Doing Direct Access and which size bike to buy?
Discussion
After life getting in the way and me doing nothing about it the first time I got this idea into my head, I am now looking again at doing my CBT and then Direct Access. I'd like to know, if I buy a bike bigger than 125cc, although I know I can't ride it after the CBT can I ride it to the Direct Access course or am I not allowed to do so until after the course?
Do riding schools provide bikes for DAS usually and should I just go that route until I've completed it? Does Direct Access involve a test or is it just a course?
Once I have completed it, what size bike should I be looking at? I'm 37, had a car license for 14 years and obviously enjoy quick cars and have done track driving, hillclimbing etc. but with bikes I'll be a total newbie. I don't want a s
tty bike to start with but I'm aware that I need to spend time learning on something that isn't ballistic.
As an aside, my other half is a former biker girl who wants to ride again. I'm terrified of something happening to her but also reluctant to try and stifle her passion... She would need to do CBT and DAS etc. and as I work away most of the time, we could probably get away with a shared bike initially, so it might be worth me considering a 125cc to stop her riding anything too fast
and then she also has transport (currently has none) while I'm away and she would only need to do the CBT...
Do riding schools provide bikes for DAS usually and should I just go that route until I've completed it? Does Direct Access involve a test or is it just a course?
Once I have completed it, what size bike should I be looking at? I'm 37, had a car license for 14 years and obviously enjoy quick cars and have done track driving, hillclimbing etc. but with bikes I'll be a total newbie. I don't want a s
tty bike to start with but I'm aware that I need to spend time learning on something that isn't ballistic. As an aside, my other half is a former biker girl who wants to ride again. I'm terrified of something happening to her but also reluctant to try and stifle her passion... She would need to do CBT and DAS etc. and as I work away most of the time, we could probably get away with a shared bike initially, so it might be worth me considering a 125cc to stop her riding anything too fast
and then she also has transport (currently has none) while I'm away and she would only need to do the CBT...TroubledSoul said:
After life getting in the way and me doing nothing about it the first time I got this idea into my head, I am now looking again at doing my CBT and then Direct Access. I'd like to know, if I buy a bike bigger than 125cc, although I know I can't ride it after the CBT can I ride it to the Direct Access course or am I not allowed to do so until after the course?
Do riding schools provide bikes for DAS usually and should I just go that route until I've completed it? Does Direct Access involve a test or is it just a course?
Once I have completed it, what size bike should I be looking at? I'm 37, had a car license for 14 years and obviously enjoy quick cars and have done track driving, hillclimbing etc. but with bikes I'll be a total newbie. I don't want a stty bike to start with but I'm aware that I need to spend time learning on something that isn't ballistic.
As an aside, my other half is a former biker girl who wants to ride again. I'm terrified of something happening to her but also reluctant to try and stifle her passion... She would need to do CBT and DAS etc. and as I work away most of the time, we could probably get away with a shared bike initially, so it might be worth me considering a 125cc to stop her riding anything too fast and then she also has transport (currently has none) while I'm away and she would only need to do the CBT...
1) No you can't ride a larger bike than 125cc without passing your tests unless accompanied by an instructor and on L plates. Do riding schools provide bikes for DAS usually and should I just go that route until I've completed it? Does Direct Access involve a test or is it just a course?
Once I have completed it, what size bike should I be looking at? I'm 37, had a car license for 14 years and obviously enjoy quick cars and have done track driving, hillclimbing etc. but with bikes I'll be a total newbie. I don't want a s
tty bike to start with but I'm aware that I need to spend time learning on something that isn't ballistic. As an aside, my other half is a former biker girl who wants to ride again. I'm terrified of something happening to her but also reluctant to try and stifle her passion... She would need to do CBT and DAS etc. and as I work away most of the time, we could probably get away with a shared bike initially, so it might be worth me considering a 125cc to stop her riding anything too fast
and then she also has transport (currently has none) while I'm away and she would only need to do the CBT...2) Riding schools will provide the bike
3) Direct Access involves 2 practical tests - module 1 and module 2. Module 1 is in a DVSA compound next to the test centre, and involves many cones. Module 2 is on road using an examiner as sat nav
https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-test/module-1-offroa...
https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-test/module-2-onroad...
4) Test ride as many bikes as you can and get whatever you want. The bike, like a car, is only going to go as fast as you move the throttle.
CookieR said:
TroubledSoul said:
After life getting in the way and me doing nothing about it the first time I got this idea into my head, I am now looking again at doing my CBT and then Direct Access. I'd like to know, if I buy a bike bigger than 125cc, although I know I can't ride it after the CBT can I ride it to the Direct Access course or am I not allowed to do so until after the course?
Do riding schools provide bikes for DAS usually and should I just go that route until I've completed it? Does Direct Access involve a test or is it just a course?
Once I have completed it, what size bike should I be looking at? I'm 37, had a car license for 14 years and obviously enjoy quick cars and have done track driving, hillclimbing etc. but with bikes I'll be a total newbie. I don't want a stty bike to start with but I'm aware that I need to spend time learning on something that isn't ballistic.
