and had to do two extra u-turns and ended up with a slightly miffed instructor. Still passed though.

itsadeal

707 posts

241 months

Saturday 18th March 2006
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Just let the examiner see you looking left and right all the time. My instructor made me use the dual carraige way 111, 11, 1 pulling off signs as a guide. Look behind at 111, indicate at 11, one last look again at 1, then take your juction off.

He even used to make me look/glance down every side street for coming hazards? shows you have good road awarness!

Dont ride to slow on dual carrige ways, shows hesitance and a common failing point!

Just chill TREAT IT LIKE A RIDE OUT!

Good luck

Paul

ps. All drivers should have to take a bike test, would make the place much safer!

Pete B

180 posts

247 months

Saturday 18th March 2006
quotequote all
All I could think of was U-TURN, I'd been doing them fine for 4 days untill the morning of the test when I just lost it! couldn't do one for love or money, must've dropped the bike 4 or 5 times trying on the morning of the test.
Anyway 5 minutes into test & it was U-TURN time, sailed it! as soon as that was done, the rest was easy. Just be sensible.
If your instructors are anythimg like the instructors I had, they've taught you to impress the instructor on the day rather than how to ride!
Good luck mate & make sure your wearing decent gear on the day, 1st impressions an'all that!

hobbit123

636 posts

250 months

Sunday 19th March 2006
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Just remember that one small mistake isn't the end of the world. I locked my back wheel during the emergency stop, but backed off and re-applied, no probs. You don't have to be 110% perfect with everything, just don't be sloppy. He'll only fail you if you do something wrong but even then there's leeway. Show him/her you control the bike, not vice versa.

Green traffic lights always change just to annoy you.
Remember to relax and breathe.
Head up, eyes peeled and you'll be fine.

Good luck

Neil

timmartin

4,481 posts

246 months

Sunday 19th March 2006
quotequote all
Remember to cancel your indicators!!! They don't auto-cancel like a car!!!!

I went into neutral instead of second just after a junction.... sorted that out fine, but forgot to cancel the indicator and failed the test!!!

Mikey G

4,849 posts

263 months

Sunday 19th March 2006
quotequote all
Good luck, i was nervous as hell on my test, especially the U-turn. But i relaxed a little and nailed it all, ended up with 2 minors

ultimasimon

9,646 posts

281 months

Sunday 19th March 2006
quotequote all
Lifesavers as had been said before; make them obvious but not patronising

Be assertive and ready for the idiots - they all come out on test day. Be as calm (as you can be) and confident in your manuevers. But most of all, have fun

Best of luck luck

chilli

17,320 posts

259 months

Monday 20th March 2006
quotequote all
huckster6 said:
When I did my test the guy who spent the week instructing me hadn't bothered to show me how to put the bike on its centre stand...I couldn't figure it out. The examiner gave me HINTS about the stand...remember to push down HARD!
I also put a foot down first time in the U-turn...
the examiner was so sweet, gave me all the time I needed for the turn, I did some very deep breathing, got it right second time.

I did a clear run and passed with no problems.
I think you have to demonstrate you're not a menace, and they'll try to be as fair and understanding as possible.
Good luck. Be safe. Enjoy yourself.



Interesting.....I was told that you only got one change on the u-turns??

hobo

6,371 posts

269 months

Monday 20th March 2006
quotequote all
I was told that either failing to correctly carry out the U-turn, or locking (and not correcting) wheels during an emergency stop were both instant fails.