I completed my motorbike CBT before Christmas, now I start the next steps in the form of mod 1 training.
After completing the Compulsory Basic Training I am two assessments away from a full licence. In typically inspiring fashion these are known as ‘module one’ and, you’ve guessed it, ‘module two’.
Mod 1 is about a formal assessment of motorbike control and is conducted by external examiners. Whereas CBT is completed entirely with your motorbike instructor.
Mod 1 first ride
Yesterday I started my mod 1 training with a ride from the BikeSafe training school base over to the DVSA driving test centre in Rotherham where I’ll eventually do the mod 1 assessment.
Roughly a 9 or 10 mile ride in each direction according to Google maps.
Being winter it was a chilly ride out, I was glad to have layered up. Including long football socks!
Once we got to the DVSA centre, we waited for our pre-booked time and I went through the mod 1 assessment process with my instructor.
I was one of two learners with the instructor so we only had time for a quick run through each, limited by time booked at the venue. I found it useful to have an introduction to the venue and what is expected.
Over the coming motorbike training sessions this is a process we’ll repeat. Gaining road experience and mod 1 practice in.
The ride back to BikeSafe was interesting. What had been a grey, damp and dull day became very wet. In the ride home we had heavy rain (or at least it felt like it on the back of a motorbike!), surface water and hail to contend with. Good choice to wear my waterproof trousers!
On this lesson we got up to 50mph. Which isn’t fast as such, but it’s the fastest I’ve been so far on a motorbike, so still exciting.
Motorbike size
So far all my motorbike training rides have been on small (125cc) Honda motorbikes.
I’ll be moved onto a larger capacity bike for my training at some point. I think the mod 1 and mod 2 assessments have to be completed on bikes with a minimum capacity.
