How did your bike test go and how did you feel? How long ago

[MinhDinh]

So, share your moment, the year, the minors, the amount of tests it took and even lessons. How was the test back then?

Interesting to see some answers from guys that did it long ago.
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Hit the G spot.

[Maruchino]

I SURVIVED THE SWERVE TEST

5 minors 20 months ago. Fairly relaxed as I had had good training. Having done my car test previously obviously helped with rules of the road etc.

[Sam_Y_93]

Mod 1 was easy, found it fun actually especially when the instructor said he could tell I was a confident rider by the way I took the bend around to the speed trap Got 1 minor for forgetting my lifesaver on the slow control bit.

Mod 2 on the other hand was completely opposite, had a lesson 2 hours before the test which took all my confidence away basically saying I was taking corners too fast. So when it came to my test my confidence was shot, taking corners so slowly and wobbly Then it came to a parked car just in front of a side road and I didn't see a van pulling out of, we met in the middle and then I knew I had failed. Rest of that test was fine, but I got 10 minors and 1 serious

Second attempt at the mod 2, sailed through it with one minor for forgetting the lifesaver turning into the test centre even though I was 100% sure i done it
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Bikes Past: Yamaha Aerox (sold) Yamaha R125 (written off)
Bikes Current: Honda VFR 400 (awaiting restoration) Honda CB600f F-4
Theory passed July 21st Mod1 passed August 3rd Mod 2 passed 26th August

[The Tot]

Did 2 days intensive training with Rex Judd's in Edgware back in 2005. Ideal because it was around the corner from me and I did my CBT there... My old man also did his CBT there back in 2000. I had Jap John Lo as my instructor for my observation ride. Very decent bloke and very patient, unlike the guy I was handed down to afterwards who was an axe murderer, ex police instructor so it explains a lot. I suppose they were playing the bad cop, good cop. They drill discipline into you on the first day after they assess you. The second day, I was handed back to John again. They give you a mellow instructor to get you relaxed for the test.

First day was 1-3 ratio for the morning followed by a 1-2 after the first candidate went off for her test. 2nd day was pretty much a 1-1. I didn't really need much training because I was known to the instructors. Living down the road from Juddies and casually popping in on the odd afternoon seemed to allow them to get to know me.

My examiner was slightly confused as to how I managed to get my glasses to float in my helmet when it came to doing my eye exam! I fashioned a way of mounting the frame onto the breathguard of my HJC helmet and simply removed the arms. I snapped the arms off when I tried to force it between my face and the padding/liner.

Anyway after that short conversation, I just said to him casually, let's go on a bit of a ride now shall we! The test itself was a on a very sunny morning at Colindale (test centre is no longer there because they've built apartments there instead so it's moved location). I remember doing all the manoeuvres calmly... U-turn, emergency stops and what not.

Anyhoo, I felt really confident after completing the test. Not really cocky, but I had the feeling that I did well enough. Got off, remember being sat down in the briefing room and the fella gave me a handshake to tell me I passed. Came out with 2 minors ... both for speeding! Told me that my observation was spot on but I was very eager to get up to the posted speed limit. If anything the speeding was minor and commented that it was a 33 in a 30 and a 35 in a 30 because I wanted to go tunnel blasting before the entry into the test centre! So I suppose being 17 and living in London, this for me meant freedom. I didn't bother doing my car test as a result!

The other guys also passed on that day so it goes to show how well the instructors are when they teach you.

I remember John instructing people to write testimonials in his handbook. For me, I was told to write "Fuck everything I've told you and ride how you want to ride!" Sound chap he was. On the way back we stopped off by St James' school in Graham Park where I did a few burnouts and stoppies with John around. The moment I unbolted my L plate off my XR125, I felt like a big boy... and offered my dad a pillion lift to his work in The Strand, central london!

Sorry for the boring anecdote!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[silky666]

1986
In my day they were trialing bike to bike intercoms ... just as I approached a roundabout the examiner said:
"at the roundabout take the ...sxxxsssxh schshshshs Yeah Dave, going to do the pick up now... will bell ya when I ... schshcnshcn shchsssscccsshhh "
I took the wrong exit totally and we got a little lost.

