Motorcycle Skills Improvements Resolutions

[bluninja]

Well have any of you made any? Umpteen threads on how poor driving skills are, apart from the poster, so what resolutions have you made? What areas of improvement are you focusing on?

[bluninja]

I will be working on my braking technique this year as well as a few others.

Specifically I want to make better use of the rear brake both for stopping quickly, and for trail braking to stabilise during cornering. I brake from speed almost exclusively with the front brake, using the rear brake during slow speed manoeuvring and to hold the bike on a slope.

A recent long pillion trip showed I wasn't as comfortable or smooth as I could be. My wife has said she wants to get back on pillion this year so I guess I may get some regular practice.

[98tls]

Keeping both wheels on the ground has been rewarding,ive still got my licence.Had an unfortunate run of luck there for awhile.:msn-wink:As for the rear brake its there for decoration in my opinion.

[BMWST?]

Keeping both wheels on the ground has been rewarding,ive still got my licence.Had an unfortunate run of luck there for awhile.:msn-wink:As for the rear brake its there for decoration in my opinion.


not so on my old gspd/With soft suspension,longish travel,light damping,and shaft drive i have been known to apply back brake and hold the throttle so they are balanced.In this way i can slow down without losing ground clearance or changing the attitude of the bike(much).Its prolly all in my head but i do it sometimes.
I would prolly do the same on a "normal" bike if i had suspicions re the surface if i was entering a corner slightly to fast

[R650R]

New Years resolutions are so last year, but I voted pillion... As in to find a new one of the female variety :)

[98tls]

New Years resolutions are so last year, but I voted pillion... As in to find a new one of the female variety :)

Fuck that your confusing riding with riding.:wacko:

[caspernz]

Fuck that your confusing riding with riding.:wacko:

Nah, the perfect pillion generally has "inflate to 35psi" stencilled somewhere...:devil2: much like a tyre :eek:

[Blackbird]

Passed my practical and theory exams as an IAM Observer in 2013 and 2014 will be a mix of keeping trying to lift my own standard and mentoring others who want to join IAM and pass the Advanced Roadcraft Test. The more you learn, the more you realise how much there is to learn :wacko:

[98tls]

Nah, the perfect pillion generally has "inflate to 35psi" stencilled somewhere...:devil2: much like a tyre :eek:

Must be a North isle thing mate,down here the perfect pillon fucks off inside when we depart with promises of a cold beer and lit bbq when we return.

[98tls]

Passed my practical and theory exams as an IAM Observer in 2013 and 2014 will be a mix of keeping trying to lift my own standard and mentoring others who want to join IAM and pass the Advanced Roadcraft Test. The more you learn, the more you realise how much there is to learn :wacko:

For the benefit of us older folk can you explain what IAM is and why you observe it?

[cheshirecat]

Think I'll just focus in not letting my bike fall/blown over whilst stationary

[Gremlin]

For the benefit of us older folk can you explain what IAM is and why you observe it?
Pretty sure Blackbird is older than you ;) IAM is Institute of Advanced Motorists, a system of driving/riding established in the UK and a few countries worldwide have it. Draws a distinction between experienced and advanced and the belief is that roadcraft is based on continual incremental improvement based on a systematic approach.

I'm slightly behind Blackbird in the process, I'm a trainee Observer, so I'll be working towards gaining full Observer status and taking on some of the load, bring associates through the system and working with them through to the advanced test.

Got no need to go any faster, and I think I've had a fair amount of experience with pillions... wait, what was that about finding one? Yeah, I'd go with one of those. Mine are all temporary for the day for a purpose type :lol:

[Berries]

I think I will try not to die this year, same as in all the other years since I started to ride.

[Blackbird]

For the benefit of us older folk can you explain what IAM is and why you observe it?

Gremlin has given a good overview. The basis of assessment is the UK Police Roadcraft manual. Potential new IAM members are assessed against the criteria, simply to find out their current strengths and improvement areas. If they then wish to join IAM, they are allocated a qualified Observer (coach) to mentor them to the standard required to take the Advanced Test. It's hard to generalise but this typically takes anything between 6 months and 2 years based on a rider's initial level of skill.

