IAM "Skill for Life" course...recommended?

[Buzz]

http://www.iam.org.uk/motorcyclist/the-advanced-programme

It's £139 but the good thing is that you also get 12 months RAC cover worth £109.  I only passed my test about 3 months ago and could do with some proper "post DAS" training I reckon. 

Will probably do a "BikeSafe" course first though...only £45.

Any thoughts?

[bigralphie]

I would seek out your local group and have a chat before you commit to buying the course , the quaility can vary region to region

[steeeve66]

the Bikesafe is well worth the 45 quid as a 'first step' - surprisingly not as 'worthy' as you might imagine with a lot of useful advice i still refer to today some years later.

[dolau]

check out which bikesafe it is.... they do 1 hour assessed rides and then 1 and 2 day workshops- it is at these that you really get benefit from riding with them as you have time to build up a relationship with them- I do it every year as a refresher

[JZS 600]

ROSPA is another alternative, try looking at Rospasmart http://www.rospasmart.com/navigation/Home.html and see if there's one in your area.
 
I did all the IAM training but didn't take the test (Doh!) due to personal reasons at the time, now kicking myself...
 
They also organise good ride outs and trips abroad

[Grahamm]

I only passed my test about 3 months ago and could do with some proper "post DAS" training I reckon.

Will probably do a "BikeSafe" course first though...only £45.

First let me say I'm glad to hear that (unlike a lot of bikers!) you realise that just because you've passed your Test you don't know everything that there is to know about riding 

I joined my local IAM Group, Solent Advanced Motorcyclists because I also realised that I could ride my bike better, but I didn't know how and I recently qualified for my Green Badge.

Just looking back on how I used to ride, I've certainly improved a lot and I'm glad I did it, as it was well worth the time and money, so I'd certainly recommend it.

[Skippernick]

I only passed my test about 3 months ago and could do with some proper "post DAS" training I reckon.

Will probably do a "BikeSafe" course first though...only £45.

First let me say I'm glad to hear that (unlike a lot of bikers!) you realise that just because you've passed your Test you don't know everything that there is to know about riding 

I joined my local IAM Group, Solent Advanced Motorcyclists because I also realised that I could ride my bike better, but I didn't know how and I recently qualified for my Green Badge.

Just looking back on how I used to ride, I've certainly improved a lot and I'm glad I did it, as it was well worth the time and money, so I'd certainly recommend it.

 


Booking my course soon.

[JZS 600]

One of the most impressive things I learned on the "extracurricular" rides with some of the advanced instructor blokes (not on the IAM observed rides, of course!) was the ability to ride flat out down B roads without using the brakes! 
 
These guys (one on a Ducati, one on a Gixxer), we NOT hanging about

[Grahamm]

One of the most impressive things I learned on the "extracurricular" rides with some of the advanced instructor blokes (not on the IAM observed rides, of course!) was the ability to ride flat out down B roads without using the brakes! 

Yep, it's all about observation, positioning and correct gear selection

[pitternator]

flat out and obeying speed limits dont gel together !
 
to pass yer IAM and Rospa....you cant exceed any speed limits no matter how " open" the road is. IAM is actually all about safety not speed as such.

[JZS 600]

Correct, but there WAS a bit of a bay boy element in the club and we DID go a LITTLE bit over the limit at times!

[Buzz]

I only passed my test about 3 months ago and could do with some proper "post DAS" training I reckon.

Will probably do a "BikeSafe" course first though...only £45.

First let me say I'm glad to hear that (unlike a lot of bikers!) you realise that just because you've passed your Test you don't know everything that there is to know about riding 

Passing my test has made me realise I know NOTHING about biking .  Booked on a BikeSafe next week, hopefully that will cure the brown trousers on every corner 

[ddtwelve]

As a rospa member I can certainly say join only £20 for the year in my club and you get all the books bib etc included but as it's member run thing you have to wait for a tutor but there's ride outs and tutor group ride outs which has helped me a lot while I wait for mine

[Ian-man]

Definitely worth doing, I have done my IAM and a bikewise course two years later.

When I did my IAM test we had to stick to posted limits, but on national limits I was to make progress within limits, up to about 80ish.

[Grahamm]

to pass yer IAM and Rospa....you cant exceed any speed limits no matter how " open" the road is. IAM is actually all about safety not speed as such.

Err, I think you'll find it's about the *appropriate* use of speed, not rigidly sticking to limits!

On my IAM test I did a three vehicle overtake on the A32 during which I may well have exceeded the National Limit (I don't know, I was watching the road and the vehicles I was passing, not looking at the speedo).

The Examiner (a service PC) asked me about the overtake during the debrief, but his concern was simply that I was paying attention to potential hazards, not worrying about how fast I was going.

He was satisified with my replies, so I passed.

[Grahamm]

The Examiner (a service PC)

*Serving* PC even...

Give us the bloody edit button back!!!

[Ian-man]

Yup, on my bikewise day I was following the instructor for a few miles doing 90ish on national roads with good vision. Cracking day, basicaly its learning to keep your head up and reading the road ad far as you can see. It's easy to drop your eyes and start looking at what's just in front of you. You have to concentrate to read the potential hazards at the limit of your view.

