My name is Jim , I work for Kent Fire and Rescue Service and am one of 4 Fire Bike Riders. I’ve joined to to promote my work which is based around reducing the number of KSI s (killed or seriously injured) on Bikes in the South East (and London). I have put up a post in the Bike Talk section about a free First Aid Course for Bikers.
I have been riding for 27 years (42 years old) and prior to joining the Fire Service I was (and still am ) a DSA Bike Instructor. I am an operational Crew Manager based at Ashford as well as a Fire Bike Rider.
My own Bike is a VFR 800fi and my work bikes are a 08 Blade and a Kawasaki S1000, I spend most of my work time on the Blade which is based with me at Ashford. Pics to follow. I am currently restoring a Yamaha xt500 1981 so if there any petrol heads here that know about these please shout cos I may need advice!
Me a bit knackered after a day to Wooton Bassett and back on the Blade
The idea is that when I pull up at a Bike meet, etc, it’s my ‘way in’ i.e. Bikers are intrigued and so they come over to see it and then I can engage them in promoting whatever message I’m promoting. It’s what we call a Community Safety Tool. For photos of it and the Kawasaki and Fire Bikes from all over the country check out the ‘Kent Fire Bike’ facebook page. Trouble with the Blade is that Mr Plod knows exactly who I am and who I work for so I can’t get away with anything!
If I only I had a pound for every time I hear that!
Remember it’s non operational, just a tool for engagement. The Kwaka has got Blue lights fitted in the winkers and a strobe on the back but they only work when the ignition is off, just a gimmick really, although as we are well and truly ‘marked up’ and in uniform when on the bikes we are morally required to stop at the scene of any incident where we could help so the Blue lights would be a good safety feature at an RTC and 2 of us have had to stop to assist at a couple of RTCs. It (the kwaka) may also be getting a Defib to put in it’s panniers I believe and we carry a little First Aid Kit.
Have a buddy who has just done a build of an old XT . He has a sickness for old aircooled singles that go offroad . He used it for spectating the six day trials in Scotland . Any questions I can ask him and pass the info along .
I have been known to give my ‘Paddington Bear Stare’ (you have to be of a certain age to understand that one). Seriously though we, on the team, are quite proud of and quite aware of the usefulness of, not being Law enforcement! We work closely on Projects with the Police, both Kent and the Met, all 4 of us attended a 2 week residential Police Motorcyclists Course with Kent Police and do an annual 1 day assessment with them (on their bikes and last year we took out the marked ones, that was fun). Because of this work we remain very aware of the advantage of not being Police as we can still liaise with the, hem hem, harder to reach Bikers, if you know what I mean!
Last year on my annual assessment, it was like CHiPs all over again, straight back to my childhood dream! look at that stupid grin!
Welcome aboard, Jim, good to have you around and look forward to meeting you at the first aid course and perhaps our weekly BM meets or weekend rideouts.
You and your Fireblade/bike will be very welcome at BM, BTW. If you do plan to come along let us know and I will try and make a special effort to attend - although I’ve not been able to make it so far this year due to particularly high workload for me in 2012 :w00t:
Trouble with the Blade is that Mr Plod knows exactly who I am and who I work for so I can’t get away with anything!
