Getting ready to do the Mod 1

[Dimerz]

I was looking at the company in which I did my CBT at and saw that they don't do just the A1 Mod test, they do courses, where they train you and then you do the test. On the gov website it says Mod 1 A1 tests costs £15.50, im assuming thats the one I want. But looking at this 'company' they do their resit tests for £165. Why are they so expensive and want you to do their courses, i just want to practise alone, buy cones, get a free parking lot and a measuring tape and off i go. Do I HAVE to, absoloutly have to take training or can i just do the test like the gov website says? I understand I still have to do the theory test, and will do that.

Edit::

Just realised i have to do both Mod 1 & 2 to get the A1 license. I thought A1 was mod 1 and mod 2 was A2.. still doesnt explain to me their prices though.

[kgm]

There's no need to book it through a school if you have your own legal bike. The school's price will include hire of their bike, instructors time as they will accompany you to the test centre and probably a bit of training beforehand. Just book it with the test centre yourself and take your bike along.

[Dimerz]

[MahatmaAndhi]

Curiousity asks: How old are you?
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2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

[Dimerz]

[Ste]

For £15.50 you can book the mod 1 test on the .gov.uk website and do the test on your own bike.

You don't have to have any training, you can quite happily spend some time practising the manoeuvres yourself until you're ready to give the test a go.

[M.C]

[Dimerz]

[Dave70]

[Ste]

Motorways on a 125 are more boring than they are terrifying.

Things will only get terrifying if you ask too much of your bike, you don't have the power to comfortably accelerate out of situations as you'll most likely be already being going as fast as the bike will go.

If you manage okay on dual carriageways then motorways shouldn't present any problems although you probably shouldn't go rushing to play on the bit of the M25 that's got six lanes in each direction.

The novelty factor will quickly wear off, you'll realise just how boring motorways are when you can't sit at 90-100 (or faster ) in the outside lane and so you'll need to get a more powerful bike.

Now stop reading my ramblings, you need to go and practice some pointless manoeuvres in a carpark.

[M.C]

Sitting at a bikes top speed, with nothing left to accelerate out of trouble, whilst literally everyone passes you is terrifying IMO. Throw in a strong head wind and won't be reaching the speed limit (even if you're on a bike capable of it). The OP rides a Lexmoto...

[pinkyfloyd]

[Ste]

Does that include any training time or just riding to (and from) the test centre?

[Dimerz]

Booked theory test for the 24th of January. Should pass it. Feel confident just because ive been looking at the highway code all day and practising on a app i bought. Still got roughly 3 weeks. Actually cant wait for the Mod 1 now. "Unlimited CBT". Wont feel like im just one of those 16 year olds who use, abuse and get rid of

[Evil Hans]

Have you been practising the Hazard Perception part of the theory test too? There's a knack to it, it's more like a computer game than an exam!
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[Dave70]

[Rogerborg]

Good on you for getting licensed up - Tef will be as delighted as he gets.

I can confirm that you're absolutely fine to book everything yourself - no need to get a training school involved in any way. Just turn up at the test centre(s) with your documents.

DVSA have some decent videos on YouTube covering everything for modules 1 and 2. +1 on practicing the hazard perception for the theory and treating it as a game - don't be surprised if you spot hazards before you're "supposed" to.

Be sure that you don't fail the Attitude Test when you show up for the riding bits. Wear the best gear that you can scrape together. DVSA have invented a minimum standard, which is rather silly of them for reasons that would bore you, but here it is:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dsa-reminds-motorcycle-test-candidates-to-wear-suitable-clothing

Intact L plates front and rear, no engine lights or obvious issues with the bike. No need to wear hi-vis, but they will be used to seeing people wearing it, so a visit to Poundland wouldn't go amiss.

Best of luck and when you do mod 2, bring something to cut up the L plates with afterwards.
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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

[Andy_Pagin]

Providing you've put in some practice on the Hazard Perception you'll have no trouble, it's designed with teenagers in mind, it's us experienced old gits who struggle.

Important point to remember with Mod1, the test starts when you walk up to your bike and ends when you park up. So no pulling a celebratory wheelie as you rock out of the arena.
The rest is mostly psychological, make sure you have all the paperwork together the night before, arrive about half an hour early so you're not flustered. Everybody there wants you to pass. Examiners tend to display the emotional output of a telephone answer machine, don't let that get to you, they're just being neutral, not intimidating. Don't try to impress the examiner, just go through the routine. If you think you've buggered-up a manoeuvre and failed put it out of your mind instantly and focus on the next one, you probably haven't blown it.

Finally think to yourself, it's only fifteen quid, sod all really. And what's the worst that can happen? You still get to ride away and you've haven't failed, just had an informative training run.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[arry]

[pinkyfloyd]

[Dimerz]

Thanks for all the support and good feedback, still practising the theory test, but looks like it will go well, just need to read on the stopping distances, not too good with those numbers. Also, will practise the hazard perception, but as you said its like a 'game', I'm pretty good at games, play them almost all day, some days. Mod 1 will include alot of practising too, but should be fine. Need to get my head turning alot more than I am right now.

[Rogerborg]

Good stuff. Don't sweat the Theory too much. The pass mark is pretty low, and every question is scored the same. Answering that a tram is environmentally friendly (I kid you not) counts as much as knowing braking distances.
____________________
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

[Dimerz]

Quick Update, passed theory test now onto practising for the A1, any experiences with it? Hard? easy? Going to need a little bit of practise as not had this bike for long so even doing a u-turn right now without putting my foot down is a little tricky. Seems like a lot of parking lot action.

[MahatmaAndhi]

With the U-turn, keep your head up and look at where you want to go, not at how far your are from the kerb.
My instructor put the cones waaaay closer together than the official test. He didn't tell us this, but made us get used to the swerve at a much tighter angle. On test day, that bit was a breeze.
Also, relax. I stiffened up, snatched at the front brake, locked it up and very nearly went arse-over-tit. It was nothing but sheer fluke which kept me upright, but the examiner decided it was "controlled" so I got a minor for it.
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2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

[arry]