When going through the Highway Code signs ... he pointed at the No Entry sign and I said "National Speed Limit "

In the emergency stop .. he jumped out from behind a car .... but I had seen him miles away and was already slowing down.
Jammed the anchors on at about 3mph and stopped so quickly that I ended up about 60 feet from him.
I couldnt hear what he was saying.


I passed with flying colours
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[Billing]

Passed my test in april last year

Mod 1 - passed first time with one minor for doing a lifesaver over the wrong shoulder at the start (looked over the right when i was in the right hand space) the examiner said it was a fair mistake as thats where the traffic would normally come from if you were on a real road My mistake on that one, I should have known better

Mod 2 - passed second time, failed the first because of a serious for misuse of indicators. I maintain it should have been 2 minors, but whats done is done.

I think I got 7 minors on the 2nd attempt, 1 for not slowing down for a zebra crossing that had a bus parked on it 'just incase someone just walked out from behind it' which I thought was unfair. 2 for braking too sharply for junctions, which IMO were totally unjustified, the bike was brand new, literally 80km on the clock and the brake was really wierd, no bite for ages, then it grabbed really badly the others I can't remember, but weren't too bad lol
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'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
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[pinkyfloyd]

I went DAS

I passed mod 1 with no faults and failed mod 2 twice before finally passing with a couple of minors for undue hesitation and one for passing too close to another car.

So without mod 1 in the mix I'll go through what happened on mod 2.

first time I decided my balls were bigger than my nerves. After riding around on the ER5 I proved to the instructors I could ride and getting through mod 1 was a piece of piss. They suggested having a go on the newer EN6 and of course little pinky decided to give it a go. A few hours riding around on test day and I thought it was great. Such a different bike in comparison to the ER5. Amazing what a few years and an extra 150cc can do to a bike.

Pulled out of the test centre and lost all confidence in myself on this bigger newer bike. End result was a combination of nerves and jitters and I failed.

Second time all was fine. I was on a GS500 as the ER was sick and I loved it. Almost back on familiar ground with the bike pretty much the same. I thought it handled better personally. Rode around happily and told to pull in for a hill start. No problem. Pulled in at the side of the road, looked over my shoulder, checked the mirrors, indicated, mirrors again, live saver and pulled out. Looked in my mirrors and wondered where that big black nissan came from. Needless to say I got ribbed afterwards. The examinor even said I looked down the road and he thought I had seen the car!
Instructor ribbed the shit out of me telling me I had better pass next time or he'll consider me a failure as no ones failed more than 3 times with him. I had a small victory telling him it took him 3 goes to pass and I just wanted to be like him!

Third time I passed. Wont bore you with the details but as you can imagine It felt great to be told I had passed. Touch and go at one point when I realised that we didnt do an official hill start. There was road works on the hill in question and I had to stop behind a truck, wait for it to clear and then pass. I prayed like I had never prayed before that there would be no car coming as I couldnt see around this truck.

Had to suffer the L plates on the way back as the instructor had no black tape to cover them with but I didnt have to have the radio and listen to him singing any more!

EDIT: Passed 2010
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Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[MinhDinh]

[hellbound]

two years ago now, cbt then test.

First attempt I failed leaving the test center as I was in the wrong position for a right hand turn on a road with no markings, then for doing 40 in a 60 as it wasn't safe because I couldn't see round the corners. the examinor was a grumpy abrupt rude twat right from the begining, didn't introduce himself and seemed like he had far better things to do, it also didn't help I was doing it in Aylebury which I have never visited and didn't have a clue.

Second time I did it in my home town of St Albans and the examiner told me to treat it as a little fun ride on a bike, we sat and had a chat and a smoke for ten minutes before the test start time and he basically put me at ease.

