Last Minute Mod 2 tips (2nd attempt) **UPDATE** FAILED! AAAA

[Robster]

So, Mod 2 is gonna happen again very soon. Got a day's riding on an unfamiliar bike, unfamiliar roads, with an unfamiliar but reputable school. With Mod 2 test the day after.

I bottled it the first time back in Salisbury due to tiredness/bad nerves etc. etc. but i'm damn determined to get it done now, the tube is fucking horrible in the morning and I miss fresh air!

Doing it in Heathrow/Uxbridge area and I believe the test centre is around there also. Bad nerves keep creeping up now and again, and start feeling nervous and stuff - I get bad performance anxiety and hate tests.

Tips appreciated!

[thewhyoffry]

[Robster]

Cheers for that Dean much appreciated, glad to hear its a decent test centre. btw I did my training on an ER 6N, lovely little bike!

[waffles]

Deep breaths, ride normally and exaggerate some of your shoulder/mirror checks to make sure the examiner sees them. Listen carefully to their instructions or pretend that they are a satnav. The hard bit is mod 1 which you have done so no need to worry about e-stops and weaving round cones, it's just you on the roads being safe.

You don't have to filter if you don't want to. Hell, I sat in traffic on mine as they were digging up a major junction and the traffic lights were on the fritz so I had my test cut shorter.

Look for dead end signs (they may say next left or next available left so watch out) and check speed limits.

Otherwise best of luck and enjoy yourself!
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[G30]

Ride safe and confidently. You can be 'too safe' (i.e. hesitation) but it's a lot better to get a couple minors for being 100% sure than failing because you wanted to show you're the king of the road and made a silly, preventable mistake.
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KTM RC390 -- Kawa ER6f -- Yam YZF R125 -- Yam YBR 125

[MG]

Did mine at Uxbridge too, pretty decent place for a test as there's lots of different roads nearby without it being too busy.

Can't think of any specific advice, just don't worry about going the wrong way during the independent driving bit
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'03 Honda Cityfly 125 > '02 Honda CB500S > '98 Honda CBR600F

[andyscooter]

pass this time
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[kerr]

Don't let unfamiliar roads put you off, i found i payed more attention on roads iv never been on before.

I say this to everybody but just treat it like a normal ride with a guy in your ear telling you where to go, it really is as simple as that.
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aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

In the grand scheme of things, and even in the context of your own life, what does it matter if you fail again?!?!? Oh I know - it's not exactly cheap. But really. Fully internalise the fact that it doesn't matter and you will be able to perform far better than if you believe it to be something Very Important Indeed.

It really isn't. Embrace the unimportance. Own the unimportance. Become one with the unimportance.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

^^^My approach too and I self taught....and CBT and insurance were due to run out the following week....and took wrong turns and momentarily locked the rear during the E stop.

/smugness.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

It was raining and was using my CG which is the only machine I've ever despised. It nearly sucked the soul out of me.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Robster]

Thanks again for the advice

Retyping all the show me/tell me questions currently, that way hopefully they might stick in my head. note to self - must check horn, insert dipstick, and point out lubrication

[Robster]

Only went and fucking failed again didn't I... Worse than first time too

It shat it down just before we were gonna set off, which didn't help matters.

Pulled out too fast from a junction, road was completely wet, went over a manhole cover and nearly lost the back end, caused a car to brake - Serious

Was following too close to a car on dual carriageway about 40mph - Serious

8 minors, for steering, observation etc. etc.

I seemed to be fine with the instructor, had an awesome day and a bit ride on a lovely XJ Divvy 600, was feeling as confident as possible, took it easy on the test, followed everyone's advice... but alas, it was not to be.

Feller I was with passed with four minors, so congrats to him

Advice I got, was go get myself a 125, and spend a few weeks/months riding to get some road craft built... as I get rusty quite quick, and in my opinion I think i'm transitioning some bad car-driving habits. Just wish I did that before, instead of trumping up £300 to fail my test again....

So L plate and 125 time it is. Thanks again to everyone for the tips

[Dave70]

Third times the charm.

I know what you mean though, about getting nervous before tests. I get the same, I was totally bricking it before my test, yet can ride around otherwise totally confidently.

My instructor has even taken me through the test routine on a number of occasions and I "pass" every time. When it comes to the real thing though, I always manage one major. The last one was putting a foot down on the U turn (the test is different in the IOM as there's no MOD 1 & 2, it's all done on the road) the U turn I've practised so many times, I could do it with my eyes shut Comes to exam day though and nerves get the better of me.

[Robster]

Hope your right Dave. Gonna be awhile before I try again as I stretched myself thin to try it this time and gonna have to save pennies for a bit. Also need to find a new job in June

[Dave70]

All the more time to practice then.

One thing that bugs me about not passing, is that I'm actually a better/safer rider on the road than some people who've managed to pass. At the end of the day though, it's my own fault for messing up when it comes to the exam.

I still really enjoy riding my R125 though but, it would be nice to have more power for overtaking and up hills. I can still manage to scare myself a little now and again on it at times.

[Northern Monkey]

Practice when driving your car. Things like following distances, picking safer gaps in traffic and shoulder checks are something you can do every day driving to work. It's free and then it becomes second nature on the bike
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[gavbriggs]

Why on earth you would rush about in the rain is beyond me, the instructor is expecting some cautious riding and hopping for safe riding. You just got to balance the two.

As for following close, just think how much it would hurt to slam into the object in front!

Try again and don't be a tit. Keep calm and pass!

[Robster]

[mase101]

Passed my mod 2 in Uxbridge with a guy called Colin, really nice bloke, thought I'd cocked it up several times, had a refuse lorry blocking a road so I waited when I could of passed through the gap, had a manic van driver pull out in front of me on a roundabout and when I pulled in to the side in a 'safe' place it was on a hill and managed to roll back a little bit as I pulled back out. did the independent drive following signs for Ruislip which went ok. Got back and to my amazement I had passed. I think mainly down to the fact I didn't flap and got on with it relatively competently. best advice my instructor gave me before I passed was not to analyse my ride as im doing it. that's what the examiners are paid to do. overall good experience. also heard very good things about the examiner Maxine there, plus shes pretty hot! Just save up your money and whenever you can afford it then do it again. try until you succeed. im sure you will be good next time.

[Rogerborg]

[Robster]

[Bubblin77]

Nerves are a killer, no amount of practice can combat those nerves, silly mistakes become issues, junctions become a full blown race track.

As much as we say to chill, in reality we can't, just get the practice, find an instructor you like rather than whose cheapest or closest.

Just think you will pass, others have experienced the same as you, its just when!

Good luck for the next time.
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Kawasaki Z800 (SOLD)

[DottyDuck]

Don't give up! keep trying and you will PASS!

Best advice that i got on here was to pretend that the guy following you is your personal sat nav so he/she is telling you where to go. Pretend you are lost and they are telling you the directions/ route. It is nerve racking but it can be done

take deep breaths and try talking to yourself? it might be helpful/ useful. (obviously the person can't hear you- so say what the ever you want!)
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CBT- 2012 Theory- 18/12/13 Mod 1- 07/01/14 Mod 2- 15/01/14
Old Bike: Zontes Panther 125cc - wrote off Current Bike: Kawasaki ZR7