Do You Participate In Further Training?

They taught you to ride the roads in a certain way regardless of the conditions, etc. So I did the ROSPA which teaches you to adapt to the conditions of the roads etc.

 

You can’t compare driving a HGV with riding even a relatively modest motorcycle, let alone a sports bike. HGV’s are some of the slowest things on the road, sports bikes are some of the fastest.
Arm stretching acceleration and ball crushing brakes are there to be used IMO, just use your common sense and choose where you use them wisely.
I can’t say I’ve ever set out on a ride and focused on MPG or minimising brake pad wear etc. Getting caught out with the fuel light on and miles from a fuel stop is a different story.
One thing is for sure, different machines induce different “modes” from the rider. I ride my Classic Triumph Twin very different from the ZZR.

 

It's nothing to do with weight and speed if you read my reply properly it is just a comparison on why I ride with anticipation and get to where I need without being heavy on the brakes, up people's arses and taking unnecessary risks the HGV comparison it is explaining with my experience of driving/riding most things on the road for 40 years plus you use the same brain and eyes

 

My experiences of group rides where the ones leading frequently dropped "I'm a certified advanced rider" into every conversation (won't say which one), were no fun at all. With no consideration they'd go flying off at crazy speeds, overtaking everything, just expecting the rest of us to keep up, saying its what we should be doing too. Sod that. I ride to enjoy myself, not to ride to the limit/max that's possible all the time. After getting "where the hell did you go" texts after I gave up chasing people once, turning off to enjoy a leisurely route home, I vowed never again. That particular bunch (all did the same course) were utter knobends.

On the flipside, a work colleague loved doing his RoSPA course, and on the very odd occasion we headed off together from work he was way less manic. It's partly the mindset of the individuals and partly down to how rabid the instructor is I guess.

 

@Sir Trev I had the same experience as you when i tried an advanced group. They all wanted to be Joey Dunlops and the stupid manoeuvres they did was idiotic and dangerous. Like you one ride was enough. I walked away before i hurt some of them. I then did the ROSPA course which i loved and respected. Brining this up i may even do it again.

 

Maybe I misunderstood your post but I read it as you ride your bike as you drive a HGV? If not, why make the comparison?
We obviously take a completely different approach to riding motorcycles. Most of us ride for fun, for enjoyment and for me that can mean a leisurely, relaxing ride on a favourite route or exploring the performance a particular machine can offer. I can’t speak for anyone else but a I can’t do the latter without occasionally being “heavy on the brakes” as you call it.
As Mrs V has pointed out, “spirited” riding does not mean riding dangerously or without anticipation, if anything it requires even greater focus.
When I decide to ride “enthusiastically” it’s NEVER to get where I’m going any quicker. It’s for the sheer enjoyment of the ride itself and it certainly is not stressful. Getting stuck behind a HGV chugging along at 50mph, now that’s another story!

 

A very interesting thread Mrs V. Lots of experiences and opinions, we can all learn by.

 

Still don't get it it's not riding as or like it's trying to explain if you drive a large vehicle fast or slow you learn to anticipate conditions ahead of you to keep a smooth progressive ride you say you ride your bikes differently your zzr is a hgv of the bike world I agree I ride the tiger differently than the firestorm and probably will be a completely different style on the Thunderbird they are all different the firestorm is more focused but lighter although old school sports i can ride it harder faster brake later and power out of corners quicker but it still doesn't stop me riding smoothly and anticipating what the idiot coming round the corner on my side of the road it's not about brakes or mpg those are just advantages of riding smoothly and any qualified instructor will try get this across to you safe progressive and smooth is fast within the law as we all do NOT,

 

This is a very interesting read. I think we all learn to read the road and seem just by instinct know the way some vehicle owners will act. Time and time again i see someone sitting at a junction and something says they are going to pull out and sure enough they do at the very last moment. Its the ones like i had the other day going into Henley from Dorchester a small white van just raced out and sped of he didn't even look or view the on coming traffic. He's the driver that knocks us of. Just my thoughts. You know i believe all drivers should be made to test a motorcycle when taking their test see how they feel,

 

My advanced driver training was almost all in HGVs and on blue lights. I tend to agree with Mark re the HGV training being very useful for bike riding. It is very similar in lots of respects. Forward planning, observation, keeping it smooth, keeping it moving, positioning for observation in corners and bends. Many aspects of advanced driving and riding cross over.

 

Reading some of the experiences people have had of the IAM, that does seem to be the case. You would think and expect there to be some consistency of instruction, or maybe there is and it’s just the differences in the way it’s delivered that is the issue which is a shame.

The Police Bikesafe scheme is not really a qualification nor a pass or fail test, just a honest evaluation of your riding with a focus on observation and safety, followed by tips and suggestions which the instructors feel you may benefit from. It may be regarded as relatively basic training and a start on the path to more advanced instruction if you want it but for the price they charge it’s a good investment IMO.

 

As I said earlier, we were re qualified every three years. If one isn’t using these advanced driving techniques regularly then they quickly regress to their original way of driving/riding. I drove fire appliances at least twice or three times every week.

 

Used to be the same in Northern Ireland.

 

I've done a few course after I passed my test, which were all pretty helpful:

- BikeSafe - an brilliant days tuition and insight; as said by others above; worth every minute
- Enhanced Rider Scheme - just an afternoon tbh, which I used more to get a bit of an idea of starting to train as an advanced rider
- IAM - I got loads out of this personally and it helped me get so much out of the bike not just in terms of all the usual safety and observational stuff but also (and maybe this was just the enthusiastic assessor I had) making lots of progress
- am considering doing one of the Rapid Training courses but am in two minds as I've heard mixed views on it. Would be great to hear if anyone here as done any of their courses?

Cheers

 

I have not done any advanced bike training other than the bike safe day. The bike safe observation ride was the highlight for me as it endorsed for me that in the main my riding was very good. So I took a lot of confidence from that. The IAM boys that were there supporting the police riders were pushing their course, however having looked at it I decided it was not for me.