Best training courses for a newb ?

[simonm]

I've signed up for a bikesafe course.

I'm putting down plenty of miles.  What else can I do to make myself a better,more confident rider ?

I'm thinking of www.i2imca.com

or
[/size]camrider do an enhanced rider schemes a 4 hour course is £99 and the full day course, 6-7 hours is £160

[/size]Any other suggestions or input appreciated.

Cheers
Simon[size=small]

[Grahamm]

I've signed up for a bikesafe course.

I'm putting down plenty of miles.  What else can I do to make myself a better,more confident rider ?

I've not done Bikesafe myelf, but I've heard they're very good.

I'd recommend getting a copy of Motorcycle Roadcraft which contains lots of very good advice on road use etc, also Full Control is an excellent read for advice on bike handling.

When you've got some more experience timewise I'd recommend visiting your local IAM or RoSPA motorcycle group and getting yourself an Assessed Ride with them and then signing up for for Skills for Life or the RoSPA equivalent.

[adeejaysdelight]

Motorcycle roadcraft is a great wee book. You can read it in a few hours, which is handy as you will read it again and again. It is the police riders bible, and if you follow everything in that you will get to a point where your riding is fast, safe and steady.
Also, and this might sound like a contradiction, but the california superbike school is also good at helping with your SR's , cornering with confidence and making you aware just how far a bike CAN get over.It's quite expencive at £400'sh, but if you do stage 1 and 2 you get a disount on your insurance  . If you search for Keith Code - twist of the wrist (film or book) and have a look there. The film is a bit tounge in cheek, but a good source of information.

[budgiemurray]

+1 for skills for life.. It doesnt stop after the course either as theres always plenty of club rideouts your welcome on at no extra costs..

Budgie

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[Dead Eye]

+1 for Twist of the Wrist II - someone linked it on here ages ago (YouTube video) and I got round to watching it and granted the actors are hardly worth that description, the information is very good and helped me to understand a few bad habits I had. A quick YouTube search will get a result fairly easily for the video.

[EndaF]

I also recommend reading Motorcycle Roadcraft, it helps make you aware of a lot of the intricacies of riding that we all sort of know but don't pay that much attention to. Really helped me gain confidence when I moved up to a 600.
Aside from that I'd say a Bikesafe and/or IAM, both have been highly recommended. Planning on doing an IAM ride myself as soon as I can.

[simonm]

Thanks all,


Twist of the wrist is brilliant but scary.  I suspect I need more confidence before trying some of the things in there.


I've ordered a copy of Roadcraft off amazon :-) , that was also recommended reading from the bikesafe youtube course too.


I'll give skills for a life a go as well I think, but I want to get a little more confidence first.


I went out on Friday and scared myself witless overtaking a car and then getting fixated on a lamppost on a broad corner.  Twist of the wrist saved me there and I tore my gaze away and focussed on where I wanted to go.  Scary but good learning :-P.


Thanks for all of your help, you've given me a lot to think about.