Hi,

I hope someone can help...

I am in my late 20's and just about to start learning to ride.

What I basically want to know is should I go for the Direct Access Scheme (paying a good bit of money on the lessons) or should I do the CBT, learn while I ride a 125cc, pass my tests and wait the two years before moving onto something else?

All opinions most welcome

Thanks

David

I'm also in my late 20s too, and learnt to ride last year. I'm very happy with the way I did it, a bit of both methods of your suggestion:

1. Do CBT
2. Buy a cheap 125 (NOT a KYMCO!!!!!)
3. Get in a few month's practice & road experience
4. Do your DAS lessons and A2 (?) test
5. Ride big bike
6. Grin like an idiot

i.e. YES do CBT and 125, but NO don't wait two years for big bike fun
Paying the money for the lessons is pretty much mandatory whichever point you decide to do it - and very very worthwhile. I'm not sure from your post if you're suggesting doing CBT, buy 125 and teach yourself to pass the test?

an instructor or someone who can be arrised to look up the details on the DSA(?) website will be along in a minute to give the proper terms, but at your age you can EITHER do a test and be limited to 33bhp bike for two years and then ride anything, OR you can do your test on a 500cc (tho prob strictly measured by bhp) bike and go straight to riding any bike

HTH

Just one thing to remember, whichever route you take, and that is there is absolutely no substitute for roadcraft. Roadcraft is the knowledge you build up, usually over many years, about riding a bike safely on our congested roads. Every one of us on this forum is still learning it.

Too many folks believe that passing a test (any), and getting bigger and bigger bikes means they have acheived something. In truth its probably increased their chances of a big crash ten-fold. There are some very talented people who can make the step up from a small bike to a bigger one very easily, and some who will never do it. Most of us either are or have been in the middle somewhere, and my advice would be a period of time on a bike that won't bite you back if you get something wrong....

you're over 21-go for direct access, do a cbt, use the money for lessons instead of buying a 125(& loosing money in the process) pass the test, you can ride whatever you can afford to insure.

buying a 125 then "learning" to pass your test on that unaided, will give you road experience, but wont give you the knowledge to pass a test, also the longer you ride a 125 unsupervised, the more bad habits you're likely to get.

if you cant physically ride a 500 cc training bike then the 125 A2 test route is the way to go-means you're restricted to a 33BHP bike for two years, then you can ride anything.

I'm 29 and got my licence just over a year ago

Personally I'd recommend doing DAS and then getting a sensible first bike (I got a Bandit) and as Wolf suggested learn road craft. Get a 'big' bike, go for loads of ride outs on your own and do things at your own pace. Don't be tempted to get on your bike for the first time, and go for a run with your mates unless they are willing to take it easy and help you along. Don't ride past your comfort zone, and you'll soon be ready for ride outs etc.

Try to get recommendations on the trainers near you, I was lucky and knew people who had been to the place I went with and they were brilliant, I also know people who went to another trainer in Chichester and came away with the feeling that the instructors couldn't give a monkeys

passed my test in november last year from cbt to big bike test in six weeks passed first time did it at art of motorcycling in newcastle great instructors have been back to see them and made to feel welcome everytime. Didn`t have my own bike until I passed my test,and bought a 1979 suzuki gs750 on the day I passed my test I rang the insurance company as soon as i got back from the test and on the bike within an hour of passing and haven`t loooked back since . The most rewarding thing I have ever done and now enjoy it more than I had ever thought possible

Thinking back to the bike press for last couple of months, it may well be a better choice to go DAS, because there's likely to be some changes to your choices which would make it a longer (perhaps harder) route to a full license.

Either way, I wish you all the good luck you can get

Thanks to everyone who replied.

I am going to do the CBT in the next few weeks and at that time I'll talk to the instructors (and also see how I get on) with the aim of doing the DAS.

Again thanks

Hiya mate im 24 and im just starting my bike journey to passing my test ive been riding motocross bikes for over a year now but only on fields never on a road, so this is also all very new to me,

Ive got my CBT booked on Saturday 3rd March

Once this is done im going to book my Theory Test Straight away then start my lessons for Direct Access

My instructor that i have choosen has quoted me £450 which includes 4 x 2hr Lessons and My practical Test

im a but worried because the amount of lessons doesnt seem alot, do you think if im an adequate rider that this will be more then enough time to prepare myself for the test,

But to some it up in my opinion, i would go for he direct access and then buy a 600cc bike and just limit yourself till you feel comfortable, this way you havent got to worry about selling a 125cc and searching for a bigger bike and then getting used to the handling etc etc

If it is as you say ..... I would change trainers , that sounds an AWFUL lot for 8 hrs + test .

