Mod 1 Test
Introduction
The Mod 1 motorcycle test is designed to test your manual handling, slow speed control, general control and hazard avoidance on the motorcycle. The test takes place off road on an area known as the Motorcycle Manoeuvring Area (MMA) and is conducted by a DVSA examiner. It lasts about 20 minutes.
To pass your motorcycle module 1 test, you needed to make:
- no more than 5 riding faults (sometimes called ‘minors’)
- no serious or dangerous faults (sometimes called ‘majors’)
On the day the MMA may be arranged for either a left-hand or right-hand circuit. This will affect the direction you perform the circuit ride and hazard avoidance.
The Mod 1 test breaks down into 11 individual parts, each one being individually explained by the examiner before you are expected to do them.
Pay attention to:
- The entire test is conducted as if it is on the road so all observations are part of the test!
- Hitting any cone during any exercise is a fail
Preparation
Bring your Theory Test Certificate, CBT Certificate and Driving Licence. Without any of these your Mod 1 test will not take place.
Test start
When signalled by the examiner, rider your bike from the car park into the MMA and stop where he indicates. BEFORE pulling away in the car park, even though you may have a wall behind you, check both blind spots!
1. Stands and Manual Handling
The examiner will ask you to ride into directly into either of the two “parking bays” designated by green cones. Before pulling away check both blind spots. We recommend the one on the right as you are facing them. It will make for an easier push exercise.
You will be asked to get off the bike and put it on a stand. It does not matter whether you use the side stand or centre stand.
You will be asked to take it off the stand and push it into the other “parking bay”. Before pushing away check round you. There is no single right or wrong way to do the push. You can reverse push entirely into the other bay or make it a reverse, forward, reverse push.
The examiner is checking you can manually handle the bike so don’t nearly drop it or wobble around everywhere whilst pushing.
2. Slalom and 3. Figure of 8
These 2 tests run together.
Before pulling away check both blind spots.
Ride a slalom through the 7 yellow and blue cones then Fig 8 around the 2 blue cones. You will be expected to do the Fig 8 twice but continue until the examiner indicated for you to pull up.
Don’t ride too slow on the day but it should be a walking pace exercise. For the Fig 8 don’t try to turn too tight – be smooth.
Common faults:
- hitting one or more cones
- not making appropriate observations before riding and moving your head around on the Fig 8
- putting one or both feet down whilst riding
- losing control of steering and clutch causing the bike to run wide
4. Slow Ride
You needed to ride slowly in a reasonably straight line of about 20 metres into the box of 4 blue cones. You needed to keep your bike under slow control. Don’t drop your head to look at the speedo but in practicing we recommend 4mph is about right.
Before pulling away check both blind spots.
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- not making appropriate observations before riding
- going too fast
- stalling the bike
- not moving in a reasonably straight line
5. U-Turn
From the blue box make a controlled U-Turn between the 2 white lines.
Before pulling away check both blind spots.
Ride no more than half way alongside the left hand white line, concisely check behind, ahead, and then get your head around again to perform the U Turn, looking well down the right hand white line to align nicely and bring your bike to stop on the rear brake.
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- touching either of the 2 painted lines
- not making appropriate observations before moving or changing direction
- loss of balance
6. Cornering and 7. Controlled Stop
You will be asked to ride a circuit of the turn at approx 19mph, between the blue and red cones, exit through the speed trap and stop your bike with the front wheel in the blue box of 4 cones. The stop is not speed measured and is not signalled. You should bring your bike to a controlled stop using the proper braking sequence.
Before pulling away check both blind spots.
On an A or A2 test second gear will be fine, there is no need to upshift to 3rd after the turn.
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- Stopping before or beyond the blue box
- Hitting a cone in the turn
8. Circuit ride and 9. Emergency Stop
You needed to achieve a minimum speed of 31 miles per hour (mph) (50km/h) during the avoidance and emergency stop exercises.
If your speed is 48kph or 49kph then you will get a minor for not being 50kph or more but if the stops are good then you will pass the exercise.
If your speed is 47kph or less you will be told and given another chance to reach the minimum speed and perform the exercise.
Before pulling away check both blind spots.
On an A or A2 test second gear will be fine, there is no need to upshift to 3rd after the turn.
On an A 1 test you will need to be pretty nippy and get a change to 3rd gear in.
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- failing to reach the minimum speed requirement (twice)
- late reaction to examiner (don’t look at your speed during the exercise. Memorise the engine note for the correct speed during practice
- losing control of the bike under braking
- locking a wheel and skidding
- not turning the throttle off
- clutch in too early
- not performing an effective emergency stop, instead it looks more like a normal stop
- going way too quick for the exercise
- riding up to where the examiner is stood instead of stopping your bike as promptly and safely as you can
10. Circuit ride and 11. Hazard Avoidance with Controlled Stop
After the speed trap you then needed to steer between a pair of offset blue cones before bringing the bike back into a straight line and stopping inline with 2 blue cones. You can stop just before, within, or even just beyond the blue cones but you must be in line with them. You should not have touched any cones.
Before pulling away check both blind spots.
On an A or A2 test second gear will be fine, there is no need to upshift to 3rd after the turn.
On an A 1 test you will need to be pretty nippy and get a change to 3rd gear in.
Examples of faults
Some of the most common faults for this area include:
- hitting one or more cones
- not making appropriate observations
- failing to reach the minimum speed requirement
- not stopping back in line with the blue cones.