On passing the Advanced Test, a rider may elect to train as an Observer, which can take up to another year to pass all the training modules and then pass the practical and theory tests. It's hugely demanding and when I joined nearly 3 years ago after over 40 years of riding experience, there was a fair bit of ego damage during the initial assessment. :weep: However, the benefit has been enormous. Best thing I've ever done.

Demand for coaching from riders of all ages and all types of bike is strong and currently, the waiting lists have been closed in some regions until more Associates pass their Advanced Test and also increase the number of Observers.

Oh, and Gremlin was almost certainly right about me being older than you - I'm 66, proving you can teach an old dog new tricks :whistle:

[R650R]

Nah, the perfect pillion generally has "inflate to 35psi" stencilled somewhere...:devil2: much like a tyre :eek:

Jesus you must have a good set of lungs, 35 psi! Take you on the next rocky road ride. Knew it wouldn't be long before someone said something like that LOL

[98tls]

Gremlin has given a good overview. The basis of assessment is the UK Police Roadcraft manual. Potential new IAM members are assessed against the criteria, simply to find out their current strengths and improvement areas. If they then wish to join IAM, they are allocated a qualified Observer (coach) to mentor them to the standard required to take the Advanced Test. It's hard to generalise but this typically takes anything between 6 months and 2 years based on a rider's initial level of skill.

On passing the Advanced Test, a rider may elect to train as an Observer, which can take up to another year to pass all the training modules and then pass the practical and theory tests. It's hugely demanding and when I joined nearly 3 years ago after over 40 years of riding experience, there was a fair bit of ego damage during the initial assessment. :weep: However, the benefit has been enormous. Best thing I've ever done.

Demand for coaching from riders of all ages and all types of bike is strong and currently, the waiting lists have been closed in some regions until more Associates pass their Advanced Test and also increase the number of Observers.

Oh, and Gremlin was almost certainly right about me being older than you - I'm 66, proving you can teach an old dog new tricks :whistle:

Fair call and good on the pair of you.I honestly had not heard of it before.

[SMOKEU]

I need to work on my cornering and braking skills. Some track time and professional rider training is what I really need, before I fuck myself up or other road users.

[Blackbird]

Fair call and good on the pair of you.I honestly had not heard of it before.

Really big in the UK and growing at a decent rate here. To give it a human dimension, this is my personal overview of the journey to passing the advanced roadcraft test: http://geoffjames.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/raising-my-riding-skills-some.html. It's made my riding so much more enjoyable but it isn't for everyone and I wouldn't presume to say it was.

[Samm]

Just got my old BMW on the road, which is heavy and a little awkward to ride just yet. Learning to filter and corner properly on such a different bike is definitely high on the list.

[slofox]

My resolution is to not allow road lunacy to encroach on my normal common sense whenever I ride for more than fifteen consecutive minutes...:whistle:

[bluninja]

Really big in the UK and growing at a decent rate here. To give it a human dimension, this is my personal overview of the journey to passing the advanced roadcraft test: http://geoffjames.blogspot.co.nz/2011/11/raising-my-riding-skills-some.html. It's made my riding so much more enjoyable but it isn't for everyone and I wouldn't presume to say it was.

Yup, and like with all big things there are people who truly believe "I Am Magnificent" and think they should tell everyone how to ride and behave. Then there's others who follow the philosophy of "When the student is ready the teacher appears"...Very few of those that I met.

There was also a RoSPA scheme where serving motorcycle police officers took you out for an assessment ride. You receive observations, suggestions and some advice along with (if you are competent enough) a bronze, silver, or gold rating.

Just like safety gear and motorcycle maintenance, the amount of time and effort expended on skills improvement is always a personal decision. After one advanced weekend course I learned so much it took me 6 months to deconstruct my riding and add in the better skills.

[Blackbird]

Yup, and like with all big things there are people who truly believe "I Am Magnificent" and think they should tell everyone how to ride and behave. Then there's others who follow the philosophy of "When the student is ready the teacher appears"...Very few of those that I met.

There was also a RoSPA scheme where serving motorcycle police officers took you out for an assessment ride. You receive observations, suggestions and some advice along with (if you are competent enough) a bronze, silver, or gold rating.

Just like safety gear and motorcycle maintenance, the amount of time and effort expended on skills improvement is always a personal decision. After one advanced weekend course I learned so much it took me 6 months to deconstruct my riding and add in the better skills.

