Third Time Lucky!?

[2E]

Well... heres the final stab at the bike test for me..

After ive finally had enough money to afford the do the course with The Link, ive paid for it, and its all booked..

3 Days Training (though they still insist i need two... i mean.. aint my name blacklisted by now??:grin2)

24th/25th/28th August are training, with the test trying to be booked for the 29th but definately the 31st otherwise..

Now.. being absolutely brutally honest, I dont stand a chance of passing this with my current riding skills, where i have been off the road for the last.. god knows how long.. ive developed stupid habits, and fears that werent there before.. such as round-a-bouts.. now scary the daylights out of me...:(

So in a serious note, without interrupting your schedules, anyone whos ever in the area, im open to as much criticism (providing its constructive:reading) as you can throw at me in regards to my riding skills, if it gets me a pass then happy days.:)

I took the bike out for a spin the other day and practiced a couple of u-turns and emergency stops (one was unintentional, bloody cat...!!!:shooter) i dont think im bad at these at all, but they have never really troubled me (i would of passed the old style of test easily haha)

But generally, cornering, round-a-bouts and anything u might think relevant, and no guvnor and havent forgotten the book you still (?) have laying around for me, gimme a date to pick it up and ill come collect it as im sure its well worth a read..

Ill try and brush up a bit on the highway code (im sure that books lying around somewhere), and if anyones done there test with the link before and knows a few 'trick routes' (deadends, no entries, etc) they take you down and will take some time out to show me.. i'd be most grateful, i really want to pass this guys, this is a months wages on this test, so affording it is hard :( And come september im going to have to do my CBT again!!! So if i can get rid of my L Plates and stay on the road.. even better! :D

Any help is appreciated :)

[MICKTLS]

only thing i can say is listen to everything you are told , dont be afraid to ask a question you will be given every detail to pass your test its upto you to use the information , and just for the record a new highway code book came out a cpl of weeks ago so it might be a prudent idea to get one and read it cover to cover ok

[chromium05]

I only passed a few months ago so my experience counts for nothing, but I would say this: on my first 2 failed tests, I was so focused on trying to be sure that I did everything I had been taught that I was analysing what I'd just done and what I was about to do at the same time, as well as controling the bike and looking ahead and around and listening to the instructor.

On the test that I passed, I just rode. I actually really enjoyed the ride. I kind of put it out of my head that I was being tested and (mentally) substituted the examiner for my trainer ( who I had got on well with).

So, I suppose my advice is that....on your test, mentally replace the examiner with a rider you have a good rapport with and try to enjoy the "ride out".

[crescent750]

Just stay calm tooey, once you get on ya 3 day course that'll soon get ya back upto scratch..

They don't have any trick routes up their sleeves either, they just wanna see that you can ride relaxed and in control, just treat it as a ride out and enjoy it..

[Pocket Rocket]

Are you going to ride one of their bikes or your own? Just did mine about a month - 6weeks ago, they really good i had bert for 500cc & he really funny. They take you round town mostly did scary rise not a fan as only place couldn't do a u-turn but he took me to writtle & back route. By time you get out tehre it's time to come back, i'm sure you'll be fine just relax as the others said & i found it easiest to pretend he wasn't there actually i lost him at one point at the lights hehe. Good luck & sure you'll breeze through it, remember patients is a virtue don't rush it.

[b1ade]

I can only echo the previous responses, listen to what your trainer tells you but most of all just relax and enjoy the ride and i'm sure you will do well.

[NinjaMad]

Mate think its a ride out with someone thats all it is, as my examminer said to me.."I didnt want to no what your riding was like, i want to no you was a safe rider, a confident rider and relaxed rider" Thats all they want from you..... Basicly dont want ya passing then going to buy an R1 and hitting a tree cause ya cant take it thats all they want.........

[Webby]

and no guvnor and havent forgotten the book you still (?) have laying around for me, gimme a date to pick it up and ill come collect it as im sure its well worth a read..


You still not collected it?

Good luck, chill out, do your best and just well...PASS!:laugh1

[2E]

No ive still not collected it, ive only just got the bike back and its already off the road again for a few days as i need a Right hand switch for it, the bike was dropped possibly into a wall.. and the brake lever has basicly snapped off the switch bit... superb..:grin2

[kasandrich]

Tooey, with the experience you have and 3 days training with Link, you can hardly fail.

I did my test from cold, no bike experience, (well not in the previous 20 years anyway!) I did my CBT first day, plus 2 more days, and my test the next morning. So 3 days total including cbt! and I had to learn to ride the bike.

Link are good at training, if they have a failing it is dealing with subsequent tests and training if you fail.

Good Luck you deserve it.

[superstacker]

As people have said mate, LISTEN to everything you are told, even if you feel its wrong or uncomfortable (i give the same advice to female companions ;))

As for the test, relax, get a good nights sleep the night before, a good breakfast (give one of your brothers a nudge to get the bacon and sausages on, not me though!) deep breathes and focus on the test for the hour or however long it is. Mirror checks, lifesavers and road confidence will be key :)

By the way i gave myself the same advice for my B+E (car and trailer) test on thursday morning... so get the bacon and sausages on!