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Just back from Wiltshire Bikesafe, and really enjoyed it.
Wasn't sure what to expect, but as confirmed already by lots of people on here, definitely worth attending if you get the chance.
Was also surprised at how many people I spoke to rated the SV so highly - class obviously shows :D
You could'nt just run a few high/lowlights past those of us about to do the bikesafe course could you :?: I've got mine on the 21st of next month and am not too sure about what to expect :shock:
You could'nt just run a few high/lowlights past those of us about to do the bikesafe course could you
No problem!
Day started at 9 and and finished about 4., and about 40 people on the course (more than I expected). After the intro's etc a couple of police riders did a presentation / video about riding techniques etc which was actually quite interesting.
Then we were split into 2 groups of twenty and my group went out for approx an hour and a half with police riders - 1 rider to 2 people and separate routes etc, so got about 45 minutes assessed ride and 45 minutes following. This was the bit I was most apprehensive about beforehand (thought of the police following you etc) but to be honest it was fine. We were told to ride as we normally do (within limits :evil: ) but not to be worried about pushing it up to 80 if we needed to overtake etc. Feedback was all positive, no criticising, and worthwhile.
Back for lunch and chat with the police rider, then afternoon session was a bloke from the council and a questionaire and videos on type of riders we were etc. OK, but was getting tired at this point. We should have had a briefing form some paramedics but they couldn't make it. (The other group of 20 did things in reverse - safety stuff before lunch, assessed ride afterwards).
I wasn't sure what to expect either, and everyone was in the same boat. A wide range of bikes and riders there as well, although on my course at least a marked absence of supersports bikes - one or two fireblades, but no R1s or Gixxers at all.
Everyone friendly enough, apart from a couple of posers (one bloke was quite amusing with a new Buell with a reg plate 'BUE IL' and matcing Buell make leathers - but was probably a decent bloke).
Good luck for your course - you'll enjoy it.
Ta for that...feeling a bit better now about meeting Kent plod :wink:
Does anyone know how long you have to wait go on one of these, I applied a couple of weeks ago (in Norfolk) and have heard nothing at all...? :?
Everyone friendly enough, apart from a couple of posers......
:D
We had one on the course I did. He'd recently sold an immaculate blue Fazer 600, which was just over a year old, and bought a Honda CBR600RR. Turned up in matching kit, the works.........
....only to get told off by one of the assessors/coppers for "riding like Driving Miss Daisy" on the rideout :lol:
Does anyone know how long you have to wait go on one of these, I applied a couple of weeks ago (in Norfolk) and have heard nothing at all...? :?
It depends on how busy they are. I did mine in London North, about 2 months delay.
Flamin_Squirrel
16-05-05, 10:54 AM
:lol:
I have to say I didn't think the rideout was very worthwhile when I did it :?
Well Oiled
16-05-05, 05:03 PM
How many different bikesafe courses are there?
the one I did in Stoke lasted a couple of hours, and was free. I've heard of the two day one that costs about £80 I think, and this one looks like summat in between. What did it cost?[/quote]
busasean
16-05-05, 05:35 PM
Ta for that...feeling a bit better now about meeting Kent plod
whatever you do, dont ask about the R1 that kent were using for bikesafe........................... they spanked it at a "bikesafe" track day :lol:
the one I did in Stoke lasted a couple of hours, and was free. I've heard of the two day one that costs about £80 I think, and this one looks like summat in between. What did it cost?
Whole day was free (you had to send a cheque for £10 to book a place, but if you turned up you got it back).
I have to say I didn't think the rideout was very worthwhile when I did it
I liked it. Didn't learn vast amounts, but for me the main thing was finding out i haven't picked up too many bad (or dangerous) habits in just over a year of riding, so that alone was worth it.
One thing the police rider did tell us, and I just can't get on with it, is to put the bike into neutral at lights and put right foot down, holding it on front brake - total opposite of the test training :?:
Flamin_Squirrel
16-05-05, 09:41 PM
I have to say I didn't think the rideout was very worthwhile when I did it
I liked it. Didn't learn vast amounts, but for me the main thing was finding out i haven't picked up too many bad (or dangerous) habits in just over a year of riding, so that alone was worth it.
That was pretty much what I was told: "Yeah not bad, you're not dangerous, not gonna kill yourself right away..."
Well it's nice to be reasured, but there must have been something critical he could have said. I (like everyone I'm sure) like to think my riding's fairly decent, but I can't imagine it's perfect and that there was nothing else he could have said.
Not that it mattered, because it wasn't a realistic environment for observation anyway, because I don't stick that ridgedly to speed limits, nor do I overtake so infrequently. And, quite frankly, after riding so sedately all day I was so bored and inattentive by the end my riding went to pot when usually it would be ok.
One thing the police rider did tell us, and I just can't get on with it, is to put the bike into neutral at lights and put right foot down, holding it on front brake - total opposite of the test training :?:
Err :shock:
The police rider I was with made sure we were using the rear brake - he wasn't bothered if we but it into neurtal or not.
Ta for that...feeling a bit better now about meeting Kent plod :wink:
I did the Kent Bikesafe last year. You're in good hands - true bikers. They used to be a 30+ strong rider fleet, but the new Kent Chief cut them down to just 10. Either way, the knowledge is still there.
The only downside is the location, if they're still basing it from the A20 in the bottom end of Kent just outside Dover. Bloody miles from most of Kent!
The format last year was a discussion evening, followed by a full road ride day. I picked up a lot, and it changed my riding overnight!
Generally you don't need to worry too much about sports cans and visors. Number plates - they'd rather you didn't take the **** out of them! :D
You're in for a good day - listen, watch, learn, practice.
timwilky
17-05-05, 07:00 AM
My local plod will not do bike safe, they refer you to the council road safety team who run a course for £120.
Even the guy from the council admits that Lancs plod have scored an own goal for police/biker relations
My local plod will not do bike safe, they refer you to the council road safety team who run a course for £120.
Even the guy from the council admits that Lancs plod have scored an own goal for police/biker relations
They probably just don't have the resources to do it. The Kent one takes up all the Police bikes for the entire county, and another dozen or more officers and paramedics, to coach the bikers that attend.
It's fantastic that they do it, but you can't slag off a force that cannot afford to give that dedication, to improving your abilities.
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