Powerslides are not acceptable!! Mod 1 fail ** UPDATE PASS

[Frostdog]

So.......

I failed mod 1

Was wet, of course it was wet

All went to plan-ish, I nearly missed the speedtrap I was over eager but realised last minute 😳😁

Then emergency controlled stop I put everything I've been told out the back window and skidded. Did I release it? Did I fuck.....😳

Turned bike around.

"Please make your way to the exit gate and wait for me there"

BALLS.

"Wait for me inside"

Great.

"I'm sure you have noticed we didn't complete the test?"

Yep.

Why didn't I just PRETEND? Even press gently? God knows, cause you wanted to keep being a noob? Probably.

Other highlights were that I didn't do a proper lifesaver on U-Turn, fair do's. Tho I did my obs when I started manouvre, I didn't check, more a turn of head to facilitate the turn.

So all in all yes I have failed, not the end of the world. Booking in next week. I now know what's coming and what to do. Where I can improve on and course layout etc.



Onwards and upwards
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YBR 125, Bandit 600, Er6N, Honda CB400 Super Four

[Monkeypony]

[Tungtvann]

For a brief period, I thought I might just stick to a 125 for a while, to 'get some real experience' and all that before moving up to a bigger bike. That was before I did my CBT and upon taking the 125 onto a NSL road, I was like 'fuck this shit' and went straight for the direct access onto a bigger bike. Glad I did!

[Matt B]

That sucks.

Just remember when you squeeze that front brake the rear unloads and goes very light so its very gentle with the rear brake. Used to teach people to just cover it with their foot if the are prone to locking up.

U turn - Check left then right mirror, good look behind you, start moving forward to get balanced, lifesaver, then make the turn. The lifesaver needs to be separate from the turn of the head for the manoeuvre. It's because something may have come up behind you between that first look behind and making the turn.
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[Frostdog]

I don't think it's particularly useless, a 125 is easy on fuel, nimble through traffic, more forgiving when mistakes are made, I'm not going to pop a wheelie if I select the wrong gear and for me is a tool to learn on.

Fair enough, I've not been on a bigger bike and can't compare but I'm more than happy with my ybr for now on my commute. The first five miles into town are on a dualler and it doddles along at 60 no bother. Nowhere near as bad as people make out.

Cheers for the advice
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YBR 125, Bandit 600, Er6N, Honda CB400 Super Four

[Teflon-Mike]

[Frostdog]

Thanks Teflon

I can see the point for both. I don't think it's a straight forward waste of time, like you say cheap lesson and I've had a glimpse into what's to come.

On the other hand, I am thinking well it wasn't that bad. Maybe I should just have a go on a bigger bike. It was a mixture of gaining experience and not having to spend a fortune on DAS that I went down this route in first place.

Admittedly before I used to take back roads, took longer but I was in comfort zone. Now I'm confident I take direct dual carriageway route and yes the bikes to full hilt, it's not for long but yeah it would be easier on a bigger bike.

Now wondering do I forget about today, go and do a day on a big bike and after that if I'm up to it book in and sit my mod 1 on it. I was thinking before use my 125 all summer but maybe I should bite the bullet and step up. Which I realise completely contradicts my argument 😜
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YBR 125, Bandit 600, Er6N, Honda CB400 Super Four

[lihp]

Regardless of what test you do now, if you want to ride a big bike later, you will have to pay for testing on one, and possibly hire etc too.

So if you're old enough, you may as well do it that way from the start and save the money in the long run

[Frostdog]

Yes I'm thinking now I should be looking to move up, not spend more money on this A1,test.

I've seen what's to come, what is required, I was comfortable with it just screwed up the braking mostly. I have about 2000 miles under my belt, I feel confident enough, is it a case of getting some training on a big bike then taking the A test on that then?
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YBR 125, Bandit 600, Er6N, Honda CB400 Super Four

[chris-red]

Power slides require power, not brakes.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Spamalittle]

I'm a firm believer in Teff's seminal classic "time on a tiddler" and when I got into this biking malarky was well up for just pootling around on my 125 forever. However three years in to that and with just 6 months left on my 33bhp licence I'm now itching to jump on to someting bigger (or maybe just something different?!).

