Mod 2: the road ride
Module 2 is the part that looks like a driving test: about 40 minutes on the road with the examiner following, directions through an earpiece, and around 10 minutes of independent riding. It starts before you move, though, with an eyesight check and the machine safety questions, and those are free marks for anyone who has read them in advance. This page covers the structure, the questions, and finishes with a knowledge quiz.
How the 40 minutes breaks down
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Eyesight check | Read a number plate from 20 metres, with glasses or lenses if you use them. Failing it ends the test on the spot. |
| Safety and balance questions | Show-me-tell-me style machine checks, plus how a pillion changes the bike. See the list below. |
| Road riding | Urban and higher-speed roads, junctions, roundabouts, hill and angle starts, normal stops, and pulling away safely. |
| Independent riding | About 10 minutes following signs or a short remembered route. Wrong turns are fine if ridden safely and legally. |
| Result | Immediately after the ride: pass with up to 10 rider faults, fail on 11 or more, or on any serious or dangerous fault. |
The safety questions, and the shape of a good answer
- Brakes: wheel the bike forward, apply front then rear, each should hold firmly with lever travel to spare.
- Engine oil: bike upright and level, read the sight glass or dipstick against the min and max marks, per the handbook.
- Tyres: pressures per the handbook, at least 1mm of tread across three quarters of the width, no cuts, cracks or bulges.
- Chain: tension and lubrication checked regularly, adjusted per the handbook, wheel alignment maintained.
- Lights and reflectors: switch on, walk round, check each light and reflector is clean and working.
- Pillion balance: the bike stops slower and steers lighter; suspension preload, tyre pressures, mirrors and headlight aim may need adjusting, and the passenger sits astride, still, leaning with you.
None of it is mechanics; all of it is the daily-check habit the examiner wants evidence of. The quiz below drills each one.
Each question shows the correct answer and the Highway Code rule the moment you choose.
Frequently asked questions
What happens in the Mod 2 test?
An eyesight check reading a number plate from 20 metres, machine safety and balance questions, then about 40 minutes of road riding including roughly 10 minutes of independent riding. The examiner follows and gives directions through a radio earpiece.
What are the Mod 2 safety questions?
Show-me-tell-me style checks on your machine: how you would test the brakes, check the engine oil, check tyre condition and pressures, check the chain, check lights and reflectors, and a balance question about carrying a pillion. The answers are daily-check basics, not mechanics.
How many faults are allowed on Mod 2?
Up to 10 rider faults. Any serious or dangerous fault is an immediate fail. The commonest fails are observation at junctions and mirror checks before signals, not machine control.
How much does Mod 2 cost?
The DVSA fee is £75 on a weekday and £88.50 for evenings, weekends and bank holidays, plus whatever your school charges for the bike and support on the day.
What do I need to bring to Mod 2?
Your photocard licence, theory pass certificate, CBT certificate and Module 1 pass certificate. Forget any of them and the test cannot go ahead, with the fee lost.
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Original educational content based on gov.uk motorcycle test guidance under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the DVSA.