When to give up? (Updated 03/11/05)

[FreshAL]

Yesterday I failed my second test.

After the first time I failed, I was really fired up to try again. This time I'm just gutted. Can't remember why I wanted to do this in the first place.

If I go for it again, I'll have spent over £1000 on lessons and tests.

Motorcycling isn't for everyone, and maybe it's time to realise it's not for me.

Anybody else failed and kept going? How did you motivate yourself to try again?

[killa]

It is hard, because examiners are tough, the biking isn’t tough.

TBH I spent around £500 on lessons and the test, I almost failed my test which means I would have been in the same position, I had been riding on L’s for about 5 years. Don’t give up, you’re too far in.
Look at the test papers, get it noted down, go out and practice yourself.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[Bendy]

What did you fail on?

[byke95]

Only you can decide if biking is for you; giving up was not an option for me (I passed second time round).

It's natural to feel deflated after putting a lot of time and effort into something and seeming to get nothing back. You don't have to make a decision straight away either.

What are you failing on? If it's indicators/U turn stuff keep on at it, you'll get there in the end. If you're falling off or knocking people over maybe golf is a better option!

Chin up my friend!

[FreshAL]

[biggerjohn]

I have simple question only you can answer that will give an idea if you should keep at it or give up.

Did you know what it was you failed on at the time you made the mistake or only after the test?

If you did think bugger I fucked that up keep plugging at it till you get it all to come together on the day.

There are a lot of skills you have to master to pass the test some may need some work before you pass but if you know what it is you are getting wrong you’re already half way to mastering it.


Just don’t give up you would hate yourself for it.

[chris___]

Dont give up mate, I failed twice due to examiners being fucking picky twats I spent around £600 in total which made me skint but it was definately worth it. From the time I failed my first test to the time I passed I didnt improve as a rider at all, its just luck mate, infact I probably rode better on my first test than any of the other two.
Chin up mate, you'll get there in the end
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Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[EDBANGER]

I passed first time when I eventually got to take the test!

1st time I arrived at the test centre and had left my documents at the training centre! They wouldn't let me go back and get them. They tried to charge me for a re-test but I kicked up a stink with head office and got it free.

2nd time I arrived at the test centre with the documents on me this time and the examiner had phoned in sick By now I was thinking maybe this was a sign.

3rd time lucky, I passed with 3 minors!!

Just stick at it. Surly you only have to pay the cost of the re-test (£35) and bike hire for the morning (£50 - £100)??

[dodsi]

I failed my test twice, stick with it!

third test got cancelled and passed the next one!

cost me £450 for all my lessons and tests

[mr.z]

Mate of mine took 4 goes @18


Don't wory about it, the test IS hard, its vey easy to make a mistake from nerves, just keep at it, the test is going only going to get harder!
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[ZZR Girl]

If you really want to ride a bike, then you must carry on. Is your riding usually OK? If so, then it's test nerves which make you screw up. Be positive and look to the future and that great bike you'll get when (not if) you pass your test.

And good on you for stating publicly that you've failed your test - it can't be an easy thing to do when others are posting "yippee, I've passed my test" posts. Must make you feel even more deflated.

Chin up - you'll get there!
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Keep it shiny!

[Misc]

The best drivers/riders never pass 1st time. If you give up now you've just wasted ££££ on what? Stick with it maybe get 1 lessons or 2 to help.

[Walloper]

I failed first time.
Next two snow stopped play then too windy for the big soft north lancashire examiner to play on his bike.
2nd time passed with flying colours. And no comms from the examiner....
Your a statistic that's all..
Try again.
You'll spend £1000 in H. Gerrike in the first year anyway
Good luck
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[BanditBitch]

If at first you don't suceed, try, try again.......and again if necessary.

Would be a lot of money to throw away, to pack it all in at this stage.

[Funky Monk]

Don't want to say it, and bring you down further but I also passed first time!

Here's my point: Sounds like you may have been using an inferior school. Probike, who I learnt with made it clear that they'd do everything they could to help be pass and become a good rider! Knowing they where behind me helped enormously. If I were you have a word with your instructors, if they don't show any interest they need to be named and shamed.

I know there's plenty of schools offering free test retakes, lessons, etc if you don't pass, but just knowing your instructor is as keen for you to pass and get you out on 2 wheels really helps .

Good luck next time dude!

[Walloper]

[debdimps]

hello FreshAL,

PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP!

I'm not proud of it but it took me 5 attempts to pass mine!
1st Time i was as nervous as a jelly failed on almost everything!
2nd Time I nearly ran an old lady over on a zebra crossing
3rd time....I dont remember
4th Time not enough LIFESAVERS!
5th Time PASS!

Never got round to adding up how much it all cost but it did take 2 years.
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CBR 600Fi (PGM) in BRIGHT YELLA! (sold)

[yambabe]

The thing you have to remember is that, like any other skill, riding comes easily to some people and less easy to others.

So yeah there are plenty of people out there (and on here) who can say "I passed my test 1st time with just one lesson, it's a doddle" but their experience is purely subjective and you shouldn't go beating yourself up because it hasn't been that soimple for you.

Personally I found it hard to learn to ride to test standard, but I kept on going because I had also experienced that feeling that only riding a bike can give you and I knew it would be worth it in the end.

I still don't class myself as a good rider, although I get better every time I get the bike out. I am very careful and defensive rider, but even that is enough to give me that "WOOOHOOO" feeling when I am on my bike.

If you have had that feeling too, then stick with it because it's worth it in the end. I suspect that if you had, you wouldn't even be posting this and that could be your problem. Only you can truly know the answer to your question.

Yam.
3rd time bike test passer.
5th time car test passer.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[colin1]

If you can afford to keep trying dont give up. A lot is about confidance and knowing you can do the job. If you can do it normally but dont believe in yourself enough on test day it will be harder on the other hand if you havent learnt what you have to do you wont pass either.

Oh and you have to ride like a granny cos it will be a granny who is testing you.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Mr.Everready]

Don't know if it's been mentioned already but do you own a 125 ?
If you don't, get one for a few months. There's nothing better than being out on your own practising.
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the undemocratically unelected mod of the Scottish section

[wristjob]

also its worth asking .
are you actually a crap rider all the time?
or do you just become crap on test days?
if its the latter it would probably be worth looking into techniques for controlling nerves rather than bikes.
once you have yourself under control the rest of the test is easy:)

[deputy]

Keep at it. Took me 3 attempts and a shit load of money I didn't really have this year to pass my DAS. Was absolutely gutted after the second fail and felt like giving up, but pissed it on the 3rd attempt. Now I have passed, I am glad I stuck at it

[daytona600]

Keep the faith - you'll get there!

I failed my first test for putting my foot down during U turn. To put this in perspective, I had been riding trials for 14 years up to this point (including one Scottish 6 day trial) and consider myself to be very, very good at slow speed handling and co-ordination.

Why did it happen? 'cos I was nervous. And I'm a c*nt

In the words of Ben Stiller: Do it, do it.
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If in doubt, flat out

[shellshock]

Yeah, go on just have another go, we all get there in the end.

I failed first time, after having dropped the test centres bike 3.5 times, then had my bike nicked and was ready for giving the whole lot up, but I'd already paid for the test, so I went ahead and did it anyway, not really caring either way.

This lack of caring did my nerves the world of good, I just simply didn't care, so hence the worry disappeared. Passed with 2 minors.

You obviously don't dislike riding, just the cost involved in passing and the awful disappointment, so have another go, and good luck.

[Misc]