Direct Access or cheaper route?

[thehairysmite...]

Please help with my license confusion...

I completed the CBT in April without any problems as I had ridden motorcycles previously abroad. My instructor said it'd be best to go for Direct Access when I hit 24 (last month).

I already own a 125cc motorbike. Is it cheaper for me to do the theory and practical tests without shedding out 500 quid for the direct access course?

Also, can I just take the theory to ditch the L-plates?

Thanks in advance

[Evil Hans]

If you just do the practicals on your own 125, you'll get an A1 licence that'll let you ride ... a 125. Without L plates.

You need to pass your theory before you take the practicals. You can't lose the L plate until you've passed both practicals.

[pinkyfloyd]

[thehairysmite...]

OK thanks for the info. Think I will still consider the Direct Access course but might try negotiate and scour the market for a good price. Seems expensive!

[pinkyfloyd]

[JoeDaStudd]

The cost of the tests are £23 for the theory, £15.50 for the Mod 1 then £75 to £88.50 for Mod 2.
That's £113.50 to £127 just on fees.

iirc the standard das course is 3 days and includes Mod 1 and Mod 2 test fees.
So for £500 your getting about £100 in test fees then the remaining £400 has to cover an instructor, insurance, fuel and the other overheads.
~£133 a day for all that doesn't sound a lot does it?

Anyway the best thing you can do if you want to try and get your license as cheap as possible is speak to local schools explain your situation.

I've heard of people asking a similar thing then when ever the school has a last minute drop out them offering the test for fee plus a few quid for hire of the bike.
Bare in mind if you fail a few times you'll probably end up spending as much on just on tests as you would a full course.

[Tierbirdy]

Do the DAS, you wont regret it. Any other way of getting your licence is a waste of time/money (literally no point whatsoever in doing it on a 125 or restricted A2 if you can avoid it).

You could rock up on your own full size bike and attempt it, but youll probably fail and lose all the money anyway.

[Jmoan]

What's the situation in getting a licence from another cheaper EU country if on holiday or temporarily living there.

[pinkyfloyd]

[blackbosh]

you can do direct access without doing it in a week. Most schools will let you spread the lessons and test to spread the cost.

[Evil Hans]

Yeah, I did it in two blocks ... Each was a day and a bit of training followed by a test. That way I managed to spread the cost between 2 paydays. About 500 quid all told.
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[techathy]

I did a non-intensive full licence DAS with CBT course. It consisted of 1 day for the CBT, then after you passed your theory test which they gave you help with, 4 half day training sessions a week apart. This gave you the option of half payment up front with no further payment to them until I'd passed the theory test (which I had to pay for re-tests), but from then on 1/4 of the remainder was due before each session.

[Jmoan]

[talkToTheHat]

Do theory. Perhaps doing a1 tests are a cheap way to get test practice. Test fee is much less than instructor time, and you already have the 125.

If you're paranoid about insurance costs going up with your A1 pass, perhaps commit a delberate auto-fail fault right at the end of mod 2?
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Bandit. does. everything.

[pinkyfloyd]

[Marlin]

[thehairysmite...]

[stevo as b4]

My issue with the system is:

1, A 24year old person that's been riding say at least 2years on a 125cc after already passing a Theory test, CBT and possibly an A1? test. The person has a bike already but wants and is happy to take an extensive and expensive 2part test so that they can ride unlimited size/weight/power motorcycles.

2, They need this so called over 600/695cc (whatever the legislation states) bike to turn up to and sit the unrestricted test. However even with L-plates they can't feasibly insure such a bike before taking and passing the test, and they are not allowed to ride it to the test centre, despite 2years of road riding experience?

Forgive me for being simple, but is that also not a way for riding schools to be able to charge what they like for a full DAS course for such a person, as they know full well there is not a very feasible alternative way for any age of rider to get a license that allows unrestricted access to all bikes.

Also how is it sensible or even not patronising to say that someone with 2years riding experience on a 125 and or an A2 bike, is not safe enough and competent enough to ride their own big bike to the test centre to get the big bike license?

Can see why no-one wants to play a 3teir hoop jumping system to go from moped to Fireblade these days, and also why new blood into bike riding in the UK is dead, and why young people have no interest in paying over £2000 in training and multiple tests maybe over the course of 5-6years to get onto decent bikes.

If the car test system was stepped in this way with such a forced one way only of getting through all the tests and time periods to get access to any size or type of car, then new car sales apart from maybe small first time city cars would fall over and die!

[daifuco]

It is a very personal thing. Passing the mod1 and mod2 requires skill, confidence and just being good at being assessed

Doing mod1 and mod2 on your own is not a bad idea. Even if you fail the mod2 it will be a good experience for you, you will know what to expect and you will get the best feedback you can have: the one from the examiner.
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CBF125 - CB600F Hornet '12

[JoeDaStudd]

[Rogerborg]