advanced riding/race schools

[callam_nffc]

So which of you have done any advanced riding courses, got an advanced licence or been to any race schools?

Would you recommend any and why?

I would like to further my riding not only by becoming a bit faster, but smoother and most importantly safer too

Just interested to see all of your opinions so I can look further into some places and price them up etc

[Ckennedy]

I did an advanced riding course with the bike school I did my full test with. Was quite fun to be honest. Just me and an instructor riding round. Getting some nice speeds up around the country roads. It id teach me a fair bit about riding and the lines to take. I was only 2 marks off a grade A which I was quite happy about. I also started my IAM a few years ago but ran out of time to do it some I stopped. Would not mind starting it up again. I am thinking about doing the police lead course in the near future just to gain a bit more info and experience but we shall see how it goes. Have never done a race school and not sure how much they teach you on a track is usable on the road, I am sure someone will come along and tell you about the race schools soon enough.

[callam_nffc]

Yes I noticed my local police force do a bikesafe day most summers with discount day/half day courses, surelyIgot to be worth a try even as a taster session

[callam_nffc]

Just looked and my local force don't do bikesafe, they do "take control" which is their own approved version

[geodude]

I attended bikesafe and then went on to do the IAM adavanced test and it was well worth the effort.

Here are some independent views on Bike safe and my views on the whole Advanced thing.

"Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own."

[Stratman]

Yep, done both. Well worth the time and effort to feel safe and be safe. When I did the IAM I actually thought "I'm amazed I haven't killed myself, the way I used to ride". When you can ride without having those "moments", or feeling that every car driver has it in for you, then it's great.

One example of crap riding that annoys me (there are many) is bikes latched onto car bumpers on the rear nearside. If you aren't going to overtake (as in a 30/40 zone) then pull back a bit, relax and stay centrally in the carriageway. When you want to pass, it is a millisecond on a bike to pull across and open the throttle. Also avoids having to swerve to overtake the car and doesn't worry the motorist who keeps looking in his mirror wondering what you are going to do. He then gets distracted, misses something in the road, brakes and you are so close that you have a "moment" and blame the driver. Totally avoidable.

[callam_nffc]

Haha I used to do that on my 125, however I needed to slipstream lol

Sometimes I look at people and think how bad their riding is, not very often thankfully but it does happen and I don't want others going "look at that nobhead" when its me haha

[callam_nffc]

Just noticed for any of you Birmingham folk, your local police are doing bike safe days for a tenner!

Read your post geo and emailed my local plod for info

[AMCQ46]

Never done any formal training, but keep telling myself i should as we can all keep learning, and mite try that bike safe with Brum cops.


I have Done a few race schools with Ron Haslam school on the blades, been riding across France with some of Birminghams top bike cops on their end of summer burn out and tried most type of bike sport from road race, enduro racing, trials and flat track racing. It all helps add bike skills

[callam_nffc]

How did you find the race school?

There are a fair few haslams, Chris walkers, I've heard great stuff in fast bikes about California superbike school, but I suppose you don't know what they got to say it

[AMCQ46]

How did you find the race school?

There are a fair few haslams, Chris walkers, I've heard great stuff in fast bikes about California superbike school, but I suppose you don't know what they got to say it

As with any school it depends on which teacher you get... I was lucky as I know one of the lead instructors and I ride one on one with him. He spends a lot time with Ron and has a good way of teaching (as does Ron )... There are some instructors who can ride fast but can't teach well.

[callam_nffc]

Ahh I get ya, I've been looking into all of them and they're not cheap so defo want my moneys worth

[Soutie]

I see your in Worcester, the local IAM group is doing a rider skills day this Sunday 14th, where you can have a free assessment ride with an observer. It'll give you a chance to see what advanced riding is all about.
Take a look at http://www.wham-motorcycling.org/

[callam_nffc]

Cheers mate ill be sure to look at that, unfortunately won't have time on Sunday for a ride but ill certainly try to pop along to county hall

[grumpyfrog]

I've done the Bikesafe a few times now, what a laugh it can be. Ok, sitting in a classroom for a night as they talk about hazards etc can be a bit dull but they are trying.
Nothing funnier than the copper giving you a b0llocking for not riding fast enough. during the de brief and a smoke he goes on about "look, we all know how you ride when out and about, and I'm here to assess that, not you sitting at 60 mph following the skirt in the fiesta, now get on with it!!"
One things for sure, I will not try and out run them on their "pan's" I struggled to keep up when he was out in front, cheeky get was even going round gorners one handed pointing things out as he disapeared into the distance...