Passed Mod 2 first time & confidence wobbles (bit long!)

[Countrygirl]

Hi all, this is a bit (OK a lot) waffly but I’ve been lurking and reading various posts for the past few weeks so thought I’d finally contribute. I passed my Mod 2 the Friday before last and think I’ve just about come back down to earth now and bored everyone it’s possible to bore. I feel absolutely ace and a little bit proud of myself.

It’s not all been plain sailing – I started training in the summer of 2013 and passed my CBT and Theory fine. Likewise, the training for Mod 1 was going well (I thought), until I failed it more times than I care to mention for stuffing up the bloody U turn - and the one time I didn’t, I clipped a cone on the swerve with my boot. Common failure reasons I know, but it eventually became a real psychological stumbling block and my confidence took such a hammering each time I failed, I actually gave up in the autumn and didn’t think about it again until this spring, when I started again. I finally passed Mod 1 a couple of weeks later and……………..had the mother of all nightmare lessons a couple of weeks later on a Mod 2 training session. Heaven knows what happened; I rode like an almighty crock of shite and seriously thought: maybe I’m just not cut out for this. But I came to the conclusion that I’d just spent so much on training that to give up would be to have basically wasted many hundreds of pounds- training ain’t cheap. But I ended up falling into a horribly negative mind set, losing all my confidence in the process.

In the end I moved to a different school; I felt something needed to change and though I couldn’t really complain about the training I was receiving at the first place, something just wasn’t working for me there. I explained I’d had a bit of a wobble, and just went out for a low-pressure ride one sunny afternoon with one of their instructors. He said some really nice things about my riding and though I’m sure he was probably just bigging me up to give me a boost, I was surprised at how much happier and more confident I felt, right from the start – it was an absolute revelation. It may simply have been that I just wasn’t ready before, maybe it’s a girl thing, who knows? - but there seemed to me to be a marked difference in their style of training which suited me better and something just clicked inside me. The instructors were all uniformly excellent; patient and understanding, without making you feel like a knob for making a tiny mistake, and making the whole thing so much more damn enjoyable. Two weeks later I passed first time, with three minors (two for observation and one for following distance – I could have overtaken on a very short dual carriageway but hung back).

When we got back to the test centre, I took off my helmet thinking I’d actually failed, as I went on a green light at a big roundabout, then immediately got caught by a second red and ended up in danger of blocking traffic coming on to it. When the instructor said ‘I’m pleased to tell you you’ve passed’ I thought he was having a laugh - they always look so serious. The best bit is: where I trained, the test centre is on the same industrial estate as the training school, and the instructor takes you down to meet the examiner and leaves you there for the test – if you pass, you’re allowed to ride back to the school on your own. I’ll never, ever forget that feeling of sheer elation when I got onto my bike, stuck my helmet on and roared away back to the school for a cuppa!

Anyway, now begins the search for a bike –before, I had to physically stop myself from looking on Ebay, Pistonheads etc as there were stacks of bikes out there. Now I’m actually in a position to buy one, I can’t chuffing find one! I’m desperate to find something so I can wring something out of the last of the good weather but there aren’t too many about that quite fit the bill. I’ve got my heart set on a 1999/2000 CBR600F, but the few I’ve seen are just a teeny bit ropy, have a huge amount of previous owners, too high a mileage or have been dropped. I don’t really want to wait too long to buy as I want to get some miles under my belt, but I’d rather hold out for a good ‘un; I actually learnt on a new Gladius, which I loved, but having hared down the dual carriageways at 70 with no fairing during the training, it isn’t really something I’m keen to make a habit of – another possible is the SV650, but the Honda just wins out for me…..

[Dannygee]

First things first, congratulations on passing.

Re buying a bike, seems like you're doing all the right things to seek one out, it's always worth speaking to local shops/dealers to see if they have taken any in p/x that aren't out in the showroom yet.

