MICK TRAVIS

just seen the news, and of the 4 people taking the new test today in leeds 1 is in hospital with a compound fracture of his arm after falling off because of the speed he had to take the slalom course, another has to attend hospital because he too fell off because of the wet track and recieved cuts and bruises, and the other 2 people failed, If absolutely no allowance is made for bad weather, how can it be a better and safer test for bikers ?

Carole Nash Editor

This wet weather point was raised by the BMF and MAG reps at the DSA presentation of the new test back in 2007. In fact I took a photo of a learner rider failing to brake properly, after doing the swerve move, and nearly hitting the DSA tester! That `near miss’ was in the dry. In the wet someone might have been on their way to A & E.

Like so much else which is plain common sense the potential for accidents on wet, or cold winter test tracks, was ignored by the government agencies. Maybe when enough people have been hurt and band together to take legal action against the DSA, the procedure will be modified?

Charles McNeil

Sorry but I think they (DSA) or I have lost the plot here. My wife having failed the old test (Foot down on the U turn) + 2 minor Faults, will now have to undertake a 70 mile round trip (On public roads including a three lane dual carrageway) to take module 1 to prove that she is capable of riding on the road. I thought that was what a CBT was for!
Question, how long do we think section 6 will remain in the test after DSA start getting hit with legal action from those already injured?

New learner

I passed my module 1 this morning after my second attempt, after failing the first one for not getting up to speed (48 out of 50 km - so nothing at all) and i have found that the hardest thing is being able to actually practice the radius. I have spent the last week since failing trying to hire out tennis courts and basketball courts trying to find an area big enough to practice and nothing has compared. I know the DSA say you can hire out there site but this is only on a sunday and considering the amount of driving schools in each area this is completely unpractical. if they are going to do this and bring it in they need to think about giving people the opportunity to practice.

Good luck to your wife Charles!!

New learner

I failed Module 1 today, swerve test done at 49kph so had to do again. Was so concerned with getting speed I went too fast and messed up finish overshooting the box. Guy after me did eactly same thing but almost ended up in fence! I can see how people are falling off! It was a swerve to left too which didnt help as we had practiced swere to right (as I child ran out from pavement or car pulling out side road). Its really knocked my confidence and I am honestly scared to do that bit again.

Paul Douglas

I failed the module one test last Week (the second week that the new test was started).
I had a clean sheet except for being recorded at 45 then 46 kmh on the emergency stop test.
I had managed to reach 46 then 52 kmh on the swerve test by revving the guts out in second gear and leaving the bend at more than the recommended 30kmh.
I used my own Yamaha SR125, (in good running order, can do 65mph), but I weigh 15 stone, so it’s very difficult to get the bike up to 50kmh in the distance allowed.
I’m 58, and should have taken the damn test when I first rode at 16, but passed the car test instead, (at the first attempt).
I took the CBT last year, then the theory 3 days later (50 out of 50). I then failed two of the old practical tests, failing to look over shoulder when exiting a roundabout on one, then foot down on the u-turn, (5m wide road with kerbs).
As all four tests have to be completed within a two year time-frame, I’m throwing in the towel now, and will sell the 125 and carry on riding my moped (Honda C50LA) that my car license covers me for, and I’ve been using for 5 years !
I was looking forward to enjoying a bit of “proper” motorcycling in my retirement, but the whole thing now seems beyond reach……

russ pinder

failed tests 2 old 1 new signed up for a 6 day course last august 1500 quid spent up to now beyond reach sounds about right im gutted never wanted anything so much even bought a kwak 600 its the shiniest one in the showroom

Mary Shepherd

Hi ,I failed my test ( frist part ) again because of the weather at the lee on solent centre ,
16-20 miles ahour winds as i have to do 50km though part nine speed requirement test.
Avoidance ex …. sorry i could only do 46 as the wind would have pushed me
out of control ? Who knows what could have happen to me …Just on a test.
I do not want to die just to pass my bike test ! and when i was there ,\i was told that four instructor’s had falling off trying to do the test as asked ?
I’m now down by about £300 because i lost the money from the secound test which i could not even try ? to see if i had a chance to pass ?
thanks mary ..southampton good luck to you all

ernie stevens

hi all,failed test which i did at a local vosa lgv test centre,only fault !you guessed 44kph on swerve test,must add there was a manhole cover on the bend in middle of cones ,going to try at blackburn mptc,a nice 70 mile round tripp fingers crossed,good luck evryone.

Dion

I have to say this is pathetic - we have a so called swerve test in Sweden (where I got my motorcycle license) which is about 5 times more difficult than this. You must be joking me! People are actually angry over this? Oh come on! Any proper biker should be able to easily do this with abit of practice. If you can’t do that you have no business riding a bike. No wonder the UK has such a high rate of motorcycle accidents. I was under the impression that the UK had a similar level of training as most of western Europe. I was obviously wrong. The UK has a long way to go yet…

ernie stevens

hi all, did a second attempt at my mod one on sunday and passed managed 54kph on the avoidance test and 59kph on emergency stop,hardest bit is getting up to speed but i just let it rip coming out of the bend and it worked,good luck everyone,ernie stevens.

stephen darlington

the test is dangerous and virtually impossible to reach speeds on a 125 without revving the guts out of your bike….. i heard of people suffering broken bones and many failures whilst doing my test.
i have passedit now by leaving it in 2nd gear, but there should be a definate leeway on the mph on smaller engine bikes ie 125 cc and also wet weather conditions(meaning rain not floods)

Paul Douglas

Hi Dion,
The problem for me wasn’t the manouver to swerve round the cones or the emergency stop, I can manage those easily on a straight run at 50kmh.
The difficulty is that in the UK the test is carried out in a fenced off-road compound that is not long enough to comfortably get up to 50kmh in a straight line. Instead you have to exit a 180 degree turn at 20kmh at one end of the compound. As many people are saying, with the power restriction of 12bhp max, you actually have to come out of the U turn faster than 20kmh and then rev the guts out of the bike in 2nd to get through the timing gate at 50kmh. It’s even harder if you’re fat bloke like me !!
It also means that just as you reach the swerve or emergency stop, you still have the power full on in a low gear. I’m glad my (failed) test was in the dry…..

