Where to practice Mod 1 manoeuvres on a 600cc bike....

[ADAMH0]

Hi,

I am trying to get through the Mod 1 and 2 without spending £760 that my local riding School want for DAS. I have been riding around on my 125 for over a year and have bought myself a cheap FZS 600 and have a van to transport it to the test centre. I took the Mod 1 last week and failed due to a rear wheel lock in the emergency stop and a stupid foot down at the end of the slalom. I feel that I really need to practice on the 600 as I could easily complete the mod 1 on the 125 I use everyday, but the brakes, weight, performance of the 600 are so different that it is causing me to have problems on the actual test. The question is, where on earth can I practice all the manoeuvres?? I'd be really grateful if anyone who didn't use a riding School can give me some ideas of where to practice.
Cheers,
Adam

[FuzzyBallz]

My riding school booked the mod 1 test area at the test centre for an hour on a saturday for a training session, as no testing is done at weekends.

Don't know if they will book it out to the general pop but worth a try?

[ADAMH0]

Hi Fuzzy,

I hadn't even considered using the actual test centre for practice purposes. It would be ideal if I could sort something out like that as I would be able to practice the exact course.

Cheers for your suggestion,

Adam

[Rogerborg]

<Technically>
Letter of the statute is that you need to be licensed to "drive" it on a "road", and insured to "use" it on a road or "public place" - which is anywhere to which the public enjoy a general right of access, like a car park.

Case law is that pretty much anywhere that leads from somewhere to somewhere else is a "road". This includes the lanes in a car park (but not the spaces) and a garage forecourt
</Technically>

<Practically>
Properly private land, or somewhere that Dibble isn't going to show up, like a sink estate.
</Practically>

<Fantasy>
Take the plate off, leave the lid at home, put a bandana over your face, ride it like you stole it, and you'll magically become invisible.
</Fantasy>
____________________
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

[TheSmiler]

You could try a B&Q Car park they are normally quite large if you do it at night as well then you don't really get much bother. Not really legal but then you would need private land for that.

When I was practising on my 125 for my Mod1 I used to use the B&Q as well as Gala car park.b
____________________
CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[andyscooter]

but you had a licence to ride the 125 though smiler


in before cbt isn't a licence


needs to be a place public havnt got acces to
____________________
gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[J4mes]

The first cop that drives past and sees a lone van and someone wobbling around in figure of 8's on a 600 at dusk is going to pull over and literally bum you in to next week.

Didn't someone on here get done for it recently?

Pay for a lesson, you'll get it mastered in an hour and won't spend the next 5 years telling your insurance you have 6 points.

[ADAMH0]

Thank you for all your suggestions and comments.

I have been looking at car parks etc but due to the "travelling communities" that rock up and illegally camp, most of the open spaces are gated/closed in the evening/weekends.

There is a local disused airfield which would be ideal but of course I wouldn't have permission.....

The numbers of potential new riders that must be put off by the cost and hassle of getting a bike licence compared to a car must be huge

[Andy_Pagin]

[Rogerborg]

[Teflon-Mike]

Silly Suggestion... but.. err.. the MOD 1 test area? It's only £15 a session...
And if that is still too expensive... then flog the 600.. you're either too poor or to cheap to run it!
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[stevo as b4]

Swap No.plates between bikes, and take the 600cc out for a few long rides 100miles? Then use quiet industrial estates out of trading hours for practicing all your test manoeuvres.

This should not normally include sitting on the tank wheelies and stoppies, figure of 8 rolling burnouts, and tank surfing however!

The above manoeuvres and much more I have witnessed the excellent suitability of the FZS600 for.

[ADAMH0]

Thanks again for all of your replies. Such a wide variation of opinions and that's exactly why I posted in here as it really does help to get input from others.

Teflon - do you mean the Mod 1 test areas are available to practice on for £15 a session (linking with what Fuzzy said at the beginning), or are you referring to the £15.50 to take the test?

Rogerborg + Stevo - It's funny that years ago, I wouldn't have had any worries about taking it riding it somewhere without being quite legal but as I've got older, the risks to licence, family, work etc all play on the mind....

However, it's Sunday tomorrow and I'll load the bike up and see if I can find somewhere quiet to have a bit of a practice.

[Teflon-Mike]

[ADAMH0]

Thank you for the reply Teflon.

I understand and acknowledge everything that you have said and appreciate the time that you have taken to reply to me. I AM making life hard for myself and if money wasn't an issue then a DAS would be the way to go, however the main reason I got back on a bike was to save money.

P.s
Is your Avatar from the PS1 version of Road Rash?

[Rogerborg]

I'm impressed that you're DIYing it. It's perfectly fine to do so - many of us did it on our 125s when it was worthwhile doing so.

Not that it's likely, but if any State tool does take an interest, don't be mad keen to self incriminate. You could be practising slow speed control for your IAM test, right?
____________________
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

[Aspire2]

I agree with stevo if it was me I would drive somewhere remote in the van then take it out for 20-30 miles. Or put the 125 plate on it an do the same.

If you can ride okay and have all the gear (so you look proper) riding it somewhere remote the chances of getting pulled are slim, but like always when you're doing something naughty you always see a cop car.

[rideslikean00...]

[Teflon-Mike]

[rideslikean00...]

[Aspire2]

I used to think bikes were cheap.... they are not!. Only 125's are cheap maybe old 500's the rest are money pits whether its consumables or the constant desire to buy things for them.

After Helmet, gloves, boots, suit etc, insurance, bike and license cost you can be looking at £1000's. If you stick with little bikes then there is an argument for them paying for themselves after a while but bigger bikes don't really.

[Rogerborg]

Nothings costs more than regret over what you didn't do.
____________________
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

[FuzzyBallz]

I think you're all mad!

I won't even take my bike out in my quiet close to practice until I've got my license, wouldn't want to risk losing the bike before I even pass my test.

[ADAMH0]

In reply to the points that have been raised:

The 125 that I have does the job ok. Great fuel economy etc. but as I'm sure most 125 riders will acknowledge, the lack ability to keep up with traffic on dual carriage ways and getting swamped by other vehicles is the less enjoyable part. Also the ridiculous CBT rules, I can ride a 50cc bike as I have a full licence for it, but for a 125cc I need CBT, then after 2 years of road use I would need.....CBT again??

I feel that it's not going to cost me much more on a bigger bike compared to the 125 but I am aware that some parts/consumables are just expensive and there's not much you can do about it. I am however in the motor trade so can source parts at trade prices and carry out all repairs and maintenance myself. In truth, I don't really need a 600cc machine but one came along at a good price and it meets all the requirements for the A licence. Once/if I pass, then I would quite happily use something smaller like a 250/350. Unfortunately, the licence categories mean that it is pointless going for A1/A2.

Thank you to everyone who has posted on this topic. It was my first post and it's great to join a site that has members that take the time to contribute their views.

[rideslikean00...]