It's amazing how many motorists just  ride/drive in their comfort zone (doing 36 in a thirtyand forty five in a sixty) and don't actually pay any attention to the posted speeds.

[pitternator]

interesting....
 
I passed my IAM in 1999, was an observer for 3 years...at no point ever did the IAM badge mean you can exceed speed limits with impunity....I really doubt it will be a credible defence if you do get caught speeding ....Rospa are even more strict than IAM.If anything , my police instructors said its even worse to get caught speeding after doing an IAM, as you " should know better"...
 
appropriate speed in my book doesnt mean " I can break speed limits if I like"..yes on a well thought out overtake, use the acceleration of the machine...but that doesnt mean big speed multi car overtakes are the norm.Speed and risk are bedfellows, greater skill is needed  to use it successfully. IAM doesnt really give one the skills for high speed safe riding.Its something you have to gradually develop in whatever way you can, but so risky to encourage fresh riders to speed without the skills.
 
I do get concerned young / inexperienced riders might think cos they R doing an IAM course it does give them any more rights to speed than others.Even " serving" police can only ride above limits if its on the job. They take their chances with the rest of us on other occasions.
 
The whole ethos of the IAM system is to ride safely and to keep to speed limits.

[ghostbiker]

I am another +1 for IAM's
I really enjoyed doing my training and got a lot from it even though i have been riding well over 20 years. for me it was about the right speed at the right time. there are times when doing 20 in a 40 etc was the right thing and other times where an overtake was on and 80 in a 60 was fine, but affter the over take it was needed to drop back to the limit. this was for observed rides and the test. on group rides etc they were a little more lax on speeds allowed. but allways you are told to ride well within your limits and speed is NOT the focus of IAM's
but speed dose seem to come when you observe the road better.

I didnt gel with the group as a whole and the social side of it didnt fit me so i did just the training. with the training i took from it what i wanted and ignored what i didnt want.
i would like to do a rospa at some point and there is a local corse near me on road cornering that explores diff ways to take corners and find what suites you.
i feel training is the way to help make you safer on the road and get more from your ride/bike.

[Andy FZS]

After a sabbatical from motorcycling for a "FEW" years I returned earlier this year. Although everything has improved from 80's bikes I used to ride, I'm steadily growing in confidence with practice. I've no intention (or every did come to think about it!) of of being the quickest rider but do enjoy getting out at moderate speeds (keeping with traffic or maybe a little quicker) and I'm considering some type of course but am unsure if I should improve my basics to avoid embarrassing myself or go for it now when it may be of more use?
Andy

[Robbie8666]

After a sabbatical from motorcycling for a "FEW" years I returned earlier this year. Although everything has improved from 80's bikes I used to ride, I'm steadily growing in confidence with practice. I've no intention (or every did come to think about it!) of of being the quickest rider but do enjoy getting out at moderate speeds (keeping with traffic or maybe a little quicker) and I'm considering some type of course but am unsure if I should improve my basics to avoid embarrassing myself or go for it now when it may be of more use?
Andy

Andy, thats exactly how I feel! I have had my Fazer for 12 months now & whilst I use it for occassional commuting or run home (240 miles each way!) I feel I could definately benefit from further training but dont want to find a group and then do something stupid!

[goldfazer]

'to pass yer IAM and Rospa....you cant exceed any speed limits '

I beg to differ as well....

[Grahamm]

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I really doubt it will be a credible defence if you do get caught speeding ....Rospa are even more strict than IAM.If anything , my police instructors said its even worse to get caught speeding after doing an IAM, as you " should know better"...

Well, yes, and because it means your Observation isn't up to scratch since you should have spotted the camera/ van/ copper in time to do something about it!

yes on a well thought out overtake, use the acceleration of the machine...but that doesnt mean big speed multi car overtakes are the norm.

No, but I never said they were. That was, of course, also why the Examiner asked me to explain my reasoning about going for the overtake and my thought processes whilst doing so. So when I detailed the observations I'd made prior to it for potential hazards such as side-turnings, oncoming traffic etc  and how I was watching the second car in the group of three to check that he wasn't moving up/ outwards looking for his own overtake (possibly without checking his mirrors) and how I was ready to back out if necessary he accepted that I was doing it safely and had no problems passing me.

[Grahamm]

I'm considering some type of course but am unsure if I should improve my basics to avoid embarrassing myself or go for it now when it may be of more use?

I think it will improve your basics by picking up any bad habits you might have got into and getting rid of them before they get reinforced

[Grahamm]

I feel I could definately benefit from further training but dont want to find a group and then do something stupid!

Nobody is going to take the mick in a nasty way, the whole point of Advanced Training is to improve your skills and there won't be anyone in the group who hasn't been where you are or not made a mistake in their life.

Relax and enjoy it. Sure, you'll cock-up at some point, everyone does, but don't let it get to you, treat it as a learning experience and you'll not make the same mistake again.