Mod 2 lifesaver checks

[Ditto]

Right so i passed mod 1 last week, and am gonna book mod 2 for a week or 2 away. Im pretty good with most things except the lifesaver procedure which i can never remember...

So say im turning right into a minor road, is it left lifesaver, right lifesaver, final right lifesaver before turning? And the opposite for left turns, so right, left, left?

Or do you only look in the direction you are turning, so turning right, only look right.

Confusinggg! I end up looking like a nodding dog, and i dont want to fail for not looking around properly.

cheeeers

[Alexio]

Wow, you are definitely getting confused. You do the life saver in the direction you are turning yes. If you are turning right AT ALL then you should do a life saver because of the possibility of someone attempting to overtake you as you slow down who was there in your blind spot when you checked your mirror.

I never do life savers over my left shoulder because undertaking pretty much never ever happens anyway. I await to be corrected on this.

Also, i'm not sure what you are talking about by looking over your shoulder three times? If turning right you should be glancing at your mirror, glancing quickly to your right (to make sure someone isn't next to you), indicate and then finally do one life saver over your right shoulder before you take the turn?

So you should do them at the very least when turning right, when setting off and when you are on a road that has just changed to a faster speed limit I believe?
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[Ditto]

[Alexio]

Oh, I see what you mean. You check your mirrors, glance to the left and right, indicate, presumably change road position and then do a proper life saver (looking properly backwards at the road behind you)?

Sounds very unncessesary to me, but then I'm not the one trying to pass the test. Can you give me a good reason why you would need to check your left blind spot if you are turning right?
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[Ditto]

Er, no good reason for that lol.

Presumably you would check your left lifesaver turning left though?

[Alexio]

Yes, although as I already said I don't seem to do left lifesavers so better wait for someone elses' opinion!
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will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[DanHam]

Like you I will be doing mod 2 in less than 2 weeks now.

If your turning right, check mirrors, indicate, RIGHT lifesaver, then pull over to the right of the road, just before you turn again, check mirror, RIGHT lifesaver then turn. After you have gone into your new major road, check mirrors, cancel indicator then accelerate.

For left turns, check mirrors, indicate, LEFT life saver, pull over to the left side of the road, check mirrors. Then another LEFT lifesaver if you want to. YOU MUST do one if there is a cycle lane, but you don't have to if there isn't aslong as you have done your previous one. You might want to consider one if there is a pavement or something but on a normal road I wouldn't bother. Again after turning into the junction check mirrors, cancel indicator and accelerate.


Whats puzzling me is the life savers before you pull away, some people say do BOTH sides and others say do RIGHT only. Another thing is, say I'm stuck in traffic at a roundabout and I have to keep moving forward say a car length do I do life savers then to?

As for roundabouts, I was told lifesaver if changing lane in the direction your moving then life saver after you pass the junction before the one you want to take and then RIGHT lifesaver just incase anybody comes screaming up the outside to overtake you.

Also remember your lifesaver when entering a national speed limit, say from 30 - 60 / 40 - 60 and also check your mirrors loads of times.

[Imonster]

I put up this post a couple of years ago on another forum. Please bear in mind it was before the new style test started, but most of it is still relevant.

For left or right turns, it's OSM PSL. This is:

Observation, signal, manouvre.

Position, speed and look.

For minor roads to major roads, on the approach to junction you wanna do a positive mirror check both sides, stick on the relevant indicator, then shift your positioning in the direction you're going to turn. If you are going left, you want to be about an arms length from the kerb, if right then an arms length from the white lines dividing the direction you're going in from oncoming traffic. The last 5 - 10 yards from the junction, you should drop your speed so that you're now doing slow control (1st gear, dragging back brake, maybe slipping clutch slightly). LOOK and adjust your speed on the way to the junction. If there are give way lines try and slip smoothly into the traffic flow without coming to a halt. Your examiner will be looking for a safe AND smooth ride. PAY ATTENTION to Stop signs.

For major roads to minor roads it is a very similar scenario, though you'll prolly be in 2nd gear for the actual turn. Remember your examiner is looking for APPROPRIATE observations (lifesavers) - he doesn't wanna see you throwing your head about like some nodding dog on the back of a old biddy's parcel shelf . As a general rule, only do a lifesaver if you're shifting your bike more than about a metre and a half. For a left hand turn from a major to minor, you would generally only do a left hand lifesaver if you'd passed a cyclist, say 15 yards previously. If you haven't there's no need for a lifesaver. For a right hand turn though, You should always do a lifesaver in good time, and before you make the turn from a major to a minor in case of someone overtaking you.

Other necessary lifesavers would include one's where you're stationary at traffic lights. Before you move off, if turning left, then it's a lifesaver in that direction, and vice versa for right.

They will want to see mirror checks for changes in speed - let the examiner know that you've seen the change in scenarios and act accordingly.

