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LIB3RTY |
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LIB3RTY Derestricted Danger
Joined: 29 Nov 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 20:41 - 29 Nov 2016 Post subject: Failed Mod 1 Today |
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Hi everyone, new Biker here.
So I took my Mod 1 today and was fairly confident up until this morning. For whatever reason my anxiety levels just went through the roof. I had planned for this somewhat though and so booked an hour session with my Riding Instructor to get some last minute practise in before the test.
This practise session went fine up until about 20 minutes in, the throttle cable snapped on a busy road and I had a pretty close call with a BMW that had been up my backside all along the road. I ended up having to leave the bike by the side of the road and rode Pillion back to the Bike School to pick up a second bike (another instructor got called and he went and picked up the broken bike in a van).
We got back to the school and hopped on another bike, only for that one to die on me before I had even made it to the end of the road - somehow the engine flooded. Luckily there was a third bike available and that one ran smoothly.
So by this time we had no time left to get any practise in and had to make our way to the test center. We set off and despite how anxious I was given all the crap I had had to put up with so far on the day we made it there in one piece.
When we pulled up and went in to the center I was still full of nerves and when it came time to go into the tarmac court I was full on shaking. I pulled up to the right hand box as had been suggested by other Bikers I talk to and parked it there and waited for the Examiner to walk over to me.
Here is where I failed, literally right at the start of the test. When asked to wheel the bike out of that box and into the left I tried to do it in one long reverse U Turn. I got half way around and then my foot slipped on a bit of frost on the ground and I felt the bike begin to topple. I managed to wedge my right knee under it to stop it dropping but struggled to get it back up straight (It was a big 650cc and I am only 5ft 7" and 10 stone). I struggled for a bit but the front wheel had locked to the left and each time I tried to straighten it out I'd feel it start to tip over to the right, at which point I would try to stop it and the front wheel would left lock again. I stood there, using all my strength, feet slipping on the frosty ground, my breath fogging up my glasses to the point I could barely see out of them, for what must have been 2 or 3 minutes. At this point the Examiner just put his hand on my shoulder and helped me get the bike back onto its stand and informed me that I had failed the test. On the walk back inside he told me I should had done a three point turn to ge the bike into the other box. This pissed me off actually as I had not been told that a three point turn was an option. Not only had my Instructor not told me (we hadn't even practised this part), the YouTube videos I watched all had people doing it the way I tried (though looking back at these vids they are all on little 125cc bikes which I know are a lot lighter).
The embarrassment was awful though, I felt like such an idiot and a weakling. You guys are the first I am telling this to, my friends and family think I failed on the swerve (I was too embarrassed to tell them the truth).
So all in all it was pretty awful day. I have a 2 hour session booked with my Instructor next week to go over everything again and build my confidence back up. To all those who complain about failing on the figure of eight or the emergency stop etc, don't feel too bad, it could be a lot worse and a lot more embarrassing. I didn't even get the thing into 1st gear before failing! |
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Azoth |
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Azoth Brolly Dolly
Joined: 07 Jul 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 21:02 - 29 Nov 2016 Post subject: Re: Failed Mod 1 Today |
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LIB3RTY wrote: | Here is where I failed, literally right at the start of the test. When asked to wheel the bike out of that box and into the left I tried to do it in one long reverse U Turn. I got half way around and then my foot slipped on a bit of frost on the ground and I felt the bike begin to topple. I managed to wedge my right knee under it to stop it dropping but struggled to get it back up straight (It was a big 650cc and I am only 5ft 7" and 10 stone). I struggled for a bit but the front wheel had locked to the left and each time I tried to straighten it out I'd feel it start to tip over to the right, at which point I would try to stop it and the front wheel would left lock again. I stood there, using all my strength, feet slipping on the frosty ground, my breath fogging up my glasses to the point I could barely see out of them, for what must have been 2 or 3 minutes. At this point the Examiner just put his hand on my shoulder and helped me get the bike back onto its stand and informed me that I had failed the test. On the walk back inside he told me I should had done a three point turn to ge the bike into the other box. This pissed me off actually as I had not been told that a three point turn was an option. Not only had my Instructor not told me (we hadn't even practised this part), the YouTube videos I watched all had people doing it the way I tried (though looking back at these vids they are all on little 125cc bikes which I know are a lot lighter) |
The way you were taught/shown is the best way to do it, because you put the bike in the other spot without stopping, in a single maneuvre. It's surely easier than a 3-point turn, because it needs less muscular effort, and it's less complicated. You overcome the inertia to get the bike moving, and you just roll it into the spot, in a single movement.
The examiner suggested the 3-point turn because you would have probably made it had you changed your gameplan the moment you propped the bike back up after the near-drop. I don't think he meant you should have tried a 3-point turn right from the start.
All bikes are light when they're upright. The only force you exert is to get them rolling (i.e. to overcome the inertia), and even that is something you do by leaning your upper body in the direction you want the force to go. Don't try to lift the bike - it's not the time and place for a workout. Best of luck next time. ____________________ Safety in numbers |
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bacon |
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bacon World Chat Champion
Joined: 09 Jan 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 21:21 - 29 Nov 2016 Post subject: |
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That sounds rather traumatic and unfortunate. But at least next time you know it can't be any worse.
