Thank You!

I wish it was like that still, would make my life one hell of a lot easier and cheaper. But hey ho that the way it goes. I wonder what it will be like in another 30 years time? With human evolution... it may be only clarevoyants that can drive as you must be able to pre-empt every manouver of every road user for 1 mile in front (minimum). Thats just for the provisional.

Fair enough young people die on motorbikes, but they have chosen to ride one, in full knowledge that they could be skidding sideways to their death at any moment. But why make it so hard? When do you ever need to slalom inbetween cones in real life? I'm pretty sure if you were ever cought doing this on the street you'd get pulled over for dangerous driving.

By gum C70 was a beast

This sounds rather comical!

It does seem rather hard. I'm sure the government is determined to make us all use public tansport as its "cheaper". The only thing is the current population on theroad isn't getting any younger...

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Might also mention the new SHARP helmet tests - they're a little controversial, but provide a rating based on more extensive testing than the EU minimum. Surprisingly, a lot of cheaper helmets (sub-£150) do quite well in comparison to some real flagship (£300-400+) models...which is part of the source of controversy. And make sure that, whatever standard and price range you go for, it fits properly in all dimensions: that is, in its' own way, at least as important as the build quality.

The two-part test and the reduction from 250 to 125cc for learners came in in 82/83, just before I was old enough to ride. But my full car license entitled me at 17 to ride any kind of moped (including unrestricted FS1Es etc) without L plates and was a permanent provisional bike license for up to 125cc, no CBT required to ride on the road. Not too bad, really, and like BD I just rode thousands of miles (on my Honda H100) until I was ready to take the test. (Although when I found out how much easier and smoother a bigger four-stroke multi was to control, I rather wished I'd gone for it a bit earlier)!

The actual test was a few questions first, then an observed ride. Early days of one-way helmet-to-helmet radio, with added static, so it was an utter gamble whether you got any of the directions right - luckily it wasn't a fail to go the wrong way. Pretty much every instruction from the examiner consisted of: "At the end of the road ***hiss***crackle***". I still have no idea whether we stuck to the approved route from the first corner onwards!

Sidewinders were fantastic things: suicidal, but fantastic. Not terribly clear from the pic, but it was just a weighted wheel on a stick, with a swivel joint to allow it to fold up:

Have to say, I think the roads are more dangerous now and it is of benefit to have increased the level of pre-road training and the stringency of the testing. Up to a point. It could have been implemented an awful lot more simply and the costs are outrageous (integrated transport policy at work: zero encouragement to get people on to two wheels. What a surprise: New Labour failed on yet another manifesto promise). I also think that the point has been reached where additional training in the vacuum of a non-real situation doesn't really achieve anything - at some stage, you just have to get out there and play with the traffic to learn how to deal with it. The new "swerve" test seems a little harsh, too (as well as not particularly realistic), but rumour has it it's been responsible for a number of broken limbs and a lot more dropped bikes...especially if you're unlucky enough to be doing part 1 in the rain. Rather than being allowed to slow down for conditions, the manoeuvre has to be carried out at 50kph+, with not much braking distance after the swerve. Result: inexperienced riders jam the brakes on before straightening up and kiss their front wheel goodbye.

Thirty years from now, we'll be the only proper road users. Everybody else will be chauffered around by electronically-guided vehicles with full collision avoidance systems and more safety interlocks than the space shuttle. Bikes may come with 'em, but I bet we'll be the only people figuring out ways to disconnect them and get on with riding...

>> ex silens nox noctis <<

I paid about £300-400 for my DAS when I did it 4/5 years ago. But as the others have said it is worth it, there is only 2 of you & the instructor. Your out all day bar lunch & you do learn lots from it. I did the 4 days & 5th day was quick chill out ride & then out for the test. I never knew some of those muscles existed until I felt the pain of riding for 5 days solid all day.

Thankfully you harden up. I never thought I'd be able to cope with the weight of the GN but it's wierd how quickly you get used to the new weight & it's never too long until you're pushing it about like it's nothing. Good for keeping your arms in shape too!

Plus why have 4 wheels when 2 are so much more fun, and better than public transport. I still love the fact that when I drive to our other office in Worthing (3 times this week) I can filter through all the traffic.