Guide and tips for SSDC Class 2b

[Chock 2]

https://youtu.be/axrWlY2ilHA

Hi guys, I made a video on my experience in getting my class 2b license at SSDC and I thought I would share it to give some expectations and tips for the new students. There are timestamps in the video description to save time. Hope it helps. Feel free to ask me questions below

Edited January 9 by Chock

[SBF 32]

Excellent first post, thanks @Chock!

Next couple of years you could do one for Class 2A and Class 2 SSDC tips and tricks.

 

[wishforastar 21]

After passing and getting the 2B licence after a few tries, I would like to share the techniques to clear the 5 courses in the SSDC circuit. 

I would like to also include some tips of Road riding, which is the second part of the TP test.

Allow me to start from the beginning.

Turn on left signal. Check for traffic and check back and move off.

Check right (turn your head right) at the first turn of the circuit shortly after you just move off. Switch off signal change to 2nd gear and then on right signal to prepare to go slope.

1) Slope

U can actually go at normal speed (1st or 2nd gear if already on the move) to go up the slope. (Remember to check right first). If you have difficulty not able to properly go up while halfway up the slope, you can throttle up a slight bit (but I do not think this will happen as there should be enough power)  I have previously stated to accelerate just before turning right to go up the slope but this might cause wide turning.

Clutch in and brake and stop on the slope. Press on the foot brake so the bike does not roll backwards.

Open the throttle. Release the clutch until the sound of the engine goes down.

Maintain and hold the throttle and clutch. Check inwards and release foot brake.  Continue to maintain and hold the throttle and clutch. The bike will move up the slope. 

When the bike is about to go downslope on the other side, slowly release the clutch fully when the bike starts to go down the slope.

Just before the stop line, brake and clutch in to stop the bike.

Check traffic and check back and open throttle and release clutch to move off. Maintain and hold the throttle and clutch when it starts to move. When the bike goes halfway into the first lane, remember to check right first before turning.  Aim to move the bike to enter the centre / middle of the next lane. Remember to maintain and hold the throttle and clutch. There is no need to throttle more / release more clutch.

Continue to maintain and hold the throttle and clutch while moving from just now, after check right, turn right again and stop at the stop line , switch to left signal and get ready to do Figure 8.

 

2) Figure 8

Tip : Check for incoming traffic by looking in front for any traffic first. This is to know if you need to stop at the exit at the end of the Figure 8. 

Open throttle a bit more and move off hard cos you'll need to lower your speed turning left and entering the small lane leading to the Figure 8 course. You are not supposed to press brake when turning. So after moving off , switch to second gear and check left before entering the small lane to go towards the Figure 8.

Once your bike is fully inside the small lane, switch off the signal.

Control the throttle as you are just about to enter the Figure 8 as you need to make a quite sharp turn just before you enter. Once you are in the Figure 8 , steady the bike first, then control the speed and maintain it throughout. For me, I would look a few metres in front on the ground. Just before entering the second half of the Figure 8 course, switch to right signal and remember to check for traffic first by looking up (move your head) near the end.

If there is traffic, stop after the dotted yellow line.

If no traffic, remember to check left after entering the short lane just before exiting the Figure 8 course.

After exiting Figure 8,  switch off signal and remember to go to 3rd gear while proceeding to Crank course.

Remember to check left first as there is a sharp left turn just before the crank course. Remember to slow down so that you can make the sharp turn well to stop before the dotted yellow line, and try to stop at the top right corner if possible. This is so that you have enough room to make the left turn comfortably when you enter the crank course.

 

3) Crank course

Open throttle a bit more and move off, press the clutch and kick to second gear but DO NOT release the clutch yet.

Once you enter the Crank course and steady the bike, SLOWLY release the clutch to engage second gear. If this is done correctly, there should be no loud engine sound and the bike will not stall.

Then, change to right signal. If you have done everything correctly til this point, you should be in the middle of the crank course.

Look up and check for traffic on the road in front, then as you turn the bike to the last part of the course, check for traffic on the left. Then turn your head to check for traffic on the right  just  before exiting.

If there is traffic, stop after the dotted yellow line.

If no traffic, remember to check right when your bike enters halfway in the first lane before turning right to the major road. You may want to throttle a bit when the bike is just exiting the course (if you are afraid the bike is too slow and stall) but you must be careful not to throttle too much or else you may be penalized.

Stop slightly to the left by stopping your bike about the tip of the white arrow pointing left at the T junction, just before stop line.

Check for traffic and remember to check left just before turning left. As you approach the box junction, remember to check traffic left and right (turn your head) 

Proceed further and change to the right lane before turning right (again, remember to check right first). 

Remember to check right again at the turn of the circuit (there are altogether 4 turns of the circuit) before reaching E brake course. 

