Direct access ban.

[Darkside]

Rumour has it that the good old government are carrying out a review as to whether or not direct access on motorcycle should be allowed to continue. I this legislation was to be passed through Parliament this would then mean that every rider wishing to take his/her test would have to start out on a 125cc machine. Does anyone have any information on this as to wether or not it is true??Or just any general comments on the topic.

[Ste]

It is nothing more than a rumour, have a look through this thread.

[mattsmith95]

[Rob W]

To be honest it DOES make sense for people who have never ridden a bike. I used to work with a bloke who'd never ridden a bike before, me and my old man were going to work on his TL-R, got talking to him about bikes, said he's always wanted one, the bloke went and did his test, bought a brand new R6 and within two weeks he was dead

Yeah that's a pretty extreme example, but it would stop people who have no 'real' experience going out and buying bikes way too powerful for their riding ability and hurting/killing themselves or others. I mean I've had a few bikes, a TS50, MTX125, RS125 and rode a ZXR-400 for about a month, and used to think I could just jump straight on a 600/1000 but when I really think about it, I know I wouldnt be able to ride it properly yet

[paulyzf600]

I beleive alot of it comes down to how mucha nd how good your training is.
I have heard ppl on here talk about maybe's having one lesson before their 125 test's which means they have only had there CBT since whihc is not training in my eyes and teaches no raod sense what so ever!
I had 7-8 3 hour lessons before my DAS test and the training was top class. although thats still no excuse to go out and disrespect the fact that I am a new rider and still have lots to learn.
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Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally I am not that keen on the idea of direct access. Too many people seem to use it to do their test and jump straight onto a large bike for which they have no experience to prepare themselves.

How many people think it is a good idea to put someone on an R6 having done less miles on a bike than many of us do in a weeks normal commuting?

However I am not sure what the solution is. First thing is to possibly start being a but more blunt and tell people not to be so stupid as to think that scraping through their test makes them anything other than a liability on a fast bike.

I don't think the 33hp limit is a good idea. Too restrictive and too long for anyone riding a bike, irrelevant for someone who just does their test and then doesn't ride for a couple of years.

All the best

Keith
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[craigie b]

I don;t think it would be that bad an idea. If you want a nice bike with a big look (as I did) then there is a plethora of 2 strokes that will go fast enough for you to kill yourself, look the part and have great fun. I did a day long CBT as I had never ridden a motorbike in my life and have spent the past four month on my NSR which is a great laugh. However I still find myself pulling the occassional wheelie by accident, slipping on shit etc and I think had it been a more powerfull bike I owuld probably be injured by now! Small bikes are good as they teach you without giving you the means to go bezerk so maybe forcing you to drive one for a while would not be such a bad idea.

[allweatherbik...]

With hindsight I now believe that a 2 year restriction period is a good idea. It gives you time to learn bike roadcraft which is a bit different from car roadcraft. I've been driving a car for over 30 years and had a 125 for 6 months and 500 (restricted to 33 BHP) for 6 months and the bike is still more powerful than I can comfortably handle yet. This comes from someone who failed direct access twice and looks upon it as something of blessing.
Cheers
Ian

[Bod]

I drove my 125 marauder for a year before deciding on doing my DAS. I only had 2x2 hour lessons as I did not need anything more. I then bought a ZXR400, rode that for 4 months and then bought a RSV Mille. I was worried about this to be honest, but I know what my limits are and don't go balls to the bone everywhere. Otherwise, I think I would be dead. There are many times, when I have set off to quick and feel the front lift and I have just shit it. That is because of my lack of experience. I think DAS is a good idea IF you have experience of the road, i.e. driven a car or motorbike for a period of time i.e. 2 years. That way people have experience of the roads and what is likely to happen, i.e. twats pulling out on you at the last minute. These things are more likely to kill you rather than the bikers fault (perhaps).

[Frost]

I read MCN the other day and was horrified at all the people saying it was the worst thing ever to be restricted for a year and saying how they will struggle to find bikes etc.

Yet no doubt these are the same people who were in favour of a TWO year restriction for under 21's, simply because it wouldnt apply to them.