Wish you well with it

Hopefully Soon

Hi mate unfortunatly thats the going rate in my area and that was atleast a £100 cheaper then most other places,
It is exspensive mate because my mate Tim whose living in northampton had 3 full days of training and his practical test for about £350 which i think is well worth the money, If i could get the time of work id probably stop at his and do my training there, but as i cant and im to inpatient to wait im gonna pay the exspensive price and get it done ASAP

Can I just say a little something..as an L Plater and not passed the test anyway
Always do the DAS 'IF' you have road experience e.g. in a car! I was a pathetic person of over 40 who had never been in charge of a vehicle in my life. Getting that road sense takes time. You need that time on a 125 if you are a novice whatever your age! Well thats what I think and if you dont agree.

I took the two year wait option and dont feel like i missed out on anything I ride a restriced Fazer 600 and its great fun.. Done lots of miles and rallies on her

go DAS mate, im 22 now a year on and im still riding the 1050cc triumph sprint st i bought 2 days after passing my test.

bigger bikes are easier than 125s

Do the das one week your all done.like me went from doing my das brought a bandit sold it lost a bit of money. And went out and got a R1 all in six mouths. The throttle does work both ways my bikes a pussy cat but if you take the piss with it he`ll let you know who boss

i'd say go for whatever your funds allow. I did CBT then the restricted test but that was also because i was only 18. for me at the moment i believe 33bhp should be fine for a while.

I smell a contradiction

Just did my my DAS about a 3 weeks ago, did my cbt a few weeks before that, hired a 125 (from my cbt/das instructor) to practice basics. Then passed DAS first time and so happy I took this route. Got a SV650S a few days ago, seems like a great starter bike.

Price wise this is what I paid.
[url=>Excel Fees<]http://www.excelandpass.co.uk/site/course_fees/default.htm[/url]

For that I got 4 days, 1st day on a 125 perfecting things on that, 2nd day getting used to a 500cc, then 3rd perfecting (not that I mean perfect) the 500cc, the 4th day in the morning around the test area and more practice, 4th day afternoon was my test. All booked an taken care of by the company. Each day's training was from about 9am - 4pm on average. So that gives you an idea of what value for money you ought to get.


HN

£450 seems pretty steep, I paid £550 and that included 5 full days training and included CBT and DAS test. I went with BMF and had a great time even though the training took place the week before Xmas was cold and wet, Alan.

I've heard that the test will be made much harder from October 2008, but surely, people who pass the test before then shouldn't be affected by the new rules. I mean, if you get the pass as an A2 and the terms are that after 2 years it reverts to an A, it should revert regardless, no matter that the tests (and the rules) change after you pass it. Anyone's got any authoritative information on this?

I started out on a C90 - I've heard all the jokes - and got a 125 to practise clutch control so that I wouldn't be on a restricted licence. With the benefit of hindsight, I wouldn't do it that way again, I'd go DAS and get it all over with. That's more relevant now, with the tests allegedly getting harder (again) next year.

I used Advantage Wimbledon for a weekend intensive training and a test on the Monday which cost me about £350 I think. I passed first time but the chap I was training with didn't - he stressed the whole weekend about u-turns and then failed on something else.

Oh, and it's true what's been said on here; bigger bikes are much easier to ride than 125s. They're more solid, you don't perch on top of them, they have real brakes and they have the ability to accelerate out of trouble, instead of just praying that you'll stop in time!

My point? Relax and enjoy it; it's only a test and there'll be another one if you fail but you'll lose less money that way than if you buy a 125 to practice on and then trade up.

Very best of luck with whatever route you decide to take but a clever man learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from the mistakes of others - my route to DAS cost me over £1,000!

blimey, i need to move my training school to wherever you live mate. that price is taking the piss. absolutely taking the piss.
dont do it. tell you what, ill do it for £400 and you can sleep on my sofa!!!!! jesus christ. 4 x 2 hour lessons and a test for that? where do you live , xanadu?

He lives with Olivia Newton John???