Have you finished with learning?

Like the title says - have you pretty much packed in learning to ride (better, safer etc) or are you hungry for more........

....it's that time of year when the fruitcakes are all out and accidents including deaths are every (other?) day.

You might have heard, that we had a fatality out our way (Cumbernauld) yesterday around 3.30, and the guy killed on the Callendar road last weekend was from Cumbernauld too (he leaves the usual wife, kids etc etc). Yesterdays victim (fault etc still to be determined) was 32 and was apparently riding a Suzuki. I passed the scene on the way to Glasgow North IAM last night and the bike was black with magenta graphics.

Point is - as a pretty (or ugly!) new rider, I am definately still learning and eager to do so. I don't believe that we ever finish learning (depends on attitude). Because of this, I participate in the IAM group, as do some others on this board. What are peoples views?

Garry

[STRAMASHER]

I learn summit every time I move off, any bike,everyday,fast or slow, city, country or track.

Thats why I like 'em. All of them. MZ-MV.

Don't let stuff like that get you down Garry.

I did IAM for over a year and packed it in - too much time and I wasn't getting anything more out of it.

The theory is nice but it doesn't work 100% on the road. Also depends on the observer - some tell you one thing is fine, another frowns on it. I'd recommend it to anyone but at the same time if you hit a plateau and you're not learning anything extra from it, move on.

I might go back to it in a few years when the idea of riding a pan or a deauville seems more attractive

[muzikill]

I learnt how to filter today giving the fact that there was a crash closing the whole northside lane of the forth road bridge today at approx 17:00! - it took over an hour to clear it.

I hate filtering purely based on seeing countless bikers almost get run into by cage and van drivers pulling across without looking and to filter on the forth bridge is a brainless gamble as far as i am concerned.

I think you always learn every time you ride out.

I have only been my bike for a little under a yr now and i still (and always will due to the fact you cant control other folks driving abilities) have "moments" but what due expect you take your life into your hands alot more on a bike compared to a car, but thats why i do it! Bit of rush i suppose

As for IAM i will be siging up next yr, dont think i have had enough of my own experience yet, to justify it, if you know what i mean and the fact it will bring the insurance down.

thats my 2 cents

If you want to go slower there's a lever near your right hand. If you want to go faster your right hand can also deal with that. Any questions?

I'll never be finished with learning, but I've probably had it with training. It's just flat, basic not my idea of a good time and life's too short.

Anyway, it's not rocket science, we're not invading Normandy, can't we just have fun with it

I joined IAM last year, and came along to some of the meets. I did learn some things that ghelped my confidence a wee bit, but to be honest, I didn't really enjoy it that much at time. Basically, I really don't like being observed. I always ride even worse than I do on my own. And because I was puylled up for all thge stuff that I was doing wrong, it actually made my confidence worse. The last time I went, I was having a really crap night. One of those nights where everything was going wrong, and it was also quite a difficult road. And to be honest, I still wasn't 100% sure of the SV at the time. So, I was riding a LOT slower than normal. The guy who was observing me asked me if I knew what the speed limit was! A wee biy sarchy like I feel IMO. Really didn't make me feel better about riding. Also had a bit of a go at me about not wanting to ride into one of there carparks that have more craters and potholes than road. Given that I perhaps have shorter legs than him, he just didn't get that when the surface is that crap, it does not make tou feel confident. Also, I have a really crap sense of direction, so having to take the lead in order to be observed actually terrifies me. I much prefer to follow someone who actually has an incling of where they are going. That said, I am not ruling out going back. I did intend to, but my dissertation took over at the beginning of the season, and to be honest, I really don't enjoy riding in the wet (yeah I know - I'm a woose). I have found myself how the sv works, and now feel much more comfortable in it etc, so maybe next year (with sat nav!!!).

Sorry, this reply turned out to be longer than I thought it would be!

[G]

I do advanced stuff with my partners dad who does DAS/IAM. I'm looking into doing the Rospa/IAM test for the hell of it and the challenge.

Probably Rospa as its apparently the hardest and to even get bronze is damn hard, let alone silver or gold....plus you have to retake the test where as IAM you dont.


On another note in the past week there has been 7 motorcycle fatalities in this area, 2 of which I knew and were very close friends of my missus.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/di...pNodeId=133951

Nobody knows if it was excessive speed or something like a chain failure. It was a straight road, down hill, with a very slight corner.....no other cars involved....apart from the artic that went over them both after they came off.

Makes you think

You never stop learning.
Ever.
Problem is experience is a bad tutor. You only learn it after you needed it!

If they had the attitude that they is God then get to MotoGP where they belong.

Even Casey Stoner ain't that arrogant.

[northwind]

I've kind of given up on my local IAM, I joined up, rejoined after a year, I get the occasional newsletter but there's nothing much going on, no prospect of getting a proper observed ride... Every couple of months I chase them up but I never get anything useful back. Not too chuffed really, I know they were madly oversubscribed when I joined but if they're that overwhelmed they shouldn't accept new members IMO.

Doesn't mean I've stopped learning, though... I'm not so much trying to go faster these days, but anyuone can get better.