Course I'll keep my 125 for the economic miles and the lulz but if I could have afforded it at the time, looking back I reckon I would have jumped on DAS.

Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll kick the arse off Mod1 the next time
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Story so far: RV125 VanVan > SV650 > Indian Scout > Triumph Thruxton, SV650 (again) & CG125

[Northern Monkey]

I did my A1 test to get rid of my L plates. Only cost £90.

Lots of people think it's pointless, but it's my £90, and it's my bike without Loser plates stuck to it.

I then went and did my full A 2 months later, so it probably was pointless, but meh

[Frostdog]

Ok not a power slide as such, more a really crap skid 😁

I think there's merit in it in that it's £15 and for that the insight you get is great.

I've spoken to my local bike school and waiting for a callback to arrange an assessment and get my ass on a bigger bike
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YBR 125, Bandit 600, Er6N, Honda CB400 Super Four

[WhyNot]

This thread has made me worry even more about taking my direct access next month!

Good luck for your next test!

[Frostdog]

Don't worry,

Just watch your back brake, hover foot over it even so it looks like your braking

And plenty observations. I'm Kicking myself, it's common sense really. Learn from it is the main thing.

Cool, calm and relaxed

Then again don't listen to me I failed 😂
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YBR 125, Bandit 600, Er6N, Honda CB400 Super Four

[Sabs]

Unlucky, it's all a learning curve, you'll get it next time. I take it you've practiced them on a quiet road somewhere?

All the best people pass second time
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Theory in the bag, Mod 1 passed 28/3/2014, Mod 2 passed 9/4/2014 - Let loose
Kawaski ER6-f

[Teflon-Mike]

[Frostdog]

Right cheers Tef 😁👍

That's what I needed. I set out with a plan. A plan to pass my A1. I very nearly did! So away to resit next week.

No turning my back on my 125 just yet.

Itl be all the sweeter when I pass

Cheers 🍺
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YBR 125, Bandit 600, Er6N, Honda CB400 Super Four

[MC]

I think you did well to get up to the emergency stop, although you would have failed on the u-turn, they want a separate life-saver before initiating the turn.

Only you can say whether it's worth going for your test(s) again. If you think you can learn more from re-doing your mod 1 then do so, but I'd suggest you've pretty much experienced the brilliant waste of time test.

Honestly had I not of experienced big bikes during my DAS, I'd probably have got a 250, but once you get a taste of the power you want more Glad the new laws are working tho, encouraging people to get 600's
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Frostdog]

I've tried to rebook and earliest date is 27th. So....

I'm going to think about it, continue riding as per normal but take what I've learnt from this, more observations and practice my braking. I can't see me sitting big bike til august purely financial have holidays to pay, will want better bike, will have no claims earned etc

I now know what's to come, if a cancellation comes up I may just take it otherwise hold out til then and enjoy my time, then go DAS when the time comes.

Thanks for everyone's comments
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YBR 125, Bandit 600, Er6N, Honda CB400 Super Four

[djrikki]

Interesting post - will be moving upwards myself shortly so good advice picked up here about faking back braking etc

[map]

[metalangel]

[Frostdog]

Not good conking out on a hill but better than popping a wheelie and braking your arse/hand other body part!!

Anyways, I've gone and booked it again right or wrong, I'm not wanting to deliberate any longer. Have to wait til end of the month but that leaves me some time to sharpen up my game.

Too easy to just say I'll know next time....
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YBR 125, Bandit 600, Er6N, Honda CB400 Super Four

[Mark 37]

I had three attempts at mod 1.

First I locked the rear wheel, controlled it. Fail

Second I didn't use back brake and stopped about 8-10 yards further down. Fail the examiner said I hadn't shown enough urgency.

Third time I done the same as the first. Locked up then controlled it. Pass. The examiner said I showed good bike control and I was aware of what my machine was doing.

So go figure.
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