Mod 1 & 2 on the horizon

[Mumrah]

Hi all - it's been a while. . . I hope you're all well!

Apologies in advance for the long post, so you can dispense with the TL;DR comments and jog on now if you wish

I signed up a some time in January and introduced myself. I had just passed my CBT (or was due to complete it, I can't remember which). I then bought a CBR125 Repsol which I've been using to gain confidence - it has worked wonders but I'm not there quite yet.

I passed my theory test on 18 March and so booked my Mod 1 & 2 with three training sessions on a JX600. First session will be 13 April, then 16 April, finally 29 April with the Mod 1 booked for 30 April - I've held off booking the Mod 2 until I've passed Mod 1.

I've been practising slaloms, u-turns and figure of eights around some make-shift cones (plastic cups weighed down with stones - what am I like?!) in a car park and feel quite confident that I can do that. I haven't been able to practice the avoidance or emergency stop as there isn't the room to pick up sufficient speed so hoping the training sessions will help on that. I'm getting really impatient though and wonder if, depending on my progress on the bigger bike and availability of tests, I could move the Mod 1 closer? Is this wise or should I stick to my plan? Am I going to notice a huge difference in terms of the bike sizes and my performance?

Also, can anyone confirm if the test spacing is as follows:

Slalom - 4.5m cone distance
Figure 8 - 6m cone distance
U-turn - 7.5m

If these are too generous then I'd better go back to the drawing board. I have been trying to do u-turns in between two parking spaces but it's tough and I often put my foot down so I'm hoping the distance on the test is as above.

Cheers

[ficedula]

Mod1 dimensions are at:

https://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_197120.pdf

...but yes, your figures are correct.

If you're good on the slow manoeuvres then frankly that's the tricky bit. For all that they call it an emergency stop you have plenty of room to stop in and the most likely way to stuff that up is braking too hard and skidding - firm but controlled braking and you'll stop with room to spare.

You might take a bit of time to get used to the bigger bike - took me a while to get clutch / throttle control at low speeds sorted because it behaved differently to my 125 - but if you have a few lessons booked, that should be fine.

You could always see how the first lesson goes and then decide whether to move the mod1 up, but you might not be able to get a slot closer anyway, tbh.
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Bike history: YBR125 -> XJ600

[Az]

Mod 1 Layout

https://i789.photobucket.com/albums/yy178/AzAndBikes/mod1layout_zps99ab6547.png

[Mumrah]

Thanks to you both, that's really useful. I think I'm most concerned about the avoidance because I've not done much of that to date. Slow moving is down to a consistent 3mph on my 125 so I'm at least happy with that.

There's definitely no turning back now as I have an appointment with a custom leathers shop on Saturday to be kitted out with a two-piece. That or I'll get them to find something they stock 'off the shelf'. It'll probably take the time up to my tests to start wearing the damn thing in. I foresee plenty of evenings on the sofa, stiff as a board, clad in leather!

I'm off to check out clothing threads but if any women passby, please let me know of any decent fitting (and looking) leather gear you know about. The only nice looking stuff I've seen is, at best, designed for a pillion. I don't do pink or patterns which is limiting the market for me somewhat - hence the custom route - it's gonna cost though

Edit/ Found the GirlsBike2 thread but I've already approached them and the only range I liked had zero armour (except on the forearm - not even elbow) and no hip protection. Looked great but next to useless! I may go through with the custom idea.

[ficedula]

[Mumrah]

Thanks again, that's good to know

I'm hoping I'll have an instructor who is full of useful tips on what to do and what not to do. The last couple of days I've been reading through the Mod 1 pass/fail threads and there's a lot to pick up there too. It's also what made me get the 'cones' out last night! I just had to know if I could even begin to do it right.

[Rogerborg]

[ficedula]

Sorry, yes; I should have said at least the required speed.

I know you don't have to hit 50 exactly because I went through at 58 making sure I was up to speed

EDIT: Thinking about it, I suppose the reason some instructors are keen to stop you from giving it too many beans is because then people panic when they do have to brake and lock up the wheel/s. But given the large amount of space you get to stop, still better to give it a bit too much welly than not enough.
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Bike history: YBR125 -> XJ600

[Mumrah]

[i.p.phrealy]

if you have been riding for the last few months on the road you'll have done a few emergency stops and swerves or you'd be deaded by now!

if it helps, my instructor explained it was 50kph originally, but they looked at combining the Mod 1 & 2 on road so lowered it to 48kph as that is 30mph, and they couldn't really ask you to break the speed limit on your test.

for the record on my Mod 1, I clocked 57kph on the stop and 51kph on the swerve.
it looks far scarier than it is, it is the slow stuff and the U turns that people fail on.
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it is impossible to lick your own elbow...
and if you just tried you need professional help.
Finally allowed a big bike 19/03/14!

[Mumrah]

Thanks, IP.

Actually, I must be really (un)lucky - I've not needed to swerve once yet. Actually, there was one time where I had to get knee-down PDQ because I didn't turn for a corner AT ALL and another time I was just enjoying the bike and didn't notice the traffic slowing in front but I'd left plenty of room so it was fine - just gave me a hot flush for a second. No major issues yet, unless you're suggesting I'm swerving all the time and not even realising?

[Baffler186]

[gbrand42]

[wr6133]

Practice with the cones much tighter than for real and doing the stop and avoidance faster. My instructor did that to me and I managed to to e-stop at 68 and avoidance at 67 on the test because getting on the real course with such huge gaps between cones seemed a breeze compared to the day before on an almost half size one!

And don't get worked up about it, it really is easy especially on a big bike

[Mumrah]

Wow, not sure I could reduce the cone distance by half but I see your point and will give that a go next time I'm out.

Baffler, thanks for the angle tip. That'll definitely take the edge off!

It's amazing how wound up everyone gets over these tests. For me it's the desire for a bigger bike and not missing out on a summer riding it. I should put that out of my mind - easier said than done

[mic]

for what its worth, i personally think the build up towards the test is so exageratted and more hype than anything. i know everyone is different and pick things up in their own way, but after a day practising for mod 1 id say its definantly enough for the test cant imagine practising for days, specially on a 125 when the test is on a bigger bike.

just my 2p, hope it all goes well however you do it but as always im sure youll come back pleased as punch and didnt know what all the fuss was about
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zzr600

[Mumrah]

Thanks mic! I was mulling it over last night and I think the other part is the pressure of the expense.

I believe it's a case of deep breaths and remembering that I'm not 17 anymore and that tests are just BS and part of life. It'll be nerves that prevent me from passing and so if I can avoid that, I should be fine

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Mumrah]

Ah, glad to hear I'm not the only one to have the cups and stones idea. Felt a bit pikey putting them out but it'll be worth it in the end. I'll give your measurements a go, Trevor.

Thanks for the description of my bike - you're probably right but hey, I like it. Even if people do approach it in awe, quickly followed by laughter when they see the Ls and 125

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

There was a repsol blade at the place where I get my bike worked on - the colours are great and the bike looked ace, but I just don't like to see brand names everywhere so much.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Mumrah]

Sadly, I think they don't age well either.

When I first got it, I was half tempted to upgrade to the 600 version but I've quickly become bored with it. Probably going to go for a CBR600RR in black and custom paint the rims in some sickeningly, garish colour! That'll do me nicely

[wr6133]

[Mumrah]

You've seen right through me

Although, to be fair, it's certainly garish!