Failed practical test today.

I didn't realise how bad I would feel after failing my bike test today.
I got 2 minor faults for appropriate speed, not quite fast enough and 1
fault for rear observation, but the thing that failed me was when I put my
foot down on the uturn.
I've never put my foot down in all my practise sessions and then a slight
error ends my chances of passing.
The examiner told my instructer that I should have passed.
Can someone just tell me why it's so crucial and wouldn't it be better to
give 4 marks for an error like that.
Booked myself in for 3 weeks time but I feel as sick as a pig.

cheers.

 

Hey, don't worry about it. You'll pass with flying colours in 3 weeks
time.

 

That gets a lot of people.

Yep, they're a bit strict on it.

Then the **** should've passed you.

I've no idea, other than the ability to turn a bike around within the width
of the road being a quite useful skill to master and you wouldn't want to
look a **** when you fetch up at your local bike meet "paddling", would
you?. I still think it's a bit harsh to fail someone one though if the other
aspects of the test result in bugger all i9n the way of major faults. A "4"
would be reasonable IMO.

Think of it as a golden opportunity to get some practice in and make sure
you do. Beta blockers before the test may help too


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

.. I did my test 10 years ago... but I think they failed you because you
need to show ability to control the bike at low speed. Also if you put
your foot down then possibly you have stopped because you attempted the
manoevure when the road condidions were not apropriate.

I remember learning the importance of rear obs.when out on a training
ride, one of the trainers deliberatly came up on the inside at a
junction, a very valuable lesson.My advice is take the opportunity to
go through every thing again and get it right, enjoy it !

 

I've always found that putting my foot down looks less stupid than not
putting your foot down and then dropping the bike.

I have tried both.

 

Thanks everyone.
All your comments helped make me feel a bit better.
Just one of those bad days.
I'll keep trying until I pass and I'll let you know.

Many Thanks

 

Oh well. You put your foot down during a u-turn - shit happens. If
you didn't put your foot down would you have dropped the bike?
Possibly - and that would look even more silly.

A U-Turn is a low speed control thing - anyone can ride a bike at
speed, low speed takes a bit more thought. Shit happens. I'm sure
you'll pass next time and if you don't then just rebook it again. You
will pass.

I didn't pass first time and I'm a riding God[1] now.

[1] Lie.

 

Which bike are you using ?

 

it's a Kawasaki ER5 I think.

 

I don't know what happened, it was almost as if I sabotaged myself.
It was wet with rain and it was as if things where going too well and I
lost concentration.
I think I would have dropped the bike. It was rediculous.
I think i tried to get in another rear observation after moving off and
lost direction.
That's it, I saw the cd rom from the DLA and the rider looked behind after
moving off.
I have been told to look behind before moving off only. I changed my
method.
Shit.

 

Crucial is that U-turn. You'll be needing it every time you ride, so it's a
good thing they fail muppets who can't do it.

 

My trainer did the same thing if you didn't hug the kerb during the
turn, to ensure you had the right road postition (i.e stopping anything
coming through on the inside, cycle, scooter etc)

P.

 

Heh, you and me both then.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

One of the most common causes of failure.

It happens.

The "U" turn demonstrates the ability to:
Make correct obervations.
Good clutch control
Good brake control
Good throttle control
Good balance.

Good Man.

 

Rotten luck.

On my U-turn, I almost put my foot down right near the end of the
maneuver (took it right off the peg for a split second), but caught
myself doing it, managed to sort it all out (by letting the clutch out a
bit so the bike started moving again instead of wobbling around in
no-mans land...), and called myself a hopeless **** under my breath. The
examiner actually laughed out loud, patted me on the back and said "You
alright there?". Must've been a close call I reckon, but I passed (he
did give me a "minor" for poor control in the U turn, and quite right
too).

I'm sure you'll pass next time. The best advice my instructor gave me
was that everyone starts their practical test with a pass. It's only if
you screw up too much that the examiner takes your licence away. That
may seem blindingly obvious, but that attitude somehow worked for me as
far as confidence goes; I wasn't on my test to earn my licence, but to
demonstrate to the examiner that he shouldn't take it away.

 

I think it's best if you stick with the method you're used to,
especially if your riding school has no problem with it.

 

RonD tossed off:

Talk yourself through it.
May sound daft, but it worked for me.

I still couldn't do the ridden U Turn 30 mins before my test, but found
that talking myself through the manouevre made it all seem to come
together.

Best of luck.

--
Dan L

1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

I used to have one of them. Shit bikes they are.

Look what mine did on the way back from work one day:
<www.bgn.me.uk/bike/er5.jpg> - you don't want to U-Turn on a bike that
does things like that without giving you a few minutes warning.

 

Beav wrote
Shit happens.

Just accept that this will be the first of many "the whole fucking world
hates bikers" stories that you will be able to tell your grandchildren.

Beta blockers?? Bollox to that, the man needs confidence, cocaine is
the only answer.

 

Speedballs and beta blockers together. YKIMS


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19