Police Bike Safe

[menzies3032]

Hi all

I am planning to book myself onto a bike safe course early next year. I am interested in others that have already done it and the value / benifit you got from the course. Also I live in Teignmouth so was going to do the Exeter course has anybody got any good or bad experiences or would you recommend traveling for a better day?

Thanks

[billinom8s]

i did it, it was ok.

don't do the local one, you will only do the roads you know and not be tested fully on observation, road awareness or ability.

i live in teignmouth so did the barnstaple bike safe. it was on roads i didn't know so felt i had been tested on things that matter on the road. i didn't see the point in riding round on my playtime roads and not being challenged.


plus i got a good run up there and back.

[Atomic]

Good advice with regards not doing it in your local area - if only I'd known that.
I did it at West Bay about 2 years ago and knew about 90% of the route they used.

I had already done quite a bit of reading (twist of the wrist etc.), and more appropriate for this 'Motorcycle Roadcraft : the police rider's handbook'. The Bike safe days are putting into practice what is in this book and then being assessed.
There were about 15 bikers and 4 police bikers. Some guys didn't turn up for day 2, but they obviously didn't need advice or constructive criticism. I think they expected fast rides with blue light support.

I have been told that there is a motorcycle safety day at Castle Combe which apparently is a good day. I am waiting for it to be advertised to book it.

If I remember correctly the Dorset days were subsidised whereas Somerset was not. West Bay cost £20 for the 2 days.

[richiec]

14th April 2014 at a cost of £ 30.

http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/op ... to_arrive/

I loved the Bikesafe day I did with Avon & Somerset, Weston-super-Mare, over the top of the Mendips and down Cheddar Gorge. Down to Brent Knoll then back to Weston.

I can see why some riders wear flo jackets, white helmets and ride white bikes - Amazing effect on other roadusers !

[Atomic]

It wasn't the Bikesafe one I was waiting for but I booked it anyway for more experience (Saturday 12th April)

It was this one that has just come up;

http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk/tra ... ety%20Days" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


which I have booked as well (Tuesday 13th May). Hopefully it will give me some good pointers before my first trackday at Llandow.

[menzies3032]

Hi All

thanks for your feedback. I have now going on the national bike safe day at Castle Coombe and booked up. Cracking deal a 1 hour observation ride and 15 minute track day tester at Castle Coombe. I did notice that this dose not count as a full bike safe course so will book up another one but this just seems to good to miss.

[menzies3032]

I had already done quite a bit of reading (twist of the wrist etc.)

Atomic I have been doing a lot of you tube surfing looking at anything to do with California Superbike School. As Keith Code wrote twist the wrist just wondered what you thought of it and if you would recommend it as a read?

[badgerKDD]

I have read it several times, as you need to go back over a few things several times as you try them out. It is definitely track orientated but you can use a lot of the information for road riding, if you cherry pick what concerns you most about your aims and areas you have problems with. A lot of what he writes is kind of obvious once its pointed out, but its a good catalyst to start you really thinking about how you approach your riding, e.g. weight distribution, inputs and 'head-ology' etc.

I bought Twist 2 as that was regarded as more road oriented than the original Twist 1, if that helps.

[Atomic]

I read TotW 1&2 and totally agree with Badger. They do have good pointers which make more sense when you put them into practice on the track (which i haven't done). I was generally reading for control tips.
For me ( as a non-track person) the police rider's manual made more sense and I was easily able to transfer the ideas to the road. The bike safe day was putting it all into practice with the benefit of being able to ask any questions if you were unsure. The 2 day course is a bit dragged out (for some) but still very good, and probably much better value than the Castle Combe couple of hours.
Both the Castle Combe ones that I have booked are more for the track tips for a noobie like me to try and get a grasp of. Realistically I am trying to learn more about techniques for control of the bike rather than speed.

[Smiler]

There seems to be some differences in terms of Bike Safe courses and what they cost depending on where you live??

I did one about 2 years ago, I THINK about £20 but in no way was there a lengthy ride that followed and tbh the assessment was pretty much about road positioning and observations, all done at the side of the road.. and I have a feeling the track day at Combe isn't a 'track' day as such, so its not track tuition if that makes sense?

Anyhoo, any additional training can only be a good thing, if you take from it just one or two ideas or pointers!

I'd love to do CSS!!

[Atomic]

Yes Smiler, it is just that - I don't expect to get my knee down - lol.
I consider that to get any little snippets ( whilst there is still a small amount of grey matter space), could be very helpful.
I remember BNM8s tip about adjusting the front forks those few mills and also your tip on using the rev range more.
These little things (to most) have made vast improvements to my enjoyment. If I glean anything from the 2 days it is worth it.

Also, as you rightly say, there are vast differences with the 'bike-safe' courses depending on the county, as I mentioned I had a 2 day course with ride-outs on both days with an initial assessment and then the final one after the classroom lessons. Total time on road for both days was about 3 - 4 hours, that included stops to allow changing of group position.

[menzies3032]

Hi All

Just a thought I am off to the national bike safe day next week with 15 minutes on track at Castle Combe. I am planning on riding up so not going to be carrying much. So question is what to do about setting the bike up for the track bit. Normally I would drop the tyre pressure from 36 to 32 and swap the suspension to track settings to stiffen things up. But with out the ability to re pump up the tyres afterwards do I bother?

Also I have been told that Castle Combe is very bumby and best to leave the bike on fast road settings?

Whats your thoughts people leave it be or change what I can?

[scorcher]

Hi All

Just a thought I am off to the national bike safe day next week with 15 minutes on track at Castle Combe. I am planning on riding up so not going to be carrying much. So question is what to do about setting the bike up for the track bit. Normally I would drop the tyre pressure from 36 to 32 and swap the suspension to track settings to stiffen things up. But with out the ability to re pump up the tyres afterwards do I bother?

Also I have been told that Castle Combe is very bumby and best to leave the bike on fast road settings?

Whats your thoughts people leave it be or change what I can?

Its only 15 minutes and its only a taster so I doubt it'll be full on. They'll be a mix of abilities on track and I would guess a couple marshalls on bikes on track keeping an eye on things. So unless your exhaust is noisy I wouldn't change anything and just enjoy it for what it is.

[brizzer]

see you there menzies , Gsxr Alstare bike come say hello if you see me

[Tractorwackyracer]

theres a few of us going up next week end on another thread I am leaving from devon near cullompton join us if you want pm me or find other thread will bump it now so its easy to find !!