was thinking of....

gr82bthe1st · Scooby Slapper Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Karma :

doing an advanced riding course. mainly for insurnace purposes, but the extra experience would also help.

IAM or rospa? any other suggestions?

all opinions welcome! what do you guys think?

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____________________
A2 passed 25/07/2008 --> restriction ended 25/07/2010
Yamaha Neos 50 --> Suzuki GN125 --> Honda CBR600F --> Yamaha MT-07
My bike does not leak... its marking its territory!

Jayy · Mr. Ponzi Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Karma :

Was thinking about this myself the other day, you can get 30 - 40% off your insurance with these can't you?

How much do they cost and how long does it take to complete?

Ichy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

The amount that you get off your insurance will not justify the cost of taking the course. The course cost about £140 plus you have to 'donate' the cost of the observers fuel on each ride. Average reduction on insurance, if any, is 10%.

You could probably do just as well doing one of the bikesafe courses, https://www.bikesafe.co.uk/ , generally free, it only takes a few hours and you get roughly the same off your insurance.

The police riders hadbook costs about £12 and you could probably get some useful ideas just from reading it.

Ichy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

The BikeSafe courses (if you can get on one) are ok as a start.
However, the one I attended the police riders couldn't 'instruct' or fit you with radios as the BikeSafe was seen as taking money from private advanced instructors.
Still a useful course and only really 2 days.
The jury's out on if insurance companies actually give any discount for BikeSafe course (there's no pass/fail, just advice).

The IAM course is perhaps the easiest to access.
I think if you sign up you get given a copy of the latest roadcraft book (Police Motorcyclist bible).
As said, just reading roadcraft gives you some useful advice.
Insurance gain can indeed be minimum but the experience is certainly worth it.

The RoSPA course is the hardest to find and to pass.
Once RoSPA trained many people go off and start their own instruction courses so there aren't any RoSPA course instructors to train you!
It is the most intense and you have to retake it every few years (I forget the number) to keep it valid.
The Gold level is the closest of civilian can come to the Police training standard (despite what IAM say!).

HTH Thumbs Up

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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
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gr82bthe1st · Scooby Slapper Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Karma :

cheers for the replies, guys.

Thumbs Up

____________________
A2 passed 25/07/2008 --> restriction ended 25/07/2010
Yamaha Neos 50 --> Suzuki GN125 --> Honda CBR600F --> Yamaha MT-07
My bike does not leak... its marking its territory!

Ichy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Ichy · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

If you go down that route just check on where the group is and their prefered routes. I mention this because my local group was 20 odd miles west of me and most of the riding was towards the west of them. It mean't I was clocking up 100 - 140 miles each time I went out and I had 1 1/2 hours riding on top of the training.

I agree with Map, very cliquey and, in the main, not the sort of people I would normally go for a ride with.