Advanced Rider Training

[Maha]

Not one biker should consider themself any better than their last ride out.
Once you think that you have nothing else to learn, think again because its a delusive oversight.
I dont know much about the 'Gymkhana' thing but the word seems to have caught on.
I practice progressive/emergency breaking when approaching a set of lights, not all the time, just when it suits.
It has saved me twice now in the past.
This idea should be pushed along and with the input form some licensed instrutors it can only be a worthwhile and prudent exercise.

[SPman]

What many new and born again riders dont realise, is how much skill they are actually lacking, and when they do realise it is to late.

Not just new and bjorn agains........

[Okey Dokey]

I was fortunate enough to do 2 motorcycle based courses while getting my full license. The courses were on offer in Blenheim at the time. They helped shorten the period I was on my L and restricted plate, which was why I took them. We did hill starts, cone manouevres, circles on hillsides, group rides on local roads etc. The only track part was a brief blat on the local cart track i was lucky to get such training early on in my riding.

About 20 years later I chose to do a Karel Pavich course on the track. Motivation: self improvement, wanting to gain confidence and such. I liked the fact that it was women only, and also thought it would be good to go on a track and ride after reading about it so often here on kb.

It was great. I learned quite a lot on the day, and have continued to master more things as the course presented a lot of material, but you can practice on your own after you have completed it, which is what i have done.

Barriers? Cost- over $100, plus food, hotel, fuel. Distance- I live 3 1/2 hours from Chch, similar from Dunedin. Time- as a factor of distance, a full day course took 3 days. One up, one training, one home. Was it worth it? Definitely!

[wysper]

Would you guys stop talking up the value of these courses.
I will have to get off my arse and do the Cruiser course when it hits Puke in Sept now.


Meanies the lot of you... that money could go on tassels for my Harley you know!!

[James Deuce]

Would you guys stop talking up the value of these courses.
I will have to get off my arse and do the Cruiser course when it hits Puke in Sept now.


Meanies the lot of you... that money could go on tassels for my Harley you know!!

It's Ok it's not a REAL Harley what with being only a Sporty and an 883 at that.

[martybabe]

What many new and born again riders dont relise, is how much skill they are actually lacking, and when they do relise it is to late.

.

There's a whole bunch of cultural issues around the training thing, not least of which is that the process of getting a license is seen as "The End". Once you have it you're up for anything.

Couldn't agree more, 36 years ago when they handed me my full license I read in the text that I was now an accomplished, experienced, expert rider

36 years later, I am astonished that they let me out on the streets with such a lack of understanding and lack of knowledge of the skills and mindset I needed to stay alive.

Passing your full test on a bike means you are entitled to ride a motorcycle on the roads, that's it, nothing more. It doesn't mean you are any good at it, it doesn't mean you won't cock it up at the first opportunity and every subsequent one come to think of it.

I have personally done and passed every conceivable motor vehicle training course ever devised over the years, high speed, low speed, skid pan, frangjipan. way too many to list or remember.

Despite all this training and despite 36 two wheeled years on the Tarmac, there is never a ride goes by where I don't learn something new, never a ride goes by where I don't try to improve my skills and observation (not always successfully), still, on the evolutionary scale of a motorcyclists journey, I am barely walking upright yet.

Humans design parameters specify a maximum cruising speed of 8KPH, we were never meant to pilot a big unstable lump of metal around at any speed, it ain't easy, it needs lots of training, practice and skill to accomplish, even to an OK standard.

PS; Today's lesson was: whilst it is OK to use a big 4x4 as a shield as 200+ beefies meander their way past you, moving off close behind a big 4x4 after 200+ beeffies have meandered their way past you, with your visor open is not OK, not unless you like being force fed a cow shit missile from the rear wheels of a 4x4.

[wysper]

It's Ok it's not a REAL Harley what with being only a Sporty and an 883 at that.

Ahh you're right, good point. Thank god for that. As you were.

[matdaymon]

So, if for example, I managed to get some funding for some lessons, you would be a starter? Probably still be a small cost involved, but much less than standard charges.

If it was a price I could afford (say <$50-$75) and didnt conflict with uni HELL YES.

