Direct Access in a week - is it possible?

[AntwerpMan]

Hi,

Currently working overseas (Vietnam) and want to get a full licence so I can get a bike over here.

Was thinking of trying to go the direct access route during a weeks home leave. Now the thing is I havent been on a bike for a long time and even then it was only a 125cc (we are talking 15 years)

How feasible is it to try and cram it all in to a weeks course including the test? Anyone here done it? Do they usually have test slots available or do you have to book the test and then take the course to fit around it?

Any information or pointers would be a great help

Cheers

A

[jdwoodbury]

Hi,

Yes it is possible to do it in a week (as I did), but you need to ensure you have the following in the bag 1st:

CBT certificate
Motorcycle Theory Test

If you have these then approach a local instructor and find out what there DAS course offers, if you are fairly competent with bike controls than I would ask to be shifted onto a 500cc bike on the 2nd day, or of you really want to get on ask to practice on a 500cc from day 1 (private course to start with). Now is a great time to do this as instructors are becoming availble over Winter and you can get a test booked in for the end of the weeks training.

I dont know where you are based when at home, but I can very highly recommend 1 trainer, his name is John Craknell, and he trains from Cradley Heath Kawasaki in the West Midlands (Cradley Heath to be precise), if you are nearby I would look out for him, he did a fantastic job for me any many others I know.

All the best.

[jdwoodbury]

Forgot to mention, most instructors will book your test as part of the DAS.

[sammy_bibs]

Easily,

I had never ridden a bike before & on the Monday/Tuesday was 125's followed by Wed/Thur on the 500's and thest on Fri, bit nerve racking as tests always are, but easily achivable. Good luck to you mate..

Sam..

[Chilli]

Yep, did mine is a week, without ever being on a bike before. Good aren't I??!!

[Steve_T]

Certainly do-able, good luck.

[anonymous-user]

I did mine in 3 days .. but as has been said you need CBT and Theory first.

[AntwerpMan]

I havent got the CBT or theory test under my belt so that could put paid to my plans. Do I still need these even if I have one of the 'old mans' licences which allows me to ride up to 125cc? (passed my test in about 1984 if I remember correctly)

How long does it take to do these things?

thanks for all the answers

[Phone_Monkey]

You need the theory test, some places will do the CBT on the first day, then the DAS the rest of the week. The theory test takes a few weeks to book though, from when I had to do it.

[spdpug98]

sammy_bibs said:

Easily,

I had never ridden a bike before & on the Monday/Tuesday was 125's followed by Wed/Thur on the 500's and thest on Fri, bit nerve racking as tests always are, but easily achivable. Good luck to you mate..

Sam..

Same as me, but did do my Theroy test the week before. Did CBT on the Sunday, 125 Mon & Tues, 500 Wed & Thurs Test on Friday....and never looked back

Good luck

[anonymous-user]

Theory test normally a few weeks to book... unless a cancellation crops up. BUT - with the hazard perception part you really need some time to practice if you want to pass.

[Mad Dave]

I failed my test TWICE

[D_T_W]

I did my theory test a month before my practical test, the places available for the theory can fill up quite quickly so best to book early.
I did my CBT on a Sunday, had an hour of getting used to the 500 on Monday, then full days Tuesday, Wednesday, half day on Thursday with my test just after lunch. Passed with 2 minors

It's quite easy to do, just needs a bit of commitment and patience really. Get it done, best thing i ever did

[RemaL]

as other have said you got no problems in a week. I never been on a bike before the Sunday of my CBT and passed first time on the thurs

[anonymous-user]

I live in Malaysia, and I did DA in a week, flew in Saturday, CBT Sunday, passed test on Wedensday, 2992, but I think the system changed since,

I thought big bikes were unknown in Vietnam, every time we look at a ride there it looks impossible to get anything over a 250cc?

[AntwerpMan]

Thanks for all the advice

Until recently there was a 150cc limit on bike ownership unless you were a member of the police. However since they joined the World Trade Organisation earier this year they have had to change a lot of things and access to larger bikes is one of those things

I will have to look at the possibilities of doing everything in a week or trying to split it over 2 visits

[DavidMBates]

Until sunday I had never been on a bike before. I did a 4 day course (same company as Nimbus did a write up of a while ago, allbikestraining in didcot).
Sunday i did my cbt,
Monday another day on a 125,
Tuesday moved onto a 500 and
Wednesday had the morning on a 500 and passed my test just after lunch (yesterday )
I think i could have easily had another day to be on the safe side, but it is do-able. Although ultimately it's done to me that i picked up everything quickly, the DAS instructor, Mike, was extremely good and can't give him enough credit!!

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for your coment, Joining the World Trade Organisation explains the change, Last week i was invited to go on a ride from Kuala Lumpur to Thailand Cambodia and Vietnam, in early December,and I was surprised as I knew there was a limit at some very low size. I can't make that trip due to work, but the invite makes sense now.

But I bet prices of a big bike in Vietnam will be huge, Thailand is not bad, Malaysia is twicew uk (look at msportnike.com for the price of second hand bikes), Singapore has great prices,

[AntwerpMan]

Berw said:

Thanks for your coment, Joining the World Trade Organisation explains the change, Last week i was invited to go on a ride from Kuala Lumpur to Thailand Cambodia and Vietnam, in early December,and I was surprised as I knew there was a limit at some very low size. I can't make that trip due to work, but the invite makes sense now.

But I bet prices of a big bike in Vietnam will be huge, Thailand is not bad, Malaysia is twicew uk (look at msportnike.com for the price of second hand bikes), Singapore has great prices,

Big bikes are still very rare around Hanoi (although have seen some) but I believe in Ho Chi Minh City there are more about. I think next year will see more on the roads.

Finding one to buy is the biggest problem, haven't looked extensively but my research so far has only thrown up a (new) motto guzzi Nevada classic 750 at $17500 otr. sounds crazy until you see a hyundai sante fe for $53000 or a nissan x-trail for $55,000