Should I get my A1 license?

[G30]

I'm 19. I have a 125 I am learning on. Should I get my A1 license which is £117 for all the tests then continue training and then do my A2 tests (with some training thrown in) or should I just do DAS A2 when I think I am ready for it?
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KTM RC390 -- Kawa ER6f -- Yam YZF R125 -- Yam YBR 125

[charlie74]

from my understanding you do the same tests for an A2 licence as you do for an A1... seems pointless not doing it tbh

[G30]

Yeah, but the A1 is on a bike I am familiar with whereas the A2 is on a bigger bike. Doing the A1 may help in knowing what is to come for my A2 and prove I can do it (providing I pass) so the only change would be making sure I get used to the bigger bike in the limited time you get. Was just a thought but for £117 you could probably get more DAS training on the bigger bike.
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KTM RC390 -- Kawa ER6f -- Yam YZF R125 -- Yam YBR 125

[Efes123]

I'd say do at least the MOD1, it's only £15. The4n after a couple of months do the A2.
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Honda Goldwing GL 1000 Current love
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[Slacker24seve...]

Just do A2. Why pay to do it twice?

I'm assuming you'd be doing A1 because it costs too much to do A2 with a school; thats false economy. If you plan to move up to a bigger bike, just wait until you have the cash
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
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[smiler999]

I would just hold off and do the A2 licence, stick to riding around on the 125 for another 2 years, build up some valuable experience and NCB and then the A2

[-Matt-]

Agree with smiler - the extra years NCB in my first years riding from stepping between 125-big bike made a huge difference on insurance - probably wouldn't of even been affordable without the additional NCB.

[G30]

Do you think doing my A2 late this year/early next year would be alright? Circa 6 months learning on a 125.
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KTM RC390 -- Kawa ER6f -- Yam YZF R125 -- Yam YBR 125

[-Matt-]

I'd get on with it now, riding is riding - it all helps and is experience, but in terms of experience for A2 its a different bike, different situation to how you normally ride and throw in a bit of stress and pressure and no amount of preperation on a 125 is all that worthwhile.

Quicker you get it done, quicker you can relax and look forward to and move onto the future

[G30]

Need £630-£750 first, that's with first time pass(es), as well.

I wanna do my A2 tests ASAP but I thought learning on a 125 would help me, even though it's a different bike.
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KTM RC390 -- Kawa ER6f -- Yam YZF R125 -- Yam YBR 125

[-Matt-]

It will definately help, and if you need to save up for the tests then by all means i'd definately keep riding however many months that takes on the 125, i just wouldn't consider it 'lessons' as its small crappy things that normally catch you out when it comes to the tests and often over-confidence [not nescessarily cocky] can be the biggest spanner in the works

[Teflon-Mike]

Yes.

It's not £117... if you plan to take tests anyway, its only £90. Mod 1 & Mod 2 fees, self booked. You need Theory & CBT anyway.

Failing A1 tests at £15 & £75 a pop is a lot easier to bear than failing AS tests booked through a school at £150 a go....

So, its cheap practice, and confidence you are at test standard when you go to do A2.

Meanwhile and probably the more important; it bags a full licence.

That starts clock on the 2-year New-Driver-Probation, while you are still on something less likely to put it at risk.

And gives you a sling-shot into A2... as mentioned, you are ahead of the game, than gong on cold straight to A2 train & test. You know you are up to scratch, you just have to get familiar with and do two mods on bigger bike. Ought to pay for itself in needing less training & higher confidence of first time A2 pass.

Pressure is 'off', you don't have to find the money in a hurry, or worry about cert validities. You don't have to repeat CBT or Theory, they wont expire, they are bagged

So you dont have to do a course fretting you HAVE to 'pass' by 33rd Octember, or repeat stuff, or pay double.

Lessons? You don't have to do a crash course unless you want to. Means you can spread training, using the pressure off, 'Pay as you go', which can make it easier to bear / find, rather than having to scrape it all up in one go.

ALSO more training can be 'saved' doing sessions rather than courses, as you don't have to pay some wally to watch you wobble, on a bike you are paying them for the privilege of wobbling on.... you can do your learning in the lessons, go home practice on the tiddler.

A1 is FAR from a 'Waste of Time' as so many people are quick to suggest. Its AN option; just like DAS, which, can be used to your advantage.

And its biggest advantage is that going through the A1 route, you can keep costs down and spread them out.

It's not dead money, its not wasted money, it's not paying double.

It's £90.... probably three months interest on the price of a DAS course on the Credit-Card....
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Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[ScaredyCat]

[MC]

Personally think everyone should boycott this bull$hit test *runs*









...seriously, every biker you talk about the rule change to has a "what?" expression on their face, come to think about it so does every non-biker you try to explain the hideously complicated system to. Maybe just do your theory if you plan to do your A2 within a couple of years, but doing the practical tests on a 125 are a waste of time imo.
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Yamaha MT-03 '08 (crashed)
Honda XR-125L '04

[Efes123]

[MC]

[Enaver]

[Efes123]

[G30]

[Efes123]

[Cadbury]

[MC]

[Enaver]

[Efes123]

[Ollie1995]

I'm 17 and I'm doing mine as it means I won't have to retake my CBT and it's the same price. Also should make insurance cheaper?
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XR 125, DT125 LC, Greeves Scottish, RS200, XS400, GPX600r

Theory Passed - 18/7/13 MOD1 Booked - 24/9/13