Number of days for DAS

[randomman]

Good Morning, I've been eyeing up some DAS prices and it's hard to work out how long I'll need. So far I've ridden a 125 through rain, winds, snow and Christmas traffic in a town where the town planners are to town planning, what the SS were for race relations. Ive also covered circa 100k in cars over the years. Yet numerous websites seem to think I'll need another 3-4 days training, obviously at a fair cost.

Now if I need it, I need it. I'm just not convinced that by the time I look to do it (6 months or so) that I will. So my question is, how much more is there to learn? Is it possible to just go straight to the test or am I likely to fail terribly?

Any advice or tips also gratefully received.

[trickywoo]

A big bike feels very different to a 125. You might get used to it in a day but it might take longer.

Rather than look at a das package it might be better to have a 2 hour lesson on a big bike and see how you go.

[ncjones]

trickywoo said:

Rather than look at a das package it might be better to have a 2 hour lesson on a big bike and see how you go.

This.

I snuck through just before the rules changed 2 years ago and got a restricted licence, self taught except for the CBT. I kept the 125 until my restriction expired last Nov. Now had a couple of hours of lessons on a 600, partly to help me decide what next, but mainly to help the transition to a 'proper bike'.

[Tall_Paul]

By the time I did my DAS I had done around 5000 miles over 6 months in all weathers, and I did a 3 day DAS which went like this:

Day 1: 8am to 12:30pm - mixture of mod2 and mod1 stuff, slalom/u turn/manual handling.
Day 2: 9am to 1:30pm - same as above, a visit to turn test centre to see the place, more practice on the same mod1 elements
Day 3: 8am to 1:30pm - mod1 swerve/emergency stop/controlled stop (done on that day so it was in the same conditions as the test) followed by mod1 at 9:30am. Passed with 0 minors. Mod2 practice (and a decent breakfast) until the test at 12:30pm. Passed with 2 minors.

It was just me and the instructor on day 1 and 3, with another trainee on day 2.

I had a little experience on a big bike, roughly an hour total on an mt07 and nc750, so took me a few seconds to get used to the er6n I was using for my DAS.

If you're down near to north Kent I'll reccomend the training school I used, they're one of the cheapest in the area too.

[Tim85]

I had a couple of years on a scooter when I was 16/17 then didn't get on a bike un till I did my das when I was 25/26.

I did my theory and cbt seperately then I had 1 2 hour lesson and straight onto mod 1 then another 2 hour lesson and straight onto mod 2.

It didn't take long at all. I also had years in a car so I didn't have to learn road craft just how to actually operate a bike.

[stupidbutkeen]

Took me 2 months from deciding I want a 50cc scooter to get to work to having a 600 to play about with.
day 1-want a 50cc scooter
day 2 buy a 100cc scooter realize I now need a CBT
day 3 book CBT
day 6 do CBT-realize I could have a 125 instead of a 100cc scooter, Buy a CBF125
day 7 insure tax CBF and have 1st ride on my own bike
day 10 sell scooter and realize I dont like L plates
day 11 book theory
day 25 pass theory.
day 26 book mod1 then book DAS with instuctor
day 35 do CBT for 600 bike(had only done CBT for a 125 before)
day 38 pratice cone work for 3 hours
day 39 pass mod 1
day 40 book mod 2
day 58/59 road work on a 600 2 hours per day
day 60 pass mod 1 buy fzs600
day 61 onwards happy riding apart from the snow and gales.

[carmadgaz]

I looked at a 3day course at £515 and a slightly less intense one at around £640. Got in touch with the place I did my CBT in the end for a 2 hour 'sample' session to see how much I need.

Was supposed to be this morning but was iced off . They were finishing gritting when I got there but the roads around the yard were a little grim as well, the MX-5 was happy to try and swap ends with anymore than a trickle of power .

Booked in again for next weekend instead

[BobSaunders]

I got told by a company up in Manchester that i would need a 8-9 day course for going from zero to hero.