Paul Douglas

oops, correction to my post above…..
Where I’ve said you have to go round the 180 bend at 20kmh, I should have said 30kmh, (which is approx “our” 20mph), and the bend is a coned off set radius…..

Dion

Hi Paul,
I’ve done a bit of research about the introduced swerve test and I have to say I stick to my original opinion that, although tricky, it is still on an easier level then the one I had to do in Sweden (which was also done in a fenced off compound). In addition to a swerve test, we also had to do a so called garage turn where you had to turn the bike around in both directions at snail speed (in an area about 3×3 metres, basically sligthly bigger than a normal parking space for a car) as well as prove you can break the bike properly at different speeds. The swerve will take sometime to master - it took me probably more than one hundred attempts during training before I got it right for my test (and the same for the garage turn).
On top of these manouvers, as part of your training you have to drive for many hours in traffic at different times (city, motorway and also dirt roads). In the end my test at the Swedish DVLA took roughly 3 hours to complete, that included about 1.5h for maneuvre tests and about 1.5h in traffic (city, motorway and dirt roads).
I can imagine certain aspects of this manouver need to be reconsidered, but such a test should be part of your training routine and test in order to learn how to handle a bike properly.

Dion

Quick question, if you’re going for a full motorcycle license (i.e. category A), are you allowed to use a 125cc for your bike test?

Lucy

Ive got my second module 1 test tomorrow, failed the first on the second attempt at the swerve manouver (first time I did it I wasnt going fast enough so the examiner asked me to do it again) second time round I was gunning it so hard to get up to speed that I lost it & Knocked a cone over. Yes it is a very hard manouver, yes its making me feel a little bit sick thinking about the test tomorrow, yes I admit I didnt have enough confidence the first time round & yes I wish I had passed first time on the old test & not put my foot down on the U turn (no other faults!) but I think Dion is right in a way, enough training & we can all do it, PAUL DONT GIVE UP!!!! Im going to give it my third attempt tomorrow, & if I fail, its back to the drawing board to have more lessons (My instructor must be getting sick of the sight of me!!) But Ill bloody well keep going till I pass! My Dad has just passed his test, hes in his 50s, he failed first time & nearly gave up but now he’s riding roung on his K100 BMW & he loves it!! GOOD LUCK!!

Phil Sharratt

well ive failed this stupid swerve test 3 times now, but i still wont give up, the one thing that is annoying me is that each time i go the sewrve gap is slightly less, as the cone are laid out on dots in the carpark, sometimes meaning the gap for the swerve is only 1m to get through, i know people who having been biking for years who wouldnt want to do this test, i just think the dsa should think about safety first, for wet conditions,
i think like most people here this is a dream, that sadly is being made harder and harder to enjoy

Carolyn

I passed module 1 on Sunday 31 May in Livingston, West Lothian and I sat the test on my Harley Sportster 883XL, I managed the swerve test fine with a speed of 50km and the emergency stop with a speed of 57km. the weather was in my favour - very hot and sunny. Girl Power!!!

russ pinder

im bored of waiting to pass my test now im not going to bother ive never wanted anything more chalk it down to a very bad experience thanx dsa

Paul Douglas

Hi Dion,
Well I stand corrected there then, I admit I had’nt realised that the non-UK swerve tests were also carried out in an off-road compund. The reason we were told for the need to be off road here was that our town speed limits of 30mph are just under the required 50kmh.
I can’t argue with the logic that would-be motorcyclists should be able to handle their bikes “properly”, it’s just that the degree of proficiency required to pass the test seems to have increased greatly, whereas the car test (for example) seams much easier (eg 15 “minor” faults allowed, versus the 10 allowed for the bike test.
High standards would seem quite reasonable of anyone with aspirations for a 70mph+ superbike, but I can’t help thinking that there must be quite a few people like me who would just like to switch to two wheeled transport to ease their parking and city traffic problems. I’m sure many of these people are middle-aged non-biker enthusiasts who would just like to ride round at 40-50mph max with less impact on the environment and road congestion.
Now in the UK, we have only 2 levels of two-wheeled test proficiency, “mopeds” for up to 30mph max, and “motorbikes” for everything faster. I know there is a so-called “A1 light bike” test category, but the two practical tests are identical to the “full” bike test, it’s just that it is taken on a smaller capacity bike.

Paul Douglas (again)

Hi Lucy,
Sorry, I forgot to reply to your kind comments encouraging me to not give up. I haven’t actually gone to the point of no return yet, I still have the Yamaha 125, but I now have 10 months in which to complete, or retake the CBT and theory tests again, (which definitely would end my interest).
I have to admit, I’ve really enjoyed riding the 125 with the manual clutch and five gears, the ability to “keep up” with the traffic and the sense of freedom is great. I enjoy practising the swerves and cornering (on a disused car park), but the whole test process is becoming bl***y expensive.
I think my point is that if you’re a heavy (fat) bloke like me, the new UK module one test is quite a test of the 12bhp bike itself, let alone the rider !

Ben Price

Urk! I booked my module 1 the other day as I had no idea they’d split the test up and £10 sounded too good to be true. I was vaguely confident about it up until reading the above and now Im not so sure.
I too am a larger than average bloke with a 125 so am worried about getting up to speed.
Can anyone tell me 2 things: are you allowed to put a foot down in the U turn / Slow ride? and are you allowed to brake into the avoidance test? (yes I realise you need speed for the trap but looking at the diagram (and I admit that might be wrong) theres enough space beyond that to brake and swerve).

Also how on earth do you safely practice a swerve in the first place!? :)

To be honest tho passing the full test isn’t the end of the world for me. I’ve done 1400 miles in 5 months on A roads and am doing Lands End to John o Groats in August. It would be nice to have a bit more power but Im ok. Just dont want to have to retake my CBT in 18 months time.
Cheers all.

g

dion, the problem isnt the swerve; I belive in the need for a swerve, but I also belive in the need for widly avaliable places to train in! We cant train for the test, and that’s simply not right! Imagine taking your school exams if you were only allowed to do your revision at the weekend (if you were lucky!). its crazy.