Only got 3 minors that time.
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May you always see the road rising up to meet you and your enemies defeated in the mirror behind.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Not ridden a bike for decades. Circumstances changed and i was shown how to start a XL125.
4 years later and i passed my A2 (self taught)

The test was on a wet day in November. For some reason unknown to me i indicated left when he said right. He asked me again, i repositioned and then went through a set of light just as they started changing. Asked to pull over. Off we go again.

I'm feeling chilled....When doing the CBTs, theory i took a 'i'll prepare well, then just do my best' kinda approach. No big deal if i fail.

Came to the emergency stop, i locked the rear for an instant, released and reapplied just as the bike stopped.

Lobbed the L-plates in the bin and rode home with my certificate. Great feeling at 41.

Long overdue.

[edit] FWIW my cbt was days from expiring and so was the MOT and insurance...and tax.

Pat
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[Frost]

Did it back in 2004. I practised myself and did it myself without lessons and stuff and on my own bike. I was shocked by how easy it was, but i suspect the examiner was kind to me as he could see i was doing it all by myself as i was poor

[Sam_Y_93]

Cant be or I wouldnt have a licence Pretty sure thats what I got a minor for
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Bikes Past: Yamaha Aerox (sold) Yamaha R125 (written off)
Bikes Current: Honda VFR 400 (awaiting restoration) Honda CB600f F-4
Theory passed July 21st Mod1 passed August 3rd Mod 2 passed 26th August

[MinhDinh]

[MinhDinh]

[kestrel]

1970
Pissing down with rain and blowing a gale. No intercom in those days, a few highway code questions then a short ride round a pre-arranged route with the examiner following behind.
Because the weather was so bad the examiner decided not to venture out, he gave me a route to ride that he could watch from the doorway!
Total time for the test from arriving to leaving with a pink pass slip was less than ten minutes.

[MinhDinh]

Interesting about no intercom and a pre planned route, not sure if that is easier or harder, but 10 mins, that was pretty cool.

I am guessing it was easier to pass back then? I mean how was traffic and road signs back in those days?
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Hit the G spot.

[pinkyfloyd]

[mistergixer]

Did my test in 2000, i passed first time....on the second attempt:

First test - St.Albans:

Lovely sunny day, got about 5 minutes into the test and was asked to pull over at the side of the road. Ok, time for the manoeuvres.....

The examiner asked me to apply the front brake, which i did, then he asked me to apply the rear brake, which i did. I was, by now, thinking to myself 'i don't recall this being part of the test......'

The examiner asked me to switch off the engine, then hopped off his bike, informed me that the front brake light switch wasn't working and that the test would have to be stopped. He then got back on his bike and rode off, leaving me stood by the side of the road, next to a bike which i couldn't legally ride anywhere on.



Back at the school, the instructors were incredibly apologetic, and because i hadn't actually failed the test they got me the next available cancellation a few days later, only at a different test centre.

Second test - Letchworth:

It was absolutely pissing it down on the day, the words torrential and cats & dogs didn't quite cover it. Just as i was about to leave the test centre, there was a young girl waiting to do her car test. Being the gent i am, i indicated that she should go out first. She had the choice of turning left or right out of the test centre, but instead she took the rather unusual third option: she drove straight out of the centre, mounted the opposite kerb and ploughed into the wire fence the other side, there she sat, head in hands, clearly sobbing.

Great, i thought, no matter how badly i fuck up today, i can't possibly fuck up as badly as she just has. When all the examiners have their after-test chats, i won't be the one being pilloried and piss-ripped.

At that point, all my nerves just melted away and i performed flawlessly in my test and came away wringing wet but very happy!


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Space Monkey #7
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[stinkwheel]

August 1996. Been doing a summer job and having an hours lesson every Friday (payday) after work with the local bike instructor.

Double lesson the Friday before the test and my U-turn technique was less than polished. I was riding a Russian made Motobeno 125 (exactly the same as the Minsk that featured on Top Gear a while back). He was hitting the slow riding pretty hard and I thought the clutch was getting a bit hot, he said it was fine until i pointed out the smoke coming from the gearbox breather.