Are you dead set on the CBR? ER6F always a strong shout for 1st bike imo (no I don't have one I'm trying to sell)
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I just wanna ride, that's all...

Honda H100, Honda FX650, Honda NTV 650 Deauville, Suzuki GSX1250 FA Z

[Countrygirl]

Funnily enough I started training on an ER6N Danny, and I wouldn't rule it out. I suppose one shouldn't go purely on aesthetics either but I so like the looks of the CBR, and Hondas are pretty (aaargh cliche) - bulletproof! I'd sort of forgotten about the ER6 in my rush to find a CBR, so will take a look at them.

[map]

Congratulations on the pass.

When buying a bike it's always best to try and at least sit on a few and ask owners questions. That's where bike meets are handy. Dealers may tell you anything if they think there's a sale.

Also don't be tempted to buy the first you see. It sounds like you're not, which is good.

If you're also concerned about riding position(s) on a bike you're not sure of check out cycle-ergo.com, which (imho) is an excellent resource.
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[MissBex]

I have the same thoughts/feelings!

I passed my Direct access at the very end of May after 4 mod 1's and 2 mod 2's. A total of £1400 spent on training and tests left me with nothing to spend on a bike after I passed so at first I couldn't afford anything, but I saw some bikes that would have been ideal if I'd of had the money.

Now, a few months down the line I've saved up a little bit of cash and I feel like I just want a bike so bad now as the weather's cooling, but I just can't find one!

I'm actually looking primarily for a 2000 onwards, unfaired Hornet, preferably in yellow or white (Red and black or OK, not keen on Blue or Silver), although I'll consider the 98/99's too if they are in nice condition.

I like the CBR600F4's myself but they come up more expensive on insurance and I think they are slightly taller than the hornets aswell. I can reach with balls of feet on hornets so I'm guessing i'll be on tip toes on the CBR's as I'm only 5ft 2.

I've seen several Hornets I've liked the look of, been all up for going to view/buy them but they (to me) are well overpriced and the sellers won't budge to be within my budget, even though I've seen them sell a few months ago within my budget, it's so frustrating XD

The thing I worry about now also is now it's been quite a while now since ridden, I'm scared I'm going to be a bit nervous when I Eventually find a bike.

No joke, I've spent every single day since passing looking on ebay, gumtree, autotrader, mcn, bennetts ads, preloved and even on facebook and forum selling pages.

I could easily get something that is not quite what I want just to have a bike. I have a car for commuting so I don't need it as necessity, so I want something nice that I'm going to enjoy having and be precious over.
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Direct Access Passed - 30/05/14
00' Honda Hornet 600

[Rogerborg]

Everyone in this thread is awesome and should post tits or GTFO and Eeeeeeee!, I'm checking eGumTraderHeads every second too.

Buy my BMW, it's a proper girl's bike.
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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

[MC]

Congrats on passing, and sticking with it. We should have another month or two of good weather, and it might be another mild winter

[Pigeon]

I love reading mod1/2 passing posts, particularly when they are well written (honestly not trying to be letchy, it just comes naturally), as it brings it all flooding back.
That first ride back, the wind rush is more freeing, the sun brighter, the engine louder and that HUGE weight off your back and the tension in the shoulders gone!

I mean, you can buy and ride ANY bike in the world. How cool is that!.....except someone forgot to tell ebay and gumtree that you were now officially awesome.
Yep, had that too. Spent ages trying to find a replacement commuter.

Re: the confidence thing, typically blokes are more bullish and cocky with innate belief in their own abilities, especially at things they haven't tried. But once I get a negative mindset, it spirals and plummets. I damn near had a panic attack on my mod2! It was a horrible, terrifying day, except that last bit

Bikes should come onto the second hand market around end of August as people look to offload before winter, and to free up cash for deposits on the 0% finance offers for new bikes around this time of year. But the summer has been pretty good, so folk might be hanging onto bikes they otherwise wouldn't have.

