Failed my test for the third time now...

[Willson]

Hey dudes,

Failed my Mod 2 this morning for the third time, and every time it seems to be something different.

Anyone got any ideas? Or am I just having a case of bad luck?

Thanks!

[Ste]

What did you fail on this time and the previous times?

[Willson]

First time was all about speed... missed a 30 mph sign and was doing 40...

Second time I went a little quick around one bend and ended up in the middle of the road.

This time I "apparently" pulled up too close behind a car and a HGV in traffic, I didn't think I was too close but again I wouldn't... I want my license!

Another thing this time was Pulling away, there was nothing coming, so I pull away, next thing I know theres a ford mondeo right up my arse.

[Slacker24seve...]

[Willson]

Been going solo up to this point, thinking it would be the cheaper option... How wrong I was.

Ended up paying double for my first test because my employer wouldn't let me have a few hours out of the office so I had to rearrange it within the short notice period.

Gutted I tell thee! Gutted!

[Slacker24seve...]

[Ste]

Get in as many miles as you can (riding in a test style trying to do everything by the book) before trying it again.

You could have a few lessons with an instructor and they'll point out things like mondeos that you've not noticed or if you're going too quick into corners. But you can get the hang of it all that by practicing without an instructor watching you. And after doing the test three times without any lessons, to start having lessons now would be admitting defeat so if it was me I wouldn't be enthusiastic about having any lessons now.

If you have a couple of lessons, do your test again and pass without any problems then you'll be left wondering if you'd have passed first time had you had a couple of lessons then. You're three tests in, you need to pass without going for lessons cos then you can work out how it's still been cheaper than having lessons. Having lessons doesn't in any way mean you'll pass first time and you could be unlucky and fail the second one as well. If you had some lessons (5 or 6?) and then passed the mod 2 test on your second or third attempt the would be getting quite expensive.

If you pass on the 4th (or 5th) attempt without having any lessons then I think it would cost you less than it would to have lessons and pass on the 2nd or 3rd attempt.

Keep practicing.

[N cee thirty]

slow down and lifesavers
____________________
'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[swampy]

[Teflon-Mike]

Examiners dont JUST assess your riding.
As MUCH as they are assessing that, they are assessing you and your 'attitude'.
You can be pin-point, to the book, but IF they have 'that feeling' its all just for show, or you haven't REALLY got 'it' they will find 'something' to deny you your ticket.
Sterio-Typical examples are, turn up on a ratty sports 125 in trainers and paddock-jacket, race stickers on everything, but blu-tac holding the side-panels on..... 'grunt 'over-ere mate!' when they call you in the waiting room, and give answeres , "err... ''well'... 'like', and 'yeah...'they will be just LOOKING for ways to fail you before you begin.
To be honest does my noggin in quizzing syudents, and getting replies like, 'well its 'like' you gotta 'just y'chain, 'N-iT, yeah!?"
sometimes, I FEEL like replying.... I dont know, are you asking me or telling me? and is it 'like' a chain or is it a chain? If its not a chain, What is it you monasylabic moron! a shaft!"
Some-times I even do!
JUST to get the point accross about 'Presentation'.
It can be REALLY hard work, to comprehend some-one when they talk like that, and behave like that, and OK, FINE if its becouse they ARE a monosylabic moron, but more often its JUST becouse they are lazy or want to sound cool, or DONT want to sound like a prigg....
Top Tip: your examiner dont Give a shit!
He NEVER has to meet you again. He doesn't care how cool you are, or how la-de-da... he WANTS to get home to his warm willing wife, partner, stamp collection, WHAT FUCKING EVER.... with as LITTLE hassle or effort as possible, JUST like any-one ELSE at work, whther they are dealing with tins of soup on the shelf in sains-buries or re-routing the neurons during brain surgery!
So, you want the best chance of passing.....
Make your examiners life 'easy'!
Present like you would for a job interview.
Dress smart.
Wash/shave groom yourself as if you were going on a date with a super-model...... but hold back on the Lynx effect!
May knock the girls dead...... but believe me, last thing you need is an unconciouse examiner drunk on eu-d'cologne fumes!
THINK before you speak!
An 'err' suggests uncertainty. Silence suggests 'thoughtfulness'...
If you have to think, do so... dont 'err'... to err is human.... but infornt of an examiner, it just makes them impatient!
MAKE EYE CONTACT.....
Dont dart your gaze around the room or mumble at the floor.... presume they are deaf, speak clearly and at thier face, so they can lip read if needs be! Make it easy for them to understand you.
BE POLITE..... no one likes a smart arse or being insulted!
KEEP to the POINT. Dont waffle or gabble. Be succinct. Dont use more words than you have to, particularly 'like' (it IS or it isn't, its not 'like'!) or 'Yeah'... if they dont understand you, they'll say so, believe me! or jargon, like 'innit'..... its like saying ';Yeah' while also telling them you think they are a chav!
Turn up on a school bike, if yours is a heap, or IF you can afford to hire a school bike, in 'appropriate' gear, with teh school Hi-Vis on!
even if you haven't done training, the 'presentation;' is you have.... and the PRESUMPTION is that you wouldn't be there if the scholl didn't think you could pass.... so half examiners job done for him!
If school bike nbot possible, DONT turn up on something that is a heap, or screams 'boy racer'!
Beg, Borrow or STEAL something more 'presentable' if you have to, or dio your DAMNDEST to make your bike as presentable as you can!
Remove 'Fastest Baddest Ass in Town' type stickers!
Tackle the 'improvised repairs' like the coat-hanger wire holdin the exhaust on.... but a bolt FFS!
Clean it, polish it, tension the chain, and if it leaks oil, park it where the stains wont show!
MAKE yourself LOOK like the diligent, contientiose, ass-licking reachers-pet creep from school who passes EVERYTHING!
(thats probably WHY they passed everrything, take the hint!... Its only for an hour or so!)
Riding?!?!?!?!?
IF you've gotthe presentation right, and ALL they are doing is looking to tick the boxes, NOT for stuff to fail you for, 'cos you LOOK like a dnager to yourself and others.... PROBABLY all you have to do is not kill any-one or commit any cardinal sins of road law......