I want to see easy accses to training centres where this mod 1 tests can be trained for!

Rich Hedley

Hi,I failed the mod 1 this week because the guy before me failed to get up to speed by 1mph so i glanced too long at the speedo through the speed gate and killed a cone in the swerve. I went through at 56 kmh and it was just a blur after that. Keep your head up guys!

Paul Douglas

Hi Ben,
I certainly don’t want to spoil anyone’s confidence or put them off trying. As others have kindly said to me, “don’t give up !”
I’m sure someone else will put us straight on this if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure a foot down during the u-turn, slalom, figure of eight, or slow ride would be a fail, as it was before, on the u-turn.
As regards the braking before the avoidance test, the swerve gate cones are pretty close to the speed sensor gate, by intention I guess, so that you are showing you can steer the bike through it at 50kmh. I think if you tried applying the brakes just as you’re giving a quick flick of counter steer to get the bike over for the swerve, you’d lose either the front or the back wheel.
“How do you safely practice the swerve”, good question ! Commercial bike training schools have the advantage (I believe), that they can use/rent the official module 1 compounds out of hours, for their trainees to practice. Whereas private individual learners do not have the option. I have to settle for deserted tarmac areas (out of hours car parks etc), where at least I won’t get run over by someone if I lose it….

Ben Price

Cheers for your comments. I took the test the other day and failed but that was largely due to the lovely 3 meter skid I did on my emergency stop :)

Ah well.

As it turned out the avoidance test is very simple indeed and should be no problem to anyone thats done any length of riding.

However I too suffered from the problem of getting up to speed. Of the 3 runs I did only 1 was above 52KPH and that was with me reving the engine in 2nd til it screamed. For us larger people its just very difficult to make the corner AND speed up (something I wouldn’t do on the road at least)
I entirely agree that it needs more practice areas (hiring out the place at £1 per min on a sunday (if you can get a slot) is not an option).

Interestingly on the test ground I was on, the tarmac was so smooth I didn’t even realise I was skiding until I stopped.

Paul Ledsham

I have not completed the “actual” module 1 test as yet (booked in this Thursday) but have been on the actual test site to practice. All of the manouveres are simple enough to complete with enough practise, including the so called swerve (you can almost keep going straight when riding if your line is right) so they are nothing really you should worry about. BUT, and it is a very big but, I am 5′11, weigh 15.5 stone and am riding a 12hp suzuki gs125 (the usual riding school bike of choice). The only way i can get to 50kph for the swerve and emergency stop is to start excellerating half way round the 180 turn (danger), rev the bike in 2nd till it screams (3rd won’t give you the required pickup), put my visor down and put my head as low as I possibly can (almost on the tank). Then, there is a small chance i may just hit 50kph. This is absolutely insane, the DSA are asking people to complete something that is almost beyond the capacity of the bike. Out of 10 practise attempts, all using the above technique, i managed 50kph 4 times, all the others were 48-49kph (which is a fail). My instructer who has been riding and teaching 20 years managed 51kph as his fastest attempt. He also thinks its stupid. All of this was in the sunshine. I would not like to use this technique in heavy rain as the 180 turn is very tight when you are having to boot your little 125 within an inch of its life. Please God, give me sun on Thursday. I’ll give an update then

Paul Ledsham

Big fat fail!!!!!

Reason - Swerve - Really gave it some on the 180 bend and lost my balance a bit at the end of the turn as the turn is very tight when you boot it, hard acceleration through the straight whilst wobbling is not good so did not have the correct line for the swerve and hit a cone. I accelerated to the point that is was dangerous and i was not in control of the bike and still only hit 51kph through the gate!!!!!!! I could complete the swerve at 60kph without problem if i had the actual time needed to accelerate as the actual swerve is not that difficult. The real problem for us 125 riders is hitting speed. I could have gone round the bend at a controlled speed, and then accelerated whilst straightening up but it is highly likely i wouldn’t have hit the 50kph. Think its pretty ridiculous to be honest. On a 500cc you can safely do that as you have the power when needed in the short distance of the straight section. For a 125, Its like asking a fiesta 1.1 to accelerate to the same speed in the same distance as a porsche. The DSA won’t change this as they think the test is all singing and all dancing. Its a real shame that the test to an extent is not about your riding ability but more about the technical capacity of the machine you are riding.

When you try and ride at the limit of a bikes capacity, accidents are likely to happen. On a hairpin bend on the road there is absolutely no way I would accelerate until safe to do so. Unfortunately, with this test you have little choice but to do it, even though you know it is risky. My choice now is to borrow a 125 sport bike or do DA so i can use a 500cc (another £300 odd pounds) .

Thank you very much DSA, ignorant fools when it comes to rider saftey.

Garry MacDougall

I crashed out of my Module 1 Test today on the swerve avoidance section of the test. Crashed being the operative word. I have an extremely sore right shoulder and painful left leg where the bike fell on top of me. If I had not been wearing suitable protective clothing matters would have been more serious. I passed through the radar at 52kph and attempted to brake, the wheels locked and down I went. This is an extremely dangerous addition to the test. The angle through the biker swerves is far too acute. It needs to be rethought by the DSA before a serious injury takes place!

Charlie

I just did my module one this morning and passed! Waheey, thankfully it was sunny and all good. I changed the front sprocket on my little 125 to one with two less teeth to give me enough easy acceleration on the 50kmph exercise. I’d recommend a few others having difficulty getting up to speed to do this - it just means quicker gear changes but it works I managed 54kmph in third gear for my swerve. Just the second part now!
Good luck to all and keep it up

Angela

I’ve just failed my module one for the second time this morning. First time I failed (last week) was because I couldn’t quite make it to 50kmh on my Vespa PX125. Then managed to clip a cone on my second swerve attempt so it was an instant fail. Spent the last week practicing hard at going round a quiet roundabout on an industrial estate the wrong way (cos our test centre uses the left hand circuit) to get the confidence to go round bends faster so that I could get the accelleration needed to make it to 50kmh and today I managed dead on 50 for the swerve and emergency stop but, again, clipped a cone on the swerve. I was perfect on every other part of the test, not even a minor fault. Its ridiculous to expect us to ride at such speed out of a bend then put a swerve in too. It doesn’t reflect real situations at all - who would rev the guts out of their bike in second when coming out of a bend? Its nuts. I’m now trying to book for my third attempt and can’t get a test date until August! It seems our test centre (Poole) only does bike tests at weekends. Sooooo frustrated.