I'm sure that there are big-noters in most organisations but I have yet to meet an IAM Examiner or Observer in NZ with an oversized ego - people with an overinflated opinion of their abilities tend not to make it! Yep, RoSPA uses the same basics of IAM. I have no experience of their programme with the 3 level rating. My Examiner for the Advanced Test was a serving class 1 police officer on both cars and bikes who transferred to the NZ police and my mentor when first joining IAM was an ex-NZ police instructor from the Waikato. Those guys were seriously good, but very humble about their abilities.

For both IAM and RoSPA, one of the most important aspects of the programme is its on-going nature of assessment which largely prevents a deterioration in skills. One-off courses are valuable too but unless a rider backs it up with periodic refreshers, there's inevitably a slide in standards over time. (Which makes the average road user who has done nothing since passing their test a truly frightening prospect eh?)

[Motu]

This year I'll be trying not to act my age.

[Voltaire]

I have a heavy BMW too and to get cornering right it involves shifting your body weight at the right time when entering the corner. The more you do it the easier it will become.


I've got a couple of 70's BMW's but they are quite light, are you referring the K series pigs?:innocent:

[george formby]

For both IAM and RoSPA, one of the most important aspects of the programme is its on-going nature of assessment which largely prevents a deterioration in skills. One-off courses are valuable too but unless a rider backs it up with periodic refreshers, there's inevitably a slide in standards over time. (Which makes the average road user who has done nothing since passing their test a truly frightening prospect eh?)

Yup, more practice, that's my resolution. We have only had the odd fang for the last few months & I know my skill level has deteriorated.
After a bajillion years on the road I have good road craft but riding less frequently my anticipation dulls. Spent some time practicing gymkhana skills & learned a huge amount but that has slipped back, too. More intentional riding for 2014.
Got a goal or two I would like to achieve.
Blackbird your right, never to old to learn. I think old starts when you decide to stop learning.

IAMS has huge appeal but also a big travel commitment to get anywhere with it.

Should just pull finger & drink less beer. I'm sure it's achievable with a bit of commitment & back bone.

Average road users? 5 yearly re test would be the most significant factor in reducing the toll, ever.

[Blackbird]

George,
Your nearest IAM examiner is Whangarei but he is fully committed at present until we get more people in the area. I appreciate your sentiments though as I do a 360 km round trip commute to Auckland , plus the observed ride distance on top of that. Worth it though, even if leaving Coro at 0630 in mid-winter is a bit trying!

[Katiepie]

Focussing on turning corners, done my dash of going in a straight line.

And very keen to improve on slow handling skills, 90 degree turns, u-turns. Attending my 4th rider training with the Wairarapa Police and Road Safe next month. Looking forward to it.

[Oakie]

Been struggling with how to answer this one. I'm comfortable with my skill level for the nana-style riding I do. Having said that though, I'm always very conscious of everything I do and am constantly evaluatiing what I've done if something strange happens. I play 'spot the hazard' out loud in my helmet quite often and i guess if I did have to pick something, it would be to relax a bit more (I find myself physically quite tense when I ride). I am still looking to corner perfectly but rarely hit the corner that I can say I did that perfectly all the way through.

[Big Dave]

No 'do more skids' option?

[bluninja]

No 'do more skids' option?

What you do in the confines of your underwear is your business :innocent:

[98tls]

This year I'll be trying not to act my age.

Its easy though can be embarrassing if it becomes public.My one wheeled effort the length of Waitaki bridge resulted in a "oldest teenager in town" comment from the judge,loss of licence i lived with with little complaint,the reminders of said comment from mates still has given me more grief.:nono:

[ruaphu]

Improve my overall slow speed handling of the bike whilst two up. Still making a hash of this aspect too often. Still getting the hang of the rear brake/clutch control method of our 560kg plus beastie(when two up) when undertaking the slow stuff.
Cheers Ando


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)

[chasio]

Other for me means (a) overall roadcraft (have sent my details off to IAM NZ - may be a long wait, I understand) and (b) getting to be happier on loose surfaces.

[Stirts]

Learning to not ever do this again...

292104

No the logo is not scratch and sniff either.

Thanks to Clmintiepix too ... nice action shots of some not so nice action.