OK, maybe a bit of exageration, BUT, you get the idea....

A few lessons wont hurt, likely to be a darn good idea.... but THINK about the WHOLE thing, and how you present, as much as how you ride. THAT is probably where the problem lies.
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Benson_JV]

[N cee thirty]

would a guy with longish hair,on a tidy cg with a hi-viz jacket on and most of the kit be a good rider to a examinor Teflon-Mike?
____________________
'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Teflon-Mike]

[-LG-]

Teflon-Mike...do you also do such long posts? xD

Slightly different as it was a driving test...but my mate took 11 times to pass...he only had a few lessons to start with then gave up...but kept doing his tests. Most likely would have been cheaper for him to take lessons.

[2wheelsteve]

Go out with a sensible rider who will hopefully point out where your making mistakes, if your hitting bends and running wide that can be a serious problem, you will get there but it seems with the mistakes your making you are in a rush, too close, running wide, speeding and moving off without proper observation, take it easier and you'll have a smoother enjoyable ride, take a couple of lessons too and good luck

[WetSparks]

Have a couple of lessons. Good idea.

Try and relax and slow down a bit.

Talk to your self. I know it may sound daft, but no one else can hear you, so do it. Tell your self about the road conditions, traffic signs, parked cars, pedestrians, what gear are you in. Talk yourself through approaching a junction and slowing down, dropping the gears, braking distance.

Once you get used to doing this you should be able to anticipate the road ahead and remain focused on the job in hand

[Tig]

Get some lessons - they'll help you prepare for the test, whoever's teaching you should know exactly what the examiner will be looking for and help you with those specifics.

Lessons will help prevent up forming any self-taught bad habits and you'll feel more confident in your abilities when you turn up at the test centre.

Lessons help to keep you alive, why learn the hard way by making mistakes when you can learn from other peoples? Instructors have been there and can pass on not only tips to get you thru the test but tips to keep you alive! Mistakes on a bike can be so much less forgiving than mistakes in a car and a large proportion of accidents happen thru lack of experience.

It's much cheaper in the long run to get some lessons from the start, but even once you've passed your test you'll still be learning - in fact you never stop.

Meet up with lots of other bikers and pick their brains as much as possible - here and in "real life" face to face groups and meets.

I passed my test at 18 (I'm not 18 any more!). I've been talking to a lot of Advanced Motorcyclists recently and already I've learned so much about how to stay safe and become a much better rider, and it's stuff that's really obvious when it's pointed out to you, but you won't necessarily figure out for yourself - like I say you can get into all sorts of bad habits left to yourself
____________________
YB100, XS250, GPZ305, VT500, XJ900, XV535, XL125, a scratched up ZZR600 :-S

[kestrel]

I agree with others here, book a few lessons. An experienced instructor will teach you to ride in a way that will meet the requirements of the test and point out the little things that your examiner will be specifically looking for. You just might also pick up a few tips which are beneficial to your own safety on the road, that in itself has to be worth the price of a few lessons.
The bike test is much more difficult than it used to be and you're not the first person to need a few attempts, and you won't be the last. Book another test and have another go, and good luck!

[defblade]

[Mord]

[Willson]

Well I've booked me a few lessons and am going to do the test on a school bike... so let's hopefully get rid of the L plates this time!

[Teflon-Mike]

[swampy]

[Willson]

Three lessons later and formalities sorted...

One more two hour session and my test straight after.

Wish me luck!!
____________________
Benson: Wouldn't life be easier if we were all turtles?
Me: Pig on bread = The way forward.
Riding: '00 Suzuki SV650S. Previous: '99 Kawasaki ER5 - sold, '02 Suzuki GZ125 Marauder - sold

[Tsopo]

Good luck!

/Yes that was my first post
//Better that than an annoying newbie question I was wanting to ask.