 

4) E-brake

Check right before moving off.

Change to second gear early. Open throttle slightly to let the speed increase naturally. Glance (don't move your head down) at the lights and make sure the green colour light lights up. This green colour light lights up when the speed is about 30 km/h. 

Then, change to 3rd gear and maintain the throttle. Do not open the throttle too much. The speed should be around 31 to max 35km/h.

Look at the yellow line in front and do the E brake when the tyre touches the line.

Try to glance downwards to see when the front tyre touches the line, then your eyes should quickly look in front , CLOSE the throttle first and quickly apply both front and and rear brakes together and remember to straighten your arms at the same time. (or you will be penalized)

Remember to clutch in just before the engine stalls. Remember your eyes should look in front, not down.

Apply front brakes while changing back to gear 1.

Check both mirrors and turn on right signal.

Check back and move off.

Upon reaching the stop line, you need to give way to incoming vehicles from the left side.

Check traffic, check back and move off , remember to check right again just before entering the major road.

You should change to 3rd gear while proceeding to the narrow plank course.

Just before entering the narrow plank course, remember to turn on left signal and check left (to check for traffic coming out from the waiting area) and then check right (at the turn of the circuit).

Switch off signal once you enter the narrow plank area.

 

4) Narrow Plank

There are a few different techniques to do this course. For me, I use the more commonly used "half-clutch" technique.

Look straight far ahead maybe 500 m away.  For me , I would look at a tree that is very far away.

Turn throttle just slightly.

Release clutch slowly, just enough for the bike to move as this course need very slow speed. Maintain the throttle and clutch.

Once you move off, grip the tank with both legs. This is very important so that you can achieve a good balance on the plank.

Once you go up onto the plank, the bike will take a short while to lose speed and slow down. Then, I would steady the bike first before I  start to balance. When I feel the bike is going to lose balance, I would quickly throttle a bit. I will repeat this until the end.

Let the front wheel of the bike touch the ground at the end of the plank before you clutch in, because as you may know, whenever you clutch in, the bike will move forward fast. So in this way, you can still put in some bit of time even at the end. Not to worry, there is enough distance after the plank for you to clutch in and stop before the stop line. 

5) Pylon Slalom

Remember to move off straight first , accelerate, change to second gear and position the bike towards the right edge when approaching the yellow line beside the first cone so that you have enough room to go pass between the two cones.

Aim for the bike to go in the centre between each pair of cones.

For me, I would look at all the 3 cones as a whole unit.

So once I have cleared the first pair of cones, I would naturally quickly look ahead to repeat the same action on the other pairs of cones.

After you have cleared the pylon course, remember to signal right and check your mirror for oncoming traffic on the right side. 

If no traffic, check right just before going onto the major road.

If got traffic, stop just before the dotted white lines. 

Once you go onto the major road, switch off signal and check right (at the turn of the circuit) and then check right again at the next turn of the circuit, before going back to the waiting area. Remember to go to gear 1 and half-clutch as you go over the hump just as you enter the waiting area. And also look out for pedestrians at the zebra crossing inside the waiting area.

Road Riding (2nd part of TP test)

If you manage to "survive" the circuit section, the TP testers will allow you to go for the road riding section.

1) Turning 

Before you move off, always check traffic first (turn your head left & right) and check back.

At the slope just after coming out of SSDC, you need to check inwards before moving off. 

Every time after you have moved off, remember to check left / right just before you make the left / right turn.

At the box junctions, you need to check back left cos there is a kerb on your right side and you are turning right. 

2) Changing lane

You would be riding in the centre of the lane, on the body of the arrow. 

Signal left / right first.

Then, check mirror and blind spot.

If traffic is clear, move towards the edge of the lane, just beside the white dotted lines.

Check mirror and blind spot again, then slowly enter the next lane. This is to avoid any "abrupt lane changing".

3) U-turn

If you are already moving , u need to slow down and change to 2nd gear.

When the handle bar is about in line with the edge of the kerb, check right, then perform the U turn. You can maintain the speed and be able to U turn into the centre of the next lane. Remember to look up (not down) and in front at the next lane that you are turning into.

Signal left after the whole bike enters the next lane, cos you will need to change to the left lane, but remember you can only change after the zebra crossing zig zag line. 

4) Zebra crossings

Just before entering the filter lane leading to the zebra crossing, check left (for oncoming pedestrians/ cyclists/ PMD riders) , slow down and change to 2nd gear as you are near to zebra crossing, turn your head left and right to check for pedestrians / cyclists / PMD riders, after you have gone past the zebra crossing, check for traffic.

Remember to check left just before you cross the dashed give way lines to go onto the main road.

Good luck !