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[Vespa]

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[Zoffo]

I'll just lift this from another thread:

Yeah advanced riding instructors teach you to have the confidence to 'impose' your presence on other road users. The whole road you are on from the gutter to the white line belongs to you so use it. I've also done one with the police and they go even further. They have you on the white line on left handers. Not too keen on this though. Only takes some twat to cut the corner. They also teach you to read the road by pointing out clues about what's coming up even though you haven't got there yet. In the end your not only safer but also faster. Too many people see the bike sport on the telly and try to copy what they see but if you aim for the apex on a corner under acceleration there's only one place your gonna end up and that's being flung out towards the white line (or further if you got it wrong) Advanced riders come through a corner with a choice of lines to take depending on what they see when they get there.
It's expensive but I think in my years of riding it's probably saved my neck a couple of times. And I've never had an off, not one in 25 years (minus a few years off to bring a family up)

Insurance premiums are cheaper but not cheap enough IMHO
You can just go and be tested right away but you will almost definitely fail. remember this is a business and they want your cash so if you put up the cash then you stand a much better chance of passing, almost a guarantee in fact. Dunno what it's like now but I was relieve that there wasn't too much slow speed control to do on mine (bloody hard work on a Blackbird) it was mostly about perception as I've mentioned above

[Vespa]

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[Zoffo]

Well that might well go against you. They want to know you are confident at speed and keep reminding you of the speed limit WHEN YOUR BELOW IT. Didn't do any motorway stuff because it's usually pretty boring anyway on a motorway and considered safer than driving in on coming traffic. They do a bit about overtaking where they expect you to be 'decisive' i.e. throttle the bas*%d But they also change the way you overtake to make it safer.
The typical rider will see what he thinks is a gap and start accelerating then pull out to overtake. Your line is now defined by your acceleration and there's little you can do to change it if you need to. They will teach you to pull out THEN ACCELERATE once you can see everything. That way you are not committed until you can see properly and coz your in a straight line you can also change your direction.

[Krs]

my mate's dad is one he charge's £150 to sign the form to say you've done it
This is the pass plus dunno if it's the same thing.

[hustler]

[Krs]

I think i may need a advanced course after i do the normal one

[EuropeanNC30R...]

If you're fearful of going on a motorway, I'd say you weren't ready for advanced training of that level. Maybe ask your local riding school to take you on a motorway for a few hours to build your confidence.

[map]

IAM site with test info click here

I've heard the IAM can be a bit of a clique, but you get that with any group of people who meet regulary, some just get obsessed!
They do a "Skills for Life" course for £85 (£75 if under 25). This gets you membership of a local group, all the reading material, the test fee and first years IAM membership after passing the test.

RoSPA also do a course that's a harder than the IAM. I think it's classes as the closest thing a member of the public can get to the police training.
RoSPA site click here.
Mr C on this forum has done this so may be able to give further info as I don't have info on local groups.
- just found out RoSPA's Advanced Drivers Association is RoADA - click here or here for RoADA

HTH
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Craggles]

How long should you wait from after passing your test till starting these advanced courses?

A friend of mine who is an IAM "Observer" (Driving) said they like you to have had at least a years experience on the road in order for you to have learnt how to drive, not how to pass your test.


Craig
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If this signature is blue, you're riding too fast

[map]

[kaillum]

i've just signed up for the IAM Skills for Life package.. and as has been said above your £85 gets you everything you need to read, your 'instruction' test fee and your first years membership.

When you sign up to the IAM you will be put in contact with your local group. You'll be asked to go along on a date to have the introduction presenation.. (i've got mine on the 10th March). The local IAM groups normally run a social morning/evening, but you are not expected to attend this..

Once you've had the introduction you'll be assigned an 'Observer'. The observer is your mentor and 'tutor' who will show you where your going wrong and how you need to correct it. Your Observer sessions will normally be at an agreeable time between you and the observer. When the observer thinks you are up to scratch for the test, you will be given a date for your test when you'll go out on a run with at least 1 senior observer. During your test there can be up to 2 people watching you! If you pass, you'll be granted full associate membership of the IAM and all the benefits that come with it. If you fail, its back to your Observer for a few more runs out to polish up the bits your lacking...

There is no Quick Test with the IAM. The cost of £85 is nothing compared to the skills and knowledge you'll gain from the scheme.

If you look at the other training courses around, non are as cheap as the associate course with the IAM. I know, i've looked into ALL of them before taking the IAM course up.

The only one that I would consider to have a similar level of training is the BikeSafe one ran by some Police Constabularies. But (and this is a personal preference) these are purely training courses, with no test at the end, so after your training, its thanks and goodbye.. and no-one to actually say if your riding has improved or not...

Sorry for the long post..

[kasandrich]

I am studying for my IAM test, unfortunately this IAM skills for life package is not going down well with all. It takes the lions share for the test, the IAM and the books etc. and it leaves the local group a bit short, and it is after all the local group of volunteers that actually privide the training.

Because of this my local group (Essex Advanced Motorcycle group) have folded the IAM affilliated group and started a new group which is independant. Essex Advanced Motorcycle Group ltd.

They are a great bunch and they are all volunteers and purely motivated by enjoying motorcycling and wanting to make it safer.

The IAM however are a very commercial organisation and very focused on putting people through their test, and they seem to think that that is the only way to improve road safety, which is rubbish, its the training that will make you a safer rider NOT the test and/or certificate.

Basically our group wanted to charge another £10, but the IAM would not let them.

Anyways in the ensuing confusion, I still have not been allocated an observer, but I am expecting some action soon.

But they have monthly group nights, (usually with some road saftey / advanced riding presentation) and monthly sunday morning Associate Group training sessions where I have learned a lot, where again there is a half hour road safety talk.

I believe you CAN just do the test if you wish but you are unlikely to pass, unless you ride the way they teach you.
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Richard

CBR1000FM

[kasandrich]

BTW the insurance discounts you can look forward to are typically 10%, although I have been told Carol Nash do 15%
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Richard

CBR1000FM

[T.C]