Bike Safe

[garynortheast]

Well after procrastinating about doing a Bike Safe course for most of last year, I have finally bitten the bullet and booked up for the course in Aberystwyth on 11th May.


I'm just very slightly apprehensive about this. I'm ashamed to admit that in 43 years of riding motorbikes, I've never had a single minute of formal tuition or assessment beyond taking the 20 minute bike test in 1974!!


I have read and researched quite a lot on riding technique over the years, and done my best to apply what I've learned, but it'll be interesting to see what gets picked up and what bad habits I have developed. I do know that sometimes I don't use my mirrors as often as I should.


Who else has done Bike Safe and what did you learn from it?

[CharleyFarley]

Ayup Gary....35yrs/no training since S.T.E.P. (77/78...anyone else remember that??)
Went out fa 3hrs with (ex) Police instructor 2weeks ago, DEFO improved my slow speed/town riding....
'Fast' B roads.......couldn't 'fault' me(😝) (fast = up to 85-95mph)
Feel a lot more confident around town/junctions etc.....
'Reassuring' to know my higher speed/B road positioning/style is 'safe'......
Do it.........be your self......enjoy it!!!!!


"Gas it w###a".........

[Ninthbike]

Well after procrastinating about doing a Bike Safe course for most of last year, I have finally bitten the bullet and booked up for the course in Aberystwyth on 11th May.


I'm just very slightly apprehensive about this. I'm ashamed to admit that in 43 years of riding motorbikes, I've never had a single minute of formal tuition or assessment beyond taking the 20 minute bike test in 1974!!


I have read and researched quite a lot on riding technique over the years, and done my best to apply what I've learned, but it'll be interesting to see what gets picked up and what bad habits I have developed. I do know that sometimes I don't use my mirrors as often as I should.


Who else has done Bike Safe and what did you learn from it?


I did it almost two years ago with the Met Police. You will not regret a minute and it will be the best money you have ever spent. I have been riding now for 37 years and thought that I knew what I was doing but I still learned loads, mainly about road positioning, anticipation and interpretation. The good news is that your instructor will tell you at the beginning of the day what you are/are not allowed to do speed-wise. Mine said "no more than 32-33 in 30 limit, no more than 43 in 40 limit and no more than 54-56 in a 50. Other than that, not bothered how fast you go as long as you keep it safe". The officers were great company and they gave us a load of goodies afterwards. Do make sure that your bike is completely legal (tyres, exhaust lights etc) otherwise they are likely to turn you away. Enjoy!!

[Nobbylad]

I'd echo everything that's already been said. I did mine in 2008 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Currently doing the IAM course.

[NTECUK]

It's a good introduction to move onto advanced riding if you feel you're benefit from that.
I started doing ROSPA, will get back to it when the current events have settled.
Don't believe the "you can't teach an old dog new tricks ", thing.

[CharleyFarley]

......and a old dog can teach a young pup........


"Gas it w###a".........

[Littlepeahead]

I've done it twice and enjoyed it both times. My course included guys with 30 years experience, a couple of weekend warriors with the power rangers suits and a young lad who was a police officer training up to be a police biker.

I was struggling at low speed stuff on the SV. To get out of my road at the T junction is a tight turn thanks to parked cars and the SV turning circle and if I felt I got that wrong it put me in a bad frame of mind for my whole ride. Just by showing me how to shift my weight a little to counter balance myself it sorted that out.

They taught me things I probably knew once and had forgotten, and putting the police roadcraft book into practice is what a lot of it is about but as you aren't being tested it means you can have fun.

Also the goodie bag often contains money off further advanced training if you fancy it. I was quite keen to do the ROSPA stuff but broke my arms a few weeks later so turning up at the first meeting in plaster I wasn't the best advert for the prevention of accidents, it's something I must look into again.

[Ev11lee]

I've done it. I decided to do it after recovering from a bad crash. Was a fairly friendly day and everybody was up for a laugh (I even got the pxss took out of me for the bike I was riding and it's reliability) (not the sv650, but a duc)

I even went on to complete my iam, with the original guy from bike safe observing my iam rides.

Well worth it and certainly opens your eyes up a little