direct access or lessons and test?

[mongman]

been on my ickle nsr125 for a few months and a mate who's a biker and driving instructor suggested i take some lessons and do my full bike test after crimbo before the test gets harder. my sister on the other hand said to do my da as the normal test means you're limited. i'm 26 so i know i'm not limited by age. which is the best (and cheapest) method?
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previous: '02 honda nsr, '89 kawasaki zxr 750 h1
current: '09 zzr 1400

[cosstick]

hey, im in the same situation,

Your options are:
DAS
-Costs £3-500 depending on riding experience
-Means you can ride any bike you like after passing (any engine size)
-Have to be 21

Or
A2/restricted ? i think it is
-lower cost (not entirely sure but alot less than das)
-restricted to a 33bhp bike, so you can either find a bike that is built as 33bhp eg.hyosung 250, or you can get a bigger bike and get a restrictor kit fitted to make it legal
-restriction lasts 2 years, then you can ride any bike you like

It depends on you realy, if you can put up with a restricted bike for a couple of years, do the restricted test and if you get bored of the 33bhp bike do the das when you have more money. or save and do the das first, which would probably be most advised here.

going to keep an eye on this thread to help me decide too

[Newbiker0507]

[CHR15]

my a2 is costing £380 which is sat + sun full days training and wed 7.30 till 10 training then test at 10.14 :s that includes 125 hire.
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Turbocharged drag thing / project death weapon / GK73A
Ste: I'm not entirely sure how you'd go about verbally abusing someone with a potato but I'm sure it's possible.

[CHR15]

double post

epic fail
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Turbocharged drag thing / project death weapon / GK73A
Ste: I'm not entirely sure how you'd go about verbally abusing someone with a potato but I'm sure it's possible.

[MattEMulsion]

The cheapest method would be to take some lessons and do the test on your own bike, but then you will be restricted for the next two years.

My advice would be to bite the bullet and do the DAS, then you will be free to ride whatever you want. At 26, the DAS has got to be the way for you to go.
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Yamaha YZF-R6

[mongman]

so the question is if i use my own 125 can i bypass the first half (i'm informed is done on a 125 and only a couple of days on a full sized bike) does that halve the cost? i don't see the point in spending 2 days riding my own bike which i do for work anyway. i guess they'll do an assessment on my riding but can you do a half da? i don't have much time off work as i do nights monday to friday so the shorter the timescale the better.
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previous: '02 honda nsr, '89 kawasaki zxr 750 h1
current: '09 zzr 1400

[swiftb]

Do an intensive course if times a problem, over 3 or 4 days with the test at the end. Will cost you £400-£500 ish but will be well worth it in the long run.

[mongman]

i know, but i can't take time off work so only have weekends. that's why i was hoping to do the tewst after lessons. can't see why there's a difference
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previous: '02 honda nsr, '89 kawasaki zxr 750 h1
current: '09 zzr 1400

[Kickstart]

Hi

Cost wise, if you do the restricted test and then want to buy a bigger bike and legally ride it you will need to restrict it. Which will add to the cost , bringing the cost of the 2 tests closer together (or possibly making the DAS cheaper if you would restrict the bike with an official kit).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Mudskipper]

[Azonicben]

At 26 (same as me) do the DAS. I went down the das route, no restrictions. Ive started small on a cbr4 but i must admit that even 65bhp has lost its initial "fvck thats quick" novelty, and now i`m concentrating more on getting the most from it, i imagine 33bhp would be frustrating to say the least, thats if you bother with restricting your bike a lot dont, but thats a whole other can o worms
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Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R

[Newbiker0507]

[NexusDragon]

I found that going straight for the DAS was a good choice.. It was quite expensive at £525 for three days although this was with the same instructor as with my Cbt just six months prior. I only covered 400 miles on my Ybr125 (it was winter and I was too nervous to go out).

It was of course a big risk, parting with a good few hundred smackers without any gaurantee of passing but if you can get yourself in the right mind set, clear your head and focus on the training then your chances of passing (and of course, getting a full unrestricted licence) increase and opens up plenty of doors if your looking for a jump up in size. I've done a good 3500k so far in less than a year on my 600 so doing it was (for me) quite beneficial.
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DAS Passed 19th April 08. 07' YBR125 > Yamaha FZ6 S2 '08 > 1998 YZF600R ThunderCat

[adamcpi50sx08]

wen i done my cbt the lad told me that if i took my bike test when im 17 with the A2 restricted thing i will be able to ride any size bike when im 19 is this right, but if this is true what is the biggest bike i can ride until im 19 would this mean i gotta stay on a 125 til im 19 or can i get a 33bhp restricted bike, thanks alot adam
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CR 125 (OFFROADER) - DEP PIPE ETC
CPI 50 SX 2008 - NO MODS YET EXCEPT FROM A SET OF ACERBIS HANDGUARDS

[Mudskipper]

[NiteMare]

[adamcpi50sx08]

^^^ this guy knows his stuff, i was gonna wait til i was 17 and get a 125 but then i realised if i get a 50 when im 16 i will have alot more road knowledge etc and as they say u learn more when u get out on the road by yourself
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CR 125 (OFFROADER) - DEP PIPE ETC
CPI 50 SX 2008 - NO MODS YET EXCEPT FROM A SET OF ACERBIS HANDGUARDS

[s44678]

[Neorion]

I am 28 and never ridden beofre my cbt, I went straight for my DAS for slightly more money I know thats its done and out of the way no need to think about restrictions etc.

I think I made the right decision as I know I "cannot" ride yet I only passed my test so I will learn when I get a big bike.

The only difference between the 2 is you pass on a 125 or 500.


Plus you have a 125 so you dont NEED to get a bigger bike straight away, you could get anything when you want too.
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VFR FI 2000- Shiney Red Thing
"some things man was never meant to know, for everything else there's Google"

[mongman]

i agree with all the points made however i'm still a bit unsure. (typical really!) as my usual foul weather hack is my modded volvo i'm still in the 'happy' stages with the nsr, up untill if had to strip it to find the annoying rattle (still not found). i'm thinking if i swapped it for a full bike (tempted to find a nice unmolested stolen recovered sportsbike for summer fun and commute) i'll still be wowed by something twice as powerfull, albeit twice as heavy. still, the faff restricting it's a pest.
reference the comment about doing the das over a weekend my local centre won't do it. also they said even if i was deemed ok after a inspection ride (£40) i'd still have to pay £470 for the das, only £30 less than before. don't really see the point in bothering now. after crimbo (Merry Christmas!!) i'll do my theory then look around for a cheaper place to try for my das.
rather annoyed after passing my hgv theory which is similar i gotta pay gordon brown another 35 quid to do my bike theory. but that's life. if anyone knows of a good friendly training place in the rugby/coventry area please say. i'll just keep plugging away. keep safe all.
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previous: '02 honda nsr, '89 kawasaki zxr 750 h1
current: '09 zzr 1400

[Neorion]

I would defo look for somewhere else!

I was £500 all in at Biketec in Aberdeen ( and things here are not cheap generally)

That was for the CBT 3 1/2 days DAS and my Test fee plus the time on the 125 for my asessment.

The weather was crap! But I would say my shit weather cherry was popped under supervision and I would hope will see me alright in the future.

Charging £40 is nonsense.

My
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VFR FI 2000- Shiney Red Thing
"some things man was never meant to know, for everything else there's Google"

[Newbiker0507]

[Rufus]

[Newbiker0507]