IAMs too advanced for new riders?

[Fifteen15]

I've been riding for 4 months now on a restricted SV650. Next year I'm going to be taking either the Bikesafe or IAMs course. Ideally I'd want to do IAMs because I reckon I would gain more from it.

Say if I took the IAMs course with 11 months experience (July, 1 month before insurance renewal), do you think I would be able to pass the test? Do many people fail the test?

Thanks
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"Pain is weakness leaving the body, and blood makes the grass grow faster...but I'll wear my gear anyway"

[JP7]

It all depends on you and your ability really. I've been riding for about two years now, and I personally don't feel that I'm an experienced enough rider to go for my IAM yet. This is despite the fact that I've been an IAM member for cars since 2004, and am now an observer training others!

On the other hand, a lot of IAM trainees will use the training process to improve their skills, and it's no bad thing for a new rider to keep learning. So there's two sides really.

Personally I would have a look at doing a Bikesafe course, getting the feedback from that and using that to decide whether to go for IAM or not. That's my plan anyway!

[rtho782]

Training is training, if you suck it will just take longer!

I started IAM skills for life when I had been riding post test for 4 months.

Put it on hold when I totalled my bike, and just starting again on the new bike.

In some ways, there is a lot to absorb. In other ways I feel I have an advantage as I haven't built up bad habits etc.

Just do it! There isn't really a time limit on completion!

[SirToU]

Hi

Depends on you, it's harder than the car test as you have more space on the road, which means road positioning is more important.

Bike safe is very good having done 3, before deciding to go down he RoSPA route.

Any training that improves skill - even slow speed training will give you experience on the bike, meaning a better understanding of bike control.

Neil
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[pinkyfloyd]

From what I have been told by instructors and examiners, they recomend you ride your bike for a year or 2 so you get used to how it handles fully and gain confidence on it before doing any advanced courses.

You will learn a lot about riding the bike on the course but it is designed for people who are already confident in their riding and are wanting to improve their riding safety and style.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Ichy]

A lot of people do fail the test but passing first time shouldn't be your main goal.

The skills for life programme is based on a fixed time scale but I don't think many realise that the training isn't fixed and can be extended past the set course timing. You only take the test when you are ready, you don't have to take it after the 3 months.

You can go out on observed rides at any time, assuming you can arrange an observer. The only additional cost will be towards the observers petrol, all observers are voluntary and therefore unpaid. A few years ago the 'contribution' was £5 for the day which worked out to roughly 80-100 miles riding.

The only thing I would be dubious of is the experience of the observer, I had a session with one that had just passed and he was keen to push his idea of how it should be done without any real logical reasoning.

Do not be concerned with your lack of experience, the whole point of the course is to improve your riding, particulary observations, positioning, and safety, all of which are a significant benefit to a new rider. In a way a lack of experience may be a bonus since you are less likely to have bad habits to break.

As an example of just how rudimentry the training is the first training day is primarily based around riding around corners and roundabouts.

The IAM skills for life isn't cheap but if you have the time, money, and inclination then give it a go, you will gain something even if its only the time on the road with an experienced rider.

Bikesafe is ok but you are not going to get any major improvements, the time scale is too short. It is still better than nothing.

It's worth checking with your local County Council to see if they subside any courses. Cheshire East pay 50% towards the IAM course, Staffordshire subside Bikesence and Derbyshire give £80 towards Bike plus training. Chances are that your local council may provide a subsidy to at least one course. You can usually find out by going to their website and follow the links to transport and safety.
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[G]

My local IAM offered a "free first day" which wasn't too far off bikesafe. Less moaning from the police, but a bit less info and riding.
I amused them and perhaps concerned the other noobs by turning up on crutches .

When I signed up for IAM it was £85 which included your test fee - then fuel etc for your observer (mine actually refused my offers.) Not expected to pay when on a two-person observed ride, though buying them a cup of tea and a biscuit back at the IAM place at the end (about 60p) seemed fair at least.
Definitely variable standard in the observes; but some where very good.

[Ichy]

[pinkyfloyd]

Hey Marki, wanna come down and ride with me?

First thing I asked on passing my test down here was about the advanced course. Both examiner and instructor in the debrief agreed on what I posted. I'd love to do an advanced course. Because the biking is a dangerous game and anything that helps me make it safer is a bonus.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[G]

There was someone that was maybe just 18 that had passed his IAM test at the place I was going.

Pretty sure they were happy for people to go to them once they'd passed the full test.
Suspect such training may take a bit longer with newer riders as they may not be quite as comfortable with the road, so are still "thinking" about bike stuff more than more experienced riders - but then will probably have less bad habits too.

[chris-red]

If you do a bike safe to it ASAP, before your bad habits get set in stone!
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[keggyhander]

Would it be an issue turning up with a bike with Ape Hangers on it?

[Ichy]

No.

I don't understand the ?
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[OrangeSuperDu...]

I am an IAM observer, Full UK licence, Insurance and an up to date MOT and a bike that can do the national speed limit and be allowed on the motorway. (as part of the course will be M/way riding)

Your local IAM group will do a free assessment ride with you and this will give you an idea of what to expect, the time since you passed your test is irrelevant as a some associates will be like you fresh out of your test, right through to "born again" bikers.

I know our group would welcome young riders as they are the future of biking.
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CB1000 The BIG one

[soforene]

[tsmith]

did my IAM when I was 21 on my first GPZ500. It was all about being smooth, making good progress and positioning youself so you can see and be seen. Bit weird some of the lines you take going round corners but you soon get the hang of it. The idea is you can make good progress on any road by working out how tight the bends are by the vanishing point as you approach them. You end up a faster, safer rider and your insurance usually drops a bit as well once you pass.