BikeSafe Vs. IAM

[Rhiwbina_Squirrel]

I've looked at the two briefly and they both seem to be the same sort of thing. The BikeSafe is ?80 and the IAM motorcycle 'skill for life' is ?65. I'll want to be doing at least one of them when, and if, I pass :P

Any ideas which I should do or should I fork out a bit more cash and do both of them? Thanks in advance!

[SoulKiss]

Aww was hoping the 1st line in that post was going to be

"Live on Sky Sports, Easter Bank Holiday"

Dissapointed now

[DanAbnormal]

Bkesafe is a 1 day course run by the Police. IAM is a club run by 'advanced' bikers in their spare time. They will observe and give advice on how to get through the advanced motorcycle test.

You can't knock IAM for value for money though.

[Luckypants]

I reckon BikeSafe is a good introduction to Advanced Riding techniques and will open your eyes to what the IAM can offer.

[Toypop]

Waste of time. If you have half a brain and some common road-sense then the odds of such training helping you avoid an accident that you wouldn't have avoided before are pretty slim. You need basic survival instincts and an ability to read things and spot potential hazards in a variety of situations. You can be taught it but it needs to be instinctive if you are to put it into practise and actually avoid an accident. So you will either have it (as a natural aptitude) or you won't.

Do neither of them and spend the money instead on a back protector or upgrading some other part of your protective clothing.

[chazzyb]

Waste of time. If you have half a brain and some common road-sense then the odds of such training helping you avoid an accident that you wouldn't have avoided before are pretty slim. You need basic survival instincts and an ability to read things and spot potential hazards in a variety of situations. You can be taught it but it needs to be instinctive if you are to put it into practise and actually avoid an accident. So you will either have it (as a natural aptitude) or you won't.



And just sometimes, it takes someone else to point something out to you that is blindingly obvious - once they have. I did BikeSafe then IAM and it most certainly *wasn't* a waste of time.

[skidmarx]

Waste of time. If you have half a brain and some common road-sense then the odds of such training helping you avoid an accident that you wouldn't have avoided before are pretty slim. You need basic survival instincts and an ability to read things and spot potential hazards in a variety of situations. You can be taught it but it needs to be instinctive if you are to put it into practise and actually avoid an accident. So you will either have it (as a natural aptitude) or you won't.

Do neither of them and spend the money instead on a back protector or upgrading some other part of your protective clothing.
Are you really saying that nobody has anything to learn, and if you aint got it you can't learn it? You've gotta be kidding!
The Bikesafe is really good but onl lasts a day, with IAM you can get as much input as you need or your time allows. Much of the advice is common sense, but it only seems like that once you know it. The opportunity to practice with somebody is invaluable IMHO, but then again if your the type that just thinks they know it all, then maybe a back protector would be a better buy.....

[skidmarx]

And just sometimes, it takes someone else to point something out to you that is blindingly obvious - once they have. I did BikeSafe then IAM and it most certainly *wasn't* a waste of time.
;)

[ArtyLady]

Waste of time. If you have half a brain and some common road-sense then the odds of such training helping you avoid an accident that you wouldn't have avoided before are pretty slim. You need basic survival instincts and an ability to read things and spot potential hazards in a variety of situations. You can be taught it but it needs to be instinctive if you are to put it into practise and actually avoid an accident. So you will either have it (as a natural aptitude) or you won't.

total b****cks! IMO
Do neither of them and spend the money instead on a back protector or upgrading some other part of your protective clothing. surely prevention is better than cure???

[jambo]

Well I've been riding about 9 years now. And I'd say I've been learning for all of that time. Some of us may be born with a super-human ability to judge things without any help, but I'm afraid I wasn't one of them.

I have done neither IAM or bikesafe, though I have been fortunate enough to ride with some very experianced riders who have informally commented on my riding and helped me tidy it up. Just watching someone who is confident and smooth through corners is an eye opener, and can make you realise how badly you're doing it.

Given that, statistically you're most likley to cause yourself injury loosing control on a corner, not through excessive speed but through dealing badly with the situation, proper training in this area has to be a good thing, especially if you're fresh from the DAS.

