Update: Failed msf the second time
So I posted in here before. Yeah I failed again. Unsurprising considering how badly I failed the first time.
The first time was in December. My entire class except two of us were all regular and proficient riders. Everyone except me passed. I couldn't get a hold of any low speed movers like at all and felt way behind everyone else. I was doing the whole thing wrong but I couldn't figure out what to do to fix it. My coach didn't seem to have many key insights for me. Then the company didn't let me easily reschedule a retake so I just stopped trying for a while.
This most recent time with a different company, only maybe 1/3 of the class had riding experience. A whooping half of us failed the class.
I did actually do much better. I was pretty comfortable with a lot of the maneuvers. I figured out that I could do the maneuvers way slower this time around (the first one they demonstrated them all at higher speeds so I thought I had to go faster).
Plus one of the coaches gave me a tip...I said I had difficulty not blipping the throttle when turning the handlebars far...and he told me it's ok for me to lean forward (even though it's not technically the correct posture they teach). I know the posture is incorrect, but it probably helped me the most. Before, when I would turn the handlebars far, the fact that my arm is extended very far away made it difficult for me to not pull back on the throttle. So he said it's ok if I need to lean forward so my arms are still bent a bit when I turn far. Worked great!
EXCEPT I still for the life of me cannot do a freaking u turn. Plus I only found out AFTER taking the test that it's "ok" if you miss the u turn as long as you don't put your foot down. I knew I went out of some of the cones, but I still tried to say mostly in and had to touch a foot. But evidently it's just OUT vs IN on the test. It doesn't matter if you miss one cone/line or them all. It's the same number of points.
If I had just continued to commit to staying a bit outside of the lines/comes and not put my foot down, I would have passed. (Because I messed up one small thing later...the u turn box can easily eat all your points). I'm really frustrated and disheartened to say the least. I'm hoping this company lets me reschedule easier.
It's just really frustrating. When I learned to drive a car, I had the opportunity to practice legally without a license with a learner's permit. But there are no learner's permits for motorcycles in my state. So I don't have access to the ability to practice outside of class. I'm sure I just need a lot more time to practice than others, but it's incredibly frustrating that I don't have an accessible way to do this.
At least I know the "trick" if you mess up the u turn box I guess. Idk.
With this second company, they also won't let me only re take one of the days. They will make me retake both, which is really frustrating and difficult time commitment wise too considering most of their offerings are during normal working hours.
Guess I'm just looking for words of encouragement and advice. Thanks. :(