Update!
So last week 30th I had last two hours of regular lesson time. Both hours riding. First hour back on the newer bike 23 which I preferred and rode the whole day before. Nothing of note that I can recall from this hour.
Then second hour my very last hours of lesson thankfully I had my favorite teacher from the group. Realizing it was my last hour though and wanting to help me he let me know that the bike I would likely be doing the test on was not this nice #23 that I had been riding and getting comfortable on all this time... Instead it would likely be on the old heavy red/white CB750 (
which I pictured in this post). A bike which up to this point I had only rode just that one hour and not even the full hour at that as it stalled and wouldn't restart.
Being quite different than the newer #23 bike I had been riding and getting comfortable on I did struggle a bit. First few goes at the balance beam I was falling off again as I wasn't used to this one. Feels longer as well so in the crank I was pegging cones. Also not to mention feeling quite a bit heavier. Though one good point is it also sits lower. Shifting is bit more wonky on it as well. But overall manageable I think by the end of my last hour of riding lessons. But whooo boy I should be thankful for the teacher for putting me on it that last hour.
Then I had 4 days of not riding at all before the test on the 4th which also was making me anxious. Would the test end up being that ancient CB750? Would it be the newer #23 I had gotten comfortable with? I was told by the teacher (who wasn't 100% sure which bike it would be) that if there is a girl doing the large bike test they always use the new #23 because they have a hard time managing the weight of the old CB750 and also the clutch which requires quite a bit more strength to work. Not particularly fair in my book but yup this is Japan.
Test day rolls around. Arrive at school and no bikes pulled out yet so not sure which bike I will be on yet. Today there are a total of 4 students doing test me included. Two others for bike and one for truck. But all of us guys... oh crap. I sit at the back of the room by the window where I could keep an eye out for which bike gets pulled out. Also of fun note todays test instructor is the same older guy that was the instructor when I failed the first go at the medium bike test. Oh great. Fill out all the usual paperwork then watch 30 minute video (third time watching this thing now).
Watching out the window as the video plays and they start pulling out the bikes. Last one they pull out is the large bike and.... it's the old CB750 😱. Well drat.
Turns out of the 4 students there I am the only one doing large bike test and large bike test people go first so gear up and I'm first. Ask the teacher to let me do one go around the course to familiarize myself with the bike like the teacher let me do second time I did medium bike test and was met with a 'yeah no. Just start test and you get one go at it'. Did I mention this teacher was strict? Was hoping for the elvis guy again 🤣.
I climb on adjust the mirrors and off I go. This is where it ended up being thankful for that teacher that put me on this bike the last hour last week so I was at least a bit comfortable riding this thing.
Test ended up being.... rather uneventful? Todays test course was course #2 which of the two I probably preferred more as it was closer to the medium bike test in the order that certain parts of the test were structured.
Was nervous as heck when I got to that balance beam as falling off would be disqualifying as what happened on my first medium test but I made it over the thing this time just quite a bit faster than the 10 seconds it should be. Slalom also while I didn't peg any cones I was about 0.3 seconds slower than the under 7 seconds I should have been (think I saw 7.3 on the clock).
But other parts went well enough I thought. Crank there was a bit of a close call but made it in the end.
Test finished and back to the starting point and I was done! As usual teacher told me to come over for comment and since he remembered how bad I was on that medium test day that I failed he commented he was impressed that I had improved quite a bit. I took that as a good sign then went off to wait as the others did their tests.
An hour or so later with everyone done since there are only 4 of us in total no lunch break needed we can wrap this up the teacher said. And announced that everyone has passed! Yay! No need for a second test this time. I'm dooooone!
Then time for more paperwork to get the forms and stuff needed to take to the license center so I can get the license properly updated to show I am licensed for large motorcycle operation! Unfortunately I discovered I had forgot to bring my stamp which is another ancient thing here in Japan they still use for official documents. Not a huge issue though after everything else was done and paid for had to run home get the stamp then go back to stamp it and was out in a few minutes.
As I was leaving for the last time felt a bit of relief and a bit of sadness as it had been two months nearly to the day I first came to sign up for the medium license schooling and now I was done so I would not be coming back to this school ever or riding that course ever again.
But that's it I'm done! I'm free! I can ride any bike I want now! I could go out and buy a turbo Hayabusa if I want.
I am glad I decided to go ahead and go back for the large license school to get it over with even if my first bike will likely only be a 400cc one. Being able to ride all the different bikes at the school for the large class I think improved my riding quite a bit and I am definitely much better at riding now compared to that very first day I went and was allowed to ride. Also much improved compared to how I was when I did the medium test as well. So definitely worth it.
In total for all of the schooling and fees needed for tests and licensing center fees I believe I spent around ~250,000 yen (about $1,600 USD looks like) So bit expensive perhaps. I did save 50,000 yen in total though from the normal cost since they had the campaign going. Also gear I have spent at least another 100,000 Yen on (helmet being half that) but this is something I'll keep using as I ride. Really like the Komine mesh jacket I got the other week it's been quite comfortable. The Shoei GT Air II has also been a rather comfortable and nice fitting helmet though I haven't rode around with it at all with the visor down yet.
But that's it I'm done! I'm free! Will feel weird not having to rush after work to go to school for class anymore or spend a few hours there every weekend. No more worrying about the dang balance beam will never have to do that again.
youtu.be