Anxiety is a bitch when it gets hold of you. I get it before anything formal like that as well. I don't really have any tips, except I remember after the initial fear factor of taking my bike test, I really started to enjoy myself (this never happened during my car test ), and I largely stopped worrying at all.
Chin up and better luck next time |
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SophR so good |
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SophR so good Trackday Trickster
Joined: 08 Aug 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 21:55 - 29 Nov 2016 Post subject: |
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How are you wheeling it? I am also short and puny so my instructor had me rest the bike on my hip, between the tank and seat, one hand on handlebars and one on the grab rail. The lad who had the test slot after me could just walk it by the handlebars ____________________ You win again, gravity! - Zap Brannigan, BCF BBQ 2016 |
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pinkyfloyd |
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pinkyfloyd Super Spammer
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M.C |
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M.C Super Spammer
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bacon |
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bacon World Chat Champion
Joined: 09 Jan 2009 Karma :
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Posted: 23:10 - 29 Nov 2016 Post subject: |
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I'm only 5ft 6" and weigh 11 stone, I was under 10 stone when I passed my test, must be why my leathers stopped fitting
It's all technique, my ZRX1200 weighs a hefty sum, around 224kg dry (mine isnt stock so maybe a little less) but I don't have any problems wheeling it around etc.
You'll get the hang of it soon enough mate, it's just experience. |
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LIB3RTY |
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LIB3RTY Derestricted Danger
Joined: 29 Nov 2016 Karma :
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M.C |
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M.C Super Spammer
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pinkyfloyd |
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pinkyfloyd Super Spammer
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 09:11 - 30 Nov 2016 Post subject: |
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Don't sweat it, if you hadn't been taught it, how were you expected to be able to do it under test conditions? Your instructor probably does it several times a day and assumes it's easy and obvious.
And you're right, the DVSA official video shows an arms'-length technique that's only going to work with a tiddler - I'd never try that with a 600+. ____________________ 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 |
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loughy |
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loughy Two Stroke Sniffer
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155mph |
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155mph Nova Slayer
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LIB3RTY |
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LIB3RTY Derestricted Danger
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LIB3RTY |
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LIB3RTY Derestricted Danger
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thepuma |
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thepuma World Chat Champion
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LIB3RTY |
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LIB3RTY Derestricted Danger
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Falco Traffic Copper
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FuzzyBallz |
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FuzzyBallz Nova Slayer
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Posted: 21:21 - 10 Dec 2016 Post subject: |
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Just practice it until you get it for next time, I struggled wheeling the bike into the parking bay, was literally heave-hoeing under my helmet moving the b*stard thing but got there in the end.
I know the feeling of just wanting to pass the test to get your big bike on the road but once you pass you have the rest of your life to ride, and it now seems funny I was soooooooo eager to pass, you will get it in the end.
I took kalms before my bike tests to help with my nerves, don't really know if they actually done anything because I was still nervous as hell, it's just part of being human.
I remember back to the shaking, mouth like a cotton wool ball, couldn't concentrate, was talking myself through everything before I done it, cursing myself when I thought I done something wrong, and even being close to tears when I failed mod 1.
We will see you on the road soon for sure |
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Baggins |
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Baggins Two Stroke Sniffer
Joined: 27 Apr 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 01:37 - 16 Dec 2016 Post subject: |
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I did my Mod 1 on the 1250 Bandit and it was that handling exercise that was worrying me most. I found the u turn technique easier than 3 point but key was to get the bike leaning against my body while moving. I was knackered after it - old guy- examiner quietly gave me a minute to get my breath back with some idle chat before the slalom |
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Stoker |
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Stoker Nitrous Nuisance
Joined: 13 Sep 2014 Karma :
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Posted: 20:52 - 16 Dec 2016 Post subject: |
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They just don't want this to happen to you you in a car park whilst on a bike!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E88HEuwInno
(ok, he was on foot at the time, but....) The next bit shows what could happen IF ya aint done your cbt!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzVAx1n1QFw
Don't worry, The fact that you shared your concerns here shows that you're admitting some kind of failing and looking for help, you should do fine next time round.
Unlike some people who think they're invincible gods of the road at seventeen and are surprised when fate teaches them otherwise!
(not assuming that you are seventeen, that would make an ass of ... actually, has anyone got a smart comeback for that?) |
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M.C |
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M.C Super Spammer
Joined: 29 Sep 2015 Karma :
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Posted: 01:08 - 17 Dec 2016 Post subject: |
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Baggins wrote: |
I did my Mod 1 on the 1250 Bandit and it was that handling exercise that was worrying me most. I found the u turn technique easier than 3 point but key was to get the bike leaning against my body while moving. I was knackered after it - old guy- examiner quietly gave me a minute to get my breath back with some idle chat before the slalom |
I really don't understand it, do you have to push the car on your driving test?
And it was only the 650 Bandit for me |
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recman |
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recman World Chat Champion
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
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recman |
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recman World Chat Champion
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 7 years, 131 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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