I think restricting people is stupid as is allowing anyone over 21 onto and bike they can afford. In my oppinion the only fair way to do it is that to take your bike test you must have been riding a bike of 125cc or less for a year, then you should be allowed unrestricted access to any sized bike.
There are plenty of Learner legal 125's out there for people to use, and time on a 125 teaches road sense. at least that way it would be expirnce that counted and not age.

[mchaggis]

Look at it this way, if I passed my test next year on the 18th of June, I could only ride a bike with up to 33bhp for two years. If I pass my test on the 19th of June, I can ride anything darn thing I want to... Hrm, Fireblade anyone?

To my mind this is completely ridiculous. A single day and a perhaps fractionally harder test (?) make that much difference? I somehow don't think so.
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Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[Rollins]

[Ste]

Whatever system they come up with there is going to be one day when you're allowed to ride a bike of a certain power and the next you can ride any power.

Rollins, yes if his birthday is on the 19th June he can do DAS that day and ride any power bike or on the 18th June he could do his restricted access test.

[Sparks!]

Personally I think everyone should be restricted to a 125 for 6 months or so, then up to a 400 then up or something.. I don't know exactly so please don't moan that.. but I think it would save a lot of lives and make bikers on the road in general better road users..

I know it's easy for us to say stuff like this, as it won't apply to us.. but I'd happily have done further compulsury training and SENSIBLE restrictions for a set period if it made me a better safer learner rider..

Just my
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[stinkwheel]

[jonboy]

The thing is though, is there any actual evidence that it's these people who are jumping on big bikes after direct access that are actually having the crashes? And within the 12month time period that they would be restricted to with a 33bhp limit as well?
We've all heard the anecdotes, but I heard them with the whole born again bikers thing a few years ago but never once saw any evidence that born agains were at any more risk than any other relatively new riders.
Seems like the usual bullshit Labour talk shite to get in the headlines to me.

[Demonic69]

I think it's a god idea, at least for the 1st year. I also think all these born-agains should have to have some kind of restriction too.
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[stryker]

This is kind of like the smoking ban topic. Technically if we rule out DAS then we are simply saving people from their own stupidity.

I have no problem with someone hopping on a 90bhp bike. A 90bhp bike can be driven with care. However open up the throttle and you'll find yourself in trouble a damn site faster!

At the end of the day as you probably all know I'm not for the state deciding what is and is not safe to do. I'd rather make my own decisions because if I can't I'm not free.

One thing that does worry me. Thats people new to the roads having a bike as their first vehicle. Now that is risky!
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Now what?

[RooRoo]

My instructor said its more dangerous letting someone go around on a 33bhp bike for 2 years, then when that 2 years is up get on an R1 thinking they're ready to drive this bike to its limits because they're restriction is ended.

[TiN]

I personally think that the current age discrimination is wrong, but not the schemes themselves. When I did my DAS, there were two more mature <ahem> people who just couldn't get on with the bigger, heavier 500cc bike, so that's what led them to stick with the 125cc course.

I think that maybe introducing a minimum-hours training rule, like with cars, could be a possible solution.

I don't think that any kind of forced restriction is a good idea - if anything, it could be more dangerous. If you're not enjoying the bike that you're riding, then it may cause frustration, road-rage etc. Also, not everyone has the inclination/patience/money/time/etc to live with a certain bike for a particular length of time.
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TiN
dotgems.net

[stryker]

Just read RooRoo's post and it made me think. It could be said its better a new bikers gets used to a larger bike while bike riding still puts the fear of God in them!

Like Roo said, give them two years on restriction and they are going to be comfortable on bikes and more likely to open up the throttle on a big bike.

Thoughts?
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Now what?

[freestyler_onli]

Almost gave me a heart attack-next month when i hit 21 im going for that Direct Access course. For the mo. im doing my CBT and getting a 125 to practice on.

[Bod]

Not to be naive here, but bikes are essentially the same be it a 50cc or 2300cc (rocket). They will only go as fast as you pull the throttle. Its bikers that kill bikers, not the bike.

[freestyler_onli]

Exactly. The bloke doing 200mph might be fine on his on a racetrack but the bloke doing 140 on the motorway could easily come off and......well.............it doesn't bear thinking about.

[killa]

Yeah its called a "clutch" and "self control"

Poeple who dont have that die, shit happens.
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