Mod2 Frustrations

[chris86uk]

Good Evening BCF

Long time lurker but first time poster here. I am having some issues passing my Mod2 and I thought I would make a post asking for some advice/opinions.

I failed my 4th, yes 4th, Mod2 yesterday and naturally it is stressing me out, I am thinking about packing it all in and cutting my losses and its really getting to me.

A bit of background on my riding:

I passed my first CBT back in summer 2013 and bought myself a brand new 125. I rode around on that for only 3-4 months whilst I was commuting into London from home in Essex. I then changed jobs to nearer home which also came with a company car so the 125 was hardly used, only for the odd ride out of a weekend. Its only done just over 4000 miles.

CBT was up for renewal in May so I thought I would take the plunge and book a full DAS course so I could buy a big bike for the odd commute, but mainly for leisurely fun and some touring which really appeals.

I booked a 3 day DAS with a school in the Medway area which included CBT renewal for 585.

CBT easily passed and the school even kindly let me ride their 650cc Kawasaki ER6N for the road part. This was my first time on a big bike and naturally I loved every second of it!

Mod1 was next and I passed that first time with a clean sheet. Whilst training I had it in my head that out of the two Mods, Mod1 was going to be the hardest and if I was going to fail, it was probably going to be Mod1 as I have been driving for years and Mod2 should be easy. How wrong I was!

Anyway, onto the Mod2 tests.

1st test - I was incredibly nervous and failed by not doing hill starts properly. When stopped on the hill I kept putting my right foot down whilst covering the front brake. So when pulling away, although I didn't fall backwards, I was revving the hell out of the bike.

Now rather amazingly, during my training the school didn't cover hill starts at all, not even once. It was only after the test when I did some research and watched some videos did I learn that I should of been covering the rear brake with the right foot etc. I still can't believe both CBT's and my training didn't cover it, but I thought bad luck, I will nail it next time.

Spent a few days on the 125 to practice correct foot positions when stopping etc until my next test.

2nd test - Incredibly nervous again, failed as I stalled the bike turning right out of a tight junction, and had to put both feet down. The road was uneven (sloping to the right when stopped at the line) and view of the road in both directions was poor.

I put it down to nerves and thought surely I will nail it 3rd time luckily. Whilst training with the school my instructor told me he really couldn't help me anymore with training, I ride perfectly when practicing.

I thought nerves were a big part to blame (I was also nervous when doing driving tests 8 years ago) so I started taking some Rescue Remedy to try and help. Not sure they really did anything to be honest.

3rd test - I was slightly nervous but not as much as before. Either the rescue remedy was working or I knew what to expect on the test conditions and my mind/body was adjusting.

Anyway I failed 3rd test on the EXACT same reason I failed my 2nd test. Stalling when turning right out of a junction. It wasn't the same junction, but very similar in that it was an uneven piece of road, and views both directions of the road were poor.

It is worth noting that when practicing I never, ever stall. I even rarely make any mistakes. After the test my instructor was surprised I failed again as he says I can easily do it, I just keep making silly mistakes test time. I blamed it on nerves again but also had it in my head perhaps I should spend more than 1 hour before my test to really get 'warmed' up on the bike, i.e its biting point, weight distribution etc.

4th test time, and before the test I spent 3 hours with the instructor to really get ready for it. After 1 hour he says the same thing again, can't really help me anymore, all down to me.

I failed at this spot:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3381285,0.5249129,3a,90y,268.04h,81.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1vF0HIeWBxbENWBq1qcAHg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Examiner told me to turn right. As I approached the junction at a snail pace on the brakes ready to put the left foot down to stop. I look right, it was clear. Looked left (where cars come down the hill) also clear, so no need to stop and I continued onto the bypass to turn right. However when I got just passed the middle of the road heading into my direction (where the right turn box is) some chav in a small blue saxo was shooting down the hill like a missile, hence the fail.

After the test back at the centre I really thought I had passed, until the examiner broke the news. I was very deflated and asked the examiner if the saxo wasn't speeding would it have been a pass, he said yes I probably would have gotten away with it. Cue massive feelings of frustration.

All in all I have now spent just over 1K and I still have not passed.

Big part of me feels that I have just generally been unlucky on the tests, especially when my instructors keep saying they can't do anything else for me.

Its incredibly expensive to keep resitting these tests, 175 a pop. Plus having to take time out of work is adding to the stress.

I really want to persevere and pass and finally get my hands on a big bike.

I do wonder whether to go to another school and get them to critique my riding. Fair enough my school keep saying im fine, but 4 fails does make me query their judgement. But then again, as I say above, perhaps I just have had really shit luck.

I am going through a tough and stressful time with work at the moment as well and I wonder whether that is also having an affect on me on test day, e.g ramping up the stress levels even higher.

I would welcome your comments/feedback.

[Marclev]

[B0ndy]

It sounds like nerves got the better of you on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th tests.

I , like many many others, was nervous doing my MOD2 however beforehand a friend had taught me a trick to ease my nerves for MOD2 and get me through the test, the trick is to essentially treat the instructor as a fancy GPS system and nothing more. The idea is that treat the ride just like your training you did with your school but treat the instructor as a GPS system and try and forget it's a test, it sounds stupid but it helped me get through the test feeling probably more relaxed than I should of been.

Something else I want to point out is ensure you've had enough sleep the night before and are well hydrated before the test.

Goodluck for your next try and don't give up, it will be worth it in the end
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CBF 125 -> CB400SF -> GSX600F -> ZX6R (G1) -> GSXR1000 K4 -> ZX6R (B1H Stunt bike) -> VFR800 -> R1 5PW -> Sprint 1050 -> Fireblade 929 -> ZX10R C2H -> GSXR1000 K3

[Val]

If I was you I would have changed the school and the test center.

From your post I see the school have not teached you basic stuff.

And stalling the bike is NOT a major fault so to fail you on that is not fair.

Find a new school with Suzuki Gladius or similar bikes you cannot stall this one.
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Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[DVSA Derek]

[Ste]

DSA examiner: "Turn right at the impossibly complicated junction ahead."

Hmmmm, well, as the radio headset is a bit dodgy you could just turn left.

[rubyhorse2]

you know, i passed my cbt and did 2 years on a 125. This gave me huge experience and i passed my full test first time after 2 days training.

i really do think some quality time gaining road experience is key to being a confident rider. Gaining road experience would save hundreds in re-tests.

Anyway, stick at it, the examiners sound a bit nobbish if you ask me.

[DVSA Derek]

[Kaya75]

Keep up! I failed first two times, first time on hill start n not keeping left over bow of hill.. btw if you are testing out of basildon center they rank the third hardest in the country behind the London burrows.... So tge hardest outside London.. good luck anyway it's an unforgiving test and tge wait between is horrible.. go

[dydey90]

Try using a different training school, possibly a different test centre if you're doing the same route or being given the same examiner.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750