Sadly I think I'm not representative of 90% of the riders my age who are rip shit and 'busted up my cbr250rr on the side of woodcocks road ow' but at least I realize I want to be riding a long time and definitely don't want to be another statistic for ACC to use to drive us off the roads completely.

[Mom]

If it was a price I could afford (say <$50-$75) and didnt conflict with uni HELL YES.

Sadly I think I'm not representative of 90% of the riders my age who are rip shit and 'busted up my cbr250rr on the side of woodcocks road ow' but at least I realize I want to be riding a long time and definitely don't want to be another statistic for ACC to use to drive us off the roads completely.

Ok, so you are prepared to pay a reasonable amount for some training, very cool indeedy. Watch this space...

[Latte]

Ok, so you are prepared to pay a reasonable amount for some training, very cool indeedy. Watch this space...

Ahh, so this was the forum version of an infomercial....but wait, there's more!

p/t - with the learner rides , and now possibly this training I think what you guys are giving back to riding is :

[blue rider]

Anyway for someone in my position, being a student with no income, only mode of transport is the bike and seemingly no chance of a job from the 23 negative applications for jobs I'm qualified for in the past 6months the cost of these courses is the main off-putting factor. Much like the first aid course I'd like to do, I simply cannot spare the cash to go and do a training course.

this is the attitude that kills! .
I have had a two hour road training session with rider skills, for the cost of,
a. a night out with a couple of drinks and diner or
b. a frock i will never wear or
c. a haircut


Spending money on rider training is the best thing anyone could do. Noob or Not!
If i feel comfortable on the road now, it is because of the training.
And I will be back for more!! I like getting an education and then i go kitted with the best advise possible.

[Damantis]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...amp-20-03-2011

It was a full day and cost only $30. great way to get some of your ACC levy back ( They even fed us! ) Plenty of valuable instruction too.

[Latte]

this is the attitude that kills! .
I have had a two hour road training session with rider skills, for the cost of,
a. a night out with a couple of drinks and diner or
b. a frock i will never wear or
c. a haircut


Spending money on rider training is the best thing anyone could do. Noob or Not!
If i feel comfortable on the road now, it is because of the training.
And I will be back for more!! I like getting an education and then i go kitted with the best advise possible.

YEah but wimmin waste money. Any more than $15 for a haircut is a waste. And you can get an extra week out of your socks and undies by turning them inside out .... dang nabbit.

[blue rider]

YEah but wimmin waste money. Any more than $15 for a haircut is a waste. And you can get an extra week out of your socks and undies by turning them inside out .... dang nabbit.

ahh but you approve of the drinks and food then?
and don't all kiwi men shave.....you still pay for the barber?

[GrayWolf]

The best thing we ever did was the great Steinlager Experiment. A gymkhana event ridden on old trail, trials and bucket bikes to see how your fine motor skills and cognitive powers decrease rapidly under even the smallest amount of alcoholic influence. One beer screws up your ability to ride over a see-saw made from a barrel and a plank. One.

There's a whole bunch of cultural issues around the training thing, not least of which is that the process of getting a license is seen as "The End". Once you have it you're up for anything. For those about to be confined to cars it's not such a big deal because hitting your letterbox at 20 km/hr just dents stuff. Hurts on a bike. Probably costs more too. People have mentioned the ego thing too. I'm starting to think that having ACC as a safety net has been a bad thing.

I agree with the Ego (I passed my test, I KNOW what I am doing). I did an advanced test many years ago in the UK. The Instructor was a Police Motorcyclist and a rider off duty. Yeh we were all late teen/early 20 something's and as much as we were there to learn, we were there to 'not learn'.. just to improve how fast we could go, as I guess most youngsters are. We were in a 'classroom' and there was an 'industrial belt sander' on the table... Yeh so what we think. In walks this guy, "good evening" switches on the sander, open a carrier bag and lifts out a piece of pork,,,,, Yup, pushes it hard for about 3 seconds, onto the sander.... "this is YOU if you are NOT wearing leathers, NO ONE will be allowed to attend this course wearing unfit apparell". I can tell you this, you'll be amazed how much meat is removed in 3 seconds. He also in those few seconds changed the whole attitude of the class.
Just like your 'lager experiment' it sometimes needs very 'graphic' proof to gain real attention.