Paul Douglas

Well it’s a relief that it wasn’t just me that thought the new 50kmh swerve and stop tests coupled with the essential flat out acceleration out of the 180 bend was daft.
I have now sold the 125 and given up. I’ll carry on riding my trusty Honda C50LA Auto that is covered by my UK car license. It would have been nice to have had just little more power, (maybe a 90), and maybe safer too, but as the test requirement for those is exactly the same as for a the full unlimited bike license, I now concede defeat. Pity, I did actually manage the swerve test at 52kmh, but failed on the emergency stop at 47kmh. To cap it all, my CBT and Theory tests will also “expire” next April……
Good luck to every one else still trying (sincerely)….

russ pinder

just reluctantly took my mod 1 on 500 the other day . and nerves aside only went and passed the bloody thing!! ive failed 2 old tests and 1 mod 1. nearly gave up . the day before test i did 3 hours solid on a borrowed 125 no my own on a disused car park all the slow manouvres i was struggling on. i think it paid off in the end.like i said before the test is quiet simple its the nerves that get you because your under pressure on test. so i say to you all i nearly gave up dont- i also changed training schools had 1 lesson and he put me to test said i was more than capable .just got to pass my mod 2 now like everybodys told us all itll be worth it in the end. mite go and polish my kawasaki ninja in the showroom tomoro just in case.

Angela

I did it at last!! Third time lucky. Spent a lot of time practicing with a borrowed speed gun and a very patient husband. The trick is to learn to go round the bend faster (about 40kmh) so that you can just accellerate out of the bend in second til the engine screams as you go through the speed trap. Pick your line as you come out of the bend and you’ll miss the cone every time. I was concentrating so hard on the speed, I wasn’t thinking of the swerve til it was too late. Mod 2 booked for 8th July - fingers crossed I’m nearly there! Stick with it and practice hard - it can be done!

Angela

Yay - I passed! No more L plates!

Pete

I went and did my mod 1 today and passed all the little bits they like to tick like mirrors etc i came to do the emergency brake and avoidance and was 2MPH to slow so i wen tround again and got my 57kph and then bugger…..
I got upto speed on the swerve but the tyre went over the line where your meant to stop, by about 3 inches ive never felt so sick in my life now i just have to convince my ass of a boss to let me have more time off. (Fat chance of that)
Best of luck to all of you that are doing your mod one, relax and it will be fine.

Paul

Passed mod 1 at second attempt - the usual on the fitst attempt - couldn’t get up to speed on the swerve and stop. Key is to get up to speed then throttle off and use engine braking to manouvere the swerve then only apply brakes after you swerve. Apply the brakes during the swerve and you are bound to come to grief.
Just failed mod 2 for not going fast enough - or being “progressive” enough on the road as they say on the report. Have driven a car for 30 years and never had any problems with speed or traffic incidents. It seems on a bike you have to ride close to the speed limit or you will fail the mod 2 part. I tended to ride at 30 in 40 limit, 40 in 50 etc etc. go over the limit and you will also fail, so only a small margin to get it right. Cost me £600 so far for direct access on a 500cc bike(£70 a pop for the mod2 test alone!). Sounds like the instructors and the DSA are making more money out of the new test. Excuse my cynicism!

Karen

Just failed 2nd time on mod 1.. Ist time managed everything fine no faults, concentrating to much on speed for avoidance swerve and cliped a cone. (Speed was fine 56kpm.) 2nd time again no faults on anything else, avoidance to slow first attempt (48kpm) and on second attempt got speed but clipped the cone again. Another test next week..This is not going to beat me Ill keep going.My husband has been riding for years and now the kids are grown up it would be nice for us to both go out together on the bikes.

russ pinder

got my mod 2 test on wed 20th july gonna nail it cant wait started on 8th august last year im 45 a late starter but its gonna be great.my other half already says im a bike bore!but a good friend of mines said once shes been on the back of the bike she will want to go out every time ! paul ive spent 1800 quid up to now still a bit to go our lass sed we cud hav gone to cuba instead!!

Paul Douglas

Glad to hear that people are persevering and passing ok, I guess it shows it’s not impossible, good thing too, or bikes would gradually dissapear from UK Roads. I did sell the Yamaha 125, but have now bought an old Suzuki ZR50, one of the “sports mopeds” of the seventies which were classified as Mopeds, like the F1SE. Not everyone’s cup of tea I know, but I did enjoy riding with the manual clutch and 5 gears of the 125, much more satisfying than the “twist and go” scooters of today.
I actually have another excuse for giving up, (as well as being 57 !). I have steel pins in my spine from a plane crash a few years ago. They don’t affect my mobility, or enjoyment of biking, but reading how many people have now hit the tarmac on the mod 1 test, it seems to be tempting fate in my case….

Tyrone Davies

Oh Dear - failed Module 1 on the 21st July. Did everything but 4 attempts to get 50km failed (46, 47, 48, 48). Torrential rain, high winds, travelled 20 miles to get to the test centre - sodden on arrival! Tried my best to obtain speed in second gear at high throttle but did not feel safe enough to increase speed on the curve. Trying again late August but feeling unconfident of achieveing the speed then. It is difficult to prcatice as you need a space, the correct dimensions and an accurate speedo to replicate test. It seems to me they should diffrentiate between smaller and larger bikes and give us smaller bike riders less speed to achieve. Or give us a straight run up to achieve the speed - after all the test is the emergency stop/swerve at speed not how manically you can ride a bend. I for one would not do this on a road anyway. Besides this why should we have the same requirements as the bigger bikes. If I want to drive a car I do not have to do my test in a racing car. It seems as if things are stacked against us who want to calmly ride around town on 125s and in favour of the instructors/DAS schemes that cost money!

