Advice pls of Adv Riding Courses

[Tony Varadero]

Just wondering if anyone on here had experience of good advanced riding training courses or similar.
I intend to do a bikesafe day with cops but would also like to improve (plenty of room for improvement there) my riding skills.

Not interetsed in super speed or track days, it's more to do with being slightly quicker and definately safer!

Thanks for any tips.

[Alba]

Look for either RoSPA or IAM on the tinternet (both have their own websites so easy to find) and there will be a local groups which are well worth becoming a member of

[StumpyFingers]

hen you have done the Bikesafe they will recommend the Course you should go for. Mine recommended the IAM so I will give that a go next year.

[Farky]

IAM depending on recomendation from the Bikesafe guys - Im doing the IAM course now and it is good but they are now limited to NOT allow you over speed limits so its kind of less 'advanced' and more 'safe'.

If you do a trackday with a decent marshal, thay can offer you good advice on how to ride 'your' bike quicker and smoother and a lot of this is transferable to the road... the bit where control is required if upto you regardless of training or advice. Get to talking to peeps who have done trackdays or know marshalls - some of them are also Advanced Instructors or Learner Instructors - get a recomendation for your area.

I had a marshal follow me round for a session and then lead me for one with loads of feed back inbetween - transformed my confidence in brakes, lean angle and grip. Biggest ONROAD difference was on slow corners and entry to corners as well as counter-steering techniques.

[Tony Varadero]

excellent tips folks thank you all!!!

[Warthog]

As I understand it, IAM is a course, test and accreditation, whilst RoSPA is the same, except that you need to re-test every 3 years IIRR.

So this means if you want a good course and then a certificate for life go IAM,if you want continued assessment go for RoSPA.

RoSPA is probably more hassle, but we all know that our bad habits can firm with time, so in this respect, if you are serious about the safety side, the RoSPA course should keep you on the ball.

This would be my case, I know my roadsense has improved over the years, but I'm also certain to have picked up some horrendous habits, because I may trust said roadsense over training: not necessarily a good thing: one should never usurp the other....

[Manos]

Just wondering if anyone on here had experience of good advanced riding training courses or similar.
I intend to do a bikesafe day with cops but would also like to improve (plenty of room for improvement there) my riding skills.

Not interetsed in super speed or track days, it's more to do with being slightly quicker and definately safer!

Thanks for any tips.

Hi, by far the best way to all-around improve your riding skills on and off road is to start enduro. I am not talking about extreme situations, plain dirt roads with a bit of mud will do. Once you 've learned how to handle your bike on dirty, rocky and slippery terrains, you will see a HUGE improvement when driving on solid asphalt.


It certainly does take some time to get the hang of it, but believe me, it pays off handsomely!


P.S. Never ride alone in the mountains, take a friend with you.

[Tony Varadero]

that sounds good advise.....I would be reluctant to take my beloved vara aand achancing dropping it but I still see value in your advice.

If I had one of the things I do not have and if I didn't have one of the ones I do have.......namely garage and wife that is
I would have two bikes......

[Manos]

I see . .


Oh, another thing I forgot to mention . . If anyone takes my advice be warned that you and the bike will drop again and again, so boots, knee protectors, gloves, jacket with ptotective paddings, and helmet are mandatory!

[alpslapper]

If you fancy an off road day but not with your own bike, honda yamaha and ktm do an off road experience day. They supply you with everything including the bike.
About £120 - £150 or there about I think.

IAM and ROSPA - both good.

A mentor will be assigned to you and you pay them a tenner per rideout for their petrol ( price will vary depending on who and where).

They'll take you for weekly runs till your ready for your test.

You'll also get to do slow-control days inbetween usually run in a group scenario.

IAM - pass and thats it.

ROSPA - your grade is good for 3 years then you need to retake the test.

ROSPA is graded as ''sell the bike and get a car'' (joke) ''bronze'' ''silver'' and ''gold''.

You'll see a nice reduction in your insurance premium if you have any sort of advanced qualification.

You'll also need an advanced qualification to do stuff like ride the SERV company bike on bloodruns, get involved in marshalling on public roads at cycling events and so on.

But much much more imprtant than any of that - it'll keep you safer, smoother on the bike and you'll enjoy your riding a lot more.