Mod 2 Booked

[steve__b]

I have mod 2 booked for November 20th, it's the latest time test slot on a Friday afternoon...hope the examiner will have that 'good mood weekend feeling'
Would anyone have any tips as such ?
Thanks in advance
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Riding 2001 BMW F650 Funduro. 1st bike Yamaha YBR 125. CBT Aug 2014. Theory Oct 2014. Mod 1 Passed Sept 2015. Mod 2 passed Dec 2015. Wish I'd started biking 20+ years ago...luv it

[NJD]

Examiners don't have emotions and if they do they certainly don't show them, well apart from a blank stonewall expression that is. I'd like to say that how the examiner feels or what have you wouldn't count as part of your result, but we're all human.. they seem friendlier when you're with a training school, if anything just nod and agree wait for the "pass" take the lecture and go about the rest of your day with a smile.

The words "Friday + Afternoon" equal nothing but traffic to me, so be prepared for that.


Tips:
Shoulder checks
Mirror checks
Correct lane position
Lane 1 at all times unless directed otherwise by examiner or road markings
Straight ahead unless told otherwise
Read the big signs on approach to roundabouts and all around
20mph in school zones as half term is over
If you stall, miss a gear or make a mistake don't panic show that you can correct the fault without being a hazard

You may end up having to pull over 2 or 3 times, left signal, left mirror, left shoulder park up next a kerb and when you pull away right signal, left mirror, right mirror, right shoulder and then away you go.

Other than that focus on the ride and relax, stop at a junction or roundabout if you cannot see or are unsure if it would be safe to pull out and at junctions when appropriate ensure that you either follow the line of the kerb or stop as close to the stop line.. if the examiner pulls alongside you then he's telling you there's to much room.

Examiners don't get on the mic other than to give you directions, if he has to tell you to do something then it's an indication of a fail.

Enjoy.

[steve__b]

[Rogerborg]

[steve__b]

Thanks Rogerborg. My mod 2 is so far away as my instructor said only need 1 day training for mod 2 with test at end...he said book it to get the last test on a Friday...so I took his advice. The first available Friday was 20th November.
It put me at ease and less nervous on my mod 1 when I was with him at test centre as he knows all the examiners...chatting to them casually on first name terms. I was hobknobbing with the examiners (with my instructor) before my test after seeing others take and pass their mod 1
____________________
Riding 2001 BMW F650 Funduro. 1st bike Yamaha YBR 125. CBT Aug 2014. Theory Oct 2014. Mod 1 Passed Sept 2015. Mod 2 passed Dec 2015. Wish I'd started biking 20+ years ago...luv it

[steve__b]

Thanks Roderborg. My mod 2 is so far away as my instructor said only need 1 day training for mod 2 with test at end...he said book it to get the last test on a Friday...so I took his advice. The first available Friday was 20th November.
It put me at ease and less nervous on my mod 1 when I was with him at test centre as he knows all the examiners...chatting to them casually on first name terms. I was hobknobbing with the examiners (with my instructor) before my test after seeing others take and pass their mod 1
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Riding 2001 BMW F650 Funduro. 1st bike Yamaha YBR 125. CBT Aug 2014. Theory Oct 2014. Mod 1 Passed Sept 2015. Mod 2 passed Dec 2015. Wish I'd started biking 20+ years ago...luv it

[MissBex]

Best of luck!!

Try and stay calm, treat is like a normal ride around on a lesson.

Make sure you do Plenty of shoulder and mirror checks. If you are sitting as lights etc for a while, mirror checks whilst sitting there are good and just before you move off, shoulder checks.

Don't forget your indicators and if it helps, spam them off a few times to make sure they are cancelled.

I failed my first mod one as I was going too slow/not making progression because I missed a couple of speed limit signs as was unsure of the speed limit on the road. So make sure you look out for them, especially if you don't know the area well.

Also don't ride to closely to vehicles in front, a guy who did his test when I did mine the first time failed for that, as well as speeding.

Make sure you have revised the pre ride questions.

Listen carefully to the examiner instructions and directions, but if you do go the wrong way, don't panic, just carry on and don't make any sudden changes in road position, lanes etc.. they wont fail you as long as you go the wrong way safely

Your instructor sounds good, helping put you at ease by chatting to the examiners beforehand etc. I found that helped me out significantly with my nerves too on my 4th! mod 1 attempt which I passed. I has a different instructor take me that time to the previous 3, and he was chatty with me and the examiner, whereas the guy who took me before that just stood around saying nothing.
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Direct Access Passed - 30/05/14
00' Honda Hornet 600

[NJD]

[MissBex]

Yes, completely agree with NJD in regards to overtaking and filtering.
I wasn't taken on any NSL roads on my Mod 2 the first time, but the 2nd time i was taken on a very short section.
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Direct Access Passed - 30/05/14
00' Honda Hornet 600

[Rogerborg]

[baderlfc]

Don't cut the white lines at junctions, keep suitable distance between yourself and car in front at all times whilst moving and whilst pulling up to junctions.

