Further Training.
Author
Discussion

Patrick Star

Original Poster:

207 posts

94 months

Friday 11th January 2019
quotequote all
New poster,so be nice!

Finally got my full licence Oct last year,so very much a novice.Looking for further training,so any recommendations would be appreciated.I've done the usual google searches and something like this fits the bill https://www.i2imca.com/MachineControl.asp.
Problem is,nearly everything seems to be based Midlands or further North,and I'm down in Kent! The nearest i2i is in Hertfordshire(Detling not being used this year)so any other options worth considering?

Thanks in advance.

PS.

7w7

551 posts

152 months

Friday 11th January 2019
quotequote all
Ride in the rain.
Ride on greasy roads.
Ride when it's hot.

Assume everyone will drive into you.

Try and get on a Bikesafe course, well worth it.

dibblecorse

7,649 posts

223 months

Friday 11th January 2019
quotequote all
7w7 said:
Ride in the rain.
Ride on greasy roads.
Ride when it's hot.

Assume everyone will drive into you.

Try and get on a Bikesafe course, well worth it.
Plus:

Do a trackday in novices at Brands Hatch .... you'll learn loads about the bike

bogie

17,101 posts

303 months

Friday 11th January 2019
quotequote all
www.roadar.org

join your local RoSPA group, and train for your advanced assessment, its cheap enough to do and will really help accelerate your learning

i2i is really good for machine handling, I know it will make it more expensive, but could be worth booking 2-3 days in a row and having a short break near York.

Patrick Star

Original Poster:

207 posts

94 months

Friday 11th January 2019
quotequote all
7w7 said:
Ride in the rain.
Ride on greasy roads.
Ride when it's hot.

Assume everyone will drive into you.

Try and get on a Bikesafe course, well worth it.
Yep,doing all that,will be looking to book a bikesafe as well.
Got a date in June pencilled in for RH raceschool,then on to Brands for a novice day,as I'm 20 mins away.(or 15 with a bit more experience!!)

Anyone done the KFRS bikeskills?

bigmadjohn

210 posts

238 months

Friday 11th January 2019
quotequote all
Was just about to recommend the KFRS bike days, I haven't done one but been on trackdays where they were taking place, seems like a good bunch of guys doing them.

https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/your-safety/road-safe...

They haven't put any dates up for this year yet but I think that's due to MSV not releasing their full schedule yet.

Would thoroughly recommend that you do this or a bikesafe course. Bikesafe is brilliant, I did mine when I started riding, they give you praise on what you're doing well and constructive criticism where you can improve. They also recommend that you take further training with ROSPA or IAM to improve your riding further.

I did the IAM once completing my bikesafe, got a really good observer who was happy to press on when suitable. Think this improved my road riding no end, much safer but also much faster as well. Worth finding a local group as they usually know all of the good roads in the area, most also have a very good social aspect with rideouts/roadtrips etc.

Your local one will be
http://kamg.org.uk/

They meet at brands hatch

Think your doing well looking at further training straight away, this means you will have less bad habits to work on!!

All the best

MrGman

1,668 posts

237 months

Friday 11th January 2019
quotequote all
dibblecorse said:
Plus:

Do a trackday in novices at Brands Hatch .... you'll learn loads about the bike
I had done about 8k miles on my first bike before i done a track day, and yet that one day up at brands hatch is what gave me more confidence than anything else.

If it's bike control you are looking for then a track day will help you heaps, if it's more road craft you are after then some of the mentions above are what you should look at.



Bungleaio

6,592 posts

233 months

Friday 11th January 2019
quotequote all
I got a lot from doing - https://www.gov.uk/enhanced-rider-scheme

Other than that I've just ridden a lot. Managed 10k miles in my first year, I passed my test in Sept 17. I've signed up to IAM which I plan to start in a couple of months time.

Biker 1

8,606 posts

150 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
quotequote all
This maybe close enough for OP - part of P & H Motorcycles & have a pretty good reputation. They do refresher courses, advanced training etc: http://www.artmotorcycletraining.co.uk/

black-k1

12,808 posts

260 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
quotequote all
I would suggest the following, pretty much in the order written.

1. If there's a Bikesafe course anywhere near you - do it.
2. Do the Govt. Enhanced rider scheme.
3. Get involved with the local IAM/RoSPA group.

