RIDESENSE TECHNICALS
Advanced riding training is designed to increase your chances of surviving on today’s roads on two wheels. There are many reasons for doing advanced training, you may want to pass RoSPA, you may just want to improve your overall ability or even improve a specific area of your riding ability.
Advanced riding involves the use of a system of motorcycle control, to give a methodical, safe approach to the hazards which present themselves in everyday situations on the road. The system allows the formation of a riding plan to deal with each individual hazard or situation. When used correctly it gives the rider more time to react, thus it can help eradicate the risk of error on your part as well as helping in the anticipation of hazards caused by other road users.
The fundamentals of Advanced Riding:
- Observation
Efficiently using all the information you have available
- Hazard Awareness
Recognising hazards and adjusting your riding to suit
- Preparation
Preparing the bike to suit the hazard ahead
- Positioning
The best place to be for maximum visibility
- Speed
Making steady progress within the law
- Gears
Selecting the right gears for the hazard
- Acceleration
Refined use of acceleration/gears and using the power of your bike
- Cornering
Positioning, counter-steering and understanding the geometry of your bike
- Overtaking
Following position, overtaking position special hazards and acceleration - Town riding
Observation, low speeds, positioning, filtering and overtaking
In essence, advanced riding is about becoming a better rider in terms of your own safety and the safety of other road users, as well as developing skill and precision in the control of your machine.
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What are the benefits to you?
Advanced training can yield many rewards. It can help you cope with the ever more crowded and dangerous roads. Compared to car drivers, motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a road traffic accident, 90% of which are caused by human error. It is this element which advanced training will help eliminate on your part as well as helping you to anticipate/deal with it from other road users.
Additionally, if you move on to pass your advanced test, not only will you have the satisfaction of knowing you demonstrate a safe, systematic approach to your riding, but you may also benefit from reduced insurance premiums as well as improved petrol consumption and less wear and tear on your machine.
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Who is advanced training for?
Ask yourself the following question:
Every time you ride your bike, is your progress safe and systematic with no dramatic braking or acceleration, with you always having time to observe the basic courtesy of the road?
If your answer is anything other than an honest, confident 'yes', then you could benefit from advanced training. Advanced training is not just for people who travel particularly high mileages or who ride large, powerful sports bikes. It is particularly relevant to people buying their first big bike or those returing to riding after a prolonged gap. It will be of considerable benefit to any rider or a reasonable capacity machine who is motivated to improve their riding and safety on the road.
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A brief guide to advanced riding
The appearance of a machine tells a lot about the rider. It should be roadworthy with final drive chain and brake linkages (where appropriate) properly adjusted.
Clothing is of paramount importance in terms of personal safety. Appropriate clothing and footwear should always be worn, your safety helmet especially, should be in good condition, securely fastened with a clean, unscratched visor.
The following list details aspects of advanced riding as well as attributes looked for by advanced examiners:
- Use of controls
- Precision in both low and high speed manoeuvring displaying a sound knowledge of the principles of cornering
- Smooth and delicate use of the clutch, correctly timed with operation of the gear lever
- Use of the gearbox
- Timing of the gear change
- Matching the engine revolutions to road speed
- Use of gears when slowing to a stop
- Braking
- Smooth operation of the brakes
- Early braking at the correct point in the system
- Careful balance of front and rear brakes
- Avoidance of pitching and skidding
- Tapering of brake pressure to facilitate a smooth stop
- Timing and appropriateness of rear observations (both mirror and shoulder checks)
- Riding performance
- Smooth and safe moving off/stopping
- A knowledge of the ‘system’ should be evident from your riding actions
- Reading of the road to allow correct positioning (including land discipline)
- Informed use of signals including arm signals and the horn if appropriate, with account taken for the reactions of other road users to signals given.
- Safe and legal use of speed but with brisk riding, good progress being made where possible
- Consideration of all necessary factors during overtaking manoeuvres.
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Ridesense with Vision
Vision Motorcycle Training offers advanced training to the highest standards. Our advanced instructors hold the RoSPA Gold qualification. Vision is able to offer advanced training on a one-to-one, one-to-two basis, as required. We follow the standards as set out in "Motorcycle Roadcraft", which is recognised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and Institute of Advanced Motorists.
Instruction takes place within a flexible framework; as well as courses of tuition up to the advanced test, we are also happy to offer individual riding assessments, improver courses, back-to-biking courses and courses for first time riders of large capacity machines. The tuition is tailored to the requirements of the individual including the hire of an appropriate machine if necessary.
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