Over the next week, the clutch started to slip really badly, I ordered up a new one and on my way home from work the night before the test it was so bad I couldn't get out of second gear. Stayed up until 2am the morning of my test fitting the new clutch.

Off on the test, followed by the instructor in a van and the clutch was grabby as hell, I kept popping small wheelies as I moved away from junctions. Did a really wobbly U-turn which he then followed with a slow ride exercise. Did the emergency stop by going round the block, stalled it as I stopped and having no battery, did a hand signal before pulling over and sorting myself out.

The remainder of the test, I hardly saw him. He for some reason (and to the surprise of my instructor because it wasn't the normal test route) took me on a grand tour of single trackers outside the town which I aced because they were the roads I went to work on every day. No way he could keep up in the van. Had to pull in twice because I was so far ahead of him we lost radio comms.

Pulled back into the test centre, answered the mandatory question about pillions then he asked my why I did a hand signal after the emergency stop. I explained about the bike having no battery and therefore no indicators unless the engine was running. He looked puzzled for a bit then told me that he was originally going to fail me for it but there was nothing in the book about that situation and what I did seemed sensible so I'd passed. No mention made of minors or anything, just handed a pass certificate.

Something of a hollow victory though because I was still on L-plates. The theory test had just come in and back then, you had to pass both tests within 6 months but it didn't state in which order. Did the theory test that December which was something of an anticlimax because I was at college and didn't have the bike with me.

Perversely, there was no hazard perception test at that point AND having a full bike licence exempted me from having to do a theory test for my car licence three years later.

All worked out rather well really.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[clancy]

about a year ago. got 2 or 3 minors on my Mod 1 and was very very nervous doing it

mod 2 went alot better, felt a lot more confident and got no minors i did 2 1/2 days training then mod 1 then liek a week later another days training and mod 2
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KLX 300r

[Ant132]

November 2008 I passed mine.

Rode to Leicester from Birmingham on a snowy winters day. Tests were being booked up everywhere because of the changeover to the new test.

I was REALLY nervous on the day. The battery on the YBR training bike was fucked and i had to kickstart it. This was nothing new and it had been starting first kick all day - outside the test centre, all geared up and the examiner waiting on his big Beemer, the bike wouldn't start for nothing. Kick after kick, careful choke adjustments, nothing. Finally got it going and we were off.

The guy before me had just failed, right cocky guy he was, maybe examiners note that sort of thing. But that did not fill me with confidence. It was going 'OK', but as you all know on the test you are out to be 100%, taking zero chances and doing everything by the book. It was 3.30/4-ish when i had mine, roads were really busy in parts. I think i saved the test by spotting a lollipop-lady wanting to let kids cross but no-one was stopping for her. I stopped and continued to do well on the u-turn and e-stop.

We came to a mini-island, so so busy, right by a school. I must have waited a good minute or two (seemed ages) and the examiner prompted me to go (thats it ive failed now ) but in my defence it was super busy and its not like i was being a twat, just perhaps a bit 'over cautious' under the circumstances.

That happened early on too, so knocked my confidence badly. We reached a dual carraigeway, speed limit 70. My speed just touching 50, . I did explain that i was excercising caution because of the wet roads and we had snow earlier that day. So he let that go with a minor. Road was dead quiet.

Thats about it really, mumbled away through the questions at the end. He had an unusual approach in that he walked infront of you, heading back to the test centre and shouted questions

Passed 5 minors IIRC.

Started out about 8.30am, got home about 9.30pm, my little TS50 wouldnt start for ages. Freezing cold though. My hands were purple by the time we got home, long ride home but NOTHING could take the smile off my face, not even the fact we were held up by about 45 mins because the other student got lost and was out of radio range.

Awesome day.

[Highside_Hilly]

[Moo.]

Passed Last year in June, Mod one was pretty uneventful, was pooing bricks, and wondered if my 33 year old honda cg was upto it..
Ragged it in 2nd for the swerve and speed test (got the same speed on both) and thought i'd cocked it up on the braking, felt like the back locked up.. but nope, passed that

Mod 2..

