Module One - Revisited

Having spent some time training people for the Module One Test, it's become clear that it is producing better and more confident novice riders.

By having to push themselves a little in order to achieve the standard of riding required, new riders are able to understand their limits and the limits of their motorcycles in a safe and controlled environment. This cannot be a bad thing.

As a motorcyclist I admit I was a little sceptical of this new test, but as an instructor I now see the benefits to new riders.

Though the current Module One test fee is quite low, to pass it a novice needs training. The techniques needed for the various exercises are more advanced than Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) can provide. As a result without getting some additional training a candidate is much more likely to fail.

We recently had a perfect example of this;

A husband and wife bought a motorcycle each and then did their CBT. In order to ride their new motorbikes on the road they needed to take their tests.

The husband attempted the Module One test without training and failed repeatedly, his wife attended a day's training specifically for Module One and passed on her second attempt. The husband passed on his seventh attempt - after he'd had an hours or two's training on the exercise that he kept failing on.

Sure the total cost for his wife was more as she'd paid for a days training, but because of the training her standard of riding is higher, not only did she take less tests but she's starting her motorcycling with a higher skill level in a shorter time.

With the introduction of the two module motorcycle test the DSA are encouraging novice riders to get more training for a test that requires specific skills. By being taught these skills the novice is gaining more insight into how to ride a motorcycle safely.