RoSPA or I.A.M

[mark]

Hi Guys,

I know we have a few advanced riders amongst the GTR group so my question is as follows:

I have been riding now for a long time and done many thousand miles but ive never done any advanced courses so which or the two, RoSPA or IAM would be the best to go with? Is one better than the other? Does one get better discount on insurance quotes? and which one will teach me the best way to improve my riding skills

Thank you, your comments will be very much appreciated

Thanks Mark

[Mogster]

 neither do a California Superbike School course...... that should start some debate, mind you RoSPA V IAM ... oooh thats a bit like asking a Man City player if United are any cop..... this should be fun!  ;D

[Barry7]

I have passed IAM and found it very good, it also gets me a good discount on my insurance.

I am planning to have a go at ROSPA this year, and according to the Police, its the better more respected advanced ticket to have.

I started with a Police Bike Safe course, and they said I was good enough for IAM, I did a machine cotrol day, four observed runs, and then my test.

So good luck with what ever you choose to do, I think you will enjoy yourself. It made me a far better rider, not only safer, but quicker as well.

As for California Superbike School, a mate of mine has done this and he is much quicker, but no safer!

[Lonewolf]

Mark, if I may add my opinion on this it is that ROSPA is recognised as being the highest civilian driving qualification a person can obtain. In about October 2011 approximately, I decided that after riding for the last thirty years I wanted to get involved in some professional training. Therefore I was encouraged even through private local bike instructors who did not stand to gain financially from my decisions not to go with their training classes but to go for ROSPA instead.

I joined my local ROSPA group, £20 per year membership, I was appointed a local trainer and so far I have had four sessions with the trainer at a cost of about £5 per session to replace their fuel, there are no additional fees. I am ready for my assessment now and that is in the pipeline. My riding ability even in this very short time scale of being mentored has come on leaps and bounds.

I would have no hesitation in recommending ROSPA to anyone, I have thoroughly enjoyed it and made a good friend through my trainer. The advantage of ROSPA though over IAM is that with ROSPA should you wish to do so you can re-test every three years. IAM as I understand it is classed as a skill for life, you pass, that's it!

[kwarrgtr]

Hi - good question  :)
I went the IAM route a couple of years ago when I realised as a 'back to biking biker' I was now in a completely different world to when I rode as a teenager. I have no experience of ROSPA but have been thinking about it lately. The IAM training did make a huge differnece to my riding and the 'method' of training is good, or, it was for me. However there was some 'issues' with different messages being issued by the trainers (observers), at the time I put it down to some of the obervers being 'weekend warrier' type riders, not day-in/day out riders - like myself.
I have 'picked up' that there are a few 'job' riers on here, be intrerested to hear their view....

[kwarrgtr]

"IAM as I understand it is classed as a skill for life, you pass, that's it! "
Very true - but you can do a 'special assessment' which is kinda like a re-test,a nd you can do this whenever you want, but there is a cost involved. I think i will join ROSPA this year, so maybe will ahve a more informed opinion later.

What is clear and is indisputable is that whether ROSPA or IAM 'advanced' training that focuses on safety IS well worth doing.
Oh, a 'small' consideration for me was slighlty cheaper insurance, and once I passed, I was able to use my bike for business.

[Winston Smith]

First off - Ant training is good training.  No-one ever stops learning.

RoSPA or IAM?

Both groups use the same base - RoadCraft - The Police Motorcycle Riders Handbook.

As said. RoSPA provides a retest every 3 years and is a Graded Test, Bronze, Silver and Gold.

IAM is a one off test, but they are moving toward a retest system and a grading type system.

IAM is 'glossier' looks slick and has a national image, RoSPA is made of smaller groups RoADAR's (RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders) who are under the umbrella of the worlds biggest safety organisation - RoSPA.

IAM are specific for roads, cars, bikes etc.  RoSPA as an organisation cover everything from electrics to building site safety - RoADARs are a small part of their business and all groups are run independantly.

I am a member of both and I test cars and bikes for RoSPA.  Most members of both organisations in our area are members of both.

Usually find that IAM (which better known)members look for another challenge and join RoSPA.

Do one then the other!

IAM are in with Adelaide insurance and their insurance is always unbeatable.

I don't know about Race Schools for road improvement.  Great way top learn the physics or riding and exploring your bike or your own limits, but how well this transfers to road skills I would be cynical about.

As I said though - any training is good training. 

I do find the comment about BikeSafe rider saying someone was 'good enough' for IAM.  BikeSafe is designed to give people a taste and help them Bridge the Gap between DSA test passers and Advanced Riders

[ChrisB]

I also went the IAM route, probably because it was the best publicised. I will now be looking at the ROSPA as well. I passed my bike test in 1974 on a Honda CD175 and have had a fair variety of bikes since. I passed my car test in 1975 in a Morris Marina and driven/owned too many cars to list, allsorts from Lotus Esprit to 850 Minis, Ford Streetka belonging to my wife being probably the most fun and most enjoyable. Passed my Hackney Carriage (The black cab knowledge) licence in 1984. Recent years averaging 30,000 ish miles a year bike and car. So I reckon I was an OK driver/rider. I took the IAM test 3 years ago and can honestly say my riding and my driving improved significantly, particularly my mental attitude. Everyone has their own opinions on what is best, but I say that any kind of recognised training can only be for the good. Do something, do anything but listen and learn and practice. Now where's my soapbox gone? :)

[SirToU]

Hi All.

