Looking for info on DAS?

Buchanan0204

Buchanan0204

Buchanan0204

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Joined
10 Jun 2010
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Scotland
Hi there,

I'm dying to pass my bike test! I sat my CBT just over a year ago and passed it on the day.

I believe the DAS is 5 days? What's involved? How much is it?

Is it easy enough? I already have a car license and been driving for a while, so I have a good understanding of the roads etc. Unlike learning to drive a car for the first time, you have to learn to control the vehicle as well as learn about giving way, roundabouts, indicating etc.

Surely with a bike... it's just learning to ride the bike? With the odd extra cautious checking over shoulder thrown in? Am I totally wrong?

Any help or advice on this would be greatly appreciated. Especially from people who have done it recently.

P.S. My instructor passed me on the day for my CBT... Will it be the same with the DAS or will an examiner from the DSA have to assess me?

Cheers guys!!!
 
I'm currently 3 days in to a 5 day DAS.

The options of how many days so vary a little depending on various factors, like bike experience etc. The company I am using do 4, 5 and 6 day course.

Monday, day 1, was CBT on a Kawasaki ER5 for me which is where the instructor teaches you about the bike and then over the day, including a road ride of at least 2 hours, we were out for 4, he decides if you are of a standard that is acceptable. If so you get your CBT certificate which, in my case, would allow me to ride a 125cc learner legal bike on L plates for 2 years.

Tuesday, day 2, was module 1 training. Module 1 is off road manoeuvres, slow riding, U turn, emergency stop, avoidance and a few other things. This is booked via the DSA website, in my case I paid for my course and that included all test fees and the company I use booked all my tests for me.

Yesterday was all about getting used to handling the bike at slow speeds, as part of the module 1 you so a slalom round cones then a figure of 8, twice, round 2 more cones. I spent a lot of time doing this.

Wednesday, day 3, was module 1 day. We rode to Oxford, great fun doing almost 80 on the ring road, and did our mod 1's. My cohort got no minors but I got 1 minor for doing 48kmh for the avoidance part of the test. Ah well I passed that's the main thing :D

Here's a video of whats involved in the mod 1


Next Thursday is module 2 training. Module 2 is the traditional on the road test just like you did for your car test but obviously on a bike ;). Then next Friday I have my mod 2.

This course has cost me £750, which includes all bike usage, test fees and training/usage if I fail my mod 2. If I do fail, I will have to pay the mod 2 test fee again so I best not fail.

Don't just think riding a bike is as simple as that. When you're driving do you always notice bikes? A lot of car drivers don't seem to. Yes the actual riding of a bike is pretty simple, as is driving a car, but on a bike you have to think for everyone else on the road as if you don't, it won't take long till you meet that driver who isn't. When that happened to me in 1990 it hurt.

I'm typing this and then re reading through your post.

Mod 1 and mod 2 tests are done with the DSA not your instructor, though I can't understand why the module 1 part isn't with the instructors tbh.

I wish I hadn't given up bikes 20 years ago now. Ah well.
 
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Buchanan0204 said:
Is it easy enough? I already have a car license and been driving for a while, so I have a good understanding of the roads etc. Unlike learning to drive a car for the first time, you have to learn to control the vehicle as well as learn about giving way, roundabouts, indicating etc.

Surely with a bike... it's just learning to ride the bike? With the odd extra cautious checking over shoulder thrown in? Am I totally wrong?
Click to expand...
Having car experience was certainly a big plus for me, because - as you say - *all* I had to do was focus on controlling the vehicle.

Don't underestimate this though, as I'm sure you're aware from your CBT there is a lot to do at junctions etc.

Unlike a car you're moving all 4 limbs, your head, balancing, checking the road surface and trying to control the throttle in a way that doesn't get you failed for being too slow, or throw you out into oncoming traffic.

Granted I passed my DAS after ~15 hours (3 day course, exam on 4th, £475 I think) vs ~60 hours car driving, but it wasn't a cake walk :)
 
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