South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

Hi all,

I have joined IAM for motorcyclists and wanted to know how other people on here got on with the training and the test?

Any books other than the one provided worth reading/things to do? How much difference did your riding improve and how much did you save on insurance.

Is anybody here an observer?

Ricky_t

Been a full member since 2000. My instructor was ex-police and he taught me some techniques the police use in high speed pursuit riding, things like hanging back and looking up the inside of large vehicles on left hand bends to spot overtaking opportunities early such that as the bend straightens you have moved out and are ready to make the overtake as soon as the blind spot becomes open.

I have been riding off and on since 1962 and thought I wouldn't learn much. I soon realised I was completely wrong, I learned an immense amount about forward observation, planning and smooth, fast progressive riding. One of the best courses I have ever done and huge fun too.

The police manual on advanced riding is worth getting, it augments the IAM manual.

What branch have you joined? I am in DAM.

Mike

I have joined the DAM too! Unfortunately, nothing will happen until my application is processed on monday.

Thanks for the info. I guess with your riding experience advanced riding didn't make too much to your premiums!

Amrik

Hi

I am currently an observer with DAM, and do give guidance to others on improving their riding.
Have been doing so for abour 8 years now. Just got two guys to pass their test and both were experienced riders who learn a few extra tips for safer riding.
I have also done ROSpa too, but found the IAM to have a more social based group.

Cheers

Chris

I get between 10 and 15% discount on my premiums, at least that is what they say.

Been out with them today, up to Cheddar. 19 of us altogether, just over 260 miles round trip. All dry bar the last few miles between Totnes and Dartmouth, now I have a serious cleaning job.

Next ride is in 2 weeks time, maybe see you there.

Mike

Had some friends in it years ago so joined up as well – even ended up on the committee, for a short while.

Just couldn’t get on with the riding techniques/cornering lines.

But well worth the sticker when I got stopped by the police.

PS. does anyone know if Ian Robbie is still involved.

PSS. Agree about the social side though.

been in it about 6 years just renew membership each year wouldnt bother with ride outs so slow its embarrasing
if you want to learn how to ride a bike properly race do track days or better still do moto-x.
if you want to stay upright and read signs join a iam rideout you have been warned ! oh pipe and slippers
would be good

Blade wrote:been in it about 6 years just renew membership each year wouldnt bother with ride outs so slow its embarrasing
if you want to learn how to ride a bike properly race do track days or better still do moto-x.
if you want to stay upright and read signs join a iam rideout you have been warned ! oh pipe and slippers
would be good

I think you are being a little unfair here Blade. There are a few points I would respectfully make to you.

Yes, some of the riders are slow and prefer to remain upright. Equally some of them are reasonably quick and enjoy the bends as much as anyone. Some leaders are slow and some don't hang about though I do accept you won't find people doing >100 mph blasts on their rides. Their rideouts are arranged using a drop off system in such a way as people can run their own pace, overtaking is ok as long as they don't overtake the leader. Generally they don't break the speed limits in built up areas and frankly I support that, if you get caught speeding in a 30 or 40 mph limit you are asking for it. On the open road it is a different matter entirely.

I did my training and test with a chap called John Truelove who was an ex police A1 pursuit rider. When we were on training runs I was often on the ragged edge just trying to keep up with him and he was on a Pan European whilst I was on a Firestorm with race cans, K&N and Dynajetted to 106bhp at the back wheel. He was lifting the peggs on bends to lean it over further. This same guy was a marshal at the TTs each year and opened up a race school in IoM. Sadly he was killed a few years ago when white van man fell asleep on the M5 and sideswiped him into the barrier. He was riding back form the IoM at the time.

The riding style they teach is designed to make rapid progress whilst being smooth and achieving the best view forward to aid forward planning, in other words you try to be in a position to spot the problems early so no surprises. It is based upon Police pursuit techniques and assumes that there is likely to be traffic coming towards you or other obstacles on the other side of the bend, in other words it is designed for fast road riding.

The technique for taking a bend is designed to achieve the the quickest way round getting the clearest view forward, thus you enter the bend wide and wait until you have a clear view forward before cutting to the straightest route. This differs to track riding in that on the track you try to achieve the quickest and shortest way around the bend knowing that there will be nothing coming the other way (This is the key factor), your only consideration on exiting is to position the bike for the next bend and get the best drive out, you don't have to avoid oncoming traffic. To adopt this technique on the road is to ignor the fact that traffic travels in both directions and farmers have a tendency to drive tractors on the road etc. etc.

Track riding has one set of techniques, road riding has to have another if you want to stay alive. Some of the techniques are transferable but others clearly are not. Apexing a bend on the public roads is only sensible if you can clearly see your exit through the bend and a substantial way forward.

If you want to learn how to ride on a track go to a race school, if you want to learn how to ride on the road go to the IAM. If you want to stay alive learn the differences between the two and respect them.

I like to ride quick (well quick for me - I'm almost an OAP for Christ sake ) when it is appropriate and I mostly tone it down when I ride with the IAM but I still enjoy my rides with them and they do have younger riders on sports bikes.

Mike

Mike Rowley wrote:I think you are being a little unfair here Blade.

I think it depends very much on the area/group

Mike Rowley wrote: I did my training and test with a chap called John Truelove who was an ex police A1 pursuit rider.

There's at least one other person here who can tell a few tales about him .......

Mike Rowley wrote: Sadly he was killed a few years ago when white van man fell asleep on the M5 and sideswiped him into the barrier. He was riding back form the IoM at the time.

Hadn't heard that - thats very sad Oddly enough, his name cropped up in a conversation with someone the other day

Moose, sorry I summed you new about Johns accident ,it was in the papers and on the telly. Happened at about 4o/c in the morning, only 2 vehicles on the motorway north of Collumpton if I recall.

He was a nice guy. He did a lot to encourage new riders. I remember chatting about a FZ600 that I had bought when they first came out which he had his eye on and although he liked the handling, at over 6ft he was too uncomfortable.

Unfortunately he wasn’t very fast on track. A few of us went to watch him at Castle Combe and I think Colerne or Keevil. Despite him being on the latest GSX750R (oil cooled back then) he was all but last with the 125’s and last remaining 250LC’s.

Mike Rowley wrote:[
If you want to learn how to ride on a track go to a race school, if you want to learn how to ride on the road go to the IAM. If you want to stay alive learn the differences between the two and respect them.

I realise that the IAM isnt there to make you a master of bike control - in that way the "advanced" bit is a bit misleading, its more about road craft and road safety (which cant be a bad thing ).

Although most of them do appear to ride so slowly that its a miracle that gravity doesnt get the better of them. I got held up through lanes in my car once behind one of their rides

Id say Its perfectly possible to tick all the IAM boxes and still be a fairly hopeless bike rider (but safe within an IAM interpretation of "fast" road riding).

Institute of "Safe as long as you go really slowly " Motorcyclists would be a better name.

Hm!! Thats me pidgeon holed then, I must be "Safe as long as I go slowly"

Better get rid of the SP2 and buy myself a motorised zimmer frame or a Hardly Rideable complete with blue oyster bar hat and tassles on me leathers. Hope I don't have to have the sore arse that goes with it!

Mike

Can save you on insurance though so that has to be a good thing.

Anyone got the number for the Bristol IAM group ? I did some stuff in the car years ago up in Warrington and would be good to sharpen up on the bike (when it's back on the road).
Kevin

khblue wrote:Anyone got the number for the Bristol IAM group ? I did some stuff in the car years ago up in Warrington and would be good to sharpen up on the bike (when it's back on the road).
Kevin

According to the magazine its John Bowditch. 0117 9564564.