Turns out after a bit of asking around, post taking my CBT with them and subsequently failing(?) that they are a bunch of pirates albeit they have a slick website and a professional exterior.

Suggest asking around locally with people at work who ride bikes who they would use.

I am now using a good local company.

[Dog Star]

My missus went from never having been on a bike (ie no idea what did what) to full license in 3 days. She did it to surprise me. then she got an R1.

[anonymous-user]

Day 1: CBT
Day 2: Tuition
Day 3: Tuition
Day 4: Mod 1 followed by more tuition
Day 5: Tuition followed by Mod 2.
Easy. Add an extra afternoon for the theory test.

[Dannaz]

Day1, 2 hour ride on DAS bike to assess my riding (already had cbt from same school previous year, 4000 miles under belt before DAS started)

1 Week break to do Theory

Day2, Mod 1 Training
Day3, Mod 1 Test
Day4, Mod2 Training
Day5, Half day Mod2 training on way to Mod 2 test.

So in all 3 days of training and 2 exams for £500

[The Beaver King]

Got my DAS in 2 weeks, so I can pass on what I've been told to date.

Did my CBT back in September 14 on a 125cc manual and did my theory in December.

I haven't ridden a bike (aside from on my CBT) in 6 years (100cc scooter). I am using the same guys for my DAS as my CBT; they are confident I will only need a 4 day course to pass. This is based on how well I picked up everything on my CBT.

Judging from your amount of experience on a smaller bike, I can't see you needing anymore time than me. Obviously I don't know you, but I'd have thought you would be okay on a 3 day course.

Probably worth taking the advice of those above and booking a couple of hour lesson to let your instructor decide.

Best of luck.

ETA:

I think you are running a risk booking straight into a test. For one, you really would want some time getting to know the bike; two, the training will cover the contents of the test. While you would probably be fine on the Mod 2 (road ride), the Mod 1 training will cover and let you practice all the maneuvers.

It's a big risk for the sake of a couple of hundred quid and you could end up spending that in re tests....

Edited by The Beaver King on Monday 19th January 10:33

[powerstans]

Did mine slightly differently,

CBT for fun and liked it.

Then did Theory test.

Booked Mod 1 with local school 2 days, training day 1 including road ride to break up the day, training following morning, then road ride to test, test after lunch.

Passed!

Booked 2 days and Mod 2 through same school, traininig day 1, road ride and test lunch time day 2.

Passed!

Most schools seem to charge for a day whether you take your test in the morning or afternoon!

Also by passing each test before booking the next there were no loss of test fee (Fail MOD 1 with Mod 2 booked the follwing day you will loose that fee as well, 2 re tests are about £100 plus tuition time).

This time of year unless you are using the bike as your only transport there is no rush as April onwards usually the start of the better weather.

[aspirated]

BobSaunders said:

I got told by a company up in Manchester that i would need a 8-9 day course for going from zero to hero.

Turns out after a bit of asking around, post taking my CBT with them and subsequently failing(?) that they are a bunch of pirates albeit they have a slick website and a professional exterior.

Suggest asking around locally with people at work who ride bikes who they would use.

I am now using a good local company.

Any info in this? Just passed my CBT and looking around for a good company to do a DAS course with next year, in Manchester

[Scobblelotcher]

I went from never having been on a bike to completing DAS and mod 1+2 in 6 days. First day (Sunday) was CBT and road time culminating in mod 1+2 on Friday morning and then I hoped on to a GSX-R600 for 3 years.

The GSX-R600 is a good first bike imho, zero torque down low and no real power until over 8k and then a frenzied top end. The bike is also very light and I personally found it easy to manage once I learned to keep my weight off my wrists.

[Zakalwe]

Went from “never ridden before” to “full licence” in 3 months with work/travelling breaking it up in between stages. CBT in a day, theory the following week. 2 days training on a big bike, passed Mod 1. Booked another day to practice, passed Mod2 the day after. If you’re lucky with test dates you could knock it out much more swiftly