Car licence or DAS...I can't decide!

[primalcarl]

I'm 32 and have been riding on L's the last 3 years.

I'm a keen road cyclist so spend most of my time out cycling.

Because of this and public transport being reasonable, I've never bothered learning to drive.

I now live in a rural location, hence the reason I have a Varadero 125.

I have some cash put to one side that was supposed to be for moving back into town (I broke my wrist coming off my road bike on black ice last winter), and I'm considering using the money instead on learning to drive or the DAS.

My head says learn to drive as it's safer and will be useful, but my heart says go for the bike test as I have dreams of touring around Europe. But bike isn't practical nor winter friendly!

I know ultimately this is a personal decision I have to make, but would be interested to hear from anyone who only has a bike licence and how you cope in winter on crappy roads?

Cheers!

[DrDonnyBrago]

If I had car parking at work and the traffic wasn't too bad, I'd commute by car without question.

I do winter motorcycle commuting because of a lack of viable alternatives.

[Cadbury]

I just turned 31 in August, had my full bike licence just under 5 years. I don't have a car licence.

Not sure what point I make with that

[MCN.]

Car licence.

[Beehive Bedlam]

Cars are shit.

[MCN.]

[hellkat]

Given your circumstances, I'd get the car licence.
I've had mine since I was 16 and got bike licences later on.

But there's absolutely nothing wrong with driving a car. In fact it sometimes helps you get a better perspective about how the road is viewed differently in cars than on bikes.

Plus if you did decide to move closer to town, it's a fucker to move house when you only have a bike... you can get so much more in a boot than you can in a top box.


____________________
Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[LittleRestrai...]

Both.

Car first as it's usually more logical, then bike.

You don't have to own both if you can't afford to run both, but it's nice to have the option.

I drive a new but ultra shit boring Corsa 1.2 for work when the weather isn't great or I can't be arsed to get the bike out, then an older, fairly cheap bike for mincing about whenever I feel like it. Both cheap to run/insure.

[stevo as b4]

I use a lot of public transport myself, only occasionally for work though, but I can get close enough to work at a time to make it usable.

At the weekends if I'm just doing the usual going out socialising or visiting friends and family then public transport works 80% of the time for me.

In your situation you have cycles and a good well regarded 125cc bike. It's also cheap to run and a useful machine and easy to sell on too. I wouldn't be getting rid of such a 125 under any circumstances, even if I could have a new R1 if I did etc.

If you do your car tests, can you share/have use of someone else's car, or be a named driver on their policy etc. Running cars that you don't 100% need every day is the only real downside to them, after rush hour traffic/other drivers/and congestion.

I would never be without a car, but the last few car's I've had have all been project status, and I don't see them as every day A-B'ers or winter hacks etc.

Actually these days if I had decent transport (Van/trailer) or a mate I could share the costs with, id actually far prefer to buy/build a track day car than a track bike TBH. I think id get far more out of driving cars on the circuit than I would on the road too. I would not get the same feeling with a track bike, and the only time id have a non road legal machine would be if it was a field or Vintage MX bike.

Bike track days just don't hold much appeal to me any more, and I don't think anything could get me hooked on them.

[Rogerborg]

If I had to choose one, I'd go with a car, because screw using public transport for any purpose, any time, ever.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[The Wobbly Orange]

I would say get the car license now with winter approaching. You can always do your DAS when the weather picks up again around Easter next year.

I spent nearly a decade with only a bike license.......winters are shit.

Only did my car test last November.
____________________
People tell me I am lovely. How wrong they are!

[J.M.]

Bikes in winter aren't fun. It's wet and unpleasant. It comes with an increased risk of dropping the bike. The low sun makes seeing and being seen harder. The roads are often so slippy that filtering isn't really an option (at least where I have lived) so you sit in traffic like a car.

A car licence is handy even if you don't own one. You're able to hire a car/van if necessary for whatever reason (such as moving).

You're still able to ride provisionally in the mean time whilst saving for DAS!
____________________
2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Wonko The Sane]

Car licence is useful to have, I take it from your post that you're not hindered by remaining on L plates longer?

I did my bike test because jobs I was applying for would be 40 mins further away avoiding motorways and I already had the bike due to other reasons and couldn't afford to get a second car (wife uses for work) despite already having license - I've stuck with bike and use all year round.

If loosing the L plates would be advantageous then go bike, you already have it and don't have to buy another vehicle, if L plates isn't an issue then do car license and get another CBT ticket for 2 years and then do DAS before it runs out.

have you checked affording a car?...
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[MCN]

Car 1st, if you can afford the car and it's papers (insurance nonsense)
Bike 2nd.