Lifesavers every time you lane change too. A good rule to follow is that every time you move your bike by more than about a metre and a half, do a lifesaver. If you're just shifting your bike by a foot or so, a mirror check will suffice.

Roundabouts:

If they're mini roundabouts, make sure you go round the things, not over the white paint. Treat them as junctions, ie if going right, a right hand signal is all that's required - obviously OSM PSL beforehand.

Larger roundabouts as a general rule will split into two lanes on the approach to them. If going left or straight on it's the left hand lane, if going right it's the right hand one.

Don't forget your lifesavers on roundabouts. If you're going straight on at a r'bout, KEEP YOUR LANE DISCIPLINE (don't "straightline" the r'bout), put on a left hand signal to let the examiner know that you're coming off the roundabout in the appropriate place, then lob in a right hand lifesaver, which is where your direction of danger is.

If going right at a roundabout, it's a left hand signal in the appropriate place, then a left hand lifesaver (again, this is where your exposed area is)

The U-Turn.

Don't worry about it, they're a piece of piss on an ER-5 (I use one as my work bike).

* No need for an indicator.

* Right hand mirror check, then right hand lifesaver.

If safe, proceed. Get your balance by travelling for 1-2 bike lengths in a straight line first - the reason for this is if ya don't feel comfortable and dab your foot whilst in a straight line, it counts as a minor fault. If ya dab your foot halfway round it will generally count as a major fault. It's also easier to get your balance in a straight line rather than rushing straight into the turn.

Keep your revs up, slipping the clutch and dragging the back brake to counteract this. Physically TURN your head and look to where you wanna go. You're looking to come to a stop pretty much opposite from where you started. Remember that if the bike has got drive to the rear wheel it won't tip, don't lay off the gas and try to coast around.

Emergency stops:

Your examiner will brief you that he will put his hand/arm up when he wants you to perform an e-stop. Try and follow the 5 point rule for the stop

1) Off throttle

2) Lightly engage Front Brake

3) Lightly engage Rear brake

4) Once both brakes are on, THEN you can squeeeze. Remember not to stamp on the rear brake. Most of your stopping power comes through the front brakes anyway, the rear is mainly there for balancing the bike.

5) Clutch goes in last moment.

STOP IN THE GEAR YOU'RE IN, don't downchange mid-stop.

Once you have come to a stop, check over both shoulders, then get the bike in to the side of the road. You can do this by either slipping the clutch (you'll prolly be in 3rd I'd imagine), OR simply clutch in and "paddle" yer bike to the side of the road. Once at the side of the road, you can then sort out your gears.

For your test mate ride confidently, smart and safe. Get up to speed quickly, and remember the centre of your lane is generally where you should be positioned for normal riding. Pay attention and acknowledge to any hazards, changes in speed, etc.

I would suggest if possible (for someone in your position who's had no DAS training), to get to the test centre 2 - 3 hrs early (seriously) and pick the brains of any instructors who are hanging about nervously for their students to come back off test. As a general rule, we're a pretty sociable bunch, and can give you pointers about certain examiners quirks (they've all got different one's), etc.

Above all remember that you've passed the restricted test. The full one is the same test in essence, just on a bigger bike.

Ooh yeah, the bus lane thing. If there are no restrictions (look at the signs), feel free to ride in 'em. Furthermore, if you're going down a road which has two lanes, and you are riding in the left hand one but there is an empty bus stop in your lane. Don't go round it, go straight through it.

Remember that before you start you'll be asked some basic questions about bike maintenance (pm me if yer not sure about these) and afterwards you'll be asked some questions about carrying a pillion (again feel free to ask me if yer not sure)

Also remember that you're are riding for yourself, if there is a safe gap for you, then take it. You don't need to find a gap suitable for both you and the examiner. If ya get too far ahead of them, they'll ask you to pull over somewhere SAFE.

Finally, don't panic if ya take a wrong turn, and you know it. You won't be marked down, so long as any manouvre you do is executed in the safe and correct manner.


Enjoy yourself and all the best with your test - I hope this has helped. Feel free to post up any questions, or pm.

Wow, long post - you owe me a pint if you pass! Good luck
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

[Ditto]

Cheers guys, gonna book my test for this week hopefully, so will let ya know how it goes!

[calyx]

I think roundabout rule has changed a bit. You don't do right lifesavers just before leaving the roundabout.
Basically; If you are changing your direction they expect you to check your blindspot.
For example turning right; Left mirror, right mirror, shoulder check, position to the right, indicate right at the same timeish, proper lifesaver, turn right, don't cut the corner, check the speed limit, stay in the middle of your lane(depends on parked cars), left and right mirror check, accelerate.
Frankly, ride like a grandma.

After passing your test; Right shoulder, indicate, position to the right, right shoulder(they DO overtake a bike turning right), open the throttle.
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Boris - London