I'm going to book my Direct Access - any pointers?

[PardonTheWait]

Right.

I've decided that within the next few days I will be booking my Direct Access bike test - from start to finish, CBT included. I'm going to start phoning around tomorrow.

I'll have to break it up into 3 or however many I need to weekends, because I'm pretty new in my job and can't book 4 days/a week off. Shouldn't be too bad though as it's only broken up into a few bits, not strung out over weeks and months.

I've been riding bikes for about 18 months now, and can handle the mechanics of a bike fine. I know how to ride, my riding is all done on dirt/sand/mud/water and I've ridden on tarmac. I know how to handle a bike, but I've never ridden one on the road. (well I rode my mate's scooter a bit but we won't talk about that!)

So... What can you guys tell me to help out?

I'm not going to be cocky...

I know this:

Isn't the same as road stuff!

The bikes I've ridden are very tall, very slim, have no extra controls and most importantly in my mind, no fairing! I've ridden a couple of road bikes up my drive and I'll be honest, it felt ****ing weird turning the bars and not seeing anything move... with an MX bike it's totally naked, you see the front fender move, and it felt very disembodied with clocks/fairing covering that up! The weight of the machine is also something I find strange and will need to get used to.

I also know that I can't ride on the road like I do on the track... The bikes are different animals and obviously it's a different environment. I no doubt need the tuition just as much as someone who's never ridden a bike in their life in many ways.

Aside from the actual riding of the bike though, I'm a total noob. What will help me get brownie points, what will possibly save my life on the road one day - while I'm sure my MX experience will be very helpful in some ways with reaction times, being well-versed in falling off and whatnot, it won't help me pass my bike test or avoiding accidents. I wanna soak up as much stuff from you guys as I can before I go into the tuition and test, because of course every little helps and I'm a total road noob!

So any tips, please do let me know

Thanks

 

[PardonTheWait]

Pah! This weather's nothing to a hardcore nutter like me!

Mostly though - I need transport hardcore, and to be honest I can't drive a car for toffee! Needs to get done, now's as good a time as any

 

[PardonTheWait]

I get a free-ish bike once I pass, we've got a 'family bike' that's been my dad's, then got sold to my brother-in-law, who then lent it to my mum, then we bought it back

It's worth about tuppence but it's a great bike for commuting/cheapness to run, plus it's a big single like I'm used to riding It's an aprilia Pegaso 650, looks just like this one but with no top box:

Strangely I'm not actually much of a fan of sportsbikes. I like sit-up bikes and most of the bikes that stoke me up are either big trailies, supermotos or off-roady bikes...

Odd for someone of 21!

I'm sure the speed bug will get me in the end.

 

[PardonTheWait]

I don't think my dad ever loved me properly til I got a bike

(joke!)

 

[PardonTheWait]

No one else?

 

[PardonTheWait]

Mo, who are you doing the direct access with?

I forgot to phone on friday as I was running late for work!

I'll ring round some places now actually - any recommendations?

 

[PardonTheWait]

My mum did her test with Link but I can't get to them unfortunately

I think I'm going to go with a place who operate from Garons Park, I spoke to the guy on the phone (one of the instructors) and he seemed pretty sound. I'll book up with them and ask if I can pay for the CBT separately, as I'm sure when I do that I'll have an idea if they're a sound school from that day.

 

[PardonTheWait]

Have you already done your theory? If not do that before you start booking test dates n what not.

Good point! I'll have to see what the wait's like for that at the moment. Ta