Mod 2 failure

[chucklepie]

Hello,
I failed my mod 2 the other week and feel completely deflated, going by the failure I can see this going on for ever as I think the mod 2 is completely far removed from what actual safe and responsible riding is about.

I've been driving for quite some time now, and have been riding my 125 almost every day for about a year. I have (what I think) very good road sense and my instructor tells me there is nothing more to learn as I'm well up to test standard.

I sailed through my mod 1 with no issues at all.

On my mod 2 I had not a single minor and I was told it was (apart from the failure!) a perfect run. I failed on 'road layout'.

What happened was I was about half a mile from the end and came to a fairly complex roundabout (not in the least like your typical 4 exit job, it was very large and you couldn't see round the corner of it) and the instructions over the headset were simply 'keep left, straight ahead at the roundabout'.

When I got to the roundabout I honestly thought that the first exit I saw was left even though it was more like 11 o'clock so I continued round thinking an exit would be there about 2pm, but it wasn't. Because the lane I was in had a straight ahead marker I went round the wrong lane. I didn't cause any safety issues and there weren't many cars around.

The thing I cannot stand about the mod 2 is you are completely removed from the real world - you have no idea where you are or you are going next). All he had to tell me was 'first exit' or 'straight ahead in the direction of XXX' and that would have been it. I found out afterwards the lad before me failed 50m from me but he actually crossed a solid white line - he just had keep left in his head and went straight for the left lane not realising. The independent section is so much easier as you have a purpose and a goal.

Next time I'm sure I'll do something stupid again like roll 6 inches over a white line at traffic lights or (my biggest dread) not seeing a 20mph sign stuck in the corner of a junction where my line of sight isn't at and I'm too busy concentrating on OSMPSL, etc.

I just wish the examiners could use their years of skill and judgement and give just a little bit of discretion instead of blindly following the tick box chart in their head they have to follow and perhaps give a bit of slack (within reason). I mean, the roads aren't perfect, other drivers aren't perfect and you are under stress and being followed, and have to follow basic directions with no context.

To add insult to injury, when I got outside the test centre I saw a car on test just finishing, the girl tried to park the car, ended up diagonally across two places, rolled back forgetting her hand-brake, and when she got out had passed.

I've no doubt next exam I'll do something stupid that while a mistake, is something that happens a million times a day with absolutely no consequences, and I'll keep on doing odd daft things that we all do during normal riding/driving. When I eventually do pass I know that my riding at that time was no different to the X times before that.

I honestly think passing mod 2 is partly luck. At my test centre I know of 12 tests close to mine and only 3 passed, and going by the DSA stats it has the worst pass rate in the country.


Anyway, hello to the forum and sorry for the long rant

[Old Git Racing]

Chin up mate, pass it next time and don't worry about what others are doing. You can only control what you do on the day, just go into and think 'I'm gonna pass'.

yeah there's luck involved but not so much that you can'tget by it.

Get in and do it again, sure you'll pass

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[FirebladeRuss]

Maybe it was nerves to some extent? Sounds like you didn't make any other mistakes.

I wouldn't stress it dude, you'll be fine next time as you'll know what to expect.
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Twitter is for people who can't STFU even when they're by themselves

[pinkyfloyd]

Sorry to be the bastard here but ultimatly you failed. Whinging and whining about it wont change that. You failed on lane discipline and not knowing the area is no excuse.

You went to Mod 1 so what was wrong with you riding around that area. Think about it, the test is only 45 minutes or so on the road so how far can you get from the test center before having to turn back? Spend a day down the area just riding around. Get to know the area, especially the roundabouts and speed limits.

Rebook your test and learn from experience. I failed twice and one of them I thought was unfair but sadly thats the way it goes. The instructors cant give you anymore leeway then they already do, your riding one of the most dangerous vehicles to be on the public roads on and if you're in the wrong lane then its not following basic road layout instructions. If you cant get that right then you've no business being on the road regardless of how safely you ride there. Simple as that.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[chucklepie]

pinkyfloyd: Yes I made a mistake, but on going back and checking, people use both lanes to go right (3 lane roundabout) and at no time was I a danger. I was more thrown by his directions and relating it to the odd exit locations than my ability to ride. And no, I do have a right on the road, I've been driving for 20 years and riding for a year with not a single incident and I don't have many bad habits either.

