ROSPA advanced driving

[Kwikasfuki]

I'm thinking of taking the ROSPA advanced test for motorbikes this summer. There's also the IAM, but I like the fact that ROSPA you have to do every three years which should keep your skills in check.

Anyone else done this test and if so, do you recommend ROSPA?

[Nygie]

Done neither but always fancied a go, some insurance companies even discount too!
Although I cannot complain at £147 fully comp protected  ;D

[Lonewolf]

I've been meaning to do it for a couple of years now. I've ear marked this guy. He come highly recommended.

http://www.ridecraft.co.uk/

[Martin#30]

I passed my IAM test this time last year. Highly, highly recommended by me. My riding is much safer, I anticipate far better, and strangely it has also brought a new type of riding enjoyment at a much lower pace.

I imagine ROSPA is similar.

Martin. 

[Rusty]

NB ... Do the ROSPA ... Do anything that will help you !
I would imagine that most blokes on a GTR site are of the older more experienced brigade so all have a few years riding experience BUT we can all learn from other people, from riding abroad, from riding in shit weather, from watching others fall off etc ..... you know what I mean !
I see Martin passed his test last year and good for him .. it has to be of benefit.
There are, I am sure, plenty of Instructors out there and to a degree it will depend on who you get and wether you gel with them and how they take their lessons and what pace they expect of you ..." making progress " as I call it is a subjective matter but should always be fun !
It would never hurt to take a look at Roadcraft, watch a bit of video on cornering at speed and all that and then go out and try it at your own pace in your own time and see how you get on. There are some very quick riders out there but as I say " any one can ride fast it's just how you do it "
PLANNING and CONSISTENCY are in my view the qualities that are required and you may find that initially your speed drops as you concentrate on thinking about what you are about to do as opposed to just going in there blind thinking that all is well !
Anyway, that's enough from me .... good luck !

[Lonewolf]

I have a copy of Motorcycle Roadcraft which I have read from front to back. It's not everyones choice of learning but it all makes sense and it's full of excellent information which you can go out and practice.

I'm the first to admit I'm not the fastest biker on the planet and I dont have a problem with that. I ride to relax, if others want to blat past me then they can crack on, it doesn't bother me in the least.

[Kwikasfuki]

I do think I need to do the ROSPA or IAM. There's many a time where I think to myself "was that manoeuvre really safe?" As as LW says, we should be enjoying ourselves on the bikes, not having near misses.

For the crazy moments it'll be a track bike  ;D

[Lonewolf]

NB, when I ride, I apply the same style and degree of planning as I do at work when I'm driving. I honestly think that is what has kept me safe all these years. You continually evaluate everything as you roll along. I always ask myself, is it necessary to overtake and do I have a gap to get back in. Why not have a go at one of the Bike Safe courses first and see what you think to that. I can make some enquiries for you if you are interested.

[Kwikasfuki]

Done the bike safe which was good. Managed to have two coppers following me on a bike!

[Lonewolf]

Done the bike safe which was good. Managed to have two coppers following me on a bike!

Did you find that they gave you a bit of a free rein to do what you wanted speed wise as long as it was safe? They normally do, but at the same time they tell you that if you pick up any speeding tickets they are down to you. 

[Ziderman]

I started ROSPA some years ago , but due to Divorce etc I could not afford to see it through at the time. Then 3 years ago , not wanting to fanny around with re tests I opted for IAM. Wish I had seen ROSPA through.
Some big big inconsistencies in teaching & examiners. Long story , but was well documented by me & one of Devons instructors for IAM who unfortunately is no longer with us (not bike related ) on an Fjr forum. Left me feeling pretty let down.
Best thing you can do in my opinion is get hold of the Police Riders Manual, it's available through HMO . I thought it was a fine clear educational book. If you ride by the methods set in that book , your there. But that's just my opinion.

[Rusty]

Sorry to hear that Mr Ziderman ... and that is the problem with a lot of things to do with driving , riding and road skills .. rules are rules but when it comes to assesments and teaching things can get very foggy .. for example, overtakes .. what may be acceptable to one examiner as a swift well planned in and out overtake may be seen by another as a a bit dodgy or rushed or even dangerous and no matter how much you want to argue with the examiner if he fails you he fails you, and people like yourselves with all the good intentions in the world walk away feeling quite bewildered by it all and that is a great shame.
Stick to Road Craft and you wont go wrong. Good Luck.

[Ziderman]

That's it Mr Rusty...I took my training with DAM Devon Ad...... I lived just in Somerset at the time(land of my birth) so my post code meant I had an examiner from Taunton in Somerset. The Devon lot rammed life savers into me like no ones business. Sure they have a time & place , but they really did pee me off. Spent most time with yer head over your shoulder. All due to there known examiners , obviously being sticklers for it. There were other pathetic issues like when riding over the word , slow in the road. I was picked up on fact that I should ride over the O & not the L ..something to do with how much slippery white paint you might ride over.....
To cut a long story short the Somerset examiner pulled me in half way through test & told me in no uncertain terms "If I looked over my shoulder once more , he would fail me" suited me fine & I passed.

[Rusty]

OMG .. that typifies what I am talking about ... riding between letters in the road ... that's how anal some people are I'm afraid ! Nice to hear you passed though !

[Ziderman]

Anal spot on mate. The Somerset examiner was spot on & wish I had done my training with Somerset group instead.