Bike Safe

[Bigyin]

Are Bikesafe doing some kind of promo at the moment?
The other week I watched a You Tube video with Lamb Chop Rides doing the Met Bikesafe course.As someone who passed their test in 1979 & has never done a course I was a bit curious.After watching this I'm now thinking of booking a course around here in Lancashire.
FWIW I drive artics for one of the supermarkets & we used to do a annual on road assesment on our driving & a classroom day,so I'm used to getting assesed.
Here's the Lamb Chop video

Lamb Chop was out with Bruce aka Teapot One on you tube as a pair along with a Met copper. Bruce's' video is a bit different as he was a class 1 plod motorcyclist before he resigned from the Police to concentrate on his You Tube content after getting in the shit because of his videos and people reporting them to his management

[The Spin Doctor]

They're pushing hard. I did a couple back in 2018 and 19 (one for me, one for 'work') and I'm getting an email every month or so.

[Bigyin]

They're pushing hard. I did a couple back in 2018 and 19 (one for me, one for 'work') and I'm getting an email every month or so.

I asked one of the few traffic blokes i got along with about getting on the course and was told i wouldnt learn anything new from it as i had already done Roadcraft as part of my advanced driving training. He said it was mainly aimed at new riders and especially at the "born again" market who used to ride years ago as yoofs on shitty 250's and 400's and now had the finance to buy 15K 175 BHP superbikes and would end up in a field if they rode like they used to when they were 18-19.

I still fancy doing one out of curiosity to see how it compares to DVSA standards for Module 2 test for DAS and A2 riders

[The Spin Doctor]

I asked one of the few traffic blokes i got along with about getting on the course and was told i wouldnt learn anything new from it as i had already done Roadcraft as part of my advanced driving training. He said it was mainly aimed at new riders and especially at the "born again" market who used to ride years ago as yoofs on shitty 250's and 400's and now had the finance to buy 15K 175 BHP superbikes and would end up in a field if they rode like they used to when they were 18-19.

I still fancy doing one out of curiosity to see how it compares to DVSA standards for Module 2 test for DAS and A2 riders

Firstly it's not 'training' as such - it's designed as an assessment and a 'feeder' towards post-test training with the IAM / RoSPA / ERS so it's not really possible to allot a level. You'd be assessed on your riding on the day and given feedback on that. If you're fresh off a DAS course, you're given feedback appropriate to that level of expertise (then nudged in the direction of the IAM anyway). My real issue was that having outed myself as an advanced trainer, I was being assessed against the RoSPA standard and the dreaded "you didn't make enough progress" issue, rather than whether my riding put me or anyone around me at risk.

Secondly, the 'born again' hoodlums on 250s are now 60+ years old The 125 law came in in 1982! And the superbike market collapsed most of a decade ago. It's 160 mph adventure bikes being thrown into the weeks now.

There's definitely new content. The Met BikeSafe team pinched quite a chunk of Science Of Being Seen including talking about saccadic masking and motion camouflage as well as the potential benefits of pink hi-vis (which AFIAK I'm still just about the only person promoting and without attributing it, sadly - they sent a team to attend Biker Down in Kent back in the mid 2010s). They used the info pretty well for a junction collision discussion.

I can look over my notes if you're really interested

[Bigyin]

Firstly it's not 'training' as such - it's designed as an assessment and a 'feeder' towards post-test training with the IAM / RoSPA / ERS so it's not really possible to allot a level. You'd be assessed on your riding on the day and given feedback on that. If you're fresh off a DAS course, you're given feedback appropriate to that level of expertise (then nudged in the direction of the IAM anyway). My real issue was that having outed myself as an advanced trainer, I was being assessed against the RoSPA standard and the dreaded "you didn't make enough progress" issue, rather than whether my riding put me or anyone around me at risk.

I know its an observed ride with an assessment at the end ..... i only referred to previous "training" i have had

Secondly, the 'born again' hoodlums on 250s are now 60+ years old The 125 law came in in 1982! And the superbike market collapsed most of a decade ago. It's 160 mph adventure bikes being thrown into the weeks now.

Also well aware of that as well. the "born agains" i was referring to are not provisional license holders who were on 250 or 125's post 1982 but those who managed to get full licenses in the late teens then family and life got in the way and bikes took the back seat. The 250's and other middleweights from the late 80's are a huge step from the current big budget/big bhp bikes they can now afford in their 50's or later. There are still enough of them out there buying Fireblades, Panigale V4's and S1000RR which are still widely available and heavily marketed. Admittedly many will prefer something like a GS, S1000XR or Multistrada, the latter 2 being 160 BHP

[Asian Boss]

They may be a bit subdued now - you could have a couple of works non-parties on the way round and they wouldn't notice them.
Allegedly.

Yawn. Every post? Don't you get bored of the digs at people who'll never ever ever read the forum?

Jeez, first people defending big pharma, and now backing the Met.

