Direct access good or bad..... Gimme some facts!

Originally Posted by 650newb

well i am going to live up to my name, wot is the IAM exactly. as for the advance riding courses ill probably do that in the summer next year

IAM - Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists/Motorists....

basically organised on a club basis whereby you join up (£85 for the first year - which includes your test fee) and thereafter you go out on 'observed' runs with trained observers who 'observe' as opposed to strictly 'train' to provide coaching/guidance etc as to riding safely and systematically, broadly following the police motorcycling system..

you can find out more here...

http://www.iam.org.uk/

I've had my bike license 18 months now & I haven't binned my bike... But then I don't ride like a tw@... Honest

When I did my test the DAS thing wasn't around.

Anyway, I passed my test and went and got myself a CBR600. I crashed that within three months. I then traded that in for a YZF 750. I crashed that too.

I think the Direct Access is a good thing as far as it gives you the chance to experience performance motorcycles before you are let loose on the roads by yourself. One of my many feathers in my cap whilst serving in the forces was a driving/ riding instructor. I taught many guys how to ride on an Armstrong 500cc motorcycle. As soon as they passed their test they went out to the local Super bike dealer and bought a super sport bike. 9 times out of 10 they didn't get passed the first month without an off. Some worse than others.

The DAS only gives you a starting point on bigger bikes. I have been riding for the best part of 20 years and I still think that I have plenty to learn. At the same time as booking my lessons I booked an advanced course with the same Instructor.

So in summary.

Yes go Direct Access, but as soon as you have passed your test go and book an advanced course. They are invaluable and could save you from being another statistic.

Here endeth BigApe's sermon

I've had my bike license 20 months now & I haven't binned my bike... But
then I ride very very slow, as an old man is supposed to.

[fizzwheel]

I binned my bike, 125, when I only had my CBT.. touch wood since then nope.. havent binned it

Argree with Big Ape.. do your DAS and then go and get some more training

In my opinon all the teach you on your DAS course is to pass your test, not actually how to ride... just take your time and dont rush, also avoid going out in big groups after you pass, go out by yourself then you can ride at your own speed and wont feel forced into going faster than you want to just to keep up.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Argree with Big Ape.. do your DAS and then go and get some more training

Actually, DAS training has been the most terrifying part of my riding
experience. I was doing my DAS in winter and lessons had to
go ahead irrespective of the weather. I still have nightmares remembering
how I had to ride in a hail-storm with an open visor (otherwise my specs
would steam up) with my instructor shouting through the radio
"Keep it up to the national speed limit" (70 mph, dual carriageway).
On another day I got so wet that I was in danger of falling off the
bike as a result of uncontrollable shaking.

Not sure I have recovered enough to undergo more training.

Originally Posted by Cloggsy

I've had my bike license 18 months now & I haven't binned my bike... But then I don't ride like a tw@... Honest

Having said that, I would like to get a track-day or two, or some IAM training under my belt in the not too distant future

Originally Posted by Ken McCulloch

Where and when was that, or did I miss something?

I grew up in South Africa, started riding on the road in 1989 or so. Law remains the same far as I know.

Das, passed February, SV March, bad off June - got too close to oncoming, nowhere to go so grabbed front brake. They don't teach you enough about road positioning IMHO.

Originally Posted by Sythree

They don't teach you enough about road positioning IMHO.

I have to say, my instructor went on about road positioning pretty much all the time.
Though we all work to a standard test, there is no way that everybodies instruction has covered all the same stuff.

If you look at the way the lessons/test work from a purely using a bike on the public roads viewpoint, I think they are suitable.
We are taught how to not get run over, to a fairly good degree, I think.
We are certainly not taught how to ride fast on bendy roads (though I was taken out for a lesson on some nice bendies near portsmouth, still trying to figure out where we were)
So, the question is, are people worried that we're not taught enough advanced riding? because I don't think that's what the DAS is for, and I don't think it should be, either.
If you introduce a compulsory "advanced" part of the test, then you're just going to discourage alot of people who may be perfectly good riders, or maybe just don't plan on riding like that.

Anyway, feel free to rip into my post, maybe I got off the point, maybe I'm tired, either way, the DAS may have flaws, but I don't think it's the basic idea that's flawed, it's the expectations put onto it.