Hmmm.  I've done RoSPA (gold) but not IAM, and as people have said most of the mentors, observers I've met are usually both IAM and RoSPA, and any additional training is excellent. (rather than track days, have a look at Motogymkhana - ok pitch over)

However on a negative side "if there is one" is too much politics, and if these "custodians of safety" would concentrate on attitude and safety rather than which group is doing what, and which one to promote, it might make for a better experience for new members.

Anyway, sorry to hijack, rant over!

Neil

[O.C.]

I haven't completed either ROSPA or IAM and no, I didn't get my driving licence during the war years   ;D

They are obviously worth looking in to

http://www.rospa.com/

http://www.iam.org.uk/

On a different but related subject I had to complete my HGV drivers medical this week....I passed with flying colours....at the end of which the Quack relieved me of £85.00.....it was at that moment that I felt a bit sickly  ;D

[patrick]

I too have done both IAM and RoSPA and also went on to train as observer / tutor in each group.

As said earlier they both teach using Roadcraft and both will improve your riding. RoSPA requires that you have to re-test every 3 years to remain a member and this is a good incentive to maintain your riding skills.

Also, as stated earlier, the IAM / Adelaide insurance is hard to beat.

P

[Ziderman]

IAM one stop all done. But I did have problem where life savers were rammed down my neck to the extreme. When did test I had Somerset examiner who stoped me half way through test & said if I looked I over my shoulder once more I would fail. I went on to pass. All groups & Devon group who did my couple training rides with Taylor it to how the examiner wants it. So huge gulfs in what's expected. I did some with ROSPA years ago but cost seemed never ending.
I don't understand this obsession to do both. It seems to be all a about look at me I got the badges & not about what it's really about...being a safer better rider. In my opinion if you constantly need retraining then you got a problem. Don't get me wrong any advanced training is good. Get yer self copy of police riders (pan experts ) handbook. That's the bible as far as I am concerned.
I don't display any badges on my screen.

This is my opinion & my opinion only.

[Andy]

I'm a member of both and should really be putting something back into the system by doing some observing / training with the IAM this year. You can learn a lot by being in a training enviroment  :)

[Mogster]

one can have much training and guidance as to the saftey aspects of riding a motorcycle, but that dosen't always means it transfers to the ability to ride a motorcycle.

Now i talking about the actual skill here . One of the worst riders I know is very well qualified at RoSPA and IAM but holy mother of god he scares the shit outta me if i'm behind him, his riding technique is horrendous...  there are a great many skills he has never mastered and few motorcylists seem to have got the hang of.
These skills are usualy taught on the race track or Motorcross track but transfer very well to road use, such as trail braking through the corner ( front and/or back brake), pick up drills, controling rear wheel slides, correct use of counter steering ect ect.

I'm not for a moment saying that RoSPA or IAM is rubbish, but there are other aspects to riding a motorcycle than just road position and observation, after all how many people actually go out for a ride, with a particular goal of improving their riding technique.

Open your mind, go on a track day, take a weekend on a motorcrosser, you'll be suprised how much you'll learn!  ;D

[Winston Smith]

Mogster - I really do think you miss the point of 'advanced' riding.

If you Observe properly you can plan the ride and there is no need to recover a bad situation because the planning stage eliminated the mistake happening in the first place. Trailing brakes through corners may gain a nano-second and make you feel like Casey Stoner, but at the next set of traffic lights/junction you lose it - actually no, advanced riders will gain by approaching with a plan and probably time it right not to stop thus gaining 10ths of a second through unnecessary gear changes if that is so important.

As I said before, track/off-road will hone skills, reactions and fine tune, but advanced riding will compliment anything like that.

In the same vain, Ziderman, you should never stop learning.  There may be some 'badge collectors' but the majority of riders simply want to improve their skills then stay on top of their game.  I have so many qualifications I would probably be a prime badge collector, but everytime I ride out I have an open mind, I apply what I have learned ride to the system and enjoy it. I usually learn something and if someone else rides/drives like a twat then I don 't get wound up about it - It's their funeral.
I used to ride like I stole it and got sick of feeling ill and stressed after a suicide ride with the lads.

A re-check/test every couple (three) years keeps you alert and going out with other like minded riders and offering one another critique (open  mind and attitude) can only improve your own riding and safety.

All said - each to their own - the question was RoSPA or IAM.  The decision to take some extra tuition and be open minded to different ways of riding has been made.  Which one?  Bit like Bible or Koran, Weight Watchers or Slimming World - all the same thing just a slightly different path and being aware or trying more than one can't hurt - it can only give you a more rounded view (except Weight Watcher/Slimming World - that should be less rounded after giving them a go!)