Struggling with MOST skills

Hey guys,

I'm currently trying to prepare for my MOST test, and struggling with several (read: all) of the skills.

I feel like I'm not going slow enough most of the time, and keep missing the cone weave and U-turn segments quite badly. Problem is, when I do go slowly enough, I get that chugging rough idle like the revs aren't high enough. I guess I'm just struggling to find the sweet spot between friction point and rear brake that will let me nail these.

Any pointers, other than "go practice more?"

 

Too much rear brake perhaps? You shouldn't press the rear too hard, merely hard enough for it to engage but not stop you completely

 

Right, but when trying to do it with less rear brake, I tend to run too fast, and miss the U-turn entirely.

Thanks Supa, I'll try those drills too, recon the figure 8 one (while probably challenging at first) will definitely help.

 

You need to find the balance of both, clutch friction point and rear brake. Why don't you tag along to one of the MOST Practice Sessions and have it explained and shown to you? Perhaps that would be a better option - to actually see it happy and have it shown to you?

 

Yeah, planning on coming this weekend (which is still the plan yeah? at Bruce?), was just wondering if anyone had any great tricks I could go practice first. I'll give Supa's suggestions a couple cracks during the week, then turn up on Saturday I recon.

 

The 90 turn is a bit of a hook turn. you have to go in deep and turn so the back wheel doesn't cut across the inner line at the apex.

 

Just adjust the freeplay out of the clutch so it slips. Just kidding, that whole slipping the clutch and riding the brake isn't a particularly easy technique to master. Have a read that other thread about the Pre-learners test, there are some good tips in that.

Good luck with the test.

 

With the cones you have to start really wide, that should help to not cut the last few cones
For the U turn you need to almost break your neck while looking over your shoulder, also throwing your right leg out kinda helps (IMO)

 

@B4dger, I was so nervous when I did my p's test so I know them skills feels. Getting used to just riding at low speed consistently by only listening to the revs was pretty key (thats at tip @DJY gave me when I was a learner). So I practised that a lot and it definitely helped. If you are finding that you speed up or slow down in the turn too much make sure you are resting your shoulders. You hold yourself to the bike with your knees and keep your arms loose. Makes a huge difference when doing those low speed manoeuvres.

Also I have some cones you can borrow if you want to practice in a car park somewhere. Good luck!

 

I'll probably head down to Bruce on Saturday for some practice. Something that has made a big difference for me was keeping the revs up. Like, way higher than you'd think. The engine revs help keep the bike stable.

If you'd like to come practice on Saturday I'll let you know when I'm heading down.

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Hey @SimonB15, that'd be great. I'll be available from the early afternoon, and Bruce is a pretty short ride away for me.

@blackstig, thanks, that's helpful.
I went and had a quick practice last night on the way home from work. I'm a believer in those 10 or 15 minute blocks. Long enough to have a few cracks, not long enough to start getting really frustrated. Was trying out @supamodel's suggestion, keeping the revs a little higher, and it certainly made a difference. Made the U-turn once or twice, but still with nowhere near enough consistency to feel good about it.

What are people's thoughts on counterweighting? Do you shift your arse to the outside when doing something like a U-turn? Or should everything else be enough to nail it?

 

+1 for what @supamodel said

 

This is what I did when getting my L's a few years ago. Gave the MOST course a crack for 20 minutes every few days. After 3/4 weeks you will be on top of it. What bike are you riding .

 

GS500. Not going to blame the bike, it's apparently a solid learner bike that plenty of people have done the MOST test on. This is definitely (l)user error.

 

I lol'd. You'll be right, keep the practice up, that's what I'm doing! I'm eligible to take the P's test in a couple of weeks.

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Haha, I've been eligible for more than 3 months. Between breaking my bike (more user error), going on holidays and spending more time on the fast stuff than the slow stuff, I've just kind of lost track of actually going for the test haha. Only in the last couple weeks have I started really focusing on getting it done.

 

I haven't done a MOST practice yet, so I'm definitely keen to come out and give it a crack if that's alright. Not eligible for the test for another 8 weeks though, but better to start early, right?


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