IAM Worth doing?
Discussion
Received my bulk order of dry chain lube this morning and inside the box was an IAM Advanced Rider Course leaflet. Got me thinking...
I have been riding a number of years now and probably covered well over 200k miles in that time - I am by no means a riding god, but I have ridden in almost every condition I can think of.
Are these courses aimed at new riders or would a more experienced rider be able to pick up some useful hints and tips? Looks like its £135 for the supervised ride and test. I am always looking to learn more so don't want to dismiss instantly.
Any 'IAM Advanced Riders' out there care to share?
I have been riding a number of years now and probably covered well over 200k miles in that time - I am by no means a riding god, but I have ridden in almost every condition I can think of.
Are these courses aimed at new riders or would a more experienced rider be able to pick up some useful hints and tips? Looks like its £135 for the supervised ride and test. I am always looking to learn more so don't want to dismiss instantly.
Any 'IAM Advanced Riders' out there care to share?
I prefer RoSPA myself and re-do it every 3 years ...ive been riding over 30 years and over 200k miles too ....fell off a few times too along the way as well
i think you can always learn something with training ...usually I find around about the time you think you know it all then sh*t happens just so life can prove otherwise to you
i think you can always learn something with training ...usually I find around about the time you think you know it all then sh*t happens just so life can prove otherwise to you
moanthebairns said:
if you have done 200,000 miles then I would suggest no, unless you ride like a tard or don't comprehend even the simple principles of riding. Riding a bike within the uk limits isn't f
king difficult.
Are you angry with the world?king difficult.I am not saying its difficult, I ride a lot, all year (UK and abroad) and want to do whatever possible to ensure I am in the best possible position to avoid an incident. I am open to constructive criticism from the older wiser biker..
Rawwr said:
Are you? Send hot pics.
PIGINAWIG and Bogie - thanks I will take a look.
There's nothing wrong with receiving some input from someone elses perspective. After 18 months of riding I did a bikesafe course (not the same) and picked up a few things which I have since applied every time I ride.
I think if you ride very often, and you are always reflecting on riding, then you tend to work out when things went wrong and how to avoid it, where something dosnt feel right and how to do it differently, so on so forth.
Some habits you form, and you may not realise until someone else points them out. They might be fine, they might be really good things, they might be bad.
I think if you ride very often, and you are always reflecting on riding, then you tend to work out when things went wrong and how to avoid it, where something dosnt feel right and how to do it differently, so on so forth.
Some habits you form, and you may not realise until someone else points them out. They might be fine, they might be really good things, they might be bad.
I’ve been riding for many years and have done some pretty big mileages in that time. I’ve also done a number of advanced riding courses. (I’m not a member of IAM, RoSPA etc. but have done some of their courses/assessed rides.) If you go in with an open mind, willing to accept criticism and able to take an objective look at both what you are doing and why others might do it differently, then you will definitely learn something. Whether you then go on to use any/all of what you learn is your shout but at least it will be you making the choice for your own reasons.
All the courses I have been on have been focused towards the level of those being trained which is great as long as you don’t get put with the nervous noob who has done a grand total of 10 miles since they passed their test. That said, I don’t do the courses to pass any tests, only to understand different and alternative approaches to various elements of riding and thus be more informed when I’m making riding decisions.
I prefer courses where there is a 2:1 ratio of those receiving instruction. While 1:1 feels like it should be better value for money, I find I like the fact that I’m not the only one being told that I should be doing something differently. Should make it cheaper as well.
All the courses I have been on have been focused towards the level of those being trained which is great as long as you don’t get put with the nervous noob who has done a grand total of 10 miles since they passed their test. That said, I don’t do the courses to pass any tests, only to understand different and alternative approaches to various elements of riding and thus be more informed when I’m making riding decisions.
I prefer courses where there is a 2:1 ratio of those receiving instruction. While 1:1 feels like it should be better value for money, I find I like the fact that I’m not the only one being told that I should be doing something differently. Should make it cheaper as well.
yammyfan said:
I am not saying its difficult, I ride a lot, all year (UK and abroad) and want to do whatever possible to ensure I am in the best possible position to avoid an incident. I am open to constructive criticism from the older wiser biker..
If that is your outlook, it is a no brainer. You should do it. The worst that can happen is you waste £135 and a bit of time. The best is that even though you are already experienced, you can further improve your riding and use your skills to make more progress in more safety.I passed the RoSPA test and so I am only familiar whith RoSPA. However I would highly recommend it. I don't know how IAM works. RoSPA is 1-on-1 with a volunteer tutor; you may have to pay their fuel and there is a small charge for the test (usually examined by an ex-bike copper) once you are ready.
