Do You Participate In Further Training?

IAM rider and driver advanced qualifications with regular retests for both bike and car. Track days and training, although little can be transferred to road riding, the 2 are completely different.

 

I have been thinking of doing some advanced riding/driving training and was going to ask which of the two schemes, IAM or RoSPA, to go for. However, having read all the posts it would seem the RoSPA one is favourite.

Regarding braking versus gears (engine braking) it does, to a certain extent, depend on the machine. The engine braking on my Ducati is so strong that it’s easy to ride without having to touch the brakes. My newer machine, the Striple, surprised me with how much engine braking it does have and the Shift Assist really does encourage use of the gears to retard progress before use of the brakes.

 

The trouble with engine braking only is the blind car driver flying up behind you while typing on their phone is even less likely to see you slowing if there are no brake lights. So I tend to always use both engine and brakes as a matter of habit just to increase my visibility.

 

Engine braking certainly does vary from machine to machine. I remember it being a notable feature of the Ducati 1198SP I had for a while in 2011 but it’s really strong on the Husaberg, (570cc high compression single) which is great for slippery descents when you don’t want to be touching the brakes. The ZZR also has quite strong engine braking, probably why it comes with a slipper clutch. The 1200 twin in the Triumph Scrambler seems to have the least of all.

 

I’ve mounted an additional, extra bright brake light on the back of the rack on the Scrambler as it’s the bike that gets most town work. I got rear ended on the entry to a roundabout in town not long after passing my test years ago on a brand new bike (Z1300) I’d only had 3 months!
It left an impression as well as seriously p*ssing me off!

 

I've done Bikesafe twice now, did a few road courses with Rapid Training when they first started (in Thames Valley, where I cut my biking teeth), instructed on the Nurburgring and for the BMW club at Cadwell and Snetterton (and for Rapid at Mallory, Thruxton and Rockingham) and have also done the IAM course.

Bikesafe and Rapid were both very similar for me, and focussed on harm minimisation - "We know you'e going to press on a bit so you ride at your pace and we'll try to advise you how not to kill yourself or anyone else" seemed to be the message. At no time was I pushed into going faster than I wanted, though overcoming my ever so law abiding instincts with mirrors full of marked police bike was a different matter.

The IAM course was, for me at least, an utter waste of time.They have totally bought into the "Speed kills" lie and it was all about slavish adherence to speed limits and nothing about being a better rider. Work paid for the course (for everyone who commuted by bike) so I just took it.

Track training doesn't really count I suppose, but it is without a doubt the best and safest way to explore the limits of what you and your bike can do. The BMW club training is very much aimed at improving riding.not chasing laptimes and I love doing it. Nurburgring is a combination mainly making people as quick as safely possible. If someone needed help with technique they'd get it. Likewise lines, approach, whatever...

Bottom line? Training is good and done properly it's also great fun.