A question for the bikers.

passatrider

BillScarab wrote: »

Remember you don't have to do an intensive DAS course. You can do it one lesson a week over a period of time which spreads the cost.

As you are old enough to do DAS I would go for that as there are no restrictions afterwards on what you can ride.

That sounds more attractive to me to be honest. I'm not a biker as such but looking forward to a challenge and getting these bleedin L plates off.

I called the training School where I did my CBT and they told me the total cost would be nearly £850 for MOD 1, MOD 2 including test fees on a 500cc Bike.
They told me that I'd have to take another CBT because I took the original one on a automatic 50cc ped? I know how a geared bike works as I had one when I was 17 - I just see this as trying to make money out of me sorry.

fivetide

BillScarab wrote: »

Remember you don't have to do an intensive DAS course. You can do it one lesson a week over a period of time which spreads the cost.

As you are old enough to do DAS I would go for that as there are no restrictions afterwards on what you can ride.

Quite true. I do think the intensive course gets you ready quicker though. Whole thing in a week, riding most of the day means it gets drilled in. If you do one lesson a week you might end up spending more overall because the first part will be picking it back up again (assuming you can't ride in the week on L plates.)

5t.

Trebor16

im-lost wrote: »

do a CBT if you need to..

If you cant do a u turn in the CBT, you wont be signed off anyway, well you shouldn't be.

The U turn is part of the CBT but you won't be expected to perform it at module 1 test level standard.

im-lost wrote:

Buy a 125cc (YBR, CG etc they hold their value well) to pooter around on and get some experience, 125's are a lot harder to ride than a restricted larger bike, so it will give to more of the necessary skills to pass your test.

How is a 125 harder to ride than a larger machine?

im-lost wrote:

Don't go through a training school to do your 'test' its a waste of money.

Really?

im-lost wrote:

Ride around for a couple of months for the experience.

Experience is always invaluable.

im-lost wrote:

Pay £15.50 to book your mod 1, its all simple stuff that you should be taught in the CBT, and even if you fail it a couple of times, its still cheaper than getting 'training' for it, it really isn't hard, YouTube videos available to see what its all about,

You don't get taught the collision avoidance exercise on CBT and neither do you do the emergency stop at 31mph on CBT.

im-lost wrote:

then pay the £70 to book your mod 2, again it takes no official training to do.

But you would still need to prepare for the test properly and if you don't know what you are doing or fully understand what is required on the test you run the risk of failing and racking up further costs for your re-take.

im-lost wrote:

Its the cheapest and best way to do it IMO, doig a DAS course ad getting a big bike straight away really isnt a good idea, best to to get the skills on something smaller that isn't as keen to kill you..

But earlier you said a 125 is harder to ride than a bigger bike? Even if you get a larger machine restricted you still have the same weight and handling characteristics of the unrestricted version.

Trebor16

fivetide wrote: »

I did my test with a training school and I'm not sure what the issue is? 5 days straight, CBT Tuesday, test on Friday pass!

Helps that you are all insured if you drop the bike but definately worth getting the intensive experience if you can.

Whilst some people might be ok with an intensive five day course it doesn't suit everyone and it is poor advice to suggest it is the best way forward for everyone.

Trebor16

fivetide wrote: »

Quite true. I do think the intensive course gets you ready quicker though. Whole thing in a week, riding most of the day means it gets drilled in.

It doesn't work for everyone and don't forget that riding the bike all day may be too much for some people. It is no guarantee that it will get drilled in either, especially if people start to get tired and reach the limits of how much information they can absorb during the course of the day.

fivetide wrote:

If you do one lesson a week you might end up spending more overall because the first part will be picking it back up again (assuming you can't ride in the week on L plates.)

5t.

Then again you might not spend more.

You don't appear to understand that instructors can't use a one size fits all approach for all their students and they have to be flexible to a persons individual needs. It's sad to see you being irresponsible with your posts and pushing the intensive course as if it is the answer for everyone. It is not.

Trebor16

passatrider wrote: »

They told me that I'd have to take another CBT because I took the original one on a automatic 50cc ped? I know how a geared bike works as I had one when I was 17 - I just see this as trying to make money out of me sorry.

That is nonsense! If you have a valid CBT then you do not have to take another one just because you did the current one on a automatic moped. You might need some tuition on a geared bike but you won't need another complete CBT.

It does look like the training scheme are taking the mick.

kwmlondon

I did my DAS in '08 and it was one of the best things I've ever done. Admittedly, I failed the test twice before passing, but I plugged at it and it was just brilliant. However... I would advise you to get a 125 and ride it for a few months, commuting and getting used to riding so that all your control is second nature and natural. Once you're gettign to this point take a couple of lessons and then take your test, and do it before you get into bad habbits, but from experience, all the stuff that caused me to fail my tests was down to lack of confidence and experience on a motorbike. That's my 2p's worth anyway. Good luck and I hope you enjoy biking as much as wot I do!

boyse7en

How is a 125 harder to ride than a larger machine?

I don't know, but it in my experience from my DAS course it definitely is the case.
When I booked my DAS, the training school offered me the use of a geared 125 (Suzuki from memory) for a couple of evenings to get used to riding a geared bike again - I had done my CBT on a geared bike, but then had ridden an automatic scooter for a year or so. They let me just collect it from the garage and take it out for an hour or so as long as I topped up the fuel.

When it came to the first day of DAS, we all met up in a carpark and I was told to take the Kawasaki ER5 (500) around the carpark a couple of times to just try it out. Did a couple of laps and found it much smoother than the 125, better balanced and far easier to ride slowly. When I returned back to the instructor he said "Bet you found that easier than you thought it would be! These are easier than the 125 you've been riding."

Re: CBT, I'm not 100% sure, but I think that if he did CBT on an automatic then the OP will have to re-do CBT on a geared machine to be able to ride a geared bike as part of the DAS course. That is why I borrowed a geared bike, rather than using my scooter, to do CBT.

Trebor16

boyse7en wrote: »

Re: CBT, I'm not 100% sure, but I think that if he did CBT on an automatic then the OP will have to re-do CBT on a geared machine to be able to ride a geared bike as part of the DAS course. That is why I borrowed a geared bike, rather than using my scooter, to do CBT.

This is something that the Driving Standards Agency are looking at, making a CBT specific to the type of motorcycle you do it on, but at the moment if you take your CBT on an automatic scooter you can then go and ride a geared bike without having to do the CBT again.

Tinks74

boyse7en wrote: »

.....you learn loads of extra tips from the instructor over the week (like don't tuck your sleeves into your gloves....

boyse7en: I'm curious as what the reason for this was?