Nobody is perfect, especially when you're being scrutinised minutely for 40 minutes and told to go in directions without context.

But, I'll pass at some point. And if I don't I'll book my test in the Orkney's test centre

[kramdra]

if you dont like that center, do it somewhere else :p

My nearest is 15 miles, but there are 4 others within 30 miles



You dont have to follow his directions. If the instruction is not clear, just take the first exit, or go where you like.

The issue here is he may want to see how you handle complicated junctions. I suspect from my mod1, they like to give minor points for not doing things in the spirit of it, even if perfectly correct.

[Rogerborg]

Come on, get some rage on.

if you think [your examiner] did not carry out your test in line with the regulations, you have the right to appeal to a magistrates’ court if you live in England or Wales, or a sheriff’s court if you live in Scotland.

If the examiners at your local test centre are a bunch of spanners, then rat them out and get something done about it. If you won't, then who will?
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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

[pinkyfloyd]

[schooleydoo]

[chucklepie]

Yes, I'll try harder next time.

I suppose looking at the DSA statistics (and the bright side), the pass rate in my area is just over 50% (though the national average is getting up to 80%), which is far higher than car pass rates.

So hopefully I'll pass second time and can get my FZ6 out of the garage

[pinkyfloyd]

Thats the attitude.

Shrug it off. Minor setback but dont give up. When they failed me the first time it was nerves. Fair enough. I was nervous and jumpy.

Second time I thought was unfair but doesnt matter. I was asked to pull over on a hill for a hill start. Then told me to pull away in my own time, I looked, saw him in his car and saw nothing behind that. Pulled away and there was a black car up my arse. When I got back to the test center the examiner thought I had saw it because I took a good look and I said I could only see him, he then told me as I pulled out the car shot past him. Clearly speeding. But a fail is a fail.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[chucklepie]

It would be nice if you could retest straight away instead of waiting 10 days (or as is the case in the busy period 28 days minimum).

It'd be just like shovelling money into a one-armed bandit, but at £75 a pull.

[pinkyfloyd]

[lihp]

I've been driving 7 years when I passed my bike test. I failed first one for going straight ahead in a left only lane.

Actually, I indicated and changed lanes last minute before the line of the junction. So I expected a minor.

It was serious, not that I caused a risk as that is dangerous, but a serious is "has the potential to cause an accident"

in hindsight I cocked up, and should have just took the left turn. But shit happens and passed next time. I should have known better"!

[Andy_Pagin]

A failure is a man who gives up.
A success is a man who takes setbacks on the chin, learns from his mistakes and keeps trying till he succeeds.

You gained valuable experience from this minor setback, and accept what you did wrong. I for one have total confidence in you.

[chucklepie]

Mod 2 in a few days. I rode round everywhere in a 5 mile radius for three hours yesterday, probably the only person in Gateshead actually following the highway code

Anyway, this is what I do not like about the testing system and how very wrong it all is:

Go to google maps and enter this:
B601, Dunston, Wickham and Dunston, Gateshead, United Kingdom

Hopefully near the centre just below the pin you'll see 'lobley hill road roundabout'. Now put the man on 'Kingsway N' facing the roundabout in street view and go back/forward the road until you can just about see the roundabout sign. Now, tell me honestly which lane you would go in and how you'd indicate when directed towards 'Gateshead B1429'.

[Rogerborg]

Hmmm.

There's a minor exit at about 11 o'clock (Festival Park Drive) and a major signed one (B601 / B1426) at about 1 o'clock.

Viewed from above, the B601 / B1426 exit is closest to "straight ahead", but the sign before the roundabout is ambiguous about that. It's also confusing, as it shows 2 major exits, and implies that the right hand lane is for the 2nd exit (B601 / B1426) when in fact the left hand lane is contiguous all the way round to that exit.

