Had another motorbike lesson yesterday, a rather successful one even if I do say so myself.
The last two training rides have been in rotten weather, either wet (raining / hail) or freezing fog that was freezing on gloves and visor.
This weekend was different. Still the frosty winter chill in the air but it was a bright and clear day.
We made the trip over to Rotherham motorbike assessment centre again to practice mod1 manoeuvres but couldn’t get on straight away so continued for a ride around the town on bits of the test route.
Then back to the DVSA motorbike exam centre to do the drills. Two of the exercises require a minimum speed of 50kmph (approx 30mph). On the small 125cc engined bike it can be a challenge to get up to speed through the speed trap before performing the drills (emergency stop and swerve).
This time every run was over the requisite 50 kmph, so that’s progress.
The Rev bomb
More importantly I beat an annoying fault I had developed during the emergency stop.
I had been finding when squeezing the brake during the emergency stop exercise that I’d inadvertently pile on the revs. Ending up with something akin to the rev-bomb I’ve been reading about.
Not a good habit to have, end up with brakes battling the engine until clutch pulled in. And then if for some reason I slipped and released the clutch I’d end up being launched.
Well this weekend I tried what the previous weeks instructor had said. Try to push the thumb/palm into the control while pulling on the brake lever.
Not once did I “rev-bomb” this week. That’s progress.
My on-road riding felt smoother this week too.
It’s finally coming together. Good job too as I have one more session on the 125CC bike then I am moving up to a 650CC bike in preparation for my module 1 exam.
Exciting times.