Good on you for looking into further training:thumleft:

Jambo

[sv_rider1990]

Have you considered ROSPA?? Im doing mine atm and i only pay for the test and my instructors bacon buttys when we stop for a break lol!

[New Leaf]

I have done bike safe and am about to take the IAM test. I can say for sure that the IAM skills for life package is excellent value for money and if most definitely NOT a waste of time.
My bikesafe course only cost me £30 and was well worth that - but to be honest the best thing i took home with me from the bikesafe day was a leaflet from the IAM for the skills for life package.

I'd been riding a year when i had my first observed ride, and now after 6 observed rides of about 2 hours each my riding has progressed more than i ever thought possible. As somebody else said u can have as many observed rides as it takes to get up to test standard - all for £85.

When i've passed my IAM test i'm gonna enrole for the ROSPA one. All of these things are run by charities at a highly subsidised rate, but if u only have the cash for one of them i'd skip bike safe and enrole for the IAM - they will teach u everything u would have covered ob bikesafe and a whole lot more.

[-Ralph-]

The BikeSafe is ?80

Do you guys have to pay for BikeSafe? No wonder ours is cr@p up here then, it's free.

IAM a much more comprehensive thing than BikeSafe mate, you can't compare the two other than the teaching principles will be similar.

My BikeSafe ride was a one hour observed ride (observing three of us in turn so actually it was 20 minutes) followed by little in the way of constructive comment and a bollocking from a copper for gunning it too much on an overtake. Something that the an advanced riding DVD I watched says I should do, move across the line in a lower (responsive gear), without committing to get a second good clear view, then use plenty of power to get past swiftly and cleanly before backing off the throttle and returning to your own side of the road. The copper bollocked me for it saying I broke the speed limit unneccesarily and could have cruised past nice and slowly using less power :confused:. I learned nothing new as I had already read Motorcycle Roadcraft for the second time in my biking career. No test and no certification at the end of it. Maybe you guys get a full day and more quality advice if you are paying 80 quid for it.

IAM is a weekly meet where your riding will be observed by an advanced rider and advice given until you are of a standard to pass the test. The certification can result in reduced insurance premiums. I haven't done it but it's certainly on my wish list. All these folk saying how much it has improved their riding can't be a co-incidence, must be worth doing IMO.

[Jackie_Black]

I started my IAM training straight after my DAS and it has proved invaluable. I will be doing the test this year but the things i've learnt are very handy. "the system" is a very impressive way to just make progress and allow you to really take in everything around you.

I definitely recomend it for the money because I thought I knew it all after riding crossers as a kid but, i was told although i could definitely ride the bike fine I wasn't really making the most of my surroundings to make safe and rapid progress. After a few hours and many a telling off i now feel much more confident and relaxed (which is very important) on my bike and enjoy it even more.

[Tzindo]

I have done both. Bikesafe is a short assessment of your ride with advice from a police rider who looks for anything, like bad habbits poor road position and as far as I remember there is a video and over all discussion.

The IAM - well that depends on where they are and who they are. Non professional people who happen to be a member of the IAM and well it goes on for a long time. Its all a bit anal really. For instance shoulder checks and life savers going into corners? I mean come on the hazard is in front of you.

But I am all for advanced riding, just get some good instruction from an ex -police rider and you can't go wrong with that.

[independentphoto]

The IAM - well that depends on where they are and who they are. Non professional people who happen to be a member of the IAM and well it goes on for a long time. Its all a bit anal really. For instance shoulder checks and life savers going into corners? I mean come on the hazard is in front of you.

But I am all for advanced riding, just get some good instruction from an ex -police rider and you can't go wrong with that.

I reckon those two phrases back each other up - never heard of that one before:o

But I am all for advanced riding, just get some good instruction from an ex -police rider and you can't go wrong with that.

That was the guy that taught me the basics.:thumleft:

Garry.

[JamesMio]

I was at our local BikeSafe on sunday just gone, well worth it (bearing in mind ours was free!) and opened my eyes an awful lot.

Not sure I'd have paid ?80 for it, as it's really an introduction to Police/Advanced riding but I came away from it buzzing with confidence, and my cornering which I'd been having a nightmare with previously, is all but cured now.

