New to UK biking

[Alex34]

Hello all, just looking for some advice and information on how to approach acquiring a full A license in as short a time and as least costly as possible.

To give you some background, I'm 39 years old and I've started riding motorcycles(legally) in America from the age of 16 and actively rode until the age of 28. I've also had my full drivers license(car) from the age of 16 and I have driven and rode in a few different countries. I've owned several bikes over the years, mainly supersport bikes like Honda F3s, CBR 900s, R6s and R1s.
I've stopped actively riding after getting older / married and after moving to the UK in the end of 2009. I've had my full UK license(car) since 2010 and have always intended to get my bike license but have been a victim of procrastination.

Where I stand at the moment is I intend to get a Yamaha MT 09 or Kawasaki Z900 and trying to figure out the best way for me to manoeuvre the whole licensing process. I don't want the process to drag out as I'm usually very busy with work, etc and fear it will fall victim to procrastination again. On the other side of the coin, I don't want to pay a ridiculous amount of money just to get a motorcycle license (ie, £1000+).

Knowing what you guys know, if you were in my shoes how would you go about obtaining a license?

Also, I know very well that licensing processes are a huge money maker in the UK and most other countries, is it possible to do all of the testing successfully on my own(bar CBT and bike hire for the practical tests)?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[stevo as b4]

Buy an A-licence suitable bike, and since you have plenty of US riding experience, I'd just pay for a CBT course using a hired bike first. Get theory tests out of the way, and then book a mod1 and mod2 test on your own bike. If your comfortable on it and find Riding and driving in the UK ok, you may as well go direct to test and see what happens?

You'll need an official way of transporting your own bike to the test centre, and I'm sure the UK now has some daft laws regarding you can't insure your 900 until you have passed your test, yet it's OK to use a training school bike?

A couple of tests and a bit of hassle is cheaper than a 3-5day DAS course, but arguably it's not such a great way to learn riding skills. Then again if you get the bit of paper that says you have a licence, you could always spend a few £££ on post test advanced training when time permits?

[Nobby the Bastard]

Funnily enough, you can't convert your US license to a UK one.

When I say funny, its because you lot can't drive for shit.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Marlin]

I've been in the same position.
Your US license rightly counts for nothing, but your ability to ride sould make things easy.
DAS simlpy means that as you're old enough, you're allowed to go staraight to the A test.

There is a difference between being able to ride and knowing/doing what the examiners want to see, so some training is probably
worthwhile. What I did was cheap and low hassle:
Find a trainer or training school that'll give you just what you need.
I found someone who charged by the hour and did just what I needed spread over a few weeks:
CBT (on an A/big bike)
Hour lesson.
MOD 1 test.
Hour lesson.
MOD 2 test.

I then went out and bought a bike.

Getting your bike first and using it (without any training but CBT) might work and be cheaper, but it's more risk and hassle.

Oops, missed out theory: You'll also need to do the theory test sometime. I did it before the CBT.

[Easy-X]

Step 1: CBT. Go to any school that's convenient, pay ~£80 and get certificate. Use their bikes. Complicated conversation if you want to use your own bike!

Step 2: Do theory test, costs £23 to book. Read up on highway code, do practice tests on DVSA website (this training costs nothing.)

Step 3: Book a 1 day (yes schools will do this if you convince them you've been riding big bikes for ages) with ~1 hour quick training before the actual Mod 1. Use their bike. Saves hassle with insurance, bike trailers etc. Costs variable depending on area but maybe less than £200.

Step 4: Do the same again with Mod 2 (but bear in mind if you book Mod 1 then Mod 2 back to back and you f*ck up Mod1 you may have wasted the money on the Mod 2 booking.)

Step 5: profit!

As a note on Step 3. I've just done a warm up 1 hour training on Mod 1 before I do a 2-day course (1 day training + 1 day quick training + test) and I could conceive if you knew big bikes well you might get away with an hour prep pre-test.

Yes you could save some money using your own bike over a training school's but it's a lot of hassle. Just bung 'em the money and let them line up the test and getting a bike over to the test centre.

Cars are much easier. My wife just used her own car (with me in the passenger seat) and just bowled up to the test with no training. Only took 5 attempts...
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Alex34]

[Alex34]

[Alex34]

[Alex34]

[Alex34]

Alrighty then. Thanks for all the advice guys. In the end I had to book a DAS course and did so with Lightning Pass in Oxford. Spent £600 for the course and tests but I'm glad to say all went well and I passed my Mod 2 test this morning.

The next bit of advice I'm asking is regarding insurance. Does the advance training certificates really count for anything when insuring a bike within the first year of having my motorcycle licences? I'm 39 years old and have had my US car and motorcycle license since 1996. I've had my UK full car driver's license for 10 years.
I know my US driving/riding history will more than likely count for nothing when insuring but will my age and UK car driving history help me to get a better deal if I had an advance riding certificate?
I'm looking at something in the 900cc to 1000cc range and new.

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Alex34]

Figured. Thanks anyway.

[FretGrinder]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[UncleFester]

Just like the UK and every other place i've been to.

The USA is our place of choice for roadtrips for good reasons.

1. It's mostly empty once you get out of the burbs
2. The speed limits are generally higher than here.
3. Price of fuel is cheap
4. Overtake / undertake - it just works.

Well done on passing your test - can't imagine any joy to be found riding around Oxford though. Best you head off to Wales
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Module 1 and 2 passed - October 2014. Happy owner of a 2017 Z1000SX, ex owner of a YBR125 / CB500 / VFR800.

[Nobby the Bastard]

[Alex34]

[Alex34]

[Alex34]

Anyway, insurance quotes online are bananas. Getting silly quotes for 1000 cc but even for stuff like the GSX S750 Which was £700 more than the Z900 from Bike Sure.

Think I will give some of the insurers a call directly and see if that changes anything. May just have to get an old bike for the first year or something.

Will insurers allow me to use the 9 years NCD I have on my car? Maybe worth swapping over if the total cost between the two works out better.

[ThatDippyTwat]

[pinkyfloyd]

[Kentol750]

You're in a very awkward box.. experience means nothing. It's like any of us insuring a 2nd bike, no 'no claims' hurts. New licence as well means you're a risk. All your experience in usofa means very little. You could ring some companies and see if they'll do a better deal, but, for the sake of losing a days pay ringing around, it may be worth it!
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Some bikes.

[Alex34]

[quote="pinkyfloyd"]

[Alex34]