Edited by creampuff on Monday 20th October 14:59
I did the IAM course a few years ago, also after decades and miles of riding. What I learned was that I pretty much had what they consider to be good riding skills already. With a couple of tweaks which, frankly, was more about riding to their proscribed methodology, I duly passed the test.
I think that I learned more from talking to my examiner, a retired police motorcyclist, after the test, but nonetheless it is a worthwhile thing to do, if only to confirm that you are doing things correctly anyway.
You won't agree with everything that they do or say (I certainly didn't), and as others have suggested, RoSPA run a similar course, and some might say a better course. The IAM was fine for me.
After some years of being told that the IAM certificate made no difference to my insurance, I finally did what I should have done, and insured through the IAM directly, and promptly halved my renewal for my car, and I expect a similar discount when I re-insure my bike next year. Put it this way, I have saved more than the fees for doing the IAM course and test, so win win.
I think that I learned more from talking to my examiner, a retired police motorcyclist, after the test, but nonetheless it is a worthwhile thing to do, if only to confirm that you are doing things correctly anyway.
You won't agree with everything that they do or say (I certainly didn't), and as others have suggested, RoSPA run a similar course, and some might say a better course. The IAM was fine for me.
After some years of being told that the IAM certificate made no difference to my insurance, I finally did what I should have done, and insured through the IAM directly, and promptly halved my renewal for my car, and I expect a similar discount when I re-insure my bike next year. Put it this way, I have saved more than the fees for doing the IAM course and test, so win win.
yammyfan said:
moanthebairns said:
if you have done 200,000 miles then I would suggest no, unless you ride like a tard or don't comprehend even the simple principles of riding. Riding a bike within the uk limits isn't fking difficult.
Are you angry with the world?king difficult.I am not saying its difficult, I ride a lot, all year (UK and abroad) and want to do whatever possible to ensure I am in the best possible position to avoid an incident. I am open to constructive criticism from the older wiser biker..
People who go on about how they changed their riding, and oh my God how great it is clearly couldn't ride worth a f
k in the first place. I fail to see the point as well, I don't ride in the manner in which I would when getting observed. If I bin it, its due to me ignoring the risk and riding too hard to the conditions/road etc I don't need to pay £135 to find that out.
if you struggle with poddling along below the speed limits however, its for you.
Mad Jock said:
I did the IAM course a few years ago, also after decades and miles of riding. What I learned was that I pretty much had what they consider to be good riding skills already. With a couple of tweaks which, frankly, was more about riding to their proscribed methodology, I duly passed the test.
I think that I learned more from talking to my examiner, a retired police motorcyclist, after the test, but nonetheless it is a worthwhile thing to do, if only to confirm that you are doing things correctly anyway.
You won't agree with everything that they do or say (I certainly didn't), and as others have suggested, RoSPA run a similar course, and some might say a better course. The IAM was fine for me.
After some years of being told that the IAM certificate made no difference to my insurance, I finally did what I should have done, and insured through the IAM directly, and promptly halved my renewal for my car, and I expect a similar discount when I re-insure my bike next year. Put it this way, I have saved more than the fees for doing the IAM course and test, so win win.
The discount is the only way I would do it to be honest. I think that I learned more from talking to my examiner, a retired police motorcyclist, after the test, but nonetheless it is a worthwhile thing to do, if only to confirm that you are doing things correctly anyway.
You won't agree with everything that they do or say (I certainly didn't), and as others have suggested, RoSPA run a similar course, and some might say a better course. The IAM was fine for me.
After some years of being told that the IAM certificate made no difference to my insurance, I finally did what I should have done, and insured through the IAM directly, and promptly halved my renewal for my car, and I expect a similar discount when I re-insure my bike next year. Put it this way, I have saved more than the fees for doing the IAM course and test, so win win.
creampuff said:
If that is your outlook, it is a no brainer. You should do it. The worst that can happen is you waste £135 and a bit of time. The best is that even though you are already experienced, you can further improve your riding and use your skills to make more progress in more safety.
I passed the RoSPA test and so I am only familiar whith RoSPA. However I would highly recommend it. I don't know how IAM works. RoSPA is 1-on-1 with a volunteer tutor; you may have to pay their fuel and there is a small charge for the test (usually examined by an ex-bike copper) once you are ready.