However...

[chucklepie]

Ah no, this has nothing to do with my failure! My story hasn't changed, I've been through that thoroughly with my instructor and I was wrong and I know that now. No worries there, I ended up turning right and so was in the wrong lane.

This is just something different. Regarding this roundabout, it was just another gotcha I was taught a little while ago. If you take the right hand you've just failed your test. You're supposed to indicate right but stay in the left hand lane.

My only guess is because the second exit isn't marked as a road it's ignored so left is left, the road you want is straight, which leaves full circle as right.

As for the DSA, as soon as I pass my test I'll be writing to them, not that it'll make any difference whatsoever. There's no way I'm writing before then and being blackmarked for my next test

[Capt Castle]

I found there was one really tricky bit in Gateshead.

There is a two-lane, one-way road through a residential area. You are asked to turn right at the end and therefore are required to be in the right hand lane, but it's counter intuitive to ride on the right so easy to mess up. Quite a few people fail there apparently.

Fortunately during the one session I had riding around Gateshead before the test, my instructor shouted rather loudly when I buggered it up, so it was fresh in my mind when the test went that way.
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Bikes: GZ125>CBR125>Yamaha MT03>Triumph Sprint ST 955i
CBT: 06/06/08 DAS:14/07/09

[ace-card]

Just a thought mate.....and as your test is in a few days, I'm not sure if its too late, but why don't you try route-led.com. There are all the motorcycle test routes on there available to download in sat nav or google earth format for a fiver (as they are no longer published by the DSA). I have done this in prep for my Mod 2 in Bristol, checking out all the possible roads....found it invaluable so far. Obviously don't overload your head and try memorising them!! But at least you won't be too surprised next time.

[Capt Castle]

https://www.dropthel.com/testroutes/Gateshead_MPTC_Motorcycle_Routes_30-31.pdf

https://www.dropthel.com/testroutes/Gateshead_Motorcycles_Routes_30-34.pdf

https://www.dropthel.com/testroutes/Gateshead_Motorcycles_Routes_35-39.pdf

Edit: This link might be better
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Bikes: GZ125>CBR125>Yamaha MT03>Triumph Sprint ST 955i
CBT: 06/06/08 DAS:14/07/09

[chucklepie]

Thanks, that's a good heads up. If only I knew of these on Sunday when I went riding around, as I searched quite a bit and found nothing.

[chucklepie]

Mod 2 yesterday and I passed with not a single minor well apart from almost being hit by a bus!

The examiner was absolutely brilliant. She actually conversed with me when I chatted to her, when the radio didn't work very well in my ear she didn't complain and throughout the ride she gave proper instructions, repeated them and when I was about to take the wrong way she corrected me.

1 minute from the end I thought I'd blown it. I was on a right turn at traffic lights, on the other side to me was a lane for cars and a dedicated lane for buses. I pulled into the centre, waited for the traffic to stop then I noticed a bus just coming up to the stop sign and slowing down. I turned right and about a quarter way through he started pulling out. He saw me and to me went even faster and just missed my bike.

When I got back she said I'd passed and I had to double-check. She said it was clear in her mind that the bus was in the wrong and you cannot take blame for others actions. That alone has put my faith back in all my doubts about the examiners motives.

Apparently it almost happened when my instructor went out (while I was on test) while waiting and he spun round and went to the other side and he thinks the lights are out of sequence. But still, you'd think the bus driver wouldn't be such a cock.

btw, I went out in my FZ6 yesterday and it felt just right. Such a tame and beautiful bike (if a bit clunky on the gear box 1 - 2) but fast enough when pushed.

[EazyDuz]

The car driver wouldnt have failed for that anyway if she was fine for the rest of the test. No handbrake is a minor, probably held it on the bite point, going over the line i think is a minor too.

[sparkywilliam...]

Capt Castle-i noticed you posted road plans-where can i get them for the Poole test centre? I think they've taken down from the DSA website.
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Previously CG125,YBR125 Now GSF600 Bandit