Auditors

[XA84 + 443]

Hey guys and girls, 

Is there any fairly new bikers on this forum that have taken their DAS (direct access scheme) as opposed to doing their tests in order IE CBT, A1, A2, A? As my brother is considering doing a DAS which is 6 days long which includes all of the tests required and legally allows you to ride a motorbike of any power. 

I'm just a bit concerned that 6 consecutive days of riding and testing no where near qualifies you as being a competent driver (in my honest opinion) so was hoping to get some feedback from anyone who had done this to see how they feel about it having done it?

Thanks in advance

[Indiana Jones + 1,103]

Is your brother already a car driver?

[XA84 + 443]

He is and has been for 10 years. 

[bikerider 5]

I tend to agree with the original poster, 6 days continuous riding is way way too little to become competent. I have been riding for over 40 years and still do so covering in excess of 10,000 miles per year. Even after a short break during the worst winter months for the 1st week or so I still take it easy until I get into the swing of things. Being a car driver may help but I am not so sure. My father before me was a Police Motorcyclist (I didn't do any in the job) and his theory was all car drivers should at least have some experience on powered two wheels before taking to a car. That way they may get an idea why a motorcyclist may suddenly slow down before a corner or other maneuvers quite foreign to those who are riding around in tin boxes. in tin boxes. Not only driving defensively, but learning to look ahead even further than we do in a car to stay safe.

One tip I was told about was never ride faster than where you can see and will be 2 seconds later.

[Growley + 2,436]

3 hours ago, XA84 said:

Hey guys and girls, 

Is there any fairly new bikers on this forum that have taken their DAS (direct access scheme) as opposed to doing their tests in order IE CBT, A1, A2, A? As my brother is considering doing a DAS which is 6 days long which includes all of the tests required and legally allows you to ride a motorbike of any power. 

I'm just a bit concerned that 6 consecutive days of riding and testing no where near qualifies you as being a competent driver (in my honest opinion) so was hoping to get some feedback from anyone who had done this to see how they feel about it having done it?

Thanks in advance

I've had my bike licence for a couple years now, and I did the DAS.

It's fine as long as you appreciate it for what it is - teaching you some basics (CBT) and then getting you through a test on a higher powered bike. If you follow your pass by riding sensibly and appreciating that you're still learning, then you'll be fine. If you don't, and you go at it like Valentino Rossi from the off, you're probably going to end up hurt or worse.

In my own personal experience, not going straight out on the road alone after my CBT stopped me developing the ridiculous jerky and risky riding that you see in a huge number of moped/125cc riders; the amount of time spent riding out on the roads with an experienced rider meant I learned how to do things safely and properly from somebody who knows how to do it, rather than learning it on my own or through copying other people I see in traffic. On that note I'm also of the opinion that the CBT should be far more in depth than it is. You might not be going as fast on a low-powered bike, but in London you're just as likely to get yourself killed, especially if you don't really know what you're doing.

[Indiana Jones + 1,103]

On 16/12/2016 at 13:34, XA84 said:

He is and has been for 10 years. 

So I'd say that as a car driver, he already has the bulk of what he needs to know ie sensible, careful use of the road.

I rode on a CBT for 2 years before doing the 'big' test. But I think that passing a test doesn't mean that you're a brilliant rider (or driver), but that you can be objectively assessed to meet a minimum safe standard. You then grow from there.

After six days he'll either meet the standard or not.

[XA84 + 443]

As a rider myself I just find it terribly concerning personally. 

I find it absolutely terrifying that after 6 days providing you pass the relevant you can go from having never sat on a motorbike before to being licences to any size engine bike you want. It's almost a licence to kill yourself.

I think what's more shocking is the fact that Honda themselves are are the one who are running these courses. 

I don't know, just seems like lunacy personally. 

What do you guys ride?

I'm on a CBR600RR

[Indiana Jones + 1,103]

No different to a car though. My brother in law did a week long car course - residential as I recall. And at that point in time, he would have had zero experience of road use outside of being a pedestrian.

F800R for me.

[Growley + 2,436]

4 hours ago, XA84 said:

As a rider myself I just find it terribly concerning personally. 

I find it absolutely terrifying that after 6 days providing you pass the relevant you can go from having never sat on a motorbike before to being licences to any size engine bike you want. It's almost a licence to kill yourself.

I think what's more shocking is the fact that Honda themselves are are the one who are running these courses. 

I don't know, just seems like lunacy personally. 

What do you guys ride?

I'm on a CBR600RR

Aside from the speed you can get up to on a bigger bike, I don't see how it's much different from someone who has never sat on a bike before doing their CBT and getting out on the road alone on a 125; and yet somehow that's acceptable.

In London at least, it's not so much your speed that's going to kill you as your stupidity and bad decision making.

 

[LosingGrip + 301]

On 16/12/2016 at 12:20, XA84 said:

Hey guys and girls, 

Is there any fairly new bikers on this forum that have taken their DAS (direct access scheme) as opposed to doing their tests in order IE CBT, A1, A2, A? As my brother is considering doing a DAS which is 6 days long which includes all of the tests required and legally allows you to ride a motorbike of any power. 

I'm just a bit concerned that 6 consecutive days of riding and testing no where near qualifies you as being a competent driver (in my honest opinion) so was hoping to get some feedback from anyone who had done this to see how they feel about it having done it?

Thanks in advance

I did my CBT then straight to DAS.  Mine wasn't over six days in a row due to work and bad weather, but similar amount of days over a month.  

As he already has a car licence, he knows the highway code already, so doesn't have to worry about that side of it, just needs to learn how to ride.  

The throttle isn't a on off switch.  You only go as fast as you make it.  

I'm currently riding a 2003 Suzuki GSX R600.  I love it so much still.  I'm hoping to do some track days next year on it.

[bikerider 5]

I ride regularly over on mainland Europe and apart from one situation last year where I was clipped by a myopic Dutch driver on one of the highest mountain passes in Italy (She did more damage to her car than me - well the Dutch are not too good on hills!) Apart from this I have never had a moments difficulty with safety on European roads. I don't know about anywhere else but I do know that in Germany you have to undergo a minimum number of hours with a qualified instructor plus quite intensive classroom studyto gain your motorcycle licence. Maybe that's the way they should try here. Simply passing the CBT then being allowed loose on a road isn't the best way forward.

[grumeister + 60]

I want to get my bike licence. I'm planning on doing my CBT in the next few months. What happens after two years, does it just run out?

[PCSD 329]

9 minutes ago, grumeister said:

I want to get my bike licence. I'm planning on doing my CBT in the next few months. What happens after two years, does it just run out?

Yes, you can either re-do it and drive on L-plates for a further two years or you cannot drive motorcycles anymore. Several colleagues I work with have just re-done it over and over as they have no intention of getting bigger bikes and just use 125's as cheap economical commuting transport. 

[grumeister + 60]

Eventually I want to get a full licence but I want to do CBT to get used to riding on the road first.

[Indiana Jones + 1,103]

1 hour ago, grumeister said:

Eventually I want to get a full licence but I want to do CBT to get used to riding on the road first.

That's good. IMO, there's a lot to be said for spending some time on a low powered bike and being 'forced' to learn its limitations.