I have just emailed the local RoSPA chairman to see what I need to do to go out on a ride with them. I will be taking the commuter to put across the best image I passed the RoSPA test and so I am only familiar whith RoSPA. However I would highly recommend it. I don't know how IAM works. RoSPA is 1-on-1 with a volunteer tutor; you may have to pay their fuel and there is a small charge for the test (usually examined by an ex-bike copper) once you are ready.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 20th October 14:59
moanthebairns said:
Not at all, I just don't really see the merit in it to be honest, if you have even the least bit of an interest in riding half decent in the first place.
People who go on about how they changed their riding, and oh my God how great it is clearly couldn't ride worth a fk in the first place.
I fail to see the point as well, I don't ride in the manner in which I would when getting observed. If I bin it, its due to me ignoring the risk and riding too hard to the conditions/road etc I don't need to pay £135 to find that out.
if you struggle with poddling along below the speed limits however, its for you.
Many people, yourself included from the sounds of that post, equate low speed with more safety (or lest risk). Eh, speed limit is only 30mph, it's easy, I don't need to learn anything blah blah. People who go on about how they changed their riding, and oh my God how great it is clearly couldn't ride worth a f
k in the first place. I fail to see the point as well, I don't ride in the manner in which I would when getting observed. If I bin it, its due to me ignoring the risk and riding too hard to the conditions/road etc I don't need to pay £135 to find that out.
if you struggle with poddling along below the speed limits however, its for you.
Yet plenty of people crash in 30mph limits, with everybody doing even less than the 30 limit before the crash. There are regular threads on this forum with people crashing when just riding along, minding their own business, at less than the speed limit.
moanthebairns said:
yammyfan said:
moanthebairns said:
if you have done 200,000 miles then I would suggest no, unless you ride like a tard or don't comprehend even the simple principles of riding. Riding a bike within the uk limits isn't fking difficult.
Are you angry with the world?king difficult.I am not saying its difficult, I ride a lot, all year (UK and abroad) and want to do whatever possible to ensure I am in the best possible position to avoid an incident. I am open to constructive criticism from the older wiser biker..
People who go on about how they changed their riding, and oh my God how great it is clearly couldn't ride worth a f
k in the first place. I fail to see the point as well, I don't ride in the manner in which I would when getting observed. If I bin it, its due to me ignoring the risk and riding too hard to the conditions/road etc I don't need to pay £135 to find that out.
if you struggle with poddling along below the speed limits however, its for you.
creampuff said:
moanthebairns said:
Not at all, I just don't really see the merit in it to be honest, if you have even the least bit of an interest in riding half decent in the first place.
People who go on about how they changed their riding, and oh my God how great it is clearly couldn't ride worth a fk in the first place.
I fail to see the point as well, I don't ride in the manner in which I would when getting observed. If I bin it, its due to me ignoring the risk and riding too hard to the conditions/road etc I don't need to pay £135 to find that out.
if you struggle with poddling along below the speed limits however, its for you.
Many people, yourself included from the sounds of that post, equate low speed with more safety (or lest risk). Eh, speed limit is only 30mph, it's easy, I don't need to learn anything blah blah. People who go on about how they changed their riding, and oh my God how great it is clearly couldn't ride worth a f
k in the first place. I fail to see the point as well, I don't ride in the manner in which I would when getting observed. If I bin it, its due to me ignoring the risk and riding too hard to the conditions/road etc I don't need to pay £135 to find that out.
if you struggle with poddling along below the speed limits however, its for you.
Yet plenty of people crash in 30mph limits, with everybody doing even less than the 30 limit before the crash. There are regular threads on this forum with people crashing when just riding along, minding their own business, at less than the speed limit.
king boredom. many people crash below the speed as they were driving to fast for conditions, are s
t, or lapsed in concentration. I don't need a £135 10 hour long course to highlight this. yammyfan said:
moanthebairns said:
yammyfan said:
moanthebairns said:
if you have done 200,000 miles then I would suggest no, unless you ride like a tard or don't comprehend even the simple principles of riding. Riding a bike within the uk limits isn't fking difficult.
Are you angry with the world?king difficult.I am not saying its difficult, I ride a lot, all year (UK and abroad) and want to do whatever possible to ensure I am in the best possible position to avoid an incident. I am open to constructive criticism from the older wiser biker..
People who go on about how they changed their riding, and oh my God how great it is clearly couldn't ride worth a f
k in the first place. I fail to see the point as well, I don't ride in the manner in which I would when getting observed. If I bin it, its due to me ignoring the risk and riding too hard to the conditions/road etc I don't need to pay £135 to find that out.
if you struggle with poddling along below the speed limits however, its for you.
I have nothing against the IAM, I think its great for some, however if you have done 200 k + miles it will be a waste of time.
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