Motorcyle press are wrong... module one is NOT dangerous!

Originally Posted by Lozzo

BTW people, a U-Turn is something you only have to do for your test examiner. I've been riding for 30 years, and whilst I can U-Turn pretty much any bike, I prefer to get of and push the damn thing round. Sod risking damaging my bike because the DSA tell me I have to learn to U-Turn.

I've always understood that the u-turn on the bike test isn't testing your ability to do a u-turn, it's testing your ability not to target fix and to control the bike at slow speeds by balancing the throttle/clutch/rear brake. A u-turn's just the easiest and quickest way for an examiner to assess those skills in the short period they have for the test.

I took the new test 4 weeks ago after a week long DAS course with no prior riding experience, my instructor concentrated quite alot on the module 1 part of the test as i've been driving for years so he wasn't to concerned with my road sense. I feel that the new test works well, because i'd spent so long mastering all the manouveres for mod 1 by the time i started riding on the road i felt a lot more confident with my ability to control the bike. And yes i did my test in the dry but feel that with thorough instruction weather should be no excuse. you never know what the weather is going to be like when your required to swerve round some idiot or suddenly stop!!!!!!!!

Yes but is the swerve test not at a set speed?
In real life if its wet weather you will naturally slow down and leave a bigger gap to swerve in or stop. This should be done in the test imo.

The swerve and emergency stop have to be done at atleast 50kph about 32mph. which is a speed you could easily be doing down any normal road in town even in the wet.

[G]

Originally Posted by Lozzo

BTW people, a U-Turn is something you only have to do for your test examiner. I've been riding for 30 years, and whilst I can U-Turn pretty much any bike, I prefer to get of and push the damn thing round. Sod risking damaging my bike because the DSA tell me I have to learn to U-Turn.

I U-turn all the time, mainly whilst getting lost on ride outs lol

Why would you damage your bike anyway you can put your foot down if you 'really' have to once you have passed your test lol

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Are you gonig out with your instructor for a pre test ride. Mine did that with me, it was only for 45 minutes, just a ride of one of the test routes, practise U turn and then to the test centre.

I was so nervous before my test that that 45 minute ride got all my nerves out of my system. I stalled twice and rode really badly I was a complete bag of nerves.

Strangley making the mistakes and having a bad ride before my test really helped and it allowed me to get all the nervous energy out of my system and as I soon as I sat on the bike to begin my test I relaxed and was able to ride nerve free and I passed.

Just wandered if a pre test ride, ( if you arent doing that already ) might help you calm your nerves ?

I was the same, couldn't do one u-turn, and was riding dreadfully. All came good in the actual test though.

Originally Posted by Rob969

The swerve and emergency stop have to be done at atleast 50kph about 32mph. which is a speed you could easily be doing down any normal road in town even in the wet.

Yes you may well be doing that speed on a normal road but you will leave more room to stop or manouvre in the wet. If you have to do a set speed and move through some cones regardless of the weather it's going to be much harder and more dangerous in the wet.

[G]

My understanding of the real arguement is not the actual speed of the swerve in any condition but the stopping distance.

The stopping distance is not increased for wet conditions.....and infact you have to stop in a shorter distance in the wet than even the highway code recommends.

THAT is where the problem is not the swerve itself which is stupidly easy.

You've all done well to pass it though.

Now the real learning begins.

Originally Posted by G

I U-turn all the time, mainly whilst getting lost on ride outs lol

Why would you damage your bike anyway you can put your foot down if you 'really' have to once you have passed your test lol

I was merely trying to stress that it's not the only way to turn a bike around. New riders have it drummed into them that they must u-turn with feet up. That's all very well for the test scenario but once a pass has been obtained there are safer and more practical ways to get your bike facing the other way.

I hate u-turns and I have been riding for 30 years. I can do them but I just don't see the point when I can get the bike facing the other way without risking dropping it.

When I was at the Ace Cafe recently we watched a charming young lass drop her SV650S because she'd attempted a feet up u-turn in between a load of bikes. I wish I'd given her the advice of pushing it round before riding away.