Best way for full car license owner to get a bike license?

LordSplodge

LordSplodge

LordSplodge

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Morning.

At the moment I cycle to work or get a lift from the wife when it is raining/snowing/cannot be arsed to cycle. This is a problem as my wife works odd hours compared to me and I'd rather not disturb her beauty sleep when I need to get to work.

There is no way in hell I want to fund another car for the shortish distances I will travel and I prefer two wheels anyway.

So as a full car license owner since 1992 what is the best way to go about getting a full license for a bike? Is there some kind of direct access and what are the cost implications of going for a bike test?

Do you have to do the theory test as well?

Any other advice from bikers would be appreciated!
 
You need to do a CBT course (not a test as such, just some basic training) first of all - this will allow you to ride anything up to a 125cc on the road legally with L plates.

I think you need to pass your motorcycle theory test before you can do any larger motorcycle training involving road use. You could do it before your CBT if you want.

Then you can do a direct access course (DAS) which is usually intensive training over 3-5 days on a bigger bike (around 500cc), ending in your practical motorcycle test. If you're over 25 you can then ride any size bike you like.
 
Are you going to get into motorcycling properly? ie you want a proper bike? OR are you just going to be commuting a few miles and want a cheap 2nd form of transport?

If its option A then do the CBT,Theory,DAS, pass your test and buy a 600ish. If its option B just chuck £100 at a CBT and buy a CG125 or Scooter and run with L plates You'll need to do it every 2 years though.
 
Sagalout said:
Are you going to get into motorcycling properly? ie you want a proper bike? OR are you just going to be commuting a few miles and want a cheap 2nd form of transport?

If its option A then do the CBT,Theory,DAS, pass your test and buy a 600ish. If its option B just chuck £100 at a CBT and buy a CG125 or Scooter and run with L plates You'll need to do it every 2 years though.
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I wouldn't bother doing my test if I just wanted to go back and forth to work.

I will do a CBT and get a 125 to start but want to be able to ride a proper bike in the future .

That last bit of information is incorrect, I can ride a 125 (within the provisional limits, of course ;) ) ad infinitum on my full driving license...
 
Having a car license means nothing really to doing your bike license.

I was in the same position as you a few years back. I did a Direct Access course, which took me from being an absolute novice, to being a full motorbike license holder.

It took 5 days, and cost me £600. It included hire of the vehicles, equipment, helmet, test fees and tuition.

If I did it again I would do it exectly the same way.
 
Bug One said:
Having a car license means nothing really to doing your bike license.

I was in the same position as you a few years back. I did a Direct Access course, which took me from being an absolute novice, to being a full motorbike license holder.

It took 5 days, and cost me £600. It included hire of the vehicles, equipment, helmet, test fees and tuition.

If I did it again I would do it exactly the same way.
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That's helpful, cheers.

So I need to do my CBT and pass the Theory Test (yuck! Didn't need to do that back in '92) then do a DAS like you did?
 
Isn't it over 21 or did I not read your post? DAS you have to be over 21. I am the 24 and doing it shortly, (vtec) y0.
 
LordSplodge said:
I wouldn't bother doing my test if I just wanted to go back and forth to work.

I will do a CBT and get a 125 to start but want to be able to ride a proper bike in the future .

That last bit of information is incorrect, I can ride a 125 (within the provisional limits, of course ;) ) ad infinitum on my full driving license...
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Are your sure?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/RidingMotorcyclesAndMopeds/DG_4022430

a DL196 certificate validating a provisional moped or provisional motorcycle entitlement lasts for two years - CBT will have to be retaken if both theory and practical tests are not passed within the two year certificate life
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As far as I know your car license makes no difference other than giving you the provisional for the bike, but you need the valid CBT to validate it.

I know when I did my CBT there was a bloke on it who used a 125 scooter for work and he was on his third CBT as he never bothered passing the full bike test.

Anyway - usually a DAS course will include the CBT, and sometimes the theory too. Theory is very easy to pass - just get one of the CDs and learn it. Hazard awareness is a bit more tricky, only due to the fact that if you spot the hazards and click straight away you often lose marks, so you need to click again a second or two afterwards to make sure it registers in the window that they deem appropriate.
 
