IAM's. worth it or not ?

[Warren]

im seriously considering joining the IAM's this week.

but as im a bit hard up for cash at the mo, i was wondering if its really worth the money ?

what do you think ?

i checked out the website and hunted down threads and reveiws of the iams, but havent really found much out.

what im really interersted in . . is . . . .

once you have passed your IAM's test, how do you qualify to become a teacher ?

the meetings - what to they normally involve ?

how often to you go out for observed rides ? and how long did it take you to pass your IAM test ?

im not thinking of doing it for this reason alone , but how much of a discount would it give you on insurance ?

[Cloggsy]

Yes IMHO... I really must get myself booked on one :-k

[DeeJay]

more training should make you a better rider, keep you safer = definatly worth it.

[Ed]

I'm doing it at the mo - I've done 3 observed rides and also did an 'unofficial' one yesterday. It definitely is worth it - cost to join is £85, the observed rides (which are training by another name) are free but I buy the observer the occasional tank of fuel and pay for the coffee at the coffee stop - which is really a debriefing. Emphasis is on constructive criticism, no bad comments - unless I've done something potentially dangerous (including breaking the speed limit).

I've learned a helluva lot. Started off on road positioning, particularly on bends (and lots of tips on how to handle the bike to get the best out of it when going through a bend), when coming to the brow of a hill, overtaking, pedal cyclists, junctions. Lots of emphasis on 'lifting' foward observation through the bend and to look out for hazards that are way ahead and can be factored into the riding plan. End result - a much smoother and safer ride.

Haven't been to any of the meets etc yet though.

How long to pass test? Depends on how much work is needed - the IAM guide says between 4 and 15 observed rides. That's not much help!! My observer reckons on 6 - 8 to get most people up to standard. As re becoming a teacher - I have a copy of the IAM's handbook for observers. There are detailed rules in it, if you PM me your address I'll send you a copy. Note that it applies only to becoming an IAM observer not a RoSPA trainer.

Discount on insurance - don't know but I would guess about 10%.

Incidentally, as Rictus said on here a few weeks back, it's a good idea to get a few miles under your belt before going straight into advanced training, he made the very good point that it's all very well doing work on positioning but if you're afraid you're going to fall off then it's a complete waste of time. Naturally Warren that hardly applies to you :wink:

[Warren]

cheers, that would be great.

im gonna pop to mrt motorcycle training and enquire about other advanced motorcycle qualifications that i could do, mabe even be an instructor one day myself.

ive been riding for a year and a half now, done about 20,000 miles in total. mix of a-roads, town, motorways,
naturally, living near the city, most of my riding is through town, but weekly im off down the south coast.

[wyrdness]

I've wondered about doing it, but have been put off by the 'stuffy' image that the IAM has. I get the impression that it's all pipe, slippers and white BMWs with white lids. Please correct me if I'm wrong and this image is years out of date.

[Ed]

I've wondered about doing it, but have been put off by the 'stuffy' image that the IAM has. I get the impression that it's all pipe, slippers and white BMWs with white lids. Please correct me if I'm wrong and this image is years out of date.

Completely WRONG impression. Different areas have different memberships. My observer has a Multistrada 1000DS, yesterday he was on his other bike, a 748R with gorgeous Termis popping like fury. And when occasion requires he goes quick. Very quick.

[$i]

Definately worth doing! I past it when i was 17 about 6 months after my test :D . Now at 19 i feel that i am a much safer rider and i know what to look out for.The best bit though was the £236 drop on my insurance! :D

[wyrdness]

I've wondered about doing it, but have been put off by the 'stuffy' image that the IAM has. I get the impression that it's all pipe, slippers and white BMWs with white lids. Please correct me if I'm wrong and this image is years out of date.

Completely WRONG impression. Different areas have different memberships. My observer has a Multistrada 1000DS, yesterday he was on his other bike, a 748R with gorgeous Termis popping like fury. And when occasion requires he goes quick. Very quick.

Thanks for that information. I might sign up once my new bike arrives. He sounds like the kind of person that I'd want as an observer.

Update: The Middlesex Advanced Motorcyclists group looks good. They're web site is http://www.middlesexam.org.uk Does anyone here belong to them?

[philc2000]

Have you considered a bikesafe course in your area? I did one last year which was well worth it, you get a couple of evening lectures for theory and then a couple of hours out with a police rider one on one, stopping every now and then to give you advice. They also throw in the police riders handbook as part of the course - about £30 all in if I remember rightly.

I mate is also doing ROSPA (or something similar) which he says isn't as rigid with the rules as IAM and still offers a discount for insurance.

[Warren]

booked a bikesafe last year but was cancelled,
im not really free many sundays eiher and they only run every few months round here.
it is 80 quid in this area.

[carelesschucca]

its worth it, I just hope you get a test Its now been nearly a year that I've been waiting and still nowt!!!