I'd already booked onto IAM a week ago, so just need to get in touch with them to being my training, but if it's anything like the BikeSafe it'll be well worthwhile.

Let's be honest, the worst thing that can happen from Advanced Training is you lose your ?65-80. Weighing that up against the best thing being they could teach you something that potentially saves you from becoming a statistic one day & I'd say that's a pretty good gamble really!

[petevtwin650]

Firstly I've not done any IAM or Rospa training. I've done lots of bikesafe quick evaluations and a Bikesafe weekend which cost 95 quid for me and Lissa pillion which included dinner both days.

Any training or evaluation is helpful, and it's not just about going around corners. Riding in a straight line you should always be assessing the scene and moving your position on the road accordingly.

To say training is a waste of time is absolute nonsense.

From what the various police officers told me, I would plump for Rospa over IAM, But I believe they may not have so many centres as the IAM.

See if any forces within sensible riding distance are offering free or low charged Bikesafes. Don't worry too much about cans, plates or dark visors unless they are really taking the p!ss. At the end of the day they just want to help you ride quickly as safely as is possible

[Devil Biccy]

I've done Bikesafe ( worth the money and full day ) and now looking at the next options, No matter how long or short a time you've been riding/driving you never stop learning.

[600+]

For instance shoulder checks and life savers going into corners?

As an IAM observer I have not noticed this on any of the books.....could you please point it out to me?

I know for a fact that NO ONE in our group suggests this! So I am wondering whether you just misunderstood the comment or whether indeed someone is talking porkies from the IAM group you've been in

[petevtwin650]

As an IAM observer I have not noticed this on any of the books.....could you please point it out to me?

I know for a fact that NO ONE in our group suggests this! So I am wondering whether you just misunderstood the comment or whether indeed someone is talking porkies from the IAM group you've been in

I was chatting to Lissa about this this morning Moses. Maybe it's if coming up to a left hander and you swing out to maximize your view a fast vehicle, probably a bike riding more recklessly, possibly decides to overtake on that bend from behind you. Just a thought. But they have got to be updatiing the methods we use on the roads as vehicles get quicker and roads more congested. I mean otherwise we'd still have to allow for the guy with the red flag walking in front otherwise. :)

Incidentally I always forget to do my shoulder checks. Old joints is my excuse.:)

[600+]

Approaching a left hand bend you would position yourself as further possible to the right to maximise your forward observation. BEFORE approaching the bend you could do a mirror check but this is all I can think of tbh......shoulder checks are only done while preparing to overtake or merging on to a motorway type of situation.

Been trying to picture what u're saying Pete but I'm struggling to see any reasoning behind doing this as mentioned above.

Ah yes - had an associate a bit older than you with this sort of problems (arthritis) and obviously you can only ride within your limits.

so SLOW DOWN OLD MAN lol

[petevtwin650]

Approaching a left hand bend you would position yourself as further possible to the right to maximise your forward observation. BEFORE approaching the bend you could do a mirror check but this is all I can think of tbh......shoulder checks are only done while preparing to overtake or merging on to a motorway type of situation.

Been trying to picture what u're saying Pete but I'm struggling to see any reasoning behind doing this as mentioned above.

Ah yes - had an associate a bit older than you with this sort of problems (arthritis) and obviously you can only ride within your limits.

so SLOW DOWN OLD MAN lol

Well yes you hit the nail on the head young un. Not the slow down bit :smt088, but the using your mirrors. :)

[600+]

hahaha and there was me thinking he admitted to that????!!! but obviously not LOL

[DanAbnormal]

My personal opinion is to pay a proffesional trainer if you want advanced training. It's the best way to do it but also the most expensive way. IAM is good for the masses but I do not agree with some of their 'training'. Like the 'dominant' position nonesense. All in all IAM is great value for money but too many people seem to think that it's the bee's knee's and once you've passed the test that's it. It all helps but IAM really need to modernise their image a little.

