Lesson 4 is the dreaded narrow plank and emergency braking.
After a few warm-up laps around the circuit, we stopped at the narrow plank section which is actually a 20 meter long metal plank of about 20 inches wide and probably 1 inch high. The objective is to ride SLOWLY across the plank in 1st gear without falling off and doing it for at least 6 seconds. You'll get demerit points if do too fast... immediate failure if the tires slipped off the plank or worse, you fall off the bike.
This was how I fared in 6 attempts: OK - FALL - OK - FALL - OK - OK -OK
My instructor gave me an important tip when my bike slipped off the plank for the 2nd time in four attempts. Don't focus too much in achieving balance at the start. Just focus on getting onto the plank, and then balance. Sure enough, with both my foot off the ground, left hand half clutch, right hand on the handle bar grip, once on the plank, it was easier to get the bike balanced and going as slow as possible in order to hit 6 seconds . Oh, look straight ahead... looking down will make you lose balance... Do not hold on to your front brake level as doing so will make you lose balance. Rely on your rear brakes instead.
After a short pause at the end of the narrow plank, I did the pylon slalom, which is to swerve the bike in between the 4 orange cones within 6 seconds. Hit 1 and you fail the whole test. Get demerit points if you do it more than 6 seconds. No problem here. Just go to 2nd gear and give yourself a wide berth. When exiting the slalom, signal right, check blindspot and go into the main lane. Towards the end of the curve, quickly signal left, check blind spot and stop at the waiting line for the emergency braking section.
E-brake is not that difficult despite having to do it on a wet surface. From the start line, go to 3rd gear and hit speeds of 30-40km/hr. Upon reaching the braking line, close throttle, apply both brakes, and just when the bike is about to stop, clutch in to prevent the bike from stalling. Simple right? Haha... took me several attempts to get it right. Oh, there's also a sequence to move off... remember, you're still in 3rd gear with both brake and clutch pressed. To move off, check right blindspot, right foot on the ground, left foot hit the clutch pedal until 1st gear, check left blindspot, left foot down, bring back right foot up, signal right, check right blindspot and move off... phew... try to imagine doing it a few times so you will be automatic during test time...
Anyway, I passed Lesson 4 in one attempt! My instructor gave me the test circuit route below. I've booked two Circuit Revisions on two consecutive Saturdays. Lesson 5 after that. I can actually do it in two weeks as there are plenty of slots for Circuit Revisions and Lesson 5. I can only book Lesson 6 after passing Lesson 5, completed all Theory Lessons and Internal evaluation. At the rate that I'm going, I should be able to complete Lesson 8 in late September or early October. Hopefully, can take my TP Test by end of December! Would be a great Christmas gift yah!
After a few warm-up laps around the circuit, we stopped at the narrow plank section which is actually a 20 meter long metal plank of about 20 inches wide and probably 1 inch high. The objective is to ride SLOWLY across the plank in 1st gear without falling off and doing it for at least 6 seconds. You'll get demerit points if do too fast... immediate failure if the tires slipped off the plank or worse, you fall off the bike.
This was how I fared in 6 attempts: OK - FALL - OK - FALL - OK - OK -OK
My instructor gave me an important tip when my bike slipped off the plank for the 2nd time in four attempts. Don't focus too much in achieving balance at the start. Just focus on getting onto the plank, and then balance. Sure enough, with both my foot off the ground, left hand half clutch, right hand on the handle bar grip, once on the plank, it was easier to get the bike balanced and going as slow as possible in order to hit 6 seconds . Oh, look straight ahead... looking down will make you lose balance... Do not hold on to your front brake level as doing so will make you lose balance. Rely on your rear brakes instead.
After a short pause at the end of the narrow plank, I did the pylon slalom, which is to swerve the bike in between the 4 orange cones within 6 seconds. Hit 1 and you fail the whole test. Get demerit points if you do it more than 6 seconds. No problem here. Just go to 2nd gear and give yourself a wide berth. When exiting the slalom, signal right, check blindspot and go into the main lane. Towards the end of the curve, quickly signal left, check blind spot and stop at the waiting line for the emergency braking section.
E-brake is not that difficult despite having to do it on a wet surface. From the start line, go to 3rd gear and hit speeds of 30-40km/hr. Upon reaching the braking line, close throttle, apply both brakes, and just when the bike is about to stop, clutch in to prevent the bike from stalling. Simple right? Haha... took me several attempts to get it right. Oh, there's also a sequence to move off... remember, you're still in 3rd gear with both brake and clutch pressed. To move off, check right blindspot, right foot on the ground, left foot hit the clutch pedal until 1st gear, check left blindspot, left foot down, bring back right foot up, signal right, check right blindspot and move off... phew... try to imagine doing it a few times so you will be automatic during test time...
Anyway, I passed Lesson 4 in one attempt! My instructor gave me the test circuit route below. I've booked two Circuit Revisions on two consecutive Saturdays. Lesson 5 after that. I can actually do it in two weeks as there are plenty of slots for Circuit Revisions and Lesson 5. I can only book Lesson 6 after passing Lesson 5, completed all Theory Lessons and Internal evaluation. At the rate that I'm going, I should be able to complete Lesson 8 in late September or early October. Hopefully, can take my TP Test by end of December! Would be a great Christmas gift yah!
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