Failed MOD2, and now completely demotivated

[sparkind]

After a couple attempts at passing MOD1 (which I eventually did, and with no faults), I was pretty confident that MOD2 would be no problem, especially as I've been driving for a number of years'.

However, I failed on the silly mistake - although it is a serious fault - of failing to cancel a turn signal after a 'pull in at the side of the road' instruction. That was the only fault the examiner picked up, and the test itself was actualy quite enjoyable.

I'd had a 3-hour lesson prior to taking the test, which to be honest was an horrendous experience; my instructor began to get ultra-critical of my riding, and the more he criticised, the more he pushed me into making mistakes. By the end of the lesson my confidence was on the floor, and I had to marshall all of my resources to take the MOD2 test, and put the previous 3-hours out of my mind.

Looking back at the experience, I think I did pretty well on the test itself, especially after all the flak I'd received on the lesson.

The trouble is, I have now have no appetite to go through all that again, despite the fact that I really enjoy riding. I don't have my own bike yet, but I'm seriously thinking of taking a break from the whole lesson-testing thing, but obviously keeping in mind when my Theory and MOD1 certificates expire so I don't have to take those again.

Is it just me? How can I get myself motivated again?

[pinkyfloyd]

before everyone gets in with their man up posts i'll offer my sympathy.

i know how you feel, i had to do mod 2 three times before i passed on the third attempt.

you only failed on a single fault...... use that as a learning experience. next time dont forget the indicators and you should be fine.

you have 2 years to pass your test from the date on your cbt certificate, or you will have to do another cbt course, which in my opinion would be pissing money away. i would talk to a different training school, explain the situation and book with them for the test, you dont need any lessons as you have already sat your test. all you need is the hire of the bike and instructor to get you to the test centre.

as for the lack of motavation. only you can supply that, but the longer you leave mod 2 the harder it is going to be to pass. and if you dont get it within the 2 years of the cbt you will have wasted all that money.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[sparkind]

Thanks for that pinkyfloyd; I'm definitely looking at other training school options at the moment.

[Ichy]

Three hours for a lesson before the test seems like a long time. Is there any way that you can afford to buy a bike to ride around on? it will make the test easier.

[waffles]

More sympathy from me here.

So far I have failed my Mod 1 twice, the first time I really screwed it up. The second time I had a clean sheet all the way through right up until the emergency stop at the end when I (for the first time ever) locked up the back wheel. Nerves I guess. At the time I was so upset I cried all the way home, my instructor asked me if I was going to be OK to ride. Each go was costing me money that I dont really have and to get where I am now I have had to borrow lots from my savings. I was definately ready to throw the towel in and resign myself to the fact that I was going to be a pillion or L plater for ever.

I posted on Facebook and got some encouraging replies (not that I was fishing for them!), my examiner apologised for having to fail me and wished me luck for the next time. My instructor said that both myself and the other person I was out with (she passed) were competant riders and he would be happy for us both to ride out with him and his group any day. So I figured that the thousands of pounds I have spent on lessons, gear, bikes and tests and the disappointment over stupid mistakes didn't matter. I want my licence more.

Book up your Mod 2 again and show the examiner how good you are. Go there with a positive attitude, looking confident but not cocky and learn from your previous mistake. Yes, it sounds harsh for failing you over not cancelling an indicator at the side of the road but your general road riding must have been good enough for a pass and thats important. Best of luck!
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[angryjonny]

I failed my first test because of a silly mistake in an otherwise pretty much flawless ride. Yes, it was irritating but at least I had proven to myself I could do it (as long as I avoided any more silly mistakes).

So 2 weeks later I went in with more confidence, not less, and aced it - zero minors - because despite an irritating fail first time I knew I was capable of passing.

It just depends on your perspective really. If you'd gone in and made a load of dangerous mistakes and the examiner called the test to a halt you'd have good reason to be questioning whether you should try again. But don't jack it in because you're cross with yourself for a silly error.

[sparkind]

Hey, thanks for the encouragement guys!

Obviously it's the cost element as well (using up savings to do this), but I guess I'll have to bite the bullet, take MOD2 again, and not waste what I've already spent on lessons and kit.

[Adrian]

Don't give up mate! Re-take until you pass

I've passed mine on the third attempt. I was so down and depressed it was untrue but when I passed I was the happiest man alive

The attitude that worked with me was F*** it, I will take this test until I pass...

Many people did it and so can you.
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DAS 18/06/09 Off The Kerb Motorcycle Training. Proud owner of a Honda CG125 & a Honda Hornet

[pinkyfloyd]

[EUMP]

Right, rebook your test online on the DVLA then try to do it by yourself if that fails, look at other training schools.

-- Good point you dont got the bike, try looking for a recommended training school near and explain to them everything what you need help with etc.
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C.B.T - Expired
MOD1 04/08/10
MOD2 10/08/10

[angryjonny]

[ajag]

Well if you need words of encouragement then you will probably find my story amussing.

I started doing the DAS mostly so that I could get more practice on a bike and get pointers from the instructor. The day of my First MOD1 I failed because I locked the back wheel a bit too long. On my second MOD2 I hit one of the cones on the swerve. I was more annoyed that I didn't even feel hititng it. It was getting very expensive so I decided to take the MOD1 on my own with a 125cc. Third time lucky and passed that one.

