Using your own bike for the test

[Alpine45]

Hello everyone, I'm new here, just a few things I wanna say, see if anyone has had a similar experience

since the 2013 change to the law it seems increasingly more expensive to do your test. I have my mod 1 booked for this month (2nd attempt) but have decided to buy my own bike to do it with and my dad will ride it down. The insurance company has only given me 60 days to do it
(yeah I know in theory its a long time, but sometimes theres a month waiting list between tests, I'll only book mod 2 once mod 1 is done)

Is it just especially busy this time of year? just wondering if anyone had an easier time booking tests in autumn. In hindsight I should have done it when I had a 125 back in 2011, I just can't justify the £90 to do it with a school when you can do it for £15 (mod 1) with your own bike. Maybe I'm overthinking, just wanna get it over and done so I can start touring with whats left of the summer

[Rogerborg]

It's absolutely fine to do it. I assume that you're insured through Adrian Flux / Bikesure?

Just be sure to put L plates on it front and rear. You're not required to wear hi-vis on test but they'll be used to trainees wearing it (it is a requirement while under big bike training) so I'd splash out on a bib at the £1 shop.

Try not to rise to the bait if they give you any "You should have had lessons," guff, there's absolutely no requirement to do so and plenty of us passed on our 125s without any.

Oh, if you can be flexible, you can get short notice cancellation slots if you keep checking the booking site. You're more likely to get a mod 2 at short notice (due to mod 1 fails). I passed my mod 1, rode home and managed to book a mod 2 for the next morning.

Treat the mod 1 pad as a road, lots of obvious observations, slow into junctions and roundabouts, confident out, get up to speed sharpish, bish bosh, job done.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Wonko The Sane]

what's the cut off date for cancelling / re-scheduling a test?

I'm sure it's possible to book both a week or two apart and cancel the latter if needed without loosing the cash?
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[Rogerborg]

Three full working days between cancellation and test day, or what a human might call "5 days".

Test booked for Friday = you need to cancel on Monday to get a refund.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Alpine45]

Yeah it was bike sure, MCN didn't offer test cover, it seems insurance companies haven't really adjusted to the new laws, since you're not allowed to do your DAS on a 125 anymore.

I'll have to fit my plates when I arrive at the centre I assume, since my dad can't ride a bike with L's if hes got a full licence

[zark]

[Rogerborg]

Yup, no offence being committed. He's gagging for a tug though, if there are any actual traffic coppers still out there.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Wonko The Sane]

I think, technically, you should have the L plates crossed out, a bit of electrical tape through the L should do to indicate that it's not the learner riding it is what my instructors used to do.
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[Rogerborg]

[Alpine45]

Okay I'll keep that in mind, but I'm still confused as to why you need to insure yourself personally on the bike to use it for mod 1 (I can see why for mod 2)

After all mod 1 is done in an offroad space

[andyscooter]

Because there is still public access

If you manage to run the examiner over he needs to claim from your insurance

Or tear off into a load of parked cars
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Wonko The Sane]

[Alpine45]

It'd be good if they had bikes at the centre you could hire and insure for the duration of the test, hopefully in the future that'll happen

[ADAMH0]

I've just done Mod 1 and 2 with my own bike so go for it. I transported my bike in a van but as you have someone to ride it there, it's even better for you.

I probably shouldn't say this about the insurance, but the examiners didn't want to see any of the insurance documentation on any of the tests, I just had so sign to say it was insured. I had it insured, but I'm not sure it was specifically covered for the tests?

Anyway, get a cancelled booking and get up there and get mod 1 done. For the price, you can do it quite a few times before it adds up to the price that a school would charge.

[Alpine45]

Yeah tell me about it, my other alternative was to get a trailer but its good you have a van. My mod 1 is on the 16th, and I'm checking the DVLA site for cancellations for my mod 2, but I'll wait to pass the mod 1 first. Hope you're enjoying your full bike licence, even though I just want a bike to travel europe, riding a 600 is a whole different world from riding a 125 especially when the 125 is screaming in first gear from going 10 mph