What extra training is worth doing?

AtomicBanana · 28 Mar 2011 at 19:34

I've had my license a few years now, but this is the first year I've had a 600 and used it as my only vehicle. I think I am an 'ok' rider, but want to get some more training done.

Anyone have any experience of what courses are worth doing, and which aren't?

duc999 · 28 Mar 2011 at 20:23

For road riding contact your local plod about their Bikesafe courses. Free to enrol and riding with plod is certainly an eye opener

If its a more track based approach you are looking for then the California Superbike School are available at most of the major UK tracks. What you learn there will serve you very well on the road as well. Pricy but worth it

Benihana · 29 Mar 2011 at 09:58

I've done a few bikesafe days, some track stuff, but mostly road orientated, they are good for a brush up but emphasis is on safety over any sort of progression (as to be expected)

I've just passed my IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) test for motorcycles and it really helped me with confidence and gaining some useful skills and techniques, would heavily recommend it.

I was with TVAM (Thames Valley) but I suspect there is one nearer you, and you can go along for a free ride and they will give you feedback and go from there. I think it helped that I had only recently done my DAS so no bad habits had stuck

Any questions, just ask away..

[Olly] · 29 Mar 2011 at 10:07

+1 for Bikesafe course, did one last year, the police rider was actually an alright guy, had some really useful advice about my riding.

Flukester · 29 Mar 2011 at 11:04

http://www.iwanttowheelie.co.uk/

Truszy · 29 Mar 2011 at 12:27

Flukester said:
http://www.iwanttowheelie.co.uk/

Definitely the most appealing!

AtomicBanana · 29 Mar 2011 at 15:45

Flukester said:
http://www.iwanttowheelie.co.uk/

Hahah, tempting, just down the road

I hear conflicting things about IAM. I figure it can't hurt to give it a go anyway.
Unless I'm mistaken the dates for the bikesafe/police rider thing aren't going to work for me. The first part of the course starts very soon and I'm not in a position to get going just yet.

For those that have done it, how to people generally rate the RoSPA and IAM stuff?

Tomsk · 1 Apr 2011 at 13:26

AtomicBanana said:
For those that have done it, how to people generally rate the RoSPA and IAM stuff?

I've not done either, but AFAIK, the IAM is a one off, like a driving test. The RoSPA requires regular re-assessments.

DanF · 2 Apr 2011 at 09:53

The IAM is a pass/fail system, the pass lasts for life and it's very good value for money at £140. The RoSPA has 3 pass marks, bronze, silver and gold. RoSPA bronze is meant to be very similar to the IAM pass for difficulty, RoSPA gold is up to police standard without the pursuit part. I think you need to retake your RoSPA test every 3 years so I guess some people will say that you have to keep a high level of riding skill with RoSPA to keep re-passing the test while you may slip back in to old habits with IAM after a while.

The bikesafe course is pretty good to do, the police on mine where really good and had a bit of a laugh when I turned up with the SV, I'd done a track day the day before so the tyres and brakes where showing lots of abuse

and it had a race can on the end. I got told off for not filtering right to the very front of a queue of cars as well