Paul Carroll

I came off practicing the swerve test today in the wet, hit 68 on the speed trap, clipped the cone with my right boot which dabbed the back brake, this coupled with releasing the throttle threw me and the bike 25ft across the tarmac in a shower of sparks and bike bits. Luckily had all my protective gear on (which was all brand new) and it saved me from serious injury. Got up picked the bike up, straightened the handle bars and did 2 runs succesfully at 60 and 62. I think there needs to be a bit more room to manouvre after the speed trap, the cones just become a blur and there’s no room for error. I appreciate that on the road there is no room for error but this manouvre i could only ever imagine taking place if a mass pile up was happening around you.

pete

Yay passed my mod 1.. 100% no faults. It was raining and windy but still manged to get a 56 kmh on the swerve. I ran 20 mph on the curve round before you hit the line to aim for the speed marker and booted it, I stopped in the cone area and got my pass. Now for mod 2.

russ pinder

passed mod 2 on wed 29 july yay im a biker! i can honestly say it took me nearly a year to pass and its the hardest thing ive ever done so chin up guys perseverence will prevail> can i also say the new test is hard and rigorous but in the long run it turns out confident competant riders c u all out on the open road.

pete

Russ you passed, congratulations, the more bikers we have the better.

russ pinder

stick with it pete good luck

Pete

Ty Russ, im trying to book my mod 2 but not having much luck at the moment. The site is having trouble and the phone is constantly busy, i only have till july next year before my cbt runs out so i have to work at getting it down quicker now.

Pete

can anyone answer this for me…. if you pass your test and you DONT hand in your papers do you invalidate your test?

russ pinder

just been out on bike for 4 hours nowt mad what a buzz come on people its well worth the effort and hard work

Phil Vasey

I can’t believe how self-pitying the users of this webpage are.

I see a lot of you have put things like ‘i failed my test because it was wet’ and such. And the whole ‘i wouldn’t accelerate like that in real life anyway!’.

The problem is, once you’ve got the freedom of a big powerful bike, you will.
I passed Mod 1 yesterday at the first attempt. I’ve known since the day it was introduced that i would pass it if my riding skills were good enough. The swerve isn’t even a swerve it’s the equivalent to avoiding a wet manhole cover on a MASSIVE, EMPTY road. Fair enough I agree some parts of it seem stupid, but with adequate training you will pass because it’s basic stuff. The DSA try to make things safer and the people that aren’t safe enough to pass it moan like there’s no tomorrow!

With getting up to speed on the avoidance - if you were trained properly you would know that you NEVER accelerate in a bend. You get up to the 20kph BEFORE the bend, carry it round the bend (which is huge), and then (again, if you were trained properly) would know that once you see the exit of the bend, you accelerate out of it. Not after it. With good training you would know this. Change schools and practice and i guarantee you’ll pass it.

Paul Douglas

“self pitying” ? thanks….
I’ll try to state the problem that big heavy riders like me have, in just a few simple words for you….
The maximum power bike you are permitted to use is 12bhp, 125cc.
If you weigh 15 stone, the bike hasn’t got enough power to accelerate from 20kph to 30kph between the exit of the bend and the speed sensor, even in 2nd gear.
So we have to leave the bend at about 25kph….

Paul Douglas

I’ve just re-read my last post, and I think I must have been somewhat flustered. It would be a doddle at 30kph !

The speeds I quoted were in mph, so in kph I meant to say that heavy people like me have to leave the bend at 40kmh, as the average 12bhp bike can’t accelerate from 30kph to the required 50kph in the distance between the bend and the speed sensor when carrying 15 stone.

russ pinder

nice one phil tell it like it is

Karen

To everyone that feels like giving up. Dont It took me 3 attempts to pass mod one and I then passed the mod 2 first time no faults. Went staight home and took the L plates off It felt great. Trying to get husband to by me an bigger bike now..

Ian

I have my mod 1 booked for 6th October and after reading all these comments i am a bit worried. I have had no training at all and seeing as i have been riding my 125 for about 7 months most days assumed i would just book test and turn up and have a crack - it looks very easy on the you tube videos !!!!!! Anyway im bricking it now , thanks to all your comments ( just kidding ) but i am feeling like i should have had some training . Ill post back how i get on in a couple of weeks.

Michael J

I’ve just passed module 1 and 2, I fluffed module 1 the first time (Knocked a cone on the swerve test as a few people have said. I know it’s easy to say having passed it but it isn’t too bad - what I would say is if you’re able to do so, do it on a 500 not a 125.. The power helps a lot, and also (I know it’s cheating a bit!) the CBF 500s a lot of the training centres use have ABS.. In the 2 weeks I was around the test centres I saw about 4 people fail it on them not being able to get up to speed. I did it on a 500 both times, the first time round I was so concerned about getting up to speed I revved the nuts off it in 2nd gear, doing 60kph on the swerve and 70kph on the emergency stop, and, as I said, my foot clipped the cone on the swerve. Second time round, with it in mind that if you dont get up to speed you can have another go (Unlike if you throw a cone), I took it (what felt like) a lot slower and the swerve went fine. When I got my times I’d been doing 52 on the swerve and 54 on the emergency stop. The 8kph made a big difference. Good luck to everyone taking mod 1!

sid russell

i passed this test on friday (20ct)it took me eight minuits .i thought it was easy .i dont know what the fuss is all about .the only thing that i didnt like is that i had to travel from the isle of wight to the test
centre.

ian

Just reporting back after taking my mod 1 test - i failed unfortunateley and im gutted. The test is actually very easy i think but i messed up big time on the emergency stop at the end , it was raining and the ground was soaked and i gave to much back brake and skidded - its important to be able to stop in all weather so i will need to hot up on braking in the wet and try again. im really anoyed with myself as the rest was plain sailing , even the swerve that people are worrying about is very easy and shouldn’t be stressed over. anyway ill put in for it again and have another pop.

russ pinder

any good paul?