LordSplodge said:
Pah. I like shortcuts...
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driving a motorbike is extremely dangerous, so even if there were shortcuts it would be extremely beneficial not to take them

when i was learning how to ride a motorcycle in india, within my local land, so there where no other vehicles or people about, i found it extremely dangerous

the clutches are far more sensitive than a cars (i dunno if this is just due to asian bikes) and i stalled it like a million times

it is also much faster than a car when it comes to acceleration, cornering is similar to a mountain bike, but you have to use your bodyweight mostly, and move a lot more

it took me over a month before i had mastered it fully, and this is with trying every other day

i was still not confident enough to try driving on any main roads though
 
Sagalout said:
Are your sure?

As far as I know your car license makes no difference other than giving you the provisional for the bike, but you need the valid CBT to validate it.
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Thats what he said. He'll do a CBT then get a 125. :confused:

The DAS course I did included everything. The theory test (including lending me the CD's to practice), the CBT then all the training etc up until I'd passed my test.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
When i was learning how to ride a motorcycle in india, within my local land, so there where no other vehicles or people about, i found it extremely dangerous

the clutches are far more sensitive than a cars (i dunno if this is just due to asian bikes) and i stalled it like a million times

it is also much faster than a car when it comes to acceleration, cornering is similar to a mountain bike, but you have to use your bodyweight mostly, and move a lot more
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I think I'll be avoiding Indian motorbikes and tutors then.

Its nothing like a mountain bike. Or at least, a proper motorbike isn't. :p
 
Bug One said:
I think I'll be avoiding Indian motorbikes and tutors then.

Its nothing like a mountain bike. Or at least, a proper motorbike isn't. :p
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like i said i didnt think it was like a normal motorbike, there were 2 different models i learnt on

a hero honda (honda partnership with hero??? or something)

and some other make i'd never heard of

it was similar but not the exact same, also could you verify the clutch thing? is it far more sensitive than a cars clutch??? because i was having a lot of problems finding the biting point and stalling, so i tryed higher revs and did a wheelie and nearly crashed
 
Bug One said:
I think I'll be avoiding Indian motorbikes and tutors then.

Its nothing like a mountain bike. Or at least, a proper motorbike isn't. :p
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Have you seen how the drive (and ride) in India? Spent two months there and every car journey was a white knuckle ride. :eek:

I have riden a 125 many, many years ago and I understand that a proper bike is, of course, not the same as riding a Mountain or Road bike but some of the basic principles are the same. Spacial awareness, the ability to predict what idiot car drivers are going to do, lifesavers and so on.

Psycho Sonny said:
driving a motorbike is extremely dangerous, so even if there were shortcuts it would be extremely beneficial not to take them

the clutches are far more sensitive than a cars (i dunno if this is just due to asian bikes) and i stalled it like a million times

it is also much faster than a car when it comes to acceleration, cornering is similar to a mountain bike, but you have to use your bodyweight mostly, and move a lot more

it took me over a month before i had mastered it fully, and this is with trying every other day

i was still not confident enough to try driving on any main roads though
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I understand the risks. I was only joking. I ride daily on a push bike on the roads and you don't want to make a mistake.

Clutches differ between cars as well, the clutch on our car at work is a bitch compared to the one on the Astra at home.

I had a 125 many, many moons ago and even that went like a bat out of hell. That's part of the fun. Fun is often about balancing risks...
 
Sonny, sounds like the clutch was knackered on the bike you tried learning on. The clutch on both my bikes (one a commuter and one a sports bike) have both been very progressive and easy to use.
 
Bug One said:
Thats what he said. He'll do a CBT then get a 125. :confused:
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Yeah, but he said:

That last bit of information is incorrect, I can ride a 125 (within the provisional limits, of course ) ad infinitum on my full driving license...
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Which isnt true. If you take a CBT it only lasts 2 years and you have to retake if you want to keep on riding without passing the full test.

Anyway, its all moot as he's quite rightly going to do DAS :)
 
Sagalout said:
Which isnt true. If you take a CBT it only lasts 2 years and you have to retake if you want to keep on riding without passing the full test.

Anyway, its all moot as he's quite rightly going to do DAS :)
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Hmm, well that's new to me but Direct.Gov confirms it.

Sometimes even I am wrong it seems, good job I will be going DAS then...
 
I thought the rule was that if you are old enough of a chap, with a long standing driving license, then you can ride a 50cc?
 
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