Just got to keep looking, but if you can test ride some new bikes to get a feel for the thing. Just in case you spend ages hunting for the "wrong" bike. I was expecting to buy a CBR600, but didn't like the 2011 model locally.

An SV650 is ok, it has it's advantages (cheap, low centre of gravity, predictable steering, torque, quick enough to lose license but not high-side out of bends on cold tyres). But its the same as the Gladius (which you've already tried), just with a frock.

There are really shiny, tidy CBR600's from 1998 onwards out there. You might have to travel a bit further to get one though.

When you say high mileage, what do consider high?

Oh yeah, congrats!!!

[wildchild1974]

Congrats n andyj88 has a 2000 bandit on for sale looks nice bike
Gaz

[Matt B]

Wow, Teffers has competition with the essay writing

Congrats
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[wr6133]

Congrats on the pass. See you're in Wilts.... test in Salisbury?

When looking for a bike don't immediately discount things based on mileage unless it is literally insanely high. A high miler with receipts to show it's never wanted for anything is better than an average miler that has been ignored.

[Countrygirl]

Mod 1 in Swindon, and Mod 2 in Newbury. Ummmm, mileage - 40k plus? Or is that nowt for a good modern bike...?

I went to see one recently with ten previous owners, which I just thought was a bit high - and and the paintwork colour combination was wrong, and things like that always make me suspicious and wonder if it's had a crash somewhere along the line. I couldn't find another model anywhere with that colourway. I just don't want to get stitched up.

[MissBex]

I know what you mean, I get suspicious of people also when they only show one side of the bike in pics and when you ask questions about the bike and they don't answer them all.

Worth doing a hpi check on a bike your seriously considering buying also for added piece of mind. I've done 1 so far which came back clear but a guy on here (Doomsnite ) got in there just a bit before me haha. I use mycarcheck.com which are £2.95 for basic check, which I didn't think was too bad really.
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Direct Access Passed - 30/05/14
00' Honda Hornet 600

[MC]

[MC]

[wr6133]

[MC]

[wr6133]

[MC]

[mase101]

really well done on sticking with it and getting your test done! a lot of people would of jacked it in, but you carried on, so Fair bloody play! wish u many happy years of riding to yourself

[rideslikean00...]

Well done on passing MOD2, welcome to the club and all that. Still shocked I passed mine, can't imagine how you feel, pretty good though probably!

The Honda CBs are great bikes, did my MOD1 on a Hornet and MOD2 on CBF600, lot of respect for them. Problem I had with the Hornet was the steering was heavy when at tick over speeds (10mph or so) and it just didn't want to stay at 30mph it wanted to GO and hit 60mph, problem I had with the CBF600 was it felt heavier than the Hornet with less power so cornering wasn't as effortless as I like. Both problems I didn't encounter with my current Yamaha XJ-6, which despite the weight never feels like it has heavy steering, always feels well-balanced and can be controllable for pottering around town then a little mischievous when you want to tear it up a bit - great mix of sensible and reckless. Notchy gearbox aside (requires some finesse for smooth gear changes where the Hondas were a lot more forgiving) it's a damn good introduction to the world of bigger bikes, and suits me as a 5 foot 8 rider of medium build.
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Previous/Current Bikes
2013 Yamaha YBR-125ED -> 1997 Yamaha YZF-1000R Thunderace -> 2009 Yamaha XJ-6 Diversion -> 2007 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2

[SandTiger]

Congrats on the pass OP. Everything for me happened so strangely, from how I got all my bike gear, and the bike itself, considering I had very little money at the time, and all the stuff I wanted just came along at the right price at the right time. My uncle very kindly gave me his leather jacket from when he used to ride, which just happened to be a perfect fit. So I like to think of that as fate. As silly as it sounds, it does feel like it was all meant to happen. So a nice well looked after 1999/2000 CBR600F will come your way.