Joanne

Passd mod 1 yesterday, its not that bad if you practice the swerve in a safe area, you actually have 11 meters from going through the speed trap. its the all the hype that puts people off. My instructor gave me good advice, he said just knock it into 3rd when you straighen out off the bend and don’t look at the speedo, certainly don’t grab the brakes, a cone won’t knock you off the bike…all his students have done the swerve easily, no one has come off and only a few have had to take it twice because of speed. you can do it twice so use the first go as it practice, honestly its a piece off piss, its what you do anyway going round a manhole on the road.

its nerves that put people off, just relax and remember if you fail just take it again as soon as poss, its only 15 quid, its the mod 2 that’s more important, fail that and not only do you lose 70 quid and have to wait 10 days to rebook.

hope this helps

paul

Module 1 today on virago 125 in second gear. Passed 51 kms and 55kms for emergency brake. the trick is dont look at speedo and just consentrate on what ya doing. Give yourself a second to think between each exercise.
good luck.

ian

Just passed mod 1 thank god !! i can now book in for part 2 and get my licence . I think mod 1 is very straight forward and should not prove to much of a problem for most . As i said before i failed the first time due to not braking correctly in the wet but had no problems with the format or the test. In the dry on my second test i found it very easy and sailed through with no faults and got the speeds ok first time through the traps . Dont be put off by all the hype about the test , especially the swerve part as their really isnt anything to worry about .
good luck to everyone taking their mod 1.
ian

Diane

I have now taken the module 1 test on a 500 3 times and failed!! The first time, nerves got the better of me and i failed on the slalom, figure of 8 and
not getting up to speed on the avoidance. The second time, i failed just on the avoidance, got up to 49 kph! Third time(yesterday) I was so determined to get up to speed, even though the ground was wet, I went too fast, clipped a cone, panicked when I saw the fence looming, slammed on the front brake and ended up on the ground sliding across the tarmac, leaving me with bruises, and a torn shoulder, ruining my riding trousers and scratching my new helmet and it didn’t do the bike much good either! I really don’t know why there has to be a minimum speed limit when car learner drivers aren’t forced to drive to a minimum speed on their test which can put them in a dangerous situation. Also there are no allowances made for wet conditions or differences of cc engines. I think people with broken bones sueing the DSA is the only way they are going to change their minds making people go to a minimum speed in what can be in dangerous conditions, i.e. wet weather and strong winds. Think I will just stick to renewing my CBT every 2 years on a 125!

Pete

Diane why dont you do the test on a 125 then (as long as your taking direct access) you can ride a bigger bike after 2 years

pete

I have just passed my mod 2 im now a fully licienced rider, as long as i dont get any points in the first 2 years i wont have to redo the whole thing again..
Good luck to everyone taking their tests, its well worth the wait.

ian

hi there passed my mod 1 today 1st time no probs, speeds 50 and 54 in the wet!!! dont be put off by all the hype there is nothing to it. mod 2 here i come cant wait

Lee

Hi, i failed my Mod 1 last week i knocked over 1 cone as i went through the speed trap DAMMMMMMMM. i just clip it with me boot, i started leaning to early but i went through at 51 so would have been a pass. The emergency stop i went mad at 66 and come to a stop no problem. I had 100% clean sheet until i hit that dam cone, never mind all booked for this Tuesday so fingers crossed :-)

Karl

Can someone help PLZ i have passed my test but am unsure how to go on from here.
Q. do i need to get insurance 1st before my mot or the other way round
I know you have to have both before you get taxed but i am unsure what to do.

Carole Nash Editor

Do your insurance first. Whilst you are allowed to drive / ride to a pre-booked MOT testing station without a tax disc, the vehicle must still be insured if it is to be ridden on the road.

ian

hi again just passed mod 2 today a week after mod 1, insured and gone out for the first spin on my own what a buzz! for those who have failed dont give up its sooooooooooooo worth it.

Karl

ty for the answer

mike

Hi all first time writing in . I have passed my cbt last week on a 500cc first time on a road bike . Just passed my theory and im booked in next week for my part 1 i thought its was easy but listening to you guy’s its change my mind . I have had mtotcross all my life so hopefully give me an advantage . apart from my cbt tue will be my first lesson ;) HOPEfully ill pass .Im taking mine in the st helens merseyside has any on here took there;s there .
see you’s next week

mike

sorry forgot to ask . would appreciate any advice also im planning on getting a yamaha tt 250r as i want to do a bit of off roading aswell has any got one or give me advice on what to get etc etc . Thanks alot mike

Graeme

I failed this morning. I didn’t reach the minimum speed on either the e-stop or the avoidance. (47 and 49) No minors for anything else. The Cleckheaton test centre has an incline UP to the speed test equipment. There was a fair amount of water in the curve and I didn’t fancy hammering it through there on my own 125 bike and losing it on the water.
Next step DAS, just to make sure I can reach the minimum speed. Rest of the test was easier than I thought it would be.

mike

Can’t believe it got to the test center toaday yes friday the 13th only to find out that the examiners radios broke half way through the lads test who was before me . i was gutted when he told us he had to cancel it . ill post when i do my next one . Graeme get on a 500 mate handles better and plenty of power good luck

Pete

I was told my bike is a uk spec not a jap import… is there anyway i can verify this.

stuart

watched quite a few mod 1 tests and talked to them after
on a 125 you realy have to screw it to get up to speed and is hard
i did it on a 500cc in second gear in dry calm conditions and it was a lot easer than it looks
not a swerve as such just a kinda shift of body weight gets you round
think a lot of people just panic and grab a handfull of front brake
get up to speed and shut throttle off just after the speed trap and use engine braking to slow you
the swerve is not hard at all you will do the same on the road to miss say debris or a pot hole the way the test is layed out makes it too hard
you gotta be on the throttle hard around the corner and right upto the speed trap
if the test center was longer by 10 meters so you can turn the corner then open the throttle when the bike is upright it would be better
1 final thought in all the years i been riding (passed my bike test 20 years ago just re sitting )i have never accelarated into a problem like you have to on the mod 1
had my mod2 yesterday was cancelled due to high winds lol

KC

Hi - passed my mod 1 today - in wet and gusty conditions! I can understand how it might be slightly trickier getting to the 50km/hr speed on a 125 but there’s really no reason you can’t reach that speed on a 500cc. On both bikes, the key is to stay in 2nd gear and turn the throttle as much as you need to get the speed. If you’re going to do your direct access, find a school that will put you through the test on their own car park or empty space - you’ll practice it so many times that at the end of it, you’ll realise the mod 1 is actually quite easy and any mistakes are just self error rather than difficulty of the test.