As an aside, my other half is a former biker girl who wants to ride again. I'm terrified of something happening to her but also reluctant to try and stifle her passion... She would need to do CBT and DAS etc. and as I work away most of the time, we could probably get away with a shared bike initially, so it might be worth me considering a 125cc to stop her riding anything too fast and then she also has transport (currently has none) while I'm away and she would only need to do the CBT...
1) No you can't ride a larger bike than 125cc without passing your tests unless accompanied by an instructor and on L plates. Do riding schools provide bikes for DAS usually and should I just go that route until I've completed it? Does Direct Access involve a test or is it just a course?
Once I have completed it, what size bike should I be looking at? I'm 37, had a car license for 14 years and obviously enjoy quick cars and have done track driving, hillclimbing etc. but with bikes I'll be a total newbie. I don't want a s
tty bike to start with but I'm aware that I need to spend time learning on something that isn't ballistic. As an aside, my other half is a former biker girl who wants to ride again. I'm terrified of something happening to her but also reluctant to try and stifle her passion... She would need to do CBT and DAS etc. and as I work away most of the time, we could probably get away with a shared bike initially, so it might be worth me considering a 125cc to stop her riding anything too fast
and then she also has transport (currently has none) while I'm away and she would only need to do the CBT...2) Riding schools will provide the bike
3) Direct Access involves 2 practical tests - module 1 and module 2. Module 1 is in a DVSA compound next to the test centre, and involves many cones. Module 2 is on road using an examiner as sat nav
https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-test/module-1-offroa...
https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-test/module-2-onroad...
4) Test ride as many bikes as you can and get whatever you want. The bike, like a car, is only going to go as fast as you move the throttle.
I definitely fancy a sports bike but sounds like the best plan would be to get the CBT done and buy a 125cc to start. She can use that then while I'm away with work for another couple of months then we can tackle the Direct Access and take it from there...
Really appreciate the help guys, thank you.
Really appreciate the help guys, thank you.
I did my CBT then rode a 125 for nearly two years (did my final big bike test the weekend my CBT expired). The thing is I was already an experienced rider by the time I did my test which is really what the examiner wants to see.
Buy a decent 125 (Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki etc) and I pretty much guarantee you won't lose a penny on it when you come to sell it. I made a few hundred quid profit on my DT. The used market for 125s is huge.
Buy a decent 125 (Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki etc) and I pretty much guarantee you won't lose a penny on it when you come to sell it. I made a few hundred quid profit on my DT. The used market for 125s is huge.
TroubledSoul said:
I definitely fancy a sports bike but sounds like the best plan would be to get the CBT done and buy a 125cc to start. She can use that then while I'm away with work for another couple of months then we can tackle the Direct Access and take it from there...
Really appreciate the help guys, thank you.
That's what I did tbh. There are pros and cons to both approaches but it won't hurt to ride about on a 125 and get a bit of experience built upReally appreciate the help guys, thank you.
If the Mrs is a biker girl already and looking to get back into things, why would she need to do A DAS? Unless she never actually did any tests.
At 41 I did my DAS, bought a 650cc naked Kawasaki, rode it for 6 months and really wanted that nice and shiny bike, so bought a 2013 Yamaha MT09. The biggest stumbling block will be insurance, so shop around, get quotes and just buy the bike you want.
You may find a sports bike doesn't suit you, so test ride a few. Most dealers are happy to let you out. I took a MT09-Sp for a test, I thought they'd look at my licence and laugh, but they were incredibly helpful
At 41 I did my DAS, bought a 650cc naked Kawasaki, rode it for 6 months and really wanted that nice and shiny bike, so bought a 2013 Yamaha MT09. The biggest stumbling block will be insurance, so shop around, get quotes and just buy the bike you want.
You may find a sports bike doesn't suit you, so test ride a few. Most dealers are happy to let you out. I took a MT09-Sp for a test, I thought they'd look at my licence and laugh, but they were incredibly helpful
DuckSauce said:
If the Mrs is a biker girl already and looking to get back into things, why would she need to do A DAS? Unless she never actually did any tests.
At 41 I did my DAS, bought a 650cc naked Kawasaki, rode it for 6 months and really wanted that nice and shiny bike, so bought a 2013 Yamaha MT09. The biggest stumbling block will be insurance, so shop around, get quotes and just buy the bike you want.
You may find a sports bike doesn't suit you, so test ride a few. Most dealers are happy to let you out. I took a MT09-Sp for a test, I thought they'd look at my licence and laugh, but they were incredibly helpful
Let's just say she used to cut a lot of corners in a former life... She's grown up since then so she'll do things properly with me.At 41 I did my DAS, bought a 650cc naked Kawasaki, rode it for 6 months and really wanted that nice and shiny bike, so bought a 2013 Yamaha MT09. The biggest stumbling block will be insurance, so shop around, get quotes and just buy the bike you want.
