Anyone Done Their Advanced Bike Test?
Discussion
I'm thinking about becoming a volunteer for Blood Bikes (transporting blood and organs urgently needed elsewhere). One of the requirements is that I have my advanced licence.
Can anyone who's done the test tell me what it comprises of please? I'm a competent rider and raced for many years so know how to 'press on' when necessary.
Can anyone who's done the test tell me what it comprises of please? I'm a competent rider and raced for many years so know how to 'press on' when necessary.
Contact IAM or RoSPA (depending on what groups are near you), pay a bit of cash then go out on a few observed runs picking up the basics of what the Police write about in Roadcraft. When the group think you're ready you go out on a test rider followed by an examiner on a route comprised of varied roads and, if you apply the method consistently, you get a pass.
In terms of skills, the basics are understanding and applying the safety bubble, using road position to maximise safety, stepping up your observation skills with "Far, middle, near" and showing due responses to perceived hazards. Although making progress is a part of the test, exceeding the speed limit definitely isn't: do it high enough or often enough and you'll fail.
In terms of skills, the basics are understanding and applying the safety bubble, using road position to maximise safety, stepping up your observation skills with "Far, middle, near" and showing due responses to perceived hazards. Although making progress is a part of the test, exceeding the speed limit definitely isn't: do it high enough or often enough and you'll fail.
Edited by hiccy18 on Thursday 1st December 18:55
hiccy18 said:
Contact IAM or RoSPA (depending on what groups are near you), pay a bit of cash then go out on a few observed runs picking up the basics of what the Police write about in Roadcraft. When the group think you're ready you go out on a test rider followed by an examiner on a route comprised of varied roads and, if you apply the method consistently, you get a pass.
In terms of skills, the basics are understanding and applying the safety bubble, using road position to maximise safety, stepping up your observation skills with "Far, middle, near" and showing due responses to perceived hazards. Although making progress is a part of the test, exceeding the speed limit definitely isn't: do it high enough or often enough and you'll fail.
Thanks!In terms of skills, the basics are understanding and applying the safety bubble, using road position to maximise safety, stepping up your observation skills with "Far, middle, near" and showing due responses to perceived hazards. Although making progress is a part of the test, exceeding the speed limit definitely isn't: do it high enough or often enough and you'll fail.
Edited by hiccy18 on Thursday 1st December 18:55
Before you get to the blood bike stage, try to make sure your expectations and attitude are OK..
It's not about speeding and using blue lights.... lost count of the amount of new people that think that.
I was a blood biker and helped train new starts, and the amount of gixxer bros and street rossi wannbies that got turned away was huge being of said attitude.
usually they screamed out on a run, made stupid overtakes putting people at risk and thought doing a ton on a country road was showing us "how to do it"
Good luck with it all, it's a very good thing to be a part of and well worth it.
It's not about speeding and using blue lights.... lost count of the amount of new people that think that.
I was a blood biker and helped train new starts, and the amount of gixxer bros and street rossi wannbies that got turned away was huge being of said attitude.
usually they screamed out on a run, made stupid overtakes putting people at risk and thought doing a ton on a country road was showing us "how to do it"
Good luck with it all, it's a very good thing to be a part of and well worth it.
Alfa.Male said:
I'm thinking about becoming a volunteer for Blood Bikes (transporting blood and organs urgently needed elsewhere). One of the requirements is that I have my advanced licence.
Can anyone who's done the test tell me what it comprises of please? I'm a competent rider and raced for many years so know how to 'press on' when necessary.
Sounds like a great thing to do...Can anyone who's done the test tell me what it comprises of please? I'm a competent rider and raced for many years so know how to 'press on' when necessary.
some thoughts:
- as others have said, look at IAM / RoSPA
- worth buying the police handbook - Roadcraft, it is the basis of advanced driving / motoring / riding
- 'press on' is probably the wrong wording (though get where you are coming from), making progress is perhaps a better expression - a lot of advanced driving learning is the development / realisation of understanding that to go faster you don't aim for more speed - but you aim for more smoothness / flow / etc. that will bring speed, whereas pursuing speed tends to lead to a jerky, out of balance drive / ride.
- the biggest elements of the advanced world are not pace per se, but observation and planning - growing your awareness and observation allows you to plan further ahead, which allows your pace to increase...
It is a fascinating world, and if you have raced there will be a lot of cross-over (and some things not to do on the road!)
the cueball said:
Before you get to the blood bike stage, try to make sure your expectations and attitude are OK..
It's not about speeding and using blue lights.... lost count of the amount of new people that think that.
I was a blood biker and helped train new starts, and the amount of gixxer bros and street rossi wannbies that got turned away was huge being of said attitude.
usually they screamed out on a run, made stupid overtakes putting people at risk and thought doing a ton on a country road was showing us "how to do it"
Good luck with it all, it's a very good thing to be a part of and well worth it.
Thanks for your input..... I have zero to prove to anyone on a bike and am very far from being a Gixxer or Rossi wannabie. Generally, people who, or have, raced ride very sensibly on the road, no reason to do otherwise. It's not about speeding and using blue lights.... lost count of the amount of new people that think that.