Now the mod 2 (which I’m doing next week) is going to be the difficult one. There are so many little things which if you get wrong, it’s an immediate fail.

Lorraine

Hello, girls & guys. I’ve been trying to get to grips with my mod 1 since October. I’ve been over charged by 1 instructor. He was suppose to train me to do a das 5 day course. By day 2 it was clear i wasn’t going to be good enough to take this test. I was told to go & get my own 125cc to practice on & come back when I’m better. He charged me £440 for a 1 & half days training! £150 for his insurance! Now found a patience instructor who’s training ground is the same size as the test centre. Conquered the slalom & figure of 8 no problem, last practice ground was a fraction of the test centres layout. Ok with everything else, but finding getting up to speed on the swerve & stop not so easy but going again & I will do it even after an idiot who couldn’t give a shit but take my money. I hope to do the mod 1 before christmas but when i’m ready. Ride safe everyone xx

Mikez

Failed Mod 1 for the second time today yet again too slow in the swerve.
On second attempt low sun straight in my eyes, so could not accelerate as I could not see the cones.48 kph
Will try again :-( Wish I had done the test a year ago !

russ pinder

well done pete i live in worksop nr sheffield if your passing throuigh we cud hook up? ha when the snows gone

graham

i have recently bought a bike , that i keep in a friends shed, ready for wen i passed my test, i sent off for my provissional, but they sent back dayin i need to much i.d. i aint ever owned a passport, i aint got a birth certificate as it cost to much in my eyes, i was wanting topass my bike test and since the new bike test bin put in place of the old test, ive decided to giv up and sell the bike , cash my postal order somehow if possible not sure how that works. and av done with it all together, its put me off riding bikes, iv bin a biker for 28 years, but left the scene 11 years ago because theres no point , withthese speed cameras and cops following every move [people make, , i had a licence in 1982…. but lost it in moves iv made to new addresses. the more you add to the tests, the less people wanna take em, iv got 8 friends around me that av bin riding longer than myself, who also aint passed there tests due to to muchadded to put people off riding, my thoughts are, that eventually the law on bikes would be to totally faze them out altogether, iv never bin stopped, ive never had an accident ive never speeded. shorely your own intuition is the best way, you spend long enough on a bike, learnin as you go along is the best test u can ever have, as you learn quicker thru your own mistakes. i give up. due to this i know have to throw my patch away, and leave the club.thanks but no thanks, get the cars off the road im now a padestrian, and i wanna cross the road without having to have to worry bout bein hit by a big tank.

john

Hi,
I failed my mod 1 test today on an 600cc.I did eveything perfect but put a foor down on a figure of 8.I thought it would have been a minor fault but these robot emaminers seem to fail you for the slightest reason.On the dsa course we did not have anywhere to practice the mod 1 and had to make do with a dead end road and kept having to stop when a car appraoched.
I have failed twice on my old 125 and thinking with all the expense and hassle taking time off work,wether its worth just calling it day.
I paid £720 with the CBT in total and now they want another 120 quid (the training school) to take me down to the test centre and use there bike for 15 mins for another mod one test.
Seems to be a big con…..

Tony

Have recently passed my mod 2 and feels great but went through the same as everyone. Mod 1 took 2 goes after hitting cone. Mod 2 took 3 goes after going too fast and messing up hill start. But have to say it took a year of wanting and now im on the road it is worth the perseverence. Paid out £750 in total but dont give up, if you want it bad enough you will get it. I said thats enough so many times!!

Paulo Ledgini

I have completed module 1 twice and passed both times. Once 6 months ago on a GS125 and this morning on a GS500 (want my unrestricted license to buy a harley). I managed 55kmp x 2 on the 125 through avoidance and emergency stop and 56 and 68 on the 500 through the same. This is a simple test and people should not believe all the horror stories. Sorry to say but the people that have fallen off during the test should not have completed the test as their riding skill is not up to scratch at that time. Don’t let nerves or what you have read put you off your stride. Remain confident and all manouvres will be simple enough. Going through the swerve this morning was a breeze ( it is not a swerve, get your line right and it is a slight change in direction). With enough practise, anyone can pass this test. There are plenty of videos on youtube of the test with views from the bike. Watch these, understand where your line is going to be and go through it in your head before you start the exercise. Go for it people, you can do it.

Silvernibbs

Two weeks prior to my module 1 test, I was out with my instructor practising the manouvres, because the Bike school did not have a large enough yard I was out on a main and side road on a industrial estate. Initially my instructor had wanted to do the hazard avoidance, but as a large lorry was parked at the kerb I was unable to do so, so I was asked to do an emergency stop instead. As I was on an industrial estate lorries regularly parked up, so diesel was also a risk. On my third emergency stop I came off and suffered a 4 part fracture of my shoulder, nerves and muscles severed as well as shattering of the shoulder. The bike school have said this is because I did not understand the correct braking proceedure, 7 months later I am still off work and unable to use my arm. I have since been advised that the DSA has no guidelines as to when and where emergency stops should be carried out, and that the Module 1 test makes no distinction between wet and dry conditions, and that the tasks to be completed are the same regardless of the weather conditions. On the day of my lesson it was raining very heavily, and there was a strong cross wind. I would just like to say that some risks are avoidable and that your instructor should give these risks serious consideration. I trusted my instructor, and believed him when he told me I needed to be able to do these manuoveres in wet weather conditions, which is worrying. I am also highly concerned, as there does not seem to be any clear code of conduct for motorbike instructors. So please do be careful and don’t be afraid to speak out if you are concerned any risk, as it could save you from a serious injury.