Then I went back to the training school since I had paid already for the whole DAS course for them to book my MOD2 exam. If someone can fail with style that is me. Right outside the testing center in Croydon there is a roundabout. The examiner told me to take the second exit to teh left and I turned on the indicator before I got on the roundabout. I failed the exam right after starting it. However, because I always like to make sure things are done right, later on during the test I failed to see a car coming at a junction (the layout of it made me believe it was a one-way street so did not look carefully to the right) I had just started going when I saw the car coming and jumped out of the way. I mean, I dropped the bike right there and then and got out of the way

Today however, on my second attempt I passed with just a couple of minors (The gearbox played up a bit when pulling out and took turned right a bit too wide). For this one I decided to go at it on my own.

My advise? try not to get nervious. Treat the examiner as a GSP that tells you were to go and otherwise try to forget about him. Also, if you think you made a mistake don't think about it too much. Examiners seem to be a little more forgiving about other faults other than indicator ones. I used to leave my indicator on all the time until I got myself into the habbit of cancelling the indicator every so often.... Even if I have not used it in a while just in case. For my first MOD2 I was nervous as hell and I got everything wrong. On the second one I told myself that there was no possible way I could embarras myself more than the first one so I took it easy

Just try again and don't doubt your riding as that makes you make more mistakes. My instructor was very critical of me and that used to made perform a lot worse.

Take care,
Alejandro

[Slacker24seve...]

I failed the 'easier' Mod 2 first time I'm a car driver too so I was pretty pissed off about it.

My examiner was a cock, for those of you that know it I was at Sixways roundabout In Worcester, ready to take the second exit. An HGV was in the right hand lane next to me and he went and so did I.

We got back to the test centre and my examiner said 'well I suppose you think lorries are see through do you?' To which I explained that it was a HGV with a set-back trailer, ie. a full size trailer with a small container on it so through the gap between the cab and the trailer was large enough for me to see all four lanes of the roundabout were clear. I also pointed out that if he weren't 100 yards behind me he might have seen this and that if I hadn't gone he would have marked me down for hesitation. He hmphed and gave me a major.

I was really fed up after that; my instructor was great though and really encouraging. I think you may need to change your instructor.... don't let it get you down.

Regards

Marcus
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[sparkind]

I've decided that I'm going to put this down to a bad experience, change instructor, and go for it again!

[pinkyfloyd]

motovational speach:

did john wayne give up when he fell off his horse? no..... he shot the horse and got another one!

what would clint have done with his magnum if the punks did feel lucky? he would have found some unlucky punks to threaten!

what did rocky do when appollo creed fucked him up in rocky? he made a sequel and kicked his ass!

what would fabio have done if england had been kick............ oh kay.. lets leave that one there!

but you get the impression.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[AnotherGeek]

Just passed my mod 2, and during the training sessions (and in fact generally beetling around on my CG125), I have been crap at cancelling the indicators.

Instructors advice was simple, every time you touch the indicator button, think 180quid, left 180quid, cancel 180quid, right 180quid, cancel 180quid. 180quid.

Worked for me, now get back out there and get it done.

[pinkyfloyd]

the instructors i used for my DAS said pretty much the same.... they also said they got into the habit of pressing it.

you got a big red button on the right that stops the engine. dont push that button. but you got a flasher button on the left side that you can push....... so push the fucker as often as you can.

you'll find that once you get into the habit of pressing it regularly you wont forget it
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[EUMP]

Passed the mod2 today, you seriously have to keep at it otherwise everything you learnt up today will fly out your head
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C.B.T - Expired
MOD1 04/08/10
MOD2 10/08/10

[Bloke]

[N cee thirty]

don't give up,i know how you feel

worst feeling is having to ride back 30 miles from the fail,wanting to ride in to the nearest tree

by the time of your next test you'll hopefully get your motivation back by then
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'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

[pinkyfloyd]

[angryjonny]

[sparkind]

[rob_scott92]

[derillius24]

Chin up, Sparkind, you'll get there.

My best friend, Andy, failed Mod 2 A few weeks ago in the very same way; leaving an indicator on coming off a roundabout. He'd no faults apart from that and, like you say, despite it being a major fault he was absolutely gutted he'd failed for that reason. Anyway, like everyone's already said, just take positives from your first experience and realise that you're more than capable of passing.

Spoke to him that night and he said, 'fuck it, I'm booking tomorrow for the next available test'. He did, got one for the following week and passed with no faults. You'll do the same, I don't doubt .

Also, like's already been said, don't let little mistakes you make on test play on your mind and distract you from what's going on around you. I passed Mod 2 last week but was sure I'd failed as I'd always heard that if the examiner speaks to you for any reason other than to give you instructions, or similar, it's a bad sign...

I didn't overtake at one point when I knew perfectly well I should've. If he hadn't been behind me I'd have done it without a second thought. I guess I was scared of performing it not entirely to his liking... Anyway, he came on the inter-com and, in the most pissed off tone you can imagine, said, 'you're on a 500cc machine for goodness' sake, use it'. Fuck. The opportunity had passed. I was another casualty of the 'new' bike test. Bollocks.

However, it wasn't the case. Pretend they're not there (It's TomTom speaking, remember!) and you'll be grand.

Good luck,

Mark.
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CG125, CBF250, DRZ400-SM, Z750, Street Triple R, Tuono V4R