You may find a sports bike doesn't suit you, so test ride a few. Most dealers are happy to let you out. I took a MT09-Sp for a test, I thought they'd look at my licence and laugh, but they were incredibly helpful
I had never even sat on a bike until I went for my CBT. The on road portion of my CBT day was done on an MT07, so my experience of a 125 is limited to about an hour and a half in a car park, I've never ridden a 125 on the road.
I passed my test 3 months after the CBT and bought an MT07 a couple of days later. I did about 900 miles on that bike but then had a great opportunity to buy a 765 Street Triple RS. 18 months on from that I'm still enjoying the Street and have covered nearly 11k miles on it.
Depending on your outlook and your ability to restrain yourself with big power I don't think there's any need to have a 125 before going bigger.
Good luck with learning and the tests, learning to ride is one of the best things I've ever done. The thing that amazes me is how many people actually ride, I've had a lot of conversations with people through work that would have been very different if biking hadn't been brought up.
I passed my test 3 months after the CBT and bought an MT07 a couple of days later. I did about 900 miles on that bike but then had a great opportunity to buy a 765 Street Triple RS. 18 months on from that I'm still enjoying the Street and have covered nearly 11k miles on it.
Depending on your outlook and your ability to restrain yourself with big power I don't think there's any need to have a 125 before going bigger.
Good luck with learning and the tests, learning to ride is one of the best things I've ever done. The thing that amazes me is how many people actually ride, I've had a lot of conversations with people through work that would have been very different if biking hadn't been brought up.
OP I'm very similar to yourself 34 been driving for many years. Completed my CBT a couple of weeks ago, passed my theory last weekend and have my first lesson on a big next weekend. I was very put off after completing my CBT and it definitely knocked my confidence, but I figure it'll be totally different when I have some more miles under my belt.
As for bikes I've been looking at a few things from an older CBR600 F4 to a newer bikes like a MT-07, Ninja 650 or a Honda CBR650R or possiblly the naked version. But I'm waiting until I've passed my test so I can ride a few
As for bikes I've been looking at a few things from an older CBR600 F4 to a newer bikes like a MT-07, Ninja 650 or a Honda CBR650R or possiblly the naked version. But I'm waiting until I've passed my test so I can ride a few
Well the other reason for getting the 125 to start is that I might not get to do DAS until November. I work overseas, I'm about to return after a 3 month stint and I'll be home for four weeks then gone again. A week of that break will involve a Ring trip in the car, so I might only have done the CBT by the time I leave again. I'd like to grab a cheap bike to start with that I can leave behind for the OH to ride.
Once I come back again in November I will try and get a DAS done (I'll try and get both of us onto one). It all just depends. She can keep the 125 at that point as we'll need a bike each eventually anyway and I will get something a bit bigger. She reckons my first bike will be dropped, I'll fall off, the lot.
I also live pretty much next door to Squire's near Leeds which I'm sure any of you from the North will be familiar with, so there's always a shed load of bikes around me when I'm home! I need to try it....
Once I come back again in November I will try and get a DAS done (I'll try and get both of us onto one). It all just depends. She can keep the 125 at that point as we'll need a bike each eventually anyway and I will get something a bit bigger. She reckons my first bike will be dropped, I'll fall off, the lot.
I also live pretty much next door to Squire's near Leeds which I'm sure any of you from the North will be familiar with, so there's always a shed load of bikes around me when I'm home! I need to try it....
Edited by TroubledSoul on Monday 15th July 06:00
You’re probably less likely to drop your first bike than any other as you’re so cautious with your new toy, I used to triple check everything was stable before even thinking of walking away from it. You don’t magically stop dropping things once you’ve done it once.
As for falling off, bikers of all experiences fall off, no one’s infallible. I don’t buy into the “get a crap bike first” idea, if you don’t care about it you won’t take as good care of it as you would your dream bike, so obviously you’re more likely to dump it
As for falling off, bikers of all experiences fall off, no one’s infallible. I don’t buy into the “get a crap bike first” idea, if you don’t care about it you won’t take as good care of it as you would your dream bike, so obviously you’re more likely to dump it
Don't forget to factor in the bike theory test. I think it's about £30 but getting booked in might have a long time lead.
Reference what bike you want. I wouldn't worry about it too much as second hand bikes don't lose too much value providing you don't pay dealers top money for them.
Reference what bike you want. I wouldn't worry about it too much as second hand bikes don't lose too much value providing you don't pay dealers top money for them.
CBT-Theory-Mod1-Mod2 for your full A class license.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-rou...
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-rou...
Also you can technically buy and ride your own bike for your DAS training and tests (as long as it’s powerful enough for an A licence), you’ll only be able to ride it with an instructor present and insurance might be a pain to arrange. I saw a guy turn up for his Mod2 on his own Bonneville when I was there, his colleague rode to the centre with him as a pillion, took and passed his test then rode home with his colleague on the back.
Much, much easier just to use one of the bikes provided by the school though, it’s already included in the price and it’ll be something half decent and easy to ride like an SV, CB650 or MT07
Much, much easier just to use one of the bikes provided by the school though, it’s already included in the price and it’ll be something half decent and easy to ride like an SV, CB650 or MT07
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