All of the above will teach you correct road riding technique and machine control. Learn an master that.

4. Do a track day or two.

This will allow you to practice machine control nearer the limits but remember that track riding techniques are different than road riding techniques.

Throughout all of this, practice, practice, practice what you've learned.

Patrick Star

Original Poster:

207 posts

94 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
quotequote all
Appreciate all the replies,will be following most/all of the advice offered.

Will probably post my thoughts on each as and when completed,if anyone is interested.

dreamer75

1,459 posts

259 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
quotequote all
From someone who passed their test last Jan then got straight on a biggish bike (1050), I did a BikeSafe course fairly early on. They said I was ok but suggested IAM as a next step. I joined the local group, got paired with a great observer and passed the test with a First. Then did a couple of their Skills Days on track at Thruxton. I've learnt so much about the bike - handling, road use, other riders, safety etc etc.

I can definitely recommend that as a route, but for IAM/ROSPA I think it massively depends who your observer is and what your local group is like. I was lucky enough to get a great guy who I clicked with, but I did do one ride with a guy who could've put me off bikes forever!

Birky_41

4,651 posts

215 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
quotequote all
dibblecorse said:
Plus:

Do a trackday in novices at Brands Hatch .... you'll learn loads about the bike
Everyone I know who has done this have said without question this is one of the best learners to gain bike confidence and control. I'd echo this as well as you dont realise how much you can push a bike until you've ridden on track

bogie

17,101 posts

303 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
quotequote all
https://hoppridertraining.co.uk/

do training at Cadwell Park if you fancy a journey North to one of the best bike circuits. You do the training in the morning then free laps in groups in the afternoon.

CamL

321 posts

253 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
quotequote all
Birky_41 said:
dibblecorse said:
Plus:

Do a trackday in novices at Brands Hatch .... you'll learn loads about the bike
Everyone I know who has done this have said without question this is one of the best learners to gain bike confidence and control. I'd echo this as well as you dont realise how much you can push a bike until you've ridden on track
Thanks for this guys, I have just booked onto the 3rd March novice only day at Brands, so my 'first time on track' at the Donington Ducati day in May will by then hopefully be my second time on track! Should help a bit biggrin

MrGman

1,668 posts

237 months

Saturday 12th January 2019
quotequote all
dibblecorse said:
Plus:

Do a trackday in novices at Brands Hatch .... you'll learn loads about the bike
I had done about 8k miles on my first bike before i done a track day, and yet that one day up at brands hatch is what gave me more confidence than anything else.

If it's bike control you are looking for then a track day will help you heaps, if it's more road craft you are after then some of the mentions above are what you should look at.



Patrick Star

Original Poster:

207 posts

94 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
quotequote all
Dug this up to update, as I know you're all waiting with bated breath!

Attended Kent Fire and Rescue skills day at Brands yesterday.

This was the itinerary for the day:



Each section was a 'taster' for a full course of Biker down/IAM/ etc. But still useful and informative.

First(ever) session on track was a bit intimidating,and not good for the ego,when you get passed like you're standing still.But the second was a blast,took in the briefing advice,hit the cones/markers and sorted my lines out.Caught up with the bike in front and was about to go for my first overtake,when the flags came out cos someone had binned it!(he was OK,just embarrassed).

My IAM observer could obviously tell I was a novice rider,but complemented me on my observation/safe riding,but concluded that I'd probably die of boredom if I carried on riding like that!

Must say,I had a great day,met some good people,and picked up some good pointers. For 60 quid,you can't really go wrong.

Patrick Star

Original Poster:

207 posts

94 months

Tuesday 21st May 2019
quotequote all
Also,you don't have to be from the area to attend.I met bikers from Brighton,Oxford and Essex.

Dakkon

7,833 posts

284 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
Patrick Star said:
Also,you don't have to be from the area to attend.I met bikers from Brighton,Oxford and Essex.
I tried to get on this but I was told that as I lived in Berkshire I was not eligible frown

Dick Seaman

1,099 posts

254 months

Wednesday 22nd May 2019
quotequote all
dibblecorse said:
Plus:

Do a trackday in novices at Brands Hatch .... you'll learn loads about the bike
I can add to this. Do a second novices trackday at Brands Hatch and have a crash, as I did on Monday evening.
You'll learn loads more about the bike and yourself. smile