DAS or what?

[SonicBill]

Hi, i am 44 yrs old and want to take my bike test (get my license, ride nice bikes) i should have done it years ago but got put off (another story) what do i need to do now because it was all different when i was 16, how do i go about it, what are the first steps? i've heard about this DAS, whats it all about? any help what so ever would be most appreciated, thanks.

[motobiker]

£595 at your local school and thats 'all inclusive' over 6 days.. and yes, it can be done in 6 days as some forum members have proven.

for your £595 you get:

based on having little or no previous experience...

CBT
3rd party insurance
Practical test fee module 1 and 2
Bike hire CB500 plus fuel.

There are other routes.. as detailed on the training schools website:

http://www.dsmmotorcycletraining.com/courses.html

Based at DN4 5JB - next to the stadium.

All you will probably need to supply is your helmet and other protective gear.. but might be worth asking as many schools can provide these items too.


You will also need to check your license has entitlement for 'provisional' bike.. I'm not sure what that is. but there will be a picture of a bike next to it.
If you don't have it.. you will need to ask DVLA to add it.

[mikiboy]

Try "Get ON".
Google it and have a taster free for a pre CBT

[raine]

Really depends how you want to approach it.

Contact your local schools, pop in and chat to them ..... they are going to be taking money from you and so you want to know that they will have the approach that is right for you

You can book a course that is over a set number of days or break your training into smaller parts - depends on your work commitments, how you learn best etc etc

Format is as already explained - CBT, Theory, MOD1, MOD 2

We advise people to do their CBT and then discuss their options once they have completed the road ride element, as it is only then the instructor can give the best advice for you. - sometimes it is better post CBT to borrow a school bike and get in some more road experience before then progressing to the 'big bike'

We tailor the training to the person, rather than going for a set number of days and 'shoe-horning' everybody into that format (the price is still the same) .

All of our clients have a least one training session at the test centre for their MOD 1 - only 4 of our clients (from in excess of 150) failed their MOD 1 last year (due to nerves) - so practising at the centre definitely does pay dividends

You've waited this long to go for your licence, so there really is no need to 'rush' the training (unless you really want to) - at the end of the day - being a safe and confident rider is paramount  

Enjoy the training - whatever route you choose !!! 

[Katch]

i'm 42 next week and am doing my DAS now. My school is fine with me paying as and when i do a bit more tuition, or pay for a test, takes the sting out of it a little.

[greg]

i did the DAS, but i did my lessons 1 week apart, i found it gave me time to recover and learn from each lesson (which was a full day of riding). 3-4 days between lessons would be optimum IMO

[Katch]

yes, i'm doing my DAS over a few weeks

[mikiboy]

Maria did her DAS at 46

[Wheelspin]

Maria did her DAS at 46

Oh, Mikiboy, you're going to be in trouble

[mikiboy]

Shhhhhhh

[Maria]

  :grump:I was 45  Miki will be saying  later 

[Wheelspin]

:grump:I was 45  Miki will be saying  later 

That's between the two of you.  I don't want to know.

[sidewinder]

Done my das over 3 mnths..cbt and theory the 1st mod 1 the second and two attempts at mod 2 the 3rd

[suprilia]

I have you all beaten - I was 53 in 2008 when I did my CBT!

Passed the (old) test on a Honda125 scooter that I'd bought, thinking it would do me. Got bitten by the bug, and wanted to ride a proper motorcycle about a year later. Because my scooter was automatic, I had to do another test on a geared bike. I did the new, two part test on a Suzuki GS500, so this was "accelerated access". Messed up the emergency stop, so had to take Mod1 again. Passed, and then passed Mod2 first time.

Sonic - when you come to take Mod1, study the Mod1 test circuit. This will help you understand what you have to do. And don't do what I did, which was to come round the circuit looking for that green line to be painted on the ground. 

The whole test is explained on DirectGov:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/PracticalTest/DG_178328

[mikiboy]

Maria did her 1st track day at 46 on a proper race R6.  Her eyes said it all!

[bonio]

SonicBill:

The thing about DAS is that it's the only way to be qualified to ride a 'big' bike from the day you pass your test. With DAS, you have to learn with an instructor as you're on a more powerful bike that you'd be allowed to ride with L plates on your own. The alternative to DAS is to take a test on a smaller bike and then have a restriction on what you can ride for the first two years after passing your test; you can do this with or without an instructor. DAS is probably the quickest way to pass your test, but probably not the cheapest.

I did my CBT + DAS a couple of years ago, doing the two back to back over 5 full consecutive days. I failed mod 1 on the last day of the DAS, which kinda put an end to it, but I passed the retake which I took a couple of weeks later. I found the DAS course pretty intensive, and if I had to choose again I'd choose now to spread it out over a few weeks.

Whatever route you choose, you'll have to do a CBT first. So why not do the CBT and see how you feel about the different options afterwards? You could also ask for advice face to face from the people to run the CBT.