Out and about 2022

[SteveD CB500K0]

I did mine in 2007.

5 PM on a Friday from the McDonalds car park next to the Madejski Stadium in south Reading. A mile of stationary dual carriageway and then one junction of the M4 ( also mostly stationary). Then the examiners favourite north Basingstoke country lanes.

Two minor infringements:
1. Not moving back into lane 1 quickly enough after a motorway overtake.
2. Not accelerating fast enough out of a 30 limit into a National.

I can live with them.


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[Orcade-Ian]

Well done Dave - the headache will pass too!  I did mine way back in early November 1983 - pissing down with rain and wet leaves everywhere (in Lancashire).  The examiner - a police motorcyclist, made me feel at ease by turning up complaining that he had a wet crutch and needed fuel at the first opportunity!
I must say I got far more enjoyment from my riding after doing that test plus the training leading up to it and would recommend any serious motorcyclist to do it asap.  At 73, perhaps I ought to have a refresher.

Ian

[Johnny4428]

Yes, well done Dave on your IAM test. It is quite an achievement. I remember going through advanced training in the late eighties Star Rider I think it was. Bronze, Silver and Gold. Anybody recollect? Think it was national recognition. Got the Silver but never got round to doing theGold. Curry’s can give quite a hangover 🤣

[Oddjob]

I did mine in 2007.

5 PM on a Friday from the McDonalds car park next to the Madejski Stadium in south Reading. A mile of stationary dual carriageway and then one junction of the M4 ( also mostly stationary). Then the examiners favourite north Basingstoke country lanes.

Two minor infringements:
1. Not moving back into lane 1 quickly enough after a motorway overtake.
2. Not accelerating fast enough out of a 30 limit into a National.

I can live with them.


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Oh I can just see mine now if I went for it.

1. Got the knee down on roundabouts a little too quickly
2. Giving an obscene hand gesture to the car driver hogging the middle lane on the motorway whilst passing in the inside lane, just to show them where they should be driving.
3. Standing up to wave at fellow motorcyclists so you make sure they see you and wave back.
4. Shaking the head at Harley riders for their choice of motorcycle.

Feel free to add any others I've missed.

[Johnny4428]

I did mine in 2007.

5 PM on a Friday from the McDonalds car park next to the Madejski Stadium in south Reading. A mile of stationary dual carriageway and then one junction of the M4 ( also mostly stationary). Then the examiners favourite north Basingstoke country lanes.

Two minor infringements:
1. Not moving back into lane 1 quickly enough after a motorway overtake.
2. Not accelerating fast enough out of a 30 limit into a National.

I can live with them.


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Oh I can just see mine now if I went for it.

1. Got the knee down on roundabouts a little too quickly
2. Giving an obscene hand gesture to the car driver hogging the middle lane on the motorway whilst passing in the inside lane, just to show them where they should be driving.
3. Standing up to wave at fellow motorcyclists so you make sure they see you and wave back.
4. Shaking the head at Harley riders for their choice of motorcycle.

Feel free to add any others I've missed.

🤣🤣🤣 maybe a road rage management course would be more appropriate?

[Oddjob]

Just thought of an addition to No.3

3. Standing up to wave at fellow motorcyclists so you make sure they see you and wave back. Maybe consider just using one arm in future.

I'd probably get too angry at the course leader for a Road Rage course. 

TBH, I don't do No.1 UNLESS I'm in the mood.

I do do No.2 as they piss me off with their lack of thought and bad driving skills. Most times I do it in lane 3 and do it with my left hand as it's easier than using my right.

I don't do No.3 at all, maybe a hand lift if I see them.

I sometimes do No.4 just to annoy them, whilst passing them at a great rate of knots, just so they can see what a real motorcycle looks like 

[smoothoperator]

Congratulations and well done on passing the IAM test, it isn't easy and I don't much like to admit it but I FAILED my first attempt! I took mine about 4 years ago after a 10+ year layoff from riding so I thought that taking the training and test seemed like a good idea. My feeble excuse is that the frost in the morning put me off. I too took the test in November but it was properly cold with a ground frost, the examiner offered me the option of cancelling but I went ahead. I think too much of my brain capacity was taken up by worrying about the bike sliding away from me, I ended up breaking a 30 mph limit out of Grantham on the B1174, a very long road and I obviously missed the 30 sign and ended up convincing myself it must be a 40 limit so I rode at 35, splitting the difference in a forlorn hope until I spotted the 40 sign, shit. Took the test again the next spring and passed this time, a nice sunny warm ride which was actually really enjoyable. I have to say the difference in the examiners riding style was interesting, the first chap was a retired police rider and was sometimes so far back he was hard to spot in the mirrors. The second guy was a serving officer and he was tight up on my tail for most of the ride.

[SPR]

Take advantage of the dry roads .... bloody freezing

Coffee and a warm at Matlock Bath

Simon




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[Johnny4428]

Nice one Simon. Sitting here contemplating a run on the tourer. 8 Celsius here.

[SPR]

Nice one Simon. Sitting here contemplating a run on the tourer. 8 Celsius here.

I think that is about the temp here .... lovely to blow away the cobwebs after a gruelling week but note to self .... layer more !!!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

The more I see your bike the more I like the black body finish.
I knew a Nut Brown frame would look wrong with black bodywork.

Well done braving the wind chill in Matlock Simon. 👍👍👍

[Johnny4428]

Had a good 40 mile blast on the tourer this morning. Nice dry roads for a change. It’s great to get out after the shite spell of weather has passed Actually stopped by a fellow forum member but he wasn’t home. I suppose he has better things to do than sit about waiting for unscheduled visitors. Helping a friend in need I believe.

[Rozabikes Tim]

Simon

Seems a regular ride. If you are riding back through Darley Dale on a Saturday morning, call into our shop so I can admire that beast! Opposite the large engineering foundry. We are Fabric & Furnishings Solutions.

[SPR]

Simon

Seems a regular ride. If you are riding back through Darley Dale on a Saturday morning, call into our shop so I can admire that beast! Opposite the large engineering foundry. We are Fabric & Furnishings Solutions.

Will do Tim

Hopefully have chance again before the end of the year

[Laverda Dave]

Nice one Simon. Sitting here contemplating a run on the tourer. 8 Celsius here.

I think that is about the temp here .... lovely to blow away the cobwebs after a gruelling week but note to self .... layer more !!!

Buy a heated Jacket, you won't look back. Santa sent me one last Christmas, deep joy . In 40+ years of riding I've tried everything, newspaper, plastic bags, layers so thick it was difficult to get my jacket on etc. The heated jacket is an amazing piece of kit with three heat settings (I've only ever used the lowest). You can either connect it to your bike battery or buy a small rechargeable battery that fits into the jacket, I use the bike battery. I think mine is a Keiss. Get the full length sleeve version, the short sleeve leaves your arms cold.
I bought a pair of heated gloves last January. They are RST's and were on offer with 50% off @£80. These are amazing as unlike heated handlebar grips the gloves are heated all over and importantly at the back of the hand and individual fingers. Again I have only ever used them on the lowest setting that warm enough and I got nearly three hours from one charge of the battery. You don't realise how debilitating it is riding in the cold and how it affects your concentration (and bladder  ). Being warm is being happy and enjoying the ride. I wish I'd discovered heated bike clothing years ago!