Annie

I have done my module 1 twice on my own YBR 125, which I failed because:
On the second attempt I was too slow on my swerve (46km) so once everything else was completed I was asked to do it again, this time I got upto 55Km but too fast into the box at the end and overshot landing my rear wheel and not front wheel into the box. FAILED. I can appreciate a 33BHP bike can do 50Km quite easily in a small space but on a 12BHP bike this is a mean feat in such a small space, as it takes a lot longer to obtain the speed and be SAFE. I did my emergency stop at 52km.
What I did not know was that the test centres are not all the same size, my second test centre was bigger than my first, trying to get done before my CBT ran out hence change of venue. The firts time the centre was covered in cement where some one have obviously come off which made me slam on a bit much on my back brake on the emrgency stop. Failed.

Steve

I am 50 years old and 19 stone and just passed mod 1 on a 125cc doing 55kph on the swerve and 55kpm on the emergency stop and no points 100% pass just mod 2 to do on Friday so if an old fat bloke on a 125cc can do it any one can so dont give up keep on bikeing

nige

if your going to take the mod 1 test take it on a big bike - its easier. you can do the swerve in 2nd gear.

i did it 0.8mph too slow first time, but did it second. dont think a slight mistake will fail u it wont. once youve done it thats it, you dont have to pass
it again.

nige

id also add that u need to bare in mind that it will cost you 2 or 3 hours to use a 500cc and for the examiners time. cost me £90 a go frm where i travelled. i believe its worth it though as you can ride whatever you want then and if youve already been using 125’s for a few years its not really worth passing on a 125 after all that time. most of all NEVER give up or let em beat yer!

Muthern Pouch

I did my module 1 yesterday, it was a nice day, and i ran into the instructor after the swerve, knocking him on to the tarmac, i was well embarrased which made me fall off the 500cc honda, i had lost my rag now as i knew id failed so when the examiner stormed over i didnt stop to listen to the fool and dropped the nut on him, now i still had my helmet on so he dropped like a sack of sh**! I walked back to the test centre where i asked them to call an ambulance as i could see him still on the tarmac, hopfully i will pass next time, might choose a different test centre though!! and im hoping he drops the charges against me…any one would have done the same i think in my position. Muthern

steve sheffield

i took the mod 1 test this week and passed at my first attempt,my advice would be not to take the test on a 125,i did a days training on one and found it useless for the swerve,i then switched my lessons to a BMW 650 and it was 100 times easier,i must have done the swerve 20 times till i got the confidence to do it at the correct speed but when i’d done it once i then did it every time,my instructor took me to a retail park car park to practice (obviously when quiet) and luckily all the training paid off..i did 3 full days and the morning of my test…..for anyone in the sheffield area give KK rider training a bell…….

Changoman

Hi, I am the proud owner of a Yamaha Virago 125cc, my bike it’s so beautiful I actually named her “Angelina”. I’ve been riding my bike for 3 years and never bother to do the test, I have done 2 CBT’s and never gave too much importance to the whole full license thing, I have driven to Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, etc on this bike loving every moment of it.
3 months ago, I thought was time to move on and start to ride a bigger bike so I book my theory test, I passed that with no problems, Then I booked my module one test 2 months ago and i failed it!. I drove for 1 hour and a half to that test center, I did all the silly exercises they ask you to do except the killer swerve!!! I thinks its Impossible for my bike to reach 50k with in such a short distance. Max speed was 42 pushing it to the top. I dont have money to rent another bike so that is not an option and neither is giving up!!! so for the last month I start to stripped off everything in my bike that can add extra weight, I have taken off the crashing bars, saddle bags, front roll, passenger foot pegs, passenger seat, extra tools, Front fender, less than half tank of petrol, etc, etc. I have been running every morning and I have loose 1kg!!! plus i have been practicing at the sainsbury car park in the middle of the night till someone calls the police because of the noise, but still a good hour practice. I dont know if I am going to pass the test with Angelina, but I am not giving up, I have to pass this time!. My test is on wednesday. wish me luck!
Changoman

Louise

I believe this first bike test is unneeded. This all comes with experience, people i know have been riding for years on a CBT, never had any problems, swerved when needed and never come off then they take this and come off and hurt themselves. The swerve! Why would you be swerving at that speed?? With experience and observation you would surely slow down and swerve, i want to know when in real road life would you use this? My test cost an extra £250 from £300 for the old one to £550 all because of this new test as it takes a ferry ride and 2 hours travelling! We get no practise so its only what i watch on you tube. I think this test should go and go back to how it used to be. I failed the test as the site was not weather proof there were puddles and dips although it’s supposed to be fine to be taken in all weather, in heavy rain and strong winds why would you be going at these speeds around corners anyway? Well that’s my rant!

anil bajaj

i passed my module 1 test last sunday and my module 2 road test on tues, first time tests on both modules and i can tell you now it was down to damn good training, i went with a school in penzance who had been recommended to me and had a high training standard, but to be honest i’ve wanted to take my bike test for years and although i’d heard nightmare stories about this module 1 test i thought i may aswelltake the test and just get on with it as the bike tests in general would probabley get harder and harder as time goes by. well to training was hard for me, really hard, kept putting my feet on the floor doing the u turn, going through the cones at a snails pace but in the end i was, if i say so myself shithot and quite chuffed, so came the day of the test, to be honest i was racked with nerves but tried to stay focused, it was my turn next and as the examiner took the previous candidate into the office i had a sneek peek around the course and it blew my mind, my instructor had been taining us on a private course more than half the size of the test centre course and needless to say it was a real breeze, loads of room for every manouvre. DON’T GO WITHOUT TRAINING. or there is a pretty good chance you will come off. basically i read so much into the module 1 i was a bag of nerves about it before i had even decided to take the course, don’t let this test stop you from doing something that will in the end give you so much enjoyment and do your homework and go with the most highly rated training school.