Bike Safe course

Discussion in 'Triumph General Discussion' started by steve lovatt, Aug 10, 2015.

  1. steve lovatt

    steve lovatt Something else

    May 12, 2014
    9,218
    1,000
    North Yorkshire
    #1 steve lovatt, Aug 10, 2015
    Went on the Bike Safe course yesterday - have to say it was superb, great fun and extremely well run by Hampshire Constabulary. I'm sure some of you will have done one but for the benefit of anyone thinking of doing it I can strongly recommend it.
    Started at the Ambulance station in Eastleigh with a morning of talks and information videos, some real and some simulated 3D ones (these showed all the crashes but it still made you wince!). All good natured banter, there is no patronising lectures whatsoever - very informative - what we all should know but it helps to spell it out and discuss it.
    I was least the experienced rider as most had 20 years plus and the poor old Trident was the oldest bike by miles but there was a nice Sprint 1050 and a Rocket III to keep it company.
    After lunch you get the ride out with normally two riders per police biker but we went in a group of three due to numbers. The lead bike is followed by the police bike and watches for his indicator signals, there is no radio link. The others just follow on. You make regular stops (every half hour) he then observes how you rode and points out any thing of concern and then you swap over the lead bike position.
    In all, you spend about 4 hours out on the ride and, in our case, end up at Loomies - funny watching the look on other bikers faces as a total of 8 police bikes rock up around the same time - made space in the car park!
    Found out my speedo reads 8 mph slower than it should so got told to ride quicker, but the Trident did not disgrace itself in the company of a Ducati Multistrada 1200 and an Aprilla 1000.
    The emphasis is on making progress, so you are expected to ride up to the speed limit and to overtake where necessary. They are happy for you to do this as quick as possible - I had originally planned on taking the Bonnie but to be honest it would have struggled to keep up when accelerating away. Following the police bike is great fun - like having a personal escort - and cars seem to want to get out of your way for some reason.

    PS. You don't even have to wear Hi-ViZ.
    IMG_20150809_122822705.jpg
    IMG_20150809_122811223.jpg
     
    • Like Like x 1
  2. Clarkey

    Clarkey Well-Known Member

    Sep 28, 2014
    236
    93
    #2 Clarkey, Aug 10, 2015
    Sounds good have you got any more info ?
     
  3. thebiglad

    thebiglad Old fart, still riding !

    Sep 25, 2013
    5,066
    1,000
    Central France
    #3 thebiglad, Aug 10, 2015
    Contact your local copshop for details in your area - all forces do this sort of thing.

    I went on a couple when I was working for Northants force - well worth doing.
     
  4. crispey

    crispey crispey creme de la creme

    Nov 6, 2014
    7,229
    1,000
    Uk
    #4 crispey, Aug 10, 2015
    Having done my IAM test 23 years ago I still find myself talking my way into the approach of bends etc. taking the right line in the right gear attempting to not need to use the brakes. The hardest thing to remember is the "police boot shuffle" at lights (stop, left boot, put it into neutral. right boot, on brake. left boot , put it into gear. right boot on brake til pull away. Its not as easy as it sounds, you have to remember to keep the opposing boot on the ground or it could get messy!! Anyways the bike safe course sounds similar to having your observers follow you around on the lead up to the test. Thoroughly recommend it to anyone old, young, experienced or inexperienced.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. folkbloke

    folkbloke Well-Known Member

    Jul 20, 2013
    310
    63
    Sussex
    #5 folkbloke, Aug 10, 2015
    I've done 3 and each one has been excellent. I did my last one about 5 years ago. Having ridden for 35 years I was aware I was getting sloppy and the Bikesafe course pulled it all back together for me. Probably time to do another!

    Check here for your local course Bikesafe
     
    • Like Like x 1
  6. Dodge74

    Dodge74 Active Member

    Oct 16, 2014
    151
    43
    Lincoln
    #6 Dodge74, Aug 12, 2015
    I did one with Humberside police about 10 yrs ago , after a few yrs of not riding on the road because of racing & not being able to afford to do both . Anyhow , it was very enjoyable & the feedback helped me get back into sync . I did it on an old xj600 Yam & the copper said to me "you can go a bit quicker in the national speed limit areas if you like you know" to which I replied "sorry but I really can't , not without it blowing up anyway" , poor old girl was flat out at about 78 mph it turned out . The funny thing was that a year later I got pulled over by a bike cop on the way home from work one night , doing 72 mph in a national speed limit area & he did me , I did recall the bikesafe to him , but he appeared unmoved & continued writing out a ticket :rolleyes:
     
  7. stollydriver

    stollydriver Elite Member

    Apr 25, 2015
    2,057
    800
    north wales
    #7 stollydriver, Aug 20, 2015
     
  8. stollydriver

    stollydriver Elite Member

    Apr 25, 2015
    2,057
    800
    north wales
    #8 stollydriver, Aug 20, 2015
    If you get a chance - the FBOS course is a superb weekend. As a rule day one is Bike Safe and day two is with the paramedics. They show you first aid in a traffic situation. Snatch recovery, helmet removal where required etc etc. End of the course - you get supplied with a superb first aid kit.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. Dusty

    Dusty New Member

    Sep 27, 2014
    1
    3
    Essex
    #9 Dusty, Aug 22, 2015
    Very good,something I think I'll look into
     
Loading...
Similar Threads - Bike Safe course
  1. Martin Joseph Lowe

    Bike Safe Course Offer

    Martin Joseph Lowe, Jul 18, 2019, in forum: Triumph General Discussion
    Replies:
    15
    Views:
    1,772
    Tiglet
    Sep 23, 2019
  2. Tigcraft

    Safer On A Bike Than Walking In The Country?

    Tigcraft, Mar 26, 2020, in forum: Lounge
    Replies:
    32
    Views:
    3,015
    Tigcraft
    Mar 27, 2020
  3. AndreiPopovici

    Stolen Bolt On Clutch Cover. Is It Safe To Start The Bike?

    AndreiPopovici, Mar 10, 2019, in forum: Triumph Twin Power
    Replies:
    16
    Views:
    3,745
    sprintdave
    Mar 22, 2024
  4. David Cooper

    Be Safe On Your Bike

    David Cooper, Mar 10, 2019, in forum: Clothing & Gadgets
    Replies:
    33
    Views:
    3,053
    DCS222
    Jan 16, 2020
  5. Sprinter

    Pricing Of Old Bikes (or Top Secret Health And Safety Conspiracy?)

    Sprinter, May 7, 2017, in forum: Lounge
    Replies:
    10
    Views:
    1,270
    Sprinter
    May 10, 2017

Share This Page

Sign up