You lost, get over it! Defend the statues! Look at her shoes!

[tricol]

Well, it has been interesting so far.... Connection issues have dominated the online session. Which is exactly how I thought it would go. If the last two years of online meetings have taught me anything, it's that online meetings very rarely run smoothly.

I'm hoping Sundays ride will be better.

[The Spin Doctor]

Well, it has been interesting so far.... Connection issues have dominated the online session. Which is exactly how I thought it would go. If the last two years of online meetings have taught me anything, it's that online meetings very rarely run smoothly.

I'm hoping Sundays ride will be better.

Shame. Feedback on my online coaching sessions has been very positive. I've had relatively few technical glitches.

Perhaps you should give one a try

[The Spin Doctor]

I know its an observed ride with an assessment at the end ..... i only referred to previous "training" i have had

Also well aware of that as well. the "born agains" i was referring to are not provisional license holders who were on 250 or 125's post 1982 but those who managed to get full licenses in the late teens then family and life got in the way and bikes took the back seat. The 250's and other middleweights from the late 80's are a huge step from the current big budget/big bhp bikes they can now afford in their 50's or later. There are still enough of them out there buying Fireblades, Panigale V4's and S1000RR which are still widely available and heavily marketed. Admittedly many will prefer something like a GS, S1000XR or Multistrada, the latter 2 being 160 BHP

Was a point of information for anyone ELSE reading your post.

[tricol]

Observed ride done today. In biblical Manchester weather. I had to ignore how dirty my bike got, and washed it in the pissing rain when I got home.

Anyway, I actually had a good day. I was quite nervous beforehand but I settled into the ride pretty quickly. There were a few no-shows so I got 1-to-1 with a nice chap called Geoff/Jeff. Ride was split into 3 sections, first two mostly rural, including nationals and 30/40/50. Then finished with some motorway stuff. My assessment afterwards was mostly on my road position and time of decision making. I doubt myself often on the bike due to lack of confidence. So I found that very useful and Geoff/Jeff was very good at explaining it all giving a few pointers. Some hazards I didn't quite get right with timing, even though I had obviously spotted them. Thankfully he told me my general riding was very good, good riding techhique with regards gears/braking/acceleration. So I think it was worth it, and I have a few things to work on. I think I'd like to continue with more training tbh. Lets see what comes next.

[Count Steer]

Things I remember from my Bikesafe (coincidentally I threw out the little zipped Bikesafe bag they gave us just yesterday)...we did some of the riding 'in town' and it was difficult keeping the 3 of us together - at one point, in his keenness not to get dropped, my mate appeared having undertaken a double decker bus in v slow traffic.

The police chap stopped us at the side of the Purley Way for a debrief. I think this was window dressing to show the multitude of motorists that the police were being proactive 'cos with the full dress Pan it looked like we were getting a light verbal sandpapering for assumed road crimes.

Out in the countryside was excellent as my mate and I took turns in leading while being observed. This took us onto some great roads...that I know rather well. He'd told us to ride our own rides, don't worry about speed, just don't be stupid. After my stint he grinned and said 'Well, that was 'brisk'.

I did a couple of training sessions with a local ex-police chap working for Rapid Training. The thing that sticks in mind was trying to follow him while he gave a running commentary. Him sat on bike like a sack of spuds, nattering away about out all he was observing, me working away like a puppet on speed trying to keep up. He just made it all look really relaxed but didn't half cover the ground! (He was pretty successful on track too).

Spin's training was a bit more leisurely but I probably learned more.

[Horse]

The police chap stopped us at the side of the Purley Way for a debrief. I think this was window dressing to show the multitude of motorists that the police were being proactive 'cos with the full dress Pan it looked like we were getting a light verbal sandpapering for assumed road crimes.

On the session with the Met for Superbike magazine, we ended the first day in a convoy along the A40.

Sgt at the front, then an assorted bunch of us, another copper at the back.

We were in the rh lane, gradually caught up with a rider, minding his own business but not checking his mirrors, doing 80+.

Sgt slowed alongside, tapped his speedo and waggled a 'naughty' finger at the rider, then (I could see from where I was) gave the R80RT's throttle cable a stretch and wound it up towards a majestic ton.

We all passed the rider, giving him a grin as we went.

[Bustaspoke]

Lamb Chop was out with Bruce aka Teapot One on you tube as a pair along with a Met copper. Bruce's' video is a bit different as he was a class 1 plod motorcyclist before he resigned from the Police to concentrate on his You Tube content after getting in the shit because of his videos and people reporting them to his management

I just watched Teapot one's video of the course,it was good to watch,especialy with Bruce's running commentary all the way through.
Despite being aboard totally different vehicles,it was similar to our annual HGV assesment days, keeping things moving as safely & efficiently as possible,ie reading the roads,hazard awareness & trying to anticipate other road users actions.
After watching both Teapot one & LCR's video's I can see myself signing up for a course at some point