Cycling UK Forum

I'm thinking of getting a motorbike to replace most of my time in the car (obviously I cycle most places and find it much more enjoyable, but it's not always possible). Does anyone here have any experience with the direct access scheme?

I'm not really sure whether to go up through the stages (125, 2 years restricted, etc) or take the direct access course, I don't think I'd wait for the two years restricted after taking my proper test on a 125 as I plan on having a passenger most of the time. So I'd have to the accelerated access course later anyway.

Basically does anyone have any advice, particularly if you've taken the direct access course or done CBT, normal test, accelerated access (or waited two years)?

If you're going to have an extensive use of the bike go directly to 500cc at least.
Using sensibly the quick acceleration that a 500cc allows will make your life safer.
A 125 is a deathtrap in the middle of cars that now all have 100hp or more under the bonnet. You'll be all the time taken over in a very dangerous way
Plus if you have a passenger an engine of that capacity is the minimum not only for safety but for your confort and for fuel efficiency.

Be very careful with the driving school you'll chose. A bad one will automatically lead to bad preparation for the big day and added expenses.

Hi,

I did direct access, them the IAM stuff, then trained as an instructor. If you're anything above a skinny teenager (size and mentality ) then I'd go for direct access. once you pass you can easily get a 'tame' motorbike to being learning how to ride. The DA course makes you capable in a basic sense; just like the car test.

some people on 125's and less have to wring the neck out of the bike just maintain pace with the traffic, and have nothing in reserve to get out of trouble. a bit like bicycling, cars do tail-gate/push past slow moving motorbikes. if you carry a pillion then a 125 just gets slower.

most bikes (350/500 +) are pretty easy to ride, physically, after a few days. and that's really what the DA teaches you, how to physically handle a 'large' bike. You also get a few more days on the road with an instructor, which will be experience worth the money. Although non-motorbikers think the DA is 'more dangerous' because you're on a bigger bike, it's actually much better for you because it gives you a better grounding as to what motorbiking's about (through informal instructor chats). and the learner 500's are usually asthmatic anyway

cheers,
Doug

karloman wrote:A 125 is a deathtrap in the middle of cars that now all have 100hp or more under the bonnet. You'll be all the time taken over in a very dangerous way

I disagree with that statement. Firstly a 125 isn't slow - not around town anyway. Secondly the only thing that makes it dangerous is the riders road sense, it's faster than a bicycle and less likely to be overtaken badly since it'll spend all it's time in primary.
Don't ride it like a bicycle, ride it like it's a car and you'll have no problems.

Small motorcycles claim lives because of the way they're ridden not because there's inherently something wrong with them.
(Having said that I wouldn't use a small bike with a pillion...)

kwackers wrote:I disagree with that statement. Firstly a 125 isn't slow - not around town anyway. Secondly the only thing that makes it dangerous is the riders road sense, it's faster than a bicycle and less likely to be overtaken badly since it'll spend all it's time in primary.
Don't ride it like a bicycle, ride it like it's a car and you'll have no problems.

I agree with you completely. I'm sure no-one who's spent any time on a 500+ would be pushed around while riding a 125. The problem is that a lot of people do their CBT and then spend 2 years riding their 125 like a bicycle, in the left-hand gutter, because no-one is correcting them. We were forever telling people to 'get out of the gutter!' It's not disimilar from cycle riders who get pushed around because of failing to take a bit more charge of the road sometimes.

It's not directly a 125 problem, but (eg into a headwind) you do sometimes end up slower than the traffic around you. it takes confidence to stand your ground, and that confidence doesn't really come from passing a CBT.

cheers

kwackers wrote:... the only thing that makes it dangerous is the riders road sense,...

Every one is in effect the first in charge of his own safety but as everyone knows driving a car makes a lot of people lose their civilized manners and act like potential murderers.
I've had countless opportunities to have my life threatened by one of those drivers when riding my motorbike by the book.
And my first law of survival on a motorbike is "stay away from cars" which a 125 doesn't permit.

karloman wrote:I've had countless opportunities to have my life threatened by one of those drivers when riding my motorbike by the book.

Me too, but over the years I've learned something interesting, the majority were down to the way I rode my bike. The couple that weren't (and it genuinely is only a couple) the size of the bike would have made no difference.

I'd have absolutely no hesitation riding a 125 around town. In fact I think I'd feel less vulnerable than I would on a bicycle.

kwackers wrote:Me too, but over the years I've learned something interesting, the majority were down to the way I rode my bike. The couple that weren't (and it genuinely is only a couple) the size of the bike would have made no difference.

that's exactly it though, "over the years I've learned something." Getting your CBT certificate is one or two days, most of which you won't take in. it's plainly obvious to someone who's been riding for a while, how not to get pushed around. but to someone who's only ever sat on a motorbike/scooter for 8 hours in their lifetime, it's not obvious. not at all in some cases. often we're talking about people who've never actually ridden/driven anything on the road, let alone experienced traffic.

that's why the DA is better, because you at least get 4 or 5 full days with an experienced instructor telling you constantly that it's the right thing to do to own your bit of road. once that's drummed into you then you're on your way.

I gave up on the motorcycles about three years ago because my car is so much cheaper to run that it made little sense to re-insure the motorbikes when the time came.
If you have a larger powerful motorbike your fuel economy isnt so good.

As for little bikes v big bikes, I am in the middle as I happily ride both.
On some very rare occasions I have used the power of the big bike to get out of tricky situations, ie to put distance between me and a belligerent motorist.
The little bikes on the other hand can be almost as nimble as a push bike in thick traffic.

Thanks for your replies, the motorcyclist at my badminton club recommended direct access too.

Thanks very much

John

Having ridden a motorcycle since the age of 16 and I am now 60 all I would like to say to you is that even once you have passed the test you will never stop learning.I know I haven't but sadly in some ways I am finally thinking of giving it up and buying a caravanette so I can put the cycle in the back and go off some where. I think its called getting old.

I diverge from the Inst. Adv. Motrcyclists' mantra in that, if you can't control a wheelie or front wheel slide on a motorbike, it is probably too big (an engine size) for you. Try riding pillion for a bit with a trusted friend and see if you enjoy it.

For the 2,500 miles which a motorcycle averages in this country each year, anything bigger than a Honda 90 will suffice. At the moment, I don't ride on motorways because I only have a 200cc scooter. Conversely, when riding a 750cc bike on A and B roads, nothing would overtake me.

Enjoy it, and learn from your mistakes. Peter

For a commuting vehicle a 125 is just adequate. I used a 250cc which was a very nice commuting bike. Life is easier on a bigger bike. Fewer gear changes needed. Power in reserve. The ability to carry a passenger and use motorways. I had a 400cc which was just OK for a passenger. I've no plans to go back to motorbikes but if I did I'd go for something around 500-600cc.

One final thing is driver perception. A bike that is big enough to look like a "proper bike" may get marginally more respect/roadspace/consideration from a few drivers.

250-500cc is the safe range. Accident statistics back this up.

Under 250 and you have not enough power, so cars overtake all the time.

Above 500cc and you have too much power and will be tempted to ride like an idiot.

Punk_shore wrote:Enjoy it, and learn from your mistakes

Let's hope there's not too much learning to do then!