No reason you can't do the DAS in Winter. You may find getting a place a booking at bike training centre and a test date a little easier. There are less new-comers with the balls to do it in the cold misery.
I did mine a week after the 'Schools went back' in January. A Bit Bludy Baltic But (butt).

(Make getting your bike ticket a priority though.)
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[rubyhorse2]

i dont actually own a car, i've had a few in the past but sold them as i didnt really have any use for a car. I'm on the wife insurance so just use that when i need to or if she makes me drive so she can drink

Like you i love motorbikes and mountain biking, i mtb to work most days as i am lucky enough to only live about 10 mins from work and its all off road riding (country life for the win)

Couldnt ever consider not having a motorbike though.

My advice considering your circumstances, pass your car test, only took me 7 lessons so £140 plus the test and theory.

then save for your bike test.

[bikertomm]

Get your car licence sorted first +1

It's winter, it's shit. You don't want to put yourself off it just yet.

Cars are bloody handy inventions, will come into it's own living rurally.
____________________
07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[stirlinggaz]

Hi,
car LICENCE 1st.
doesnt mean any changes to your lifestyle in short term.
seeing as you have the cash set aside, use it. sensible option is car licence. bloody handy to have.
actually buying a car is cheap & easy, however running 1 is another thing.
you've got insurance, tax & fuel for starters. Its a lot more expensive than running a bike, especially a 125.
then theres the car maintenance. most stuff on a bike, especially smaller bikes, you can do yourself but a car is a bit different, & if your buying older (& therefore cheaper) vehicles theres always something needing done. (as an example the clutch just went on my old banger)

you say you have been on cbt for 3yrs, so I take it you still have another year left on it ?
that gives you another year on your current set up. gives you even more time to brush up on whats required to pass the big bike test.
then in 6-9months you can book a couple of hours with a local training school to get you through your bike test.

in meantime you can start looking (& I mean just looking) into getting a car, if you actually want & need 1.

as an example, I need a car. but don't do much miles & don't need it every day. theres also the fact I dont actually ENJOY driving (I f*ckin hate it! )
so I use a bike whenever I can. all year round in all weathers simply because I find it more enjoyable than driving, even in the cold & the rain & have an old banger for when 5 seats & a boot is absolutely necessary.

cheers,
GAZ

[pepperami]

Bikes and and a bike license are wonderful, However in this day and age, a car license is crucial to live in the modern world.

For example : when your missus comes out of hospital with you first-born, how are you going to get them home?.... on a bike?

When your missus kicks you out of the house, how are you going to transport all your gear to your new pad?..... on a bike?
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[monkeybiker]

I got my bike licence first and then after a few years got my car licence. Apart from snow it is totally possible to use a bike everyday of the year and not freeze to death either provided you dress properly.

I have a car and a bike but if I had to sell one it would be the car.

However it does depend what roads you travel. I'm in Derby and the main roads are gritted so ice is not a massive problem that it could be in some places.

[grr666]

Get your car licence, but don't do what I did and then wait 25 years until you have another crack at biking. As soon as you
can get back on and do your DAS.
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Mattaria]

Car first.

Fuck public transport so hard.

[Timfy]

I did my bike license first (only by a few years) and only went on to do my car license as my GF is not a pillion person and was sick of always driving when we went out.

It was a major PITA a lot of the time, simple things like nipping to the shops for more than a handful of things. I remember once buying a replacement Xbox and a few bits of shopping in Tesco and then spending half an hour having to take it all out of the box and stashing bits of it in my rucksack and in various bits of luggage because it wouldn't fit. In the end I folded the cardboard box up and tucked it inside my jacket, all of that to drive ride three miles home! None of that hassle with a car.

Winters sucked, having to seriously consider the weather and make a go/no go decision where in a car wouldn't be an issue. Rode in all weathers down to -5 (only from Bristol to Stroud) and I still feel cold when I think of it now, in a car would be alright.


I did love every minute of it and wouldn't change a thing, but in all honesty unless you're a bit mental you'll probably want to get your car license first and then get to biking ASAP.

[andyscooter]

I don't drive

Havnt been on a bus or train to commute for twenty years


Just saying
____________________
gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[kawakid]

Gosh.

A car license is a must, bike license is a toy.

I have both, I ride most.

But a car, you can transport your family, your shopping.

Just like week 5 of us went to Ireland, big old Mondeo was totally full, earlier this year I needed a new sofa, the old one fitted in the boot.
____________________
I've a twin and a 4.

[..]

passed my car test & then lost all patience for further tests. hate anything with more than 2 wheels so i wasted the effort on the car test so i'm stuck to a full moped 28mph licence' although the bike has a 70cc kit fitted which makes it safer...sod the law