The first time, had a 2 hour lesson before, then about half hour before my test the back right indicator buggered up.. wouldnt blink. So it was a race back to my instructors hours to get me on his newer honda cg.. Uh oh.. riding an unfamiliar bike.. Great was alot higher up than mine, i didnt realise it was a push to stop indicator and it felt slow as hell :o After that.. uneventful. Failed on indicating too early on a roundabout and pulling out "Too wide" from behind a car.. This stumped me as i was still on my side of the road, it was dead and i had checked all over to make sure no car was in sight.. So failed that. Was gutted. Also, my instructor had to scoot off, so after the test i was left to make my way back to his house on his bike hehe .

2nd time, i was alot more prepared.. still making bricks, but i knew what was coming and had experienced it before. Guy i had was a nice fella, made sure to chat to him before, talked about the bike abit. Then on our way.. i was wearing summer kit and my jacket had a light waterproof liner.. Part way into the test, it starts peeing it down. I get soaked Wasnt too fun on nylon tyres either, at one point i turned out of an estate and some clever bean had put the man hole right in the centre of the turning point, proceeded to drift round that corner.. thought i'd fluffed it on that.. Back to the test centre "Im pleased to tell you you've passed." One of the biggest grins i've ever had!

Promptly left the building, texted and called everyone, ripped my L-plates off, headed home and hit a technicoloured nightmare on Chowns Mill roundabout at the bottom end of Higham Ferrers, one of the worst around these parts. But nothing more then a bent peg and broken indicator.. (and wobbly wheel) and loads of people stopping to help me hehe.. Carried on home grinning
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[Shaft]

I took my first test in 1982, in order to get a full moped licence (not even sure if you can do that now).

No Mods, DAS or CBT then, just a single practical test, involving driving round a predetermined route, with the examiner on foot, popping up wherever he felt like it, so you didn't know if he was watching or not.

The only thing I really remember is a similar thing to another poster; the emergency stop involved the examiner jumping out from behind a tree and holding his clipboard up, but mine decided to do it just as I'd made a left turn into a road with an uphill gradient.

So I've just made a sharp turn and I'm going up hill on a restricted 50, I couldn't have been going much more than walking pace; out he pops, about 50 yards in front of me and I stop almost immediately, I hardly even touched the brakes!

Ditching the L plates was good, but I got regularly stopped by the Old Bill, especially when I was carrying a passenger.

By the time my full bike test came, it was in two parts, with the slow riding/control test, followed by the same practical, some time later.

Bit more pressure on this one, because I'd bought a 250 and the 125 limit was about to arrive, I think in Feb 1983; took my part one on a borrowed XL185, the day after my 17th birthday in December 82, then took a cancellation to get my part two in Jan 83, on my RD250, the first bike I'd ridden on the road with disc brakes and it was damp and cold.

This time, the examiner left it to the last minute to signal the emergency stop, consequently I was going full speed (30mph of course) and passed him with both wheels locked, although in a straight line; thought I'd probably blown it, but passed.

Deep joy!
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
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[blurredman]

I started riding June of 2010.

Did my tests gradually as I went along. Theory, MOD1,

Failed mod1 first time, did everything perfect- except, I overshot the box after the swerve by a foot.

A month later I did mod1 again, and although I passed i was alot more nervous and less controlled on the bike.
I also left the fuel tap off, and only luck was on my side in that the engine died inbetween the u-turn and the slow ride

After the mod1 fail i was prepared to do lessons, and probably would have, but the school near me was wanting me to pay the moon. I did my research, and practiced for some 2 months more before I did my mod2 test.

I was nervous, but a few roads in they completely disapeared. A pretty uneventful ride to be honest, I did make a wrong turn and the examiner practically screamed at me to stop (because i kept going-even after his protestations). Got back to test centre and had 5 minors, he gave me a lecture including resorting to a piece of paper and pen to explain how to go around road bumps
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.