Advanced Riding Courses

I was thinking about an advanced riding course - been riding 10 years - but always willing to listen and learn. Just wondered who on here has done one/ tried one etc?

Any particular recommendations or thoughts please most welcome. Ta.

I am really keen to do one as well - doing one in cape town…

I beleive there are a few people here who are IAM members - Duncan is one of them - maybe pm him??

IAM is supposed to be the dogs. They have the same for cars (AIM I think instead of IAM) and its really good to have it. Brings your insurance down as well as arming you with useful tips to keep you out of harms way from the nutters.

There is however a proviso - IF you take a course like this, you must sign a LondonBikers endorsed agreement to NOT under any circumstances go out and buy a mobile SOFA! Huge stupid rolling wheel chairs are the safest thing on the roads in bike terms, but don’t expect us to talk to you if you turn up at the Cubana on one, ok

I’m an IAM ‘affiliate’ member - which means I’m doing the learning now ready for my advanced test.

They’re doing the ‘skills for life’ programme at the moment which is dirt cheap and gets you

  • IAM membership
  • Advanced Test
  • Observed Runs to learn for your test

It’s very cool and the guys and gals who do it are top notch

They have a website here

http://www.iam.org.uk/eshop/membershipshop/sfl.htm

If you’re 26 or under it’s cheaper but be aware they normally do a ‘special’ price at the NEC show.

m

IAM is a good winter activity when its too cold and slippery for summer style rideouts. Apart from becoming safer, you will probably get quicker on the road too. I’ll be going on their observed runs again in a month or two.

Be prepared to get the odd pensioner-observer on his VFR who will appear to only want to find fault with your riding - just remind yourself he’s still alive/riding, so he must know a few things that you could learn from. Most people there are very friendly though.

I did a course with these guys about 4 or 5 years ago - http://www.ridedrive.co.uk/index.htm

It was a 4 day one, split between classroom sessions & on the road ones putting the classroom theory into practice.

The instructors were all well experienced Met bike plod & I thought it was very good, as too did the other folk on the course, there were about a dozen of us with between 5 - 20+ years riding experience & everyone thought they’d learnt enough to justify the cost.

Keep meaning to do one of their car courses as well, just need to find time to slot one in.

Ride drive are a good set up.

I was one of thier instructors however they tended to have more car work then bike work during winter months (understandably!!) and i moved onto other Training schools , eventually going freelance!

The best of the bunch, without doubt, is ‘Rapidtraining’ they are focused on bikes and do an assortment of track and road training.

They consist ,mainly, of TVP Bike instructors (sussed the bias yet?)

Remember cost!!

private firms are pricey, upwards of £100 per day.

value for money though in all honesty.

The best value though is the IAM, i joined recently and was impressed with the enthusiasm and skill level (my local group is Thames Vale advanced Motorcyclists)

£80 gets you a lot for your money.

that’s ride-outs, 1-2-1 observed rides, a personal observer and your test fee included (whenever your at a level deemed test ready)

Loads of freelancers out there to (ahem)

This is such a cracking forum, cheers one and all…and Matt “ode to be 26 again fella”…add 10 years and I’m there!!

I’ll have a read of the websites/companies you guys have given me.

AJ - Hmmmm, sorry warm weather just isn’t my style…yeh right…I’m only jealous!!

I was thinking of doing a bike safe at the warren and going for AIM in 2 or 3 years once I had built up the necessary experience.

I belong to a club where they promote the IAM. You dont have to do it, but they do the observed rides with their qualified in house observers and all you do is arrange to meet with the observer when you want to. No pressure.

Club meet is out in essex, near braintree, so might be quite far for you to go.

Anyone wanting more details, pm me.

dont be

what with the beach, the mountain and great weather…

it will be absolutely horrible… dont know how i am gonna cope with it all…

oh and did i mention the trackdays down there cost

£25 for the day???

You can really go off people sometimes…and very quickly too for no real reason, much!!

Luvs yer really sweetie. See ya soon.

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Definitely worth doing. Just hearing a top class road rider giving a commentary on what they are doing/looking at is a real eye opener.

Have used a number of advanced trainers over the years (top up every couple of years, usually when moving from daily London commuting to trips to Italy). While all have been useful (ex-special escort group being fantastic) and it inevitably depends on the instructor you get, Rapid Training have always been good - the write up they send after is also a v helpful reminder. 1 or 2-to-1 seems to work best (though pricey), as you can focus on what you need to improve. The bike-to-bike comms Rapid use also worked well.

Also found Bikesafe helpful and good value at £30, well organized and the police rider who observed my ride was great.

Just knowing you are being observed helps (once the first ten mins are over and you relax), and they are also generally great fun - often find some new bike friendly roads as well.

Enjoy.

I agree with Porkscratchin, the best advanced training is from Rapid, but they are a professional outfit and a bit pricey. The IAM groups are much cheaper as they are run by volunteers. I am one, an observer for Wey Valley Advanced (based near Guildford). Other IAM groups include London (Banstead, Beckenham), Kent, East London, Middlesex, and Thames Vale.

I would be happy to do some observed runs with interested LBers. Perhaps some of the other observers on LB would do the same. All I would ask is that you buy a copy of Motorcycle Roadcraft (http://tinyurl.com/kjmp5), read some of it and think about it before you come along.

Duncan

I done my advanced with Ridedrive, I knew my instructor through Thames Valley Police and it was spot on!!! 3 intensive days but didn’t realise how much fun the twisties can be, I used to tense up and crap myself if I saw the S-bends sign until I done this.

I also done my first trackday with Rapidtraining guys at Cadwell. Top time too None of this willy waving crap.

Looking to do my advanced driving with ROSPA rather than IAM, only had 2 observed drives in a year… nothing but nightmares with them. One of the observers in ROSPA is one of the guys i go out riding with now and then, ex -TVP so hope to start that up soon.

booked my bikesafe for a few weeks away.

sounds like a bargain at £30. I’m of the opinion, you never stop learning and anything helps!!

would like to do IAM, or similar, am going to wait until after bke show to book as it has ben mentioned that there is usually some form of “show special” price!

Thanks one and all; looks like Rapid have it - although will look at Ride Drive and the IAM.

Not sure whether to do this now before a track day or the track first…decisions, decisions…!

Had an observed ride a couple of weeks ago, he didnt fund fault as such, just correct some errors, which resulted in me riding faster, must faster and under more control.