Cost of DAS

[JeffT]

Hope some of you instructor/recent DAS pupils can help.
I am in Southampton and looking to book in to do my DAS.
I have been riding bikes since I was 8 (24 now) and have been riding on the road for about 3 years on a cg125.
I already have a valid CBT and theory test so just need DAS training and practical test.

A recommended place near here has been Assured Rider Training (my brother and 2 friends have used them and said they were excellent.).
I called them up and they said based on my experience and the fact I already have CBT and theory that i could do saturday and sunday full days training and then test monday morning for £398.

I thought this sounded quite high.
So I phoned ADT and they offered a thursday and a Friday training with the test last thing on Friday for £330.

First question, are these prices about right?
Also, why is Assured Rider training £70 more expensive?
Are these about correct estimates of the amount of training I need?

Also any approved DAS instructors around my way that fancy some cash in hand business?

Hope someone can help me .

Cheers

Andy

[Ste]

The Assured Rider Training place is £70 more as the training is on the weekend and so you won't need any days off work.

Two days complete training does sound quite a lot, I'd say to call training centres and ask if they can book you in for an assessment (for free). They'll then follow you on a ride and will then be able to give you an estimate of how much road training you'll need. Two days training would (IMO) be more suitable for someone who hasn't riden bikes before, as someone who has riden on the road for three years, has their CBT and theory shouldn't need that much training.

Have a look on this page on Begin-Motorcycling.co.uk which lists training centres in Hampshire which might be of interest.

[JeffT]

thank you for you speedy and helpful response, i am a member of a few forums but this place is by far the most helpful and friendly!

[McJamweasel]

I was in a similar position to you (riding for 3 years) then I took an intensive, 2 day course with teh test on the 3rd. Did I need 2 days? Nope. Do I regret it? Not really.

Unless your riding is shocking then you won't need 2 days and can save yourself cash by doing as Ste says, or you could go for the 2 days anyway and have some fun while you do it and learn in a more relaxed fashion.

£400 is pretty much what I paid, although that is the most expensive in this area.
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[planet rider]

hi mate

if u find a cheap place for it let me know as ive been looking around as i want to do that in june the best place i have found is the one in thornhill they seem more resonable and helpfull than adt which i dont realy like. i think u can do it for under 370. but then again it all depends on your riding.

hope you find a cheap one and get on well
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[JeffT]

[shorty]

I did my DAS with ADT in Shirley and they were really good. They didn't rate ART but then that's hardly surprising!!

There's probably not a great deal to pick between the two TBH.

Have to say £330 sounds expensive, mine was £500 for 5 days all inclusive.

Good luck with it.

Shorty

[KevlarPants]

Well, I've just been quoted 420 for three days training on a 500 with the test on the morning of the 4th day. I believe that price is all in.

I haven't got a vast amount of experience to be honest, but I think 3 days should be plenty in my case. Maybe have some fun at the same time...

[braded]

I passed my test 2 weeks ago, first time round. I went with Metropolis in Vauxhall, London. If anyone plans to go there, ask for Caroline, she's an excellent instructor and help me and my partner pass first time!

I have been a car driver for 16 years, passed my CBT on a 125cc scooter, re-took it a year later on a manual (Hyosung Comet GT 125) and then did my Theory shortly afterwards.

5 months after getting my manual bike, I took a 5 days DAS. I paid £599 (would have been the winter price of £480, but I missed it by a week). I spent 2 days on a 125 and then a further 2.5 days on a 500cc. My test was in the afternoon of the 5th day. All bike hire and test fees were included in the price.

Even though you have been riding for 3 years, ask yourself how "safe" you really are? It is easy to pass the test, but what you should be looking for from your course, is how to spend the rest of your time after the exam remaining safe!

I was amazed at the little things I have learnt over the 5 days that have made a BIG difference to how I ride. I see so many CBT'rs doing the same mistakes I made before my DAS.

Go for the company that has a good reputation and be prepared to pay for it. It will be worth every penny. Any good training school would be prepared to make a free assessment beforehand. You may be shocked to find that they recommend a 5 day course to iron out any bad habits.

Hope I've not been a spoil sport.

Happy learning and good luck with your test.

[shellshock]

I did CBT, followed by a 3 day DAS course 2 months later, and had never been on a bike before. Including the test cost me £400. Even I found I was going over the same old things again and again, to the point of actually naffing up my near perfect u-turns, because of the pressure.

I would definately say you would need less than two full days, my partner had been riding for 1.5 years and did 4 x 2hr lessons over the space of 2 weeks, did his test and passed, worked out far cheaper as well.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[zephyrgirl]

I did mine with ADT in Portsmouth last May, one of the rides was to the office in Southampton.

I was very satisfied with the instruction I received and both Richard and Andy (who worked there at the time) were extremely patient and good confidence builders.

I passed DAS with 3 days training, with test on morning of 4th day at 8:40am. I had only one minor.

If I remember rightly, the cost for 3 days + 1 hour on test morning, + theory test was around the £350 mark.

I'd recommend them to anyone, but you need to find a school you are comfortable with. This should be more important than the cost.
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[biker-dj]

Welcome to the forum.My guess if you have been riding since you were 8 Do u really need lots of days of traing My advice would be to do a free assessment ride and see what the instructor says. Got my test next month but I am doing it on my 125 so obviously I shall be on a restricted licence for two years but I've got to keep costs down unfortunately - I'm just having a couple of road rider days then doing my test the following week. Fingers crossed I do it first time
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[BikerBen]

Ok I am going to sound like a COMPLETE newbie here but what exactly IS DAS? Is it like training to prepare you for your full bike test that you do straight after it? Do you have to have done your theory before you do it?
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[mchaggis]

It's the same test as the 125 one, but you have to do it on a machine with a power output greater than 46.6 bhp. To do it, you have to be over 21; that subtle difference in age allows you to ride anything you want to, rather than be restricted to 33bhp.

I believe it is called the Direct Access Scheme, because it allows you Direct Access to ride any bike.
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[BikerBen]

So at 17, you can have a R1 for example providing you have passed your full bike test and it is restricted to 33bhp? Then to legally be able to derestrict it you have to have had your liscence for 2 years or do you have to pass DAS? I don't get it I am just restricting mine, getting a certificate, then whacking them out
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[mchaggis]