Has anyone here done the Darwen Mod 2 test?

[Mark_UK]

Hi all.

Mod 2 coming up, and I want to be as prepared as possible.

Can anyone who has done this in Darwen give me a few hints of particular areas they got minor faults on so I can keep in mind where I need to focus 150% rather than the usual 100% please?

I'm pretty confident that I'll pass this. I've done plenty of 30 - 40 mile trips over the last 4 months on the 125 in prep for this, both in urban and rural areas, and plenty of NSL back roads and major roads. I'm also having a 6 hour lesson the day before with my instructor in the general Darwen area, but is there anything that's easy to slip up on?

Cheers
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CBT passed 02/02/17, Theory passed 21/02/17, Mod 1 passed 10/07/17, Mod 2 passed 14/07/17
MT-125 03/17, FZ600 07/17

[Mark_UK]

Ah just found this from Pinkyfloyd in 2015

[mas101]

I think try to stay calm - dont feel hurried.

If you find yourself in the wrong lane dont panic and switch without lifesavers etc. Remember that not following the directions is NOT a fail so if it isnt safe to get into the correct lane just follow the lane you are in. If it really screws up the route the instructor might ask you to turn round (U turns OK?)

Make sure you do the correct lifesavers on roundabouts. If you are on the outside lane watch for people on the inside coming into you, and vice versa - if in doubt look both sides.

Keep awareness of the speed limits (are there streetlights? repeaters?).

Beware of junctions without markings. I got taken by a railway station with rather odd markings / lack of markings / one way bits.


(disclosure - I'm a noob who passed mod 2 last week)

[Mark_UK]

[mas101]

Thanks ! And Good Luck to you with yours.

Dont see how checking both ways can be a fault (as long as you dont ride in to the back of anything while busy looking elsewhere ).

I'd always assume speed humps = 20, but I'd always be going careful and doing lots of looking around anyway - humps are generally for a reason.

My instructor said that on rbouts you need to look to the source of danger.
How are you moving between lanes or across other peoples possible routes?
If you're on the inside then you need to look left before moving across to the outside lane / exit the roundabout.
If you're on the outside lane then you need to look right to make sure that nobody on the inside is cutting across to exit through you as you go past exits and optionally left to check people coming onto the roundabout.
Time your indicating carefully.
Be aware of markings / signs for the roundabout. Usually if 2 lanes then the left lane is turn left or straight on, but sometimes left lane is only left and right lane is straight or right.

What does your instructor say (if there are any odd junctions I'd expect them to flag it up with you).

No bike yet - too busy to look atm. Also I'm 6'4" so I'm going to have to find something fairly big - I kept getting cramp on the ER6. Thinking maybe Vstrom or Versys....

[Wonko The Sane]

I did Darwin but did it clean even though we were out for over 50 mins

Take care leaving the site as it's the motorway services and people belt it down that sliproad onto the roundabout like complete knobs (you're not traffic lighted on but I think the motorway is - was 4 years ago now)

the DC heading into town, the lanes become turn lanes, be in the correct one, not too early, not too late.

country lanes, Edgeworth, if they take you that far, used to have stop signs (the only ones on route) it's now two mini roundabouts, remember you have to give way when joining the second roundabout even if it means you're stopped on the first roundabout.

on a blind summit be centre of lane or slightly left of as you can't see the bus coming over the hill.

mirror wise, any change in road position, speed or just because you haven't for a while, glance at a mirror or two.

They didn't used to take you into the town centre itself but if they do, there is a bit of a one way so keep an eye on signs

There's a favourite "stop safely on the left" which used to have a bus stop. They time telling you so that you either have to slam on and do it quickly or will stop in the bus stop.

Don't be afraid when given an instruction such as 'stop on the left' or 'pull in' to take a moment or two to be away from junctions and bus stops etc but don't take the mick with how far you go.
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[Mark_UK]

Cheers guys. Smashed it

Wonko thanks very much for that, it was really helpful. I had the pull up on the left by the bus stop

Next stop, BIG BIKE woohoooo
____________________
CBT passed 02/02/17, Theory passed 21/02/17, Mod 1 passed 10/07/17, Mod 2 passed 14/07/17
MT-125 03/17, FZ600 07/17

[Tracer1234]

[Mark_UK]

Cheers Tracer Yep 2 minors, but when he said I'd passed I was gobsmacked and didn't really listen to what they were. All I could think was "Fuck off, no way, as if I've passed"

Well I really like the CBF600 that I've been learning on, but that's the only big bike i've ridden other than the CBF500. I need something fairly big tho, as I'm 6'1 and 20 stone. I do like the looks of the V-Stroms but I need to go and sit on a few bikes first. Budget is around £2-3k.
____________________
CBT passed 02/02/17, Theory passed 21/02/17, Mod 1 passed 10/07/17, Mod 2 passed 14/07/17
MT-125 03/17, FZ600 07/17

[Tracer1234]

[Wonko The Sane]

[Mark_UK]

It was within 5 minutes of leaving the test center, and he said "OK, please pull up when it is safe to do so" and I saw the bus stop with a good old spaceafter it, so I just laughed inwardly, remembered this post, and thought take as long as you need. So you probably passed the test for me lol

I've now put a deposit down against an FZ6 using my MT as part-ex, so in 5 days time when it's ready I'll be a proper biker lol. Vroom VROOOOOOOM!!!
____________________
CBT passed 02/02/17, Theory passed 21/02/17, Mod 1 passed 10/07/17, Mod 2 passed 14/07/17
MT-125 03/17, FZ600 07/17

[Vladimir]

I realise that this is an old thread - but I thought I'd update it as it is fresh in my mind. So I sat my test on 7th of May and I didn't make it. Totally my fault, nerves got the better of me.

Some weird/tricky areas:

- it's very likely that you'll ride down Mary Leaver Way and be asked to take the 3rd exit and join onto Paul Rink Way. You need to ensure that you get into that dedicated left turn lane to join onto it.

- turning left onto Haslingden Road off the B6231 - there's a dedicated left turn lane with a give way line. The junction does have a lot going on, so if you're not relatively sharp, it's easy to miss that the traffic going forward (continuing on the B6231) is blocking anybody from coming onto your path, so you can get caught out by undue hesitation (and at this junction it is a serious fault due to the very real risk of being rear ended).

If you're taking your test in Darwen, it might be wise to drive around before the test, or at least use google maps to look at the junction that I mentioned above. I've dubbed it "spaghetti junction" for obvious reasons.

This is probably true for any area with a DVSA centre close by, but generally the area around the test site is riddled/crawling with learners. Apparently many drivers in the area are sick of them and will do all sorts of stupid shit to get around them, including but not limited to undertaking on the approach to roundabouts, undertaking on roundabouts, and so on. Basically - be aware, and most importantly, don't forget to do that left shoulder check before entering a roundabout, especially the big roundabout just before the test centre. You'll be using that roundabout twice, once to leave the test centre, and again to get back. It would be a shame to fail it at the last minute.

Last but not least - it's likely that you'll be following signs/road markings signposted for the M65 to get back to the test centre. That freaked me out the first time I heard it...
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Honda GLR125 (finally)