If you get position wrong at a junction go the wrong way, don't try to cut lanes etc. You won't fail for going wrong way so long as you do it safely. They will just redirect you.

I'd have to disagree about the overtaking.. if your on a 60mph road and the person infront of you is doing 40mph you should overtake if its safe to do so and you know you can get back into lane 1 without cutting anyone up. The examiner will want to see this as it shows you are confident, not necessarily a fail if you dont. depends what mood the examiner is in.

Don't even entertain filtering, too many things to go wrong and you won't be marked down for not doing it.. if your in traffic its time on your test you can't do anything wrong, enjoy it, take a breathe and wait.

Other than that, the basics (mirror checks, lifesavers, indicators, road position).

As others have said look out for change of speed limit signs especially when turning at junctions or roundabouts, you wouldn't want to fail for missing a drop from 40 to 30 for example.

Final thing when they ask you to pull over, don't do it on a bend, don't do it near a junction and don't put your foot on the kerb!

Good luck, I passed my mod 2 at 3rd attempt friday, amazing feeling!

[steve__b]

Thanks for replies. Hope I get same examiner I had for mod 1 and do some hobknobbing with the examiners again before the test as my instructor knows them on first name terms....it eases nerves. I'll tell examiner again I commute 75 miles per day Birmingham to Rugby...as if to drop hint...just pass me
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Riding 2001 BMW F650 Funduro. 1st bike Yamaha YBR 125. CBT Aug 2014. Theory Oct 2014. Mod 1 Passed Sept 2015. Mod 2 passed Dec 2015. Wish I'd started biking 20+ years ago...luv it

[Rogerborg]

You are massively over thinking this and building it up into something that it's not.

It's an easy enough test. Just don't run into Ronnie Pickering and you'll be fine
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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

[Tyler Durden]

[DiggerHD]

Likewise mod 2 booked , however soon as I could after the mod1 as I want the momentum going...

My advice for what it's worth, regards the Friday scenario and examiners, instructors knowing each other is to ignore that .


Ride your own ride . And BE SAFE

Good luck

[SuperMike]

I am now awaiting my Mod 2 as well. I sat and passed my Mod 1 today - 1 minor error for not quite hitting the required speed during the high speed manoeuvre. Anyway, who cares. Done and passed.

Got my Mod 2 booked for next Tuesday at Mitcham. We went for a bit of a ride around the potential test routes on the way back from the Mod 1, and it is a bit twisty and turny, but was quiet enough in terms of traffic. Not sure what time slot I have, but hoping it is early afternoon or late morning so I can just get it done and dusted before the school traffic all turns out. Oh, I also have a brand new CBR 650 waiting for me as well, so need to get there before the garage closes assuming all is well

My nemesis is hill starts. Anything over 15% or so and I stall. I understand the principle - rear brake, biting point with 3000rpm, let the clutch and back brake out and then increase revs to take of, but I just cannot co-ordinate it for some reason. I stalled a load of times doing it today as I just get flustered. On a quiet road with nobody around I do them all day long, but the minute I get a car behind me or a difficult junction, all I can think about is what might go wrong. I'm going to roll back into the car, I'm going to gun the throttle and end up in that brick wall. The result is a dropped clutch and a stall.

I don't know what you would suggest? I am thinking of hiring a geared bike for the weekend and go and do hill starts on it until I can do them with my eyes shut? I don't know if this is more of a confidence thing though and I will just blow it into more of an issue than it is by practicing the dreaded hill start again and again. I have a very OCD personality and I need to be perfect at things or I get annoyed. Thing is, doing a hill start on a 125 is the same but different. The 600 I am on has a very quick pick up on the throttle. Move it literally a couple of mm's and the revs shoot to about 5000. It is a brand new bike and seems to be a bit jumpy. Only a few hundred miles on it, mostly done by me over the past few days.

I think I am confident enough with the rest of the test. I grew up around the Croydon area, and have driven my car round there for 20 years and a scooter for 3. I know all the turnings, roundabouts, where the trouble spots are etc etc and am confident on the road. Driving around, lane selection etc I am sure I can do in my sleep. It is just this flipping hill start nonsense! The stalls actually put me off so much today that I was panicking all through the Mod 1 and was gunning the engine during every set off just to ensure it didn't stall. Think the noise of a 600 being idled at 8000 rpm must have left everyone's ears ringing!

[zark]

[SuperMike]

[Rogerborg]