This is something that I perhaps should have researched more myself before doing the test on my 125 and now being restricted for the next 2 years to below 33bhp etc.
There are plenty of bike training places that do a direct access course for larger CC conventional motorbikes but I don't think these places have caught up to the fact that there are plenty of large capacity automatics to choose from and it seems to be the growth area for commuters these days.
Saying that, most of the time my 250 xmax seems perfect for my commute through suburbia and holds it's own on the M25.
Has anyone come across any direct access training that cater for the larger scooter?
i too done the resticted route and had a tmax sitting waiting for me... easily restricted...and when the restrictor was taken off, only slight difference... can still do speed limit and above on restricted scoot.... i would say buy the big scoot you like, get it restricted and when your restriction ends then take the restrctor off and you still have the scoot you want. that will probably costs less than doing direct access, with of course the always small possibiility something goes wrong on test and you dont pass, hence costing you more.
Im still on my restriction till sep this year. I bought my restictor kit when i got my tmax and windycorner had to fit it and give me a certificate for it. when i got home i found out it was just a washer in the exhaust so i took it out and is still under my seat incase i have any problems.
That's very good news, thanks guys. Funny how a washer is used, not the high-tech solutuion I'd expected such as an ECU tweak.
It's a Tmax that I hanker after really. Have looked at the other new bikes coming out like the Integra and it's stable mates but I do like a bike to look sporty.
Out of interest, did your insurance company (I'm with Carole Nash) ask for proof of it being restricted?
Also in step up of performance, I felt a decent jump up from my 125 to 250 xmax. What sort of differnce would I find on a Tmax? (Not counting using more fuel)
Isn't the snag that most scoots don't make enough power do the direct access test on? I forget the minimum power output required. The BMWs should be OK I guess.
You cannot do direct access on a scooter for a couple of reasons.
1. Apart from the GP800 and Burgman 650 there aren't any that make the required 50bhp. Neither of these were available when the restricted and direct access tests were introduced.
2. As you cannot ride your own such scooters to and from the test centre without an instructor you have to rely on your training school having such bikes in their training fleet, and for such limited requirement, I bet none do. Not many even have 125cc scooters, but then most riders use their own which you can of course ride legally to and from the test centre.
Yes, your right, I'd 'ass'umed that anything over the 33bhp / 25kw limit would qualify for DAS but apparently the bike has to be 46.6bhp(35Kw) power to qualify. So the new BMW, Honda Integra, NC800 should cut it. Maybe demand for doing a das on bigger bikes will grow in popularity as more people turn to scooters for commuting to save on fuel and running costs as well as time travelling, although judging by most people I work with it'll take a lot more to prise them out of their cars than that.
I'm not decided on when to get a Tmax. I spoke to a guy in sales at a Yamaha place in Shepherds Bush today and got the hard sell. He said he rode a Tmax and most people who own one, tend to stick with a Tmax for years and only change to get another one. Trade in on my Xmax is crap, only offered me 2K for my 61 plate bike with 2000 miles on the clock, decent alarm and all the wind protection extras fitted. Wonder what I could get for it privately?