I was a blood biker and helped train new starts, and the amount of gixxer bros and street rossi wannbies that got turned away was huge being of said attitude.
usually they screamed out on a run, made stupid overtakes putting people at risk and thought doing a ton on a country road was showing us "how to do it"
Good luck with it all, it's a very good thing to be a part of and well worth it.
My expectations are pretty simple; help others. There have been times when I've needed blood after crashes, and now have some time to give to others. As for attitude, well I am what I am.
If you have a car licence as well, you can do the advanced test for that then you could either use a bike or car.
I do not have a bike licence but joined my local blood bikes just before lockdown and did on average 2 or 3 runs a week in their cars (ave 170-mile round trips) sometimes using my own car if local.
I enjoy doing it as it gets me out a bit but work being very busy, I sometimes struggle to get shifts in.
I don't think Blood bikes are allowed to use blues and sirens, at least my local one isn't.
I do not have a bike licence but joined my local blood bikes just before lockdown and did on average 2 or 3 runs a week in their cars (ave 170-mile round trips) sometimes using my own car if local.
I enjoy doing it as it gets me out a bit but work being very busy, I sometimes struggle to get shifts in.
I don't think Blood bikes are allowed to use blues and sirens, at least my local one isn't.
the IAM are "getting into bed" with NAAB
https://www.iamroadsmart.com/blood-bikes
its not all pleasant sunny days riding around, 2.30am, 5 degrees, pissing down it still needs to be done
https://www.iamroadsmart.com/blood-bikes
its not all pleasant sunny days riding around, 2.30am, 5 degrees, pissing down it still needs to be done
Yes, just passed my IAM advanced test with a F1RST. It's been hugely useful in making me think about the principles of safely making progress. Getting a good mark from a professional police rider is very rewarding and helps to prove to yourself (and spouse!) that you do have a clue about what you're doing on a bike and are commensurately safer as a consequence.
Reg Local's YouTube channel is probably the best place to start, he breaks it down into various bite-sized chunks and clearly has a lot of experience in being a police trainer/examiner. After a while you'll be intimately familiar with the System, planning, positioning, etc etc.
I found the pre-test briefing from the examiner contained loads of good information about the mindset you need to get a good mark. After safety, smoothness (or flow, as Reg calls it), is the magic ingredient. Head up, relaxed upper body, gentle inputs on the controls, smooth smooth smooth. They encourage you to make progress (within the speed limit), but solid observations, smoothly changing direction and progressive acceleration and braking are the key.
Observers give up their time for the cost of fuel only, so the first year's subscription, inclusive of test fee, represents many (virtually unlimited) hours of observed riding and feedback. It really fixes the mindset of advanced riding so it becomes second nature.
In short, I'd thoroughly recommend IAM if you want to ensure that your riding is at a good, safe standard, with documentation from an actual police rider of such.
Reg Local's YouTube channel is probably the best place to start, he breaks it down into various bite-sized chunks and clearly has a lot of experience in being a police trainer/examiner. After a while you'll be intimately familiar with the System, planning, positioning, etc etc.
I found the pre-test briefing from the examiner contained loads of good information about the mindset you need to get a good mark. After safety, smoothness (or flow, as Reg calls it), is the magic ingredient. Head up, relaxed upper body, gentle inputs on the controls, smooth smooth smooth. They encourage you to make progress (within the speed limit), but solid observations, smoothly changing direction and progressive acceleration and braking are the key.
Observers give up their time for the cost of fuel only, so the first year's subscription, inclusive of test fee, represents many (virtually unlimited) hours of observed riding and feedback. It really fixes the mindset of advanced riding so it becomes second nature.
In short, I'd thoroughly recommend IAM if you want to ensure that your riding is at a good, safe standard, with documentation from an actual police rider of such.
Get yourself a copy of this
https://www.roadcraft.co.uk/motorcycle-roadcraft/
Did my Motorcycle Advanced Test 40 years ago and still benefiting from it every day..
https://www.roadcraft.co.uk/motorcycle-roadcraft/
Did my Motorcycle Advanced Test 40 years ago and still benefiting from it every day..
Pretty sure when I did my advanced motorbike lessons the blood bak guys needed to have achieved a 'First' level of pass, so its not just open to any advanced rider.
I didn't stay with my local advanced group after I passed, as I found there was a definite clique amongst the riders. I'd see them all meet up on a Saturday morning with them all sneaking off on their own little groups for rides out before anyone else could join them. I'd hear then telling each other to hurry up before 'so and so' saw them and wanted to join them. Within a few minutes there were just a few bikers left, all wondering where everyone else had gone, and not sure what to do next. It really wasn't a very inclusive place. I passed my test and never went back.
I didn't stay with my local advanced group after I passed, as I found there was a definite clique amongst the riders. I'd see them all meet up on a Saturday morning with them all sneaking off on their own little groups for rides out before anyone else could join them. I'd hear then telling each other to hurry up before 'so and so' saw them and wanted to join them. Within a few minutes there were just a few bikers left, all wondering where everyone else had gone, and not sure what to do next. It really wasn't a very inclusive place. I passed my test and never went back.
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