Which bike test route?

[Kingbroady]

I'm 36 and have a full car driving license since 1997. I've been riding a 125 scooter for the last 4 years so want to pass my bike test. My CBT is due for renewal in February so the question is which test route?

Having read the 'Duffer's guide' in this forum, the A1 seems pointless.
Therefore:
A (Restricted) or DAS?
Intensive or not?

As I am perpetually skint, cost of these needs to be factored in so which tends to be the cheapest?

I am happy to be restricted to 33bhp for 2 years on the A (restricted) as I expect the maximum bike I'll look to get will be 250/300cc.

Any help appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[pinkyfloyd]

[Matt B]

[Aky208]

+ 1

doing the A2 is pointless. similar cost initially but you will need to retake the tests after 2 years to gain your A.

I would speak to your local training school about it. They will be able to help you more and possibly tailor something so the cost is more spread out.

[pig hog]

As you're over 24, surely you could retake your tests as soon as you wanted to, if you went for an A2 licence first?

Not really sure why this is even a consideration though. Essentially you're voluntarily paying double the money and putting yourself through double the hassle to get a licence that you can get straight away anyway.

Both are done on a Direct Access scheme, I think. In any case, what it's officially called makes little difference as the actual course will be identical. The only question is do you want to cram it in and do it as soon as possible or are you happy to spread it out a bit?
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A2 Licence: 18/10/2013
A Licence: 01/12/2015
'13 Yamaha XJ6N '15 Daytona 675R / '16 MT-07 dead / '17 MT-07 / '18 MT-10

[Evil Hans]

+ 1

And don't forget you'll need to pass your theory test first ... better get a move on if you want to do all this before your CBT runs out
____________________
Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[M.C]

As pinky said he laws changed in (iirc) January 2013, maybe the old info needs to removed from the duffers guide mods?

Options for you under the current rules:
A1 - (used to be some stupid <100cc category iirc) now it's the 125 license, and it's equally as pointless unless you'd rather do your test(s) theory/mod 1/mod 2 than do your CBT again. Only benefit to doing this is you'll be allowed to carry a passenger, and use motorways. Remember if you do it on your scooter it will only be an auto license.

A2 - different to the old A2 license (which someone Rogerborg and/or Tef' will point out was never officially called the A2 license) which is what you seem to be referring to with the 33bhp restriction. Now it's a 47bhp restriction, difference being you can't take the test on a 125 like you used to be able to, and it doesn't auto upgrade after 2 years. Pointless unless you're young (19-24).

Category A - normally obtained by completing a DAS course, doing it yourself is equally expensive unless you have access to a cheap 600 and a van/trailer. The cheapest way of doing it would be on a 2-3 DAS course, which as it's winter there are some good offers around (half price courses etc.) Problem's you need to be up to a decent standard for the short courses and if you start failing Mod 1 or Mod 2 it quickly gets expensive, as you need to keep using the schools bike to retake.

[Rogerborg]

Yes, sorry chap, that thread is badly in need of updating.

It's now not particularly practical to get a worthwhile license on your own bike. You can easily enough get a license to ride the same 125 that you can ride anyway on L plates, but for anything at all bigger, you'll be looking at going through a training school.

There's nothing wrong with smaller capacity or lower powered machines, but you might as well get a full unrestricted license and then decide on the bike.
____________________
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

[Kingbroady]

Thanks all. Looks like DAS is the way to go.

Thanks again.