Did a Bikesafe on Sunday

[talkToTheHat]

So, I've been loose on the roads nearly three years now, and had a mighty 33 horses beneath me since December 2012. Thought I'd see where my riding was at.

Typically, I got lost on the way and then recalled the way to the operations centre. I'd not been there since I rode past it whilst beginning preparations for my Mod 2.Fortunately, I found another lost looking rider on the way. It felt a bit like riding right into the lions den, many battenburged cars parked up around a row of bikes in the visitors car park.

The mix of other people on the course was interesting, there was a beefy guy with a big Electra Glide that had been riding forever, heavily involved in group rides, a quiet guy with a black bmw boxer and black leathers, two guys that obviously knew each other that came on a fazer and a tidy bandit s, and an indian guy with an epic white beard, an obscenely big ZZR1400 and his tweenage son on the back. Most of the the riders had been riding about as long as me, but I was definitely the youngest on the course at 30.

The classroom session touched on a lot of things very briefly, improved cornering lines, observation strategies, reading corners, overtaking, filtering (encouraged to do so, carefully), correct use of gears and further options for advances training.

It was apparent that most of the group were afraid to rev their motorcycles. Gems of advice included "Forget the petrol you paid for, use all the horses you paid for - they cost more", "Keep the revs needle above halfway", "5th and 6th gear on the BMW might as well not be there".

I asked about this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqQBubilSXU SMIDSY avoidance technique, met with not recommended: if you do need to stop the motorcycle won't be stable.

The observed ride was a different matter altogether. I was paired with the Harley rider. I'm used to obnoxious sportster owners trying it on at the lights and I thought the bigger bike might have some go. Following the instructions of ride your own ride and pretend we're not there I cut through the outskirts of Sheffield and through Rotherham fairly briskly having to stop wait a few times for both observer and the harley to catch up. Losing my observer probably a bad move when I'm being observed. Leaving Rotherham the observer put his bike a few yards from the back of mine and kept it there with an impressive degree of accuracy. I had to slow up a few times as we were both outpacing the Harley.

We stopped for a a chat, apparently I did well through the urban areas (most of my daily use is urban) but I'm indicating when I don't really need to ("test passing behavior") and my lines through rural corners are poor, sacrificing both vision and speed (again have not pushed what I need to be doing here much beyond what is taught to pass the mod 2).

We changed running order again with me following, which I found really beneficial, studying the lines the observer was taking through the corners and I quickly found that I was comfortable carrying more speed through corners because I was better able to see through them, and able to accelerate earlier (when possible given I was following)

We stopped for further chats and changed running order a few more times, our ride taking us out to Holmfirth, over Holme Moss, past Woodhead Reservoir, and up Woodhead Road into Glossop, stopping for petrol because I thought I had an empty tank having been merciless in gear selection over the hills.

We then came back towards Sheffield through Snake Pass, and worked our way through the centre of Sheffield. I was amused at the audacity of the taxi that forced its way between myself and the observer tailgating him closely and weaving in a way that suggested it would be painful if I tried to get past.

When we got back to the operations centre, I got a certificate with the various aspects of my riding graded and some written feedback. Also a high-vis trainer bag containing a copy of roadcraft, highway code, a bikesafe branded Buff, a V2 visor sponge and many leaflets.

It was a long day for me and I was properly aching when I got home, but that's the state of my health.

Total cost: £50 for the session, and about 160 miles of petrol including getting there and back.

What I have learnt: Specific areas of my riding that need improvement, corningering lines have been improved massivley on the day, but are still not a learned behaviour but I know what I need to work on. Some myths dispelled and a handful of answers to my am I doing this right questions. Even big-engined harleys are really slow. Light bikes are brisk through town. Police riders are really good.

Was it worth it? Yes

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I just fed my petrol use to fuelly, from filling up in Rotherham on the way there to filling up in Glossop I made 50mpg, which is significantly better than my usual 36 urban/44 touring average. Particularly as I made 39mpg sat on the motorways at a similar speed to the rest of the traffic on the way there.

[_Troy_]

Sounds pretty good then. I've been thinking about one of these for a while now.
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[daverave999]

Great write-up.
I've had my licence a year and have been wondering if my confidence is overtaking my skill level, so have been considering further training that doesn't cost a fortune. I dunno whether you've only started posting again recently or you've changed your username but I've noticed that quite a lot of what you post strikes a chord, so it's good to read that you found Bikesafe helpful.

Were there any negative comments about your riding that you had never considered? I'm not suggesting you lack skill in any way, just contemplating the possibility I may be completely oblivious to something critical in the way I ride.
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2007 Versys 650 2001 Yamaha XJ600S Diversion
HT: Imagine a bike......A bike designed by way of crude polls, assembled by cretins using the finest hammers that Lidl had on offer.

[Wonko The Sane]

I was thinking of taking one as I'm a bit scared to corner properly on my ZZR, it just feels too big to throw into a rural corner at the limit even though I know it'll get round.

no point booking on just yet incase I change bikes but I intend to do one at some point this summer
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Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
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[sensi5446]

Nice write up

I'm doing my IAMs skills for life course which covers a lot of what you said, well worth doing and its surprising how much I've learnt and didn't know about riding my bike

[supZ]

Even having ridden a few years now I still wouldn't mind doing one of these but I can't get over the 'ride how you would ride normally' thing.

I err often 'make rapid progress'. Always within conditions and safe to my mind but certainly not within the realms of many speed limits*.. I wonder how much would be 'too much' before they start giving you a ticking off?










*disclaimer: i always ride within the speed limit and the above is just a metaphorical situation i was wondering about
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CBR954RR - Daily toy
CBR600RR - Trackbike

[Llama-Farmer]

I had been planning to do a Bikesafe course this year with SYPD but had to cancel unfortunately. Will try to get booked onto a course next year now.

Good to know you think the S Yorks course is worth the £50.
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Current Bike: 1999 Honda CB600 FX Hornet
Next Bike: I want a CBR-RR. And I want an F800 GS-A. And a VFR 800. Can I have all 3?
Dream Bikes: Honda VFR750R RC30, Honda NSR500, Ducati 996 R

[Lyam]

cant seem to find one in scotland

[talkToTheHat]

Yes, I had some negative comments about my riding by the observer, particularly on my lines through corners as described, and I indicate unnecessarily in a few places amongst other things. Pretty much every slip-up I made was noticed but the observer had a great deal of tact, pointing out at each stage how I could do something better rather than dwelling on the error. As far as coaching goes, this is right on the money for tell the student they are doing it wrong in a way that doesn't demoralise.

The form we sign at the beginning says we shouldn't break the speed limit, and to some extent the roads were chosen to not give the opportunity to get into too much trouble, I threw the motorcycle at a few overtakes without any consideration for either the speed limit or my observer, and in a few places the speeds crept up a bit. Nothing was said about that.

What was mentioned during the debrief was how making progress could be taken to mean using the acceleration of a motorcycle to get ahead and stay ahead of traffic, and there was frequent use of what I would perceive as ass-covering doublespeak when discussing speeds, particularly during the classroom section on overtaking.

I'm considering doing a Skills for Life as a follow up, it's probably even better value for money, it's also a lot more commitment.

[Slacker24seve...]

I've seen a few good write ups now and I would like to do one. West Mercia are the only force that don't offer it sadly, I've been meaning to do one in Warwickshire or Gloucestershire for some time.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[stevelup]

[ScaredyCat]

[stevelup]

I honestly think they want to ride like you normally would so they can give worthwhile advice.

I think you'd have to do something truly twattish for them to then throw the book at you.

[Rogerborg]

[map]

[Baffler186]

Glad you found the course helpful. I was told by a colleague that these courses were really good, however my training school thought otherwise! Even though the boss of the school was "one of the most qualified in the country", we were told that so-called defensive riding courses "only teach you to ride in a gear lower than you're used to". I did struggle to believe this and couldn't figure out why any school would not recommend further development training.

So what were some examples of indicating when you didn't need to?
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Doovy]

Good writeup there, sounds similar to my experience 4 years ago when I was 21 and got the bikesafe day for free.

Had it at the Ace Cafe, a bit of theory and all day riding with just me and the copper. My Hornet was meant to be 33bhp at the time, but wasnt

I got all A's and B's in my marks. Worth doing, it definitely helped my confidence in progressive riding and longer distance observation. He even told me to go faster on the 60mph A-roads when I was doing the limit
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[map]

[barrkel]

[map]

[ScaredyCat]

[Rogerborg]

[talkToTheHat]

I think in a few places he had a point about the indicating, a lane change that could be mistaken for turning down a side road. Personally indicating without thinking reduces the cognitive load, particularly when trying to read a road sign, get in the correct lane, plan an approach to a roundabout and not become a hood ornament were all more pressing concerns.

We didn't do too much urban riding where this was an issue as it became clear quite quickly that I was pretty good at it and the other student I was riding with had less interest in it has his focus was harley rideouts, and I learnt more useful stuff with some coaching on more recreational roads.

Be aware that training schools offer more thorough advanced training and they get paid for it so there is a bias.

I won't say a day of bikesafe transformed my riding, it gave me a list of things to work on, some feedback, and a quick fix for my crimes against cornering lines. Been working on them in my own time

But it has nudged me towards doing more training because it's not the head slamming against brick wall experience of endless cone weaving and pottering through urban traffic jams at mod2 pace.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Clanger]

I ride out frequently with my mate who recently got her Gold RoSPA. She tells me my lines on the road have always been pretty decent, however, I know I am not a progressive rider, I don't always overtake when the opportunity is there - mostly due to the fact when I'm out for a ride it's about the journey and what I see rather than getting to the destination as quickly as possible.

I've always ridden like that - as anyone who has met and ridden with me will testify. I often find out about ride-outs and plan to meet people at the destination, rather than play constant keepy-uppy out on the journey.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[smegballs]

Sounds like there wouldn't bee too much point doing it on a small capacity bike then really. The copper is gonna get pretty bored following round a 250 at a max speed of 60 mph or so.

I guess I could always borrow my sisters zzr for the day to make things a bit more fun.