The Honda Owners Club

This leads to a certificate from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). The training consists of a series of lectures and rideouts, generally over a few months. When the "observers" (unpaid IAM members who want to give back some of their knowledge) feel you are ready, then you go in for the test.

This is an observed ride by a senior IAM member (generally copper or ex-copper) who looks for safety as the first priority along with riding style etc.

Sometimes seen as boring (we NEVER ride above the speed limit) but it teaches you very useful skills and tricks of the trade.

Web site is http://www.iam.org.uk and there are branches all over the country - not all catering for motorcycling though.

Good one Al matey I passed my test in July and can say that I have benefitted from the training as I thought that with 20+ years of motorcycling I knew every thing, but how wrong could I have been. So I can really recommend that any one should consider signing up to there local group and no they are not all BMW riding fuddy duddies who think they are holyier than thou

I did the IAM course in 2004 and, like you all, found it very beneficial from the safety aspect. My instructor also said a track day on riding skills would be a good idea as it teaches you a lot about how to handle you particular bike (something like Rapid Skills Novice course) - they are so popular I am still trying to get on one!

I passed my IAM test this Monday (21st July). My training was with Thames Vale Advanced Motorcyclists ( http://www.tvam.org.uk ) - they are the largest motorcycle section in the country with nearly 1000 members and operate slightly differently from the others. As a Ltd Company, TVAM do not take the IAM "Skills for Life" package of lectures and rideouts but use their own (well proven) system. There are no lectures. The training comprises entirely of one-on-one riding with an Observer, usually up to 90 mins in length and extending over as many months as it takes the Associate. It took me 14 months.

The one-on-one debrief is a great chance to ask those questions like:

• Speed when overtaking
• Filtering at traffic lights and other queues
• Filtering on motorways
• Do I get out of the way of an Emergency Vehicle if doing so would be to commit a motoring offense

etc

Slow riding and coutersteering courses (off road) are available. The "Look Lean Roll" course from TVAM completely revolutionised the way I ride. We've all read about coutersteering and maybe some do it (some of the time), but 1/2 day on a proper course with huge open tarmac to play on sure did the trick!

When the Observer thinks that you are ready he will put you up for a cross-check with another experienced Observer. For me, this was tougher than the actual test. Two hours and about 50 miles of varying roads, motorway, tricky junctions etc.

The x-checker will recommend you for the test which is carried out by a Class 1 Police Motorcyclist, who will call you and arrange a mutually convenient time and place. My test was Monday evening at 6pm in South reading (in for a penny...)

The aim is to make progress in a safe fashion. The days of just "make progress" are over I'm afraid as neither the IAM nor the Police could be seen to be advocating breaking the law (ie speed limits). Shame but it's the way the media works nowadays.

What next?

Observer training (it is said) is very tough but very rewarding. We shall see.

First though I think I'll do a "First Bike on the Scene" First Aid course - not done one of these courses since I was in the Scouts (30 years ago); a fatal accident on the M4 at Slough last week brought it home with a jolt. I go that way every day at about that time. If I had been the first on the scene what would I have done?

Sorry for the long post. I passed my test in 1975 and have had no additional training until now. A convert you might say...

I agree with all the comments above, I used to be with Wey Valley in Ripley, Surrey which is a large well run group, passed my test in motorcycle thanks to them, then did a few years observing, I would recommend any one to take the IAM test in motorcycle and car, which can only make you a safer rider/driver and save money on insurance renewals.

regards
Gavin AKA Masher

Some will say you can never teach an old dog new tricks but with an IAM course that is untrue & all of you who think you are the best rider in the world will still benefit from doing a IAM course.