Nervous Riders Query!

I'd be a fine one to advise so I won't.

Would counsel others likewise TBH.

Practice is, as most have said, the answer. I'll second Fizzy Fish's offer to come give you guys tips some weekend if you like. I'm only in Harrow so not a million miles away. I'm busy this weekend but might have some time next weekend if you like.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Toypop

I would therefore recommend that you don't let the pipe and slippers IAM brigade further mess you up.

Whatever your preconceptions it's worth giving them a good go to see what they have to offer. You don't have to take the test at the end and when you're on your own you can pick and choose what advice you adhere to strictly & what you take with a pinch of salt. But once you've seen an improvement in your own riding you'll be glad you did.
ps I mean Clodge - you're beyond help

Your speed.. and cars.. they are normally two good choices

Smart **** :P

You in the AIM Stu?

Clodge is it possible I saw you at a BP garage in Cheshunt one day a few months back?

Originally Posted by teriyakimonkey

You in the AIM Stu?

TM - I am. The bloke who taught me definitely did not fit the pipe and slippers uninformed stereotype. Nor did his 748. Come to think of it, neither did the other observers' blades, gixxers etc.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Ed

TM - I am. The bloke who taught me definitely did not fit the pipe and slippers uninformed stereotype. Nor did his 748. Come to think of it, neither did the other observers' blades, gixxers etc.

No but some of them definately do. Witness the IAM instructor I parked up next to one day. I looked across after I had got off my bike and nodded and said hello to him, got totally blanked, then proceeded to spend I reckon the best part of 30 minutes boring the cr*p out of his pupil by explaining in intricate detail every part of every tool and what he'd use it for that he had in his toolkit and TBH just watching that put me right off. I dont want to know about that kind of stuff. I carry a puncture repair kit, some basic tools and thats about it, more serious than that, thats what breakdown recovery is for IMHO.

I bet I'd learn alot from IAM but that image I have of that guy that day put me off and its hard for me to get past that imagine. I know faced with an instructor like that I'd get bored and not bother to turn up again.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Toypop

The impression I get is that you, like everyone else, has been taught to pass the test.

What you need to do is throw most of that crap away and just keep the 5% of it that is any use in the real world.

If you try riding in real life like they expect you to on the test you would soon have an accident. I would therefore recommend that you don't let the pipe and slippers IAM brigade further mess you up.

In the real world I attribute far more risk (99%) to what is going on in front than what is going on behind (the test seems to have it at 50/50) so I don't bother with 95% of the life savers etc but use the mirrors more. I'd suggest keeping your eyes forward more and throwing out some of the other checks that are taking up too much of your attention. Sounds to me like you are overloaded and it is all too much to fit into your concentration capacity.

I only have my foot on the rear brake if the bike is trying to roll. If someone hits me from behind it is a joke to think that I'd keep my foot on the brake and that it would stop me being thrown 50ft through the air!!!!!!!!!! There is no way anyone should need to be consciously thinking about that whilst at a junction.

You just need to go out and ride a lot on quiet country roads. If you still don't feel comfortable after that then you are maybe not cut out for riding.

IMO the SV is not the best learner bike and does require more advanced skills especially in clutch and throttle control. It can be a tricky little bugger on tight junctions or mini roundabouts as the throttle is very snatchy and on-off. A Bandit would have been a lot softer and easier to control.

Taught to pass the test ... +1

Test passing skills useless .. +1

IAM's pipe and slippers hehe, +1 ... IMO that won't hurt if you get someone to give you some advice and not just try teaching you how to pass another test as that's pointless.

observations... +1 ... the routine of checking everywhere is a bit over cautious, however don't ditch them entirely.
Remember when you first started, riding a 125 round a car park, well do the same on the SV so ALL you have to think about is where the gap is etc, make handling the bike intuitive.

Rear brake at junctions +1, use the brake if you feel like it, are rolling back etc.

SV snatchy, nope, it's just got some torque in the mids, its only snatchy if you snatch the throttle open, or are too stupid to maintain it. IMO it builds good habits of throttle control.


In closing, get out, do some practice, stop worrying about "what you have been taught" and find what works for you. Riding out with another org.er would really help you, just to see someone elses style.

Originally Posted by Ed

[...]The bloke who taught me definitely did not fit the pipe and slippers uninformed stereotype. Nor did his 748. Come to think of it, neither did the other observers' blades, gixxers etc.

Ditto Ed! my observer rode a Blade...and Im pretty sure Ive never seen a dayglo thingumy!

Clodge - training with IAM was the reason I didnt give up all together - IIRC they dont mind how inexperienced you are - they are all about helping you become more progressive, smoother, and above all safer!

[Red Herring]

The IAM is a big organisation, and it would be fair to say that they try to cater for all tastes, be it pipe and slippers or sliders and cans. Most groups have a fair share of both although the former are in decline IMO. The co-ordinator at which ever group you end up with should try and match you up with an appropriate observer, but should you find you don't get along then ask for a change. I always think it a shame when someone is not only prepared to dismiss something they have no experience of but encourages others to do so as well.