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Re: IAM

Posted: 20 Jun 2018, 08:44
by Kwacky
I've been offered some dates but the only one at a weekend is on 18th August.

I guess I'm going to have a wait a bit longer before I become a fully fledged hi-viz GS riding wanker

Re: IAM

Posted: 20 Jun 2018, 18:05
by D41
(rolf)

Re: IAM

Posted: 05 Jul 2018, 08:26
by Kwacky
Good meeting last night. A talk about cornering then some slow speed training.

I had a chat with the guy who did the talk. He's an IAM and RoSPA examiner as well as having done a fair few years in the police.

His general advice about being a quicker rider includes:
  • riding different bikes
    stick to the B roads
    Ride roads you don't know
    do a wheelie school
    ride off road
    ride in the rain
He reckons people get too complacent with their own bikes, riding with the with same people and on the same roads. It's all well and good knowing the corners but you don't learn much when the road layout becomes second nature (unless you're a racer).

Off roading is pretty much essential as you learn different techniques and get used to the bike moving under you without panicking.

He also said too many people move to a bigger faster bike when they think they've become a quicker rider. In his opinion, you should move to a slower bike to see if you're just as quick.

Things like speedway and wheelie schools teach you new ways to ride and help improve your balance and bike control.

Re: IAM

Posted: 05 Jul 2018, 08:37
by duke63
All good advice. Ive enjoyed both the off road school and speedway days I did for just those reasons.

Re: IAM

Posted: 05 Jul 2018, 09:17
by Cavetroll87
makes sense, I loved the off road school I did and wheelie school is on my to do list

Re: IAM

Posted: 06 Jul 2018, 14:28
by Kwacky
Good news - I passed
Bad news - I didn't get a first

He was really impressed with my riding, said I look very comfortable on the bike, I'm confident with my overtakes, my observations were excellent as was my positioning. I read the road really well, spot when to slow and accelerate (he took me to some very nasty bends) and look nice and relaxed.

But, I failed to stop at a STOP sign. My own stupid fault. I saw it, stopped behind a car, the car went, I started to move forward, saw it was clear and just went for it. As that's a legal issue he could fail me but he has discretion and he said the rest of my riding made up for it. He enjoyed the ride and is more than happy to test me again if I want to go for a first

The only other issue he pulled me up on was acceleration. He said I should be smoother when I'm going from 30mph to 70mph. As the bike has soft suspension it wallows under heavy throttle and from an examiners point of year seeing a bike see-saw isn't a sign of a smooth ride.

Oh well. I got a pass. I was really hoping to get a first but I don't think I'll have another go now I've passed.

Re: IAM

Posted: 06 Jul 2018, 16:02
by duke63
Does that mean you can only wear a yellow Polite vest and not a pink one? ;)

Well done Kwacky.

Re: IAM

Posted: 06 Jul 2018, 16:28
by C00kiemonster
Kwacky wrote:Good news - I passed
Bad news - I didn't get a first

He was really impressed with my riding, said I look very comfortable on the bike, I'm confident with my overtakes, my observations were excellent as was my positioning. I read the road really well, spot when to slow and accelerate (he took me to some very nasty bends) and look nice and relaxed.

But, I failed to stop at a STOP sign. My own stupid fault. I saw it, stopped behind a car, the car went, I started to move forward, saw it was clear and just went for it. As that's a legal issue he could fail me but he has discretion and he said the rest of my riding made up for it. He enjoyed the ride and is more than happy to test me again if I want to go for a first

The only other issue he pulled me up on was acceleration. He said I should be smoother when I'm going from 30mph to 70mph. As the bike has soft suspension it wallows under heavy throttle and from an examiners point of year seeing a bike see-saw isn't a sign of a smooth ride.

Oh well. I got a pass. I was really hoping to get a first but I don't think I'll have another go now I've passed.
Top work Kwacky.

That bike does show your acceleration / deceleration a lot.

Re: IAM

Posted: 06 Jul 2018, 16:34
by Rossgo
Well in Kwacky. Shame it wadnt a First but for 30 quid or whatever it is might be worth going for it again

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Re: IAM

Posted: 06 Jul 2018, 17:11
by Stonesie
Well done Kwacky, with your new shock the bike may not pitch as much so if you go for that first you should get it.

Re: IAM

Posted: 07 Jul 2018, 22:58
by Cavetroll87
Well done mate.....

Although I'd say if the front isn't coming up your acceleration can't be that quick ;)

Re: IAM

Posted: 09 Jul 2018, 19:51
by Kwacky
As discussed in our debrief this was a high test pass, unfortunately one legal mistake (and a
couple of minor considerations) have prevented you obtaining a F1RST.
Legally you must stop behind a solid stop line, unfortunately you treated the crossroads
junction stop-line at Furnace End as a give-way and just continued without stopping.

The other area to consider is your acceleration of the bike, at times this looked harsh and
although you reached the speed limits quickly it was not very smooth and looked hurried.

Apart from the above points the ride was excellent. Your overtakes were well planned and
executed, at every opportunity you looked to make good progress. Your observations, road
position and bike handling were all excellent and the ride flowed smoothly throughout your
test. Congratulations and hopefully you will try to obtain your F1RST grade in the near future.

Re: IAM

Posted: 09 Jul 2018, 21:22
by Rossgo
Well in Kwacky. Go for the F1RST you know you can get it, plus think it helps on insurance too

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Re: IAM

Posted: 09 Jul 2018, 21:43
by Kwacky
I asked the question and it's doesn't. A pass is a pass.

I think the next step is to become a Fellow. You have to be tested every 3 years.

I'm tempted to try the Masters taster session to see how far away I am from the masters level.

https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-p ... ns/masters" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: IAM

Posted: 10 Jul 2018, 06:32
by Rossgo
Think its a good idea Kwacky. Id lile to go on to doing a Masters too. If you do go for it let us know how it goes

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Re: IAM

Posted: 10 Jul 2018, 06:56
by Kwacky
Will do

Re: IAM

Posted: 02 Aug 2018, 09:23
by Kwacky
Got my certificate yesterday.

I'm going to do a couple of ride outs with them to see what the standard of riding is like. I'll have a chat with a couple of the master riders to see what they have to do to pass and if it's worth it.

Re: IAM

Posted: 02 Aug 2018, 10:44
by Rossgo
Good idea Kwacky. I have met one rider who shouldn't be allowed on the road whilst in IAM. But she is well liked, I went out on 1 ride out where this lady was over taking on blind summits, blind bends and to be fair couldn't really control the bike at high speeds. As a result I dont really want to associate myself with that lady. Majority though are good standard of riders and some are excellent.

Personally i think you will find standards are maintained but that doesn't mean slow!

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Re: IAM

Posted: 02 Aug 2018, 11:48
by T.C.
Just think of it as doing the test you recently completed but without making any mistakes what so ever, Simples......

Also depends on how hard your examiner will mark you.

I was looking through my register of test candidates the other day. Since 1981 when I first became an examiner, I have conducted just over 1,000 tests for RoSPA and of those tests less than 10% were awarded Gold.

That does not include Diploma tests and retests.

Unfortunately I don't have the figures in respect of the IAM tests I examined, but then, back whenI was an IAM examiner it was a straight pass of fail and it was quite easy to pass the test.

So, to get a masters which like the RoSPA gold I now believe is higher than the Police advanced qualification given that there is no longer a Police class 1 or class 2, if you can achieve that standard, then you will have ebven more respect from me big time :)

Re: IAM

Posted: 02 Aug 2018, 11:52
by Kwacky
Of the passes handed out yesterday there was only 1 gold and he's already got his driver's IAM Masters.