Motorcycle Roadcraft

[Ian (GPX)]

Read the book a few times now and been out and had a play, practising some of the techniques in the book.

Some info on the book for those that do not have it.

The aim of the book is to improve the skill and safety of your riding so that you as a rider can make the best use of the road and traffic conditions that present themselves to you.

It explains a new system of motorcycle control IPSGA.

Information
Position
Speed
Gear
Acceleration

You still need to remember your OSM/PSL routines with the above, what IPSGA does is increase your observations to whats going on around you (including as far as you can see ahead & behind) in more detail on potential hazards, this allows you to ride / control the motorcycle without getting flustered.

The Information phase also has a sub-phase, this being TUG

Take information
Use information
Give information

I've put this poll up to find out how many of us have read this book, and to see if you've practised what you've read in the book and your findings with regards to the books content. Also, I'd like to see if anyone whats to debate on the book, like things that could of been explained better etc...

For those that have not read the book, well worth the read.

[Mr Pants!]

Our good man TC had something to do with writing some of that book.
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Mr Pants! (Alex or Al)
Its better to burn out, than to fade away....

[T.C]

[Frost]

When you say teach at an advanced level, what exactly do you mean?
What courses do you teach? are these open to anybody? do people gain any form of qualification/certification?

[Born2bVile]

So let me see, there's now a new way of riding?

Or is this just another government-produced/sponsored booklet to show they care?

[WildGoose]

read it, and thought it was an interesting read

PERSONAL OPINION APPROACHING.....

in my view a lot of it is common sense, and yet isnt put into practice for various reasons

i'd say about 50% if useful stuff, and the rest...hmm

a fair amount of it seems to sap the fun out of riding in my opinion (but a lot of things have done that for me over the past year anyway) yes you will be faster and safer, but that grin factor is missing
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[stinkwheel]

Haven't read it, doesn't sound like my cup of tea as it would get my blood boiling within a few pages from the couple of examples given.

I CANNOT STAND acronyms. I especially cannot stand acromyms that are not easily memorable or contrived so they fit.

My brain is not wired that way, everyone assumes this is the easiest way of remembering things,. Not always the case, by the time I had remembered an acronym, I would be flying over the bonnet of a volvo.

I have not been been flustered when controlling my motorbike since I was on L-plates. I understand what the controls are for and have a good idea of my limitations in using those controls in a given situation.

I have only been actually frightened on my motorcycle three times in the last ten years.

One time was when a car pulled out of a stacker lane on a clear open road (having made eye contact) then stopped accross my lane when I was about 50 metres away. Only the driver behind her reversing to give me a space to swerve into prevented a high speed T-bone.

The second time was when my engine died on joining a busy motorway in the outside lane and the hard shoulder was inexplicably roped off.

The third time was when I landed up going through the Dartford tunnel in the slow lane with all the HGVs, I knew full well that none of them could see me because they were so close together. I would never have been there if it hadn't been for inadequatley signed roadworks dividing the lanes with cones about two miles before the tunnel.

I cannot think of a technique that would have prevented any of these incidents.

I know that sounds arrogant, but I am happy with my riding skills, they are not perfect and I am sure that any 'advanced rider' could beat me hands-down. The point is that I wouldn't try to keep up. Riding my bike is for me, more of a visceral thing, having buzzwords rattling about in my head and the feeling that there is a list of things I should be doing in every given situation would spoil it.

I still cannot get my instructors voice out of my head from when I was doing my test. I don't need someones voice going 'Mirror, mirror, headcheck, indicate, lifesaver, position, lifesaver, manouver' My sense of self preservation is well aware that there could be a car coming up in my blindspot and makes sure I check for it.

Just my honest oppinion, others may feel they like the idea of having a pre-programmed response to everything.

Stinkwheel

Control Freak, Who is Riding by the Seat of His Pants
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WildGoose]

in a word yes, spot on mr stinkywheely
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[Ian (GPX)]

T.C,

Is the eighth impression 2003 of the book not a current version ?

Mine is a blue book

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

Yer i've read the red one (i think)

Im not going to lie and say i do everything "by the book", but it has given me some useful tips. Yes alot is common sence, and a lot i did know before, but i would reccommend it to any rider. Purely because although you might know most of it/some of it (or even none of it), there will always be bits you dont know, and that will be useful.

I do use techniques and tips form the book, which make my riding safer. I guess my point is, even if you dont do everything it reads, you can still use parts, relevant to your riding or not, which will help you become safer. Or you could do everything it says... Up to you.

Ps if you dont want to buy it, rent it at the library, i did.

I may rent it again, although ive been through it already a fair few time, i've probably forgot stuff. Go rent/read.

[T.C]

[atom]

I've got a copy, which I keep re-reading, a lot of it is beyond me to put into practice at the moment, as I'm still coming to grips with controlling the machine. But I know I have avoided accidents by putting into practice the chapter on observation. And the practical examples of situations and what to do is very useful. Its a more intresting read than the DSA book!
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