DAS advice

annemarie · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 18 Jul 2019 Karma :

Hello!

I have just done a CBT on a geared bike and have passed theory test, looking to get further training asap and get a full licence. My school is really good but they said they could only book MOD 1 and 2 tests for October now. It's end of July and I'm just wondering if it's worth to call other schools?
How come other places offer 1 week courses to full licence including the tests while other schools 'struggle' to book and the waiting time is 2 months Shocked

I am based in the countryside in Somerset so I dont get a big choice of schools either...

Just so you understand my frustration and why I'm in such a rush, I am currently riding a 125cc automatic and didn't really want to spend the hard saved money for a big bike on a 125 geared just to sell it afterwards. I thought I would get a full licence and get a proper bike as I can't stand the automatic 125.

Any thoughts appreciated and if anyone knows a good place in Somerset/Bath/Bristol area to recommend...

NJD · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Mar 2015 Karma :

Training schools buy test slots from DVSA in advance and in what is meant to be summer its not uncommon to have to wait that long as everyone favours the dry weather to learn to ride whereas in winter waiting times can be realtivly short, but there's no guarantee.

You can call another school all you want but remember they've not seen you ride before so might want you to start again and or take more training than the current school would recommend so the fastest route isn't always the cheapest.

You can book your own test but you'd need a friend that will pillion you to the test using their bike and let you ride it around for that, and then you'd probably need proof of insurance etc so that's a pain in the arse.

As for short courses they're a gamble. Sure the price looks great but if you fail the Module one, for example, then that's all the money you put into the rest of the license down the pot with no way of recouping it. Far better to pay as you go than take the gamble.
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Sister Sledge · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Aug 2018 Karma :

Aye as mentioned above.
Sounds like you're incredibly focused on getting this sorted and I understand your frustration - especially since you already know where you want to go with it all.
Deep breaths and that. Your slot will come soon enough. In the mean time it'll give you a little free time to practice and learn more and perhaps enjoy what's left of our summer.
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CCM 404 DS

pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

NJD pretty much nailed it.

As it stands my school is fully booked now until the end of August and tests are rarer than rocking horse shit.

Bit of advice though, I'd forget about the "such a rush" part as it'll put pressure on you and I would recommend a school that would do mod 1 and mod 2 a week apart. Mod 2 is £75 and doing both on the same day means if you do mess up mod 1 you will not be able to do mod 2. This means you will lose the £75 fee for the test and will have to repay to sit the test which will not only include the test fee but the instructor and bike hire will go with it too. You'll end up paying at least double the mod 1 fee to retake it. Placing them both a week apart means should you fail mod 1 the school can move your mod 2 without any extra cost to you or the school apart from the mod 1 resit.
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Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

annemarie · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 18 Jul 2019 Karma :

I contacted another place and they have some earlier days available, but not that much earlier, and the MOD1 is 3 days before MOD 2 so that's quite risky to pay for the whole thing in one go and then not pass.

I think I'll just work on my patience and stick to my school especially that they know me and where I am with training, I know they are nice people etc

Might reconsider and buy a geared 125 for the time being to practice and get off the automatic (!!!!!). Nothing fancy, an used Japanese would probably be ok?

The frustration also comes from not being treated as a human being or a tax paying road user, so just want to get to a full licence before I loose faith in humanity completely or end up on moto madness... Laughing

Prawny · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Jun 2019 Karma :

baritone · L Plate Warrior Joined: 05 May 2019 Karma :

I just switched schools in West London in order to get a Mod 2 sooner. My original school (v small) could only offer a Mod 2 at the end of August, and the other I contacted (much bigger) offered me Mod 2 this Thursday. As I want to get my licence whilst I'm still young (ish) I opted for the latter. as was mentioned, it's a function of the number of bikes and instructors - and time of year. The bigger the school, the more slots they book.

On another note - I think you need 10 days between tests.

Easy-X · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Mar 2019 Karma :

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

baritone · L Plate Warrior Joined: 05 May 2019 Karma :

Easy-X · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Mar 2019 Karma :

3 week lead time on Mod 2 for my school/area IIRC (Uxbridge test centre.)
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annemarie · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 18 Jul 2019 Karma :

Kentol750 · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 May 2016 Karma :

You don't need to wait 10 working days if you fail mod 1, it's 3.
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Some bikes.

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Easy-X · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Mar 2019 Karma :

RedBull600 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 26 Jul 2019 Karma :

It took me 3 attempts to pass my "Big Bike" test. You just have to be patient and accept the process as it is. Btw my second test was abandoned because the examiners radio went on the fritz so really I passed second time Very Happy

RAYK47 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 29 Nov 2018 Karma :

Not sure i can add a lot to this discussion except.....

...buying a geared 125 for a short term may not be too bad financially. I bought a 17 plate cb125f, practiced for a few months. Once I sold it I ended up losing about a hundred quid (excluding insurance and tax).

The experience and practice was well worth the loss as I passed both parts first time with only one day tuition before. That equalled a much larger saving in my eyes. And the process was quicker.

I understand your frustration, I was gutted having to wait 8 days between MOD1 and MOD2 .

Be patient as I seems you have no choice and good luck.

annemarie · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 18 Jul 2019 Karma :

Thanks, good to hear from someone who went through similar steps.

When I count it for every training day on rented 125 I would need to pay £150 so buying a used 125, practicing on it for 2 months and selling it even for a bit less still seems like a win. Especially that we both ride so my partner can help. I also got a bigger bike already waiting for me so if he is on the insurance we can practice on the 750cc as well which should help with the big bike training, even if i cant use it for the test... Wouldn't touch the 1800 he got tho Laughing