IAM Roadsmart Advanced Motorcycle Training - MY journey

[Evotion]

Yesterday, I paid for this course. I will update progress on this thread as it might help others.

 

It is to get my confidence back on the seat after a few years out. I think it will be good for me.

 

https://www.iamroadsmart.com/courses/advanced-rider

[Copycat73]

been there done that .. fwot.   better off doin a track day.. vehicle familiarisation .. 

 

and here comes dayglow derek incensed at my comment .. 3 .. 2 .. 1 ..

[Evotion]

I will book a track day too. Evening session. 
They are easily the best way to learn a bike, or how to ride properly.  Done a few. Superb learning experience.

Pit Bikes (the small things..) is also great. Enjoyed that.

[Bungleaio]

I got a lot out of the IAM course when I did it. I went on to do the car course as well.

 

Provided you are able to take on board criticism you be alright. 

 

Once I'd passed I didn't carry on going to the meetings and ride outs but the knowledge I picked up from the training certainly helped me.

[Steve_M]

Anything that improves your riding must surely be a good thing. IAM / RoSPA, Track training days (recommend Hopp Rider Training at Cadwell), machine skills courses (recommend Essex fire bike and i2i), trail riding, Motogymkhana, or just going out and practicing slow riding skills on a supermarket car park.

 

All the best with your IAM journey. I look forward to reading how it goes. I’m particularly interested in how your observer guides you - whether prescriptive or coaching/counselling style. 

[Steve_M]

On 07/05/2025 at 20:06, Bungleaio said:

I got a lot out of the IAM course when I did it. I went on to do the car course as well.

 

Provided you are able to take on board criticism you be alright. 

 

Once I'd passed I didn't carry on going to the meetings and ride outs but the knowledge I picked up from the training certainly helped me.

I found the Norfolk* Group Ride outs useful for maintaining a standard of riding with stops for feedback / questions among the group. I’ve joined other group’s rides and they seem less so.

 

*Both IAM and RoSPA.

[husoi]

I did that but never went for the final test.

Stop paying for annual fee.

You can learn a lot with the training. In my opinion everything else is just an excuse to waste money.

The slow speed manoeuvring is one of the best things you get from it.

[wastedyears1981]

Just signed up for the Bike Safe course with the local plod. Doesn't matter what you do ... Any training either road or track is beneficial for being safer on the road.

[manxie49]

Did that course and the test myself.  Quite an informative course.  I was lucky to have an experienced Police motorcyclist as my observer, he lived in the real world which was great.  I think it's a good course, and, as I did, you'll probably learn some valuable lessons.  But if you expect to get any insurance discounts after you pass your test, you probably won't, or at least that was my experience anyway.  As @wastedyears1981 said, no training is wasted, as long as you take from it what you need, and are open and receptive to criticism where warranted.  I'm no longer a Road smart member, but I couldn't really fault the course.  Best of luck with it 

[Steve_M]

1 hour ago, manxie49 said:

Did that course and the test myself.  Quite an informative course.  I was lucky to have an experienced Police motorcyclist as my observer, he lived in the real world which was great.  I think it's a good course, and, as I did, you'll probably learn some valuable lessons.  But if you expect to get any insurance discounts after you pass your test, you probably won't, or at least that was my experience anyway.  As @wastedyears1981 said, no training is wasted, as long as you take from it what you need, and are open and receptive to criticism where warranted.  I'm no longer a Road smart member, but I couldn't really fault the course.  Best of luck with it 

it was doing a Bikesafe - then called Saferider - that caused me to join the IAM. They didn’t have enough police riders to cover all the participants so I ended up riding with an IAM Observer on his slightly ratty BMW R80. So smooth, always in the right position, at the right speed, planning his ride well ahead. I determined after that to become that rider: not sure I got there but …

 

 

I always considered the insurance discount as a bonus should there be one ((I used to get a bit off with Norwich Union - plus staff discount ). The point for me was to reduce risk of personal harm / damage. 
 

 

[Capt Sisko]

I'm currently doing training to become a National Observer for the IAM and one of the thing we've been told to encourage the 'associates' as we have to call trainees is to read the damned book! The observer ought to tell you what you'll be doing next time, bends, positioning, dual carriageways & motorways etc, so read the book beforehand and better still, go out and try and put some of it into practice BEFORE the next session. Trust me you'll get get much more out of the course if your do.