[600+]

horses for courses Dan

do you agree with all the law says? probably not.....well at least the IAM gives u the opportunity to speak to someone and then its up to you to take it or leave it

[DanAbnormal]

horses for courses Dan

do you agree with all the law says? probably not.....well at least the IAM gives u the opportunity to speak to someone and then its up to you to take it or leave it

Couldn't agree more. And it is the best value for money training you can get. I just want more. :)

[ejohnh]

I went on the ?80 Gwent Bikesafe weekend last July. It comprised two full days with lunch supplied. We did 150 miles of observed riding each day. Either one on one, or one on two observing. It rained both days. They also do free 1 hour sessions out of Abergavenny bus station some sundays.

To me it was well worth the money and time. I got increased skills and confidence out of it. I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to brush up on their skills or iron out any (maybe unnoticed) bad habits.

[DanAbnormal]

At the end of the day it boils down to the individual and what they get out of it. I've heard many good things about both Bikesafe and IAM as well as bad things.

[Tzindo]

My point about the shoulder checks etc going into corners was that in my experience the need to follow "road craft" to the letter is felt to be far more necessary by some groups of IAM riders than the reality demands i.e the corner you are approaching at speed is where you should really be looking. This is my feeling here, I am not saying that that is the way that the IAM teach it.

It is a case of horses for courses. I took what I felt was important from the IAM and do not want to seem to criticise them as an organisation. A hell of a lot better than nothing at all! But for me 1 on 1 instruction from an ex-police rider taught me a lot quicker and with more relevant information. I felt more confident after those sessions than with the IAM.

Its not just a case of you get what you pay for. For me, one method was more suited to me than the other. A personal thing.

[DanAbnormal]

It also depends who you get as an observer. Some unlucky so and so's may get the age old stereo typical bearded FJR rider. :) Yet other may get R1 riding nutjob.

[ejohnh]

It also depends who you get as an observer. Some unlucky so and so's may get the age old stereo typical bearded FJR rider. :) Yet other may get R1 riding nutjob.

Reminds me of something else about the Gwent Bikesafe weekend: Before the pairing begins you have to mark yourself out of 5 as to what sort of rider you think you are ie 1 = granny and 5 = Rossi Wannabe. Then they give you the copper who is most like the same. :)

[ArtyLady]

Reminds me of something else about the Gwent Bikesafe weekend: Before the pairing begins you have to mark yourself out of 5 as to what sort of rider you think you are ie 1 = granny and 5 = Rossi Wannabe. Then they give you the copper who is most like the same. :)

Argghhh - less of the granny bashing please! :smt075

Im a granny but dont ride like the above implies :rolleyes: (hopefully I dont look like one either ;))

and yes....I am probably over sensitive :lol:

[ejohnh]

Argghhh - less of the granny bashing please! :smt075

Im a granny but dont ride like the above implies :rolleyes: (hopefully I dont look like one either ;))

and yes....I am probably over sensitive :lol:

V sorry - I'm a grandad.. and I meant my granny ;)

[Mark_h]

It also depends who you get as an observer. Some unlucky so and so's may get the age old stereo typical bearded FJR rider. :) Yet other may get R1 riding nutjob.

My old IAM observer has a blackbird and a 1098 and is entirely beardless. Some pretty progressive riding on our sessions :)

[ArtyLady]

V sorry - I'm a grandad.. and I meant my granny ;)

As you're a grandad I shall let you off (although you should know better!;) :lol:)

[Rhiwbina_Squirrel]

Thanks guys, that's been really helpful. I think once I've passed and have a bike I'll do both of them and then the ROSPA one later on if I'm up to it. I'm probably being a bit too keen at the moment (as well as not having passed and not having a bike, it's a month until my 17th!), but I suppose it never hurts to be prepared :)

[independentphoto]

Thanks guys, that's been really helpful. I think once I've passed and have a bike I'll do both of them and then the ROSPA one later on if I'm up to it. I'm probably being a bit too keen at the moment (as well as not having passed and not having a bike, it's a month until my 17th!), but I suppose it never hurts to be prepared :)

You've done the most important thing already......


....realised that the learning doesn't stop once you've got the ticket.:notworthy:

Well done that man. BTW once you do IAM and pass the advanced test, you just keep going. It's a real social thing if you get some decent people at your group.

Garry;)