Advanced rider training options for scotland?
Discussion
About 20 years ago i found doing IAM in the car was really beneficial, and i still use those skills now.
I have probably picked up a few bad habits in 36 years of riding, so I have been considering options for a bit of a refresher.
I was booked into bikesafe a few years ago, done the classroom section, then the day before the practical my reg/rec shat the bed and i couldn't get one in time.
Tried to rebook and now police scotland discontinued bikesafe, then they had a similar thing that was always overbooked, now they have discontinued any training again, as obviously they must enjoy scraping up bikers more than tackling the root cause.
Rospa has over a years waiting list and they literally dont answer any emails.
There are a couple of indys but £900+ for 2 days not even 1 to 1 is f
king ridiculous.
Is IAM the only remaining choice or am i missing something?
Reading stuff and watching videos is good, but there is no substitute for someone experienced watching you and offering criticism.
I have probably picked up a few bad habits in 36 years of riding, so I have been considering options for a bit of a refresher.
I was booked into bikesafe a few years ago, done the classroom section, then the day before the practical my reg/rec shat the bed and i couldn't get one in time.
Tried to rebook and now police scotland discontinued bikesafe, then they had a similar thing that was always overbooked, now they have discontinued any training again, as obviously they must enjoy scraping up bikers more than tackling the root cause.
Rospa has over a years waiting list and they literally dont answer any emails.
There are a couple of indys but £900+ for 2 days not even 1 to 1 is f

Is IAM the only remaining choice or am i missing something?
Reading stuff and watching videos is good, but there is no substitute for someone experienced watching you and offering criticism.
Bikesafe was a very condensed IAM course
I found a lot of benefit from IAM mostly because I was essentially starting again, having only ridden for a very short time before giving up for 30 years
In your situation having ridden and done the car course I think you'll gain limited benefit, but as you've discovered it's far cheaper than any private training option
There must be some ex-police bikers around who would give tuition for sensible price, but it's finding them, maybe from the local bike FB group / club / shop ?
I found a lot of benefit from IAM mostly because I was essentially starting again, having only ridden for a very short time before giving up for 30 years
In your situation having ridden and done the car course I think you'll gain limited benefit, but as you've discovered it's far cheaper than any private training option
There must be some ex-police bikers around who would give tuition for sensible price, but it's finding them, maybe from the local bike FB group / club / shop ?
KTMsm said:
Bikesafe was a very condensed IAM course
I found a lot of benefit from IAM mostly because I was essentially starting again, having only ridden for a very short time before giving up for 30 years
In your situation having ridden and done the car course I think you'll gain limited benefit, but as you've discovered it's far cheaper than any private training option
There must be some ex-police bikers around who would give tuition for sensible price, but it's finding them, maybe from the local bike FB group / club / shop ?
Thats like saying a first-aid course is a very condensed mediacal degree. I found a lot of benefit from IAM mostly because I was essentially starting again, having only ridden for a very short time before giving up for 30 years
In your situation having ridden and done the car course I think you'll gain limited benefit, but as you've discovered it's far cheaper than any private training option
There must be some ex-police bikers around who would give tuition for sensible price, but it's finding them, maybe from the local bike FB group / club / shop ?
It's definitely a good place to start.
OldGermanHeaps said:
now they have discontinued any training again, as obviously they must enjoy scraping up bikers more than tackling the root cause.
Having done a BikeSafe course as a customer and as a police biker, those that do it aren't the target audience for who need it. How far away are you from somewhere that does BikeSafe? Its a good day and you'll learn something, but it is not a replacement for IAM/ROSPA. A taster as such.
A mate who lives near Glasgow recently did a rider development day with local Police, said it was a great day out, he passed his test last year and was looking for some post test training. From the description it sounded like a bikesafe style day. He has now joined IAM and plans to do that, as RoSPA not active up there.
Depending on what you are looking for and where you are based the advanced cornering skills course run by Pro Scot in Kirkcaldy might be of interest. I found it very helpful when I returned to biking about 10 years ago after a few years off. It’s reasonably priced in my view for a 2 day course and a fairly small group - think mine was 3 or 4. I keep meaning to go back and do it again as a refresher!
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff