So, you have done your CBT and now you’re looking to take your full bike test? Then take it from me – one thing that you will remember for the rest of your life is traffic cones! You’ll find that you eat, sleep and dream about them: moving your bike in and out of them, swerving past them and zig-zagging between them! Trust me, you’ll never want to see another cone again. The first thing about your big bike test is, of course, that you are put onto a bigger beast such as a Honda 650, and coming from a 125cc to a 650cc that will be an eye-opener, to say the least. In practice though, you will find the manoeuvres are actually easier on the 650cc.
Once you have passed your theory test you then move onto what they call Mod 1, which comprises certain manoeuvres all at a slow pace (apart from the swerve and emergency stop test). The first module is quite simple: you have to manoeuvre your bike from one parking bay to another in reverse, easy enough. Then you proceed to weave in and out of cones and do a figure of eight, again quite simple. However, you then have to ride the bike at a walking pace before carrying out a U-turn, and this can prove quite problematic for some. If a foot touches the ground, it’s an instant fail. But if you get past this, you can start to relax! All that’s left is the controlled stop, emergency stop and the swerve test,and for the last two you have to reach 52kmph.
So, this is MOD1 completed, which may all sound quite simple, but under test conditions it can prove quite nerve-racking. The trick is to keep calm and take your time, don’t rush! Sometimes the examiner can appear to be very cold-hearted, but don’t worry about this, it’s his job!
After passing MOD 1 you then have what people assume is the easier part of the test MOD 2. This is like a basic driving test. You arrive on your bike at the test centre in Newport where you will be asked a couple of questions about your bike before heading off on a 40-minute ride with the examiner on your tail. He will relay directions for you to follow. This test is a big gamble, because you may meet a disconcerting motorist, bus driver or horse rider – all of which can blow your chances in an instant through them doing something stupid. Just be aware that on this test it’s all about showing caution at all times. However, there’s a fine line between being hesitant and showing due caution, and there doesn’t seem to be any rule book, or consistency as far as the examiner goes.
The best way to prepare for your bike test is to head to Pit Stop Training in Newport. Pit Stop charge a one-off fee for the bike test and will give one-to-one training if required. They will also persevere when others give up!
So if you fancy the conversion from your 125cc to something bigger, then give Paul a call at Pit Stop Training on 07774 000206, and he’ll book you in for the 2020 season.