Bikesafe Course, Is It Worth Doing?

yep,do it.plus youll probably enjoy it and gain a lot of confidence very quickly.

 

Did it years ago. It's cheap training when all's said and done. Is it worth it? If you're willing to listen and think about how to apply what they tell you to your riding then yes, definitely. If not then it's still a day out riding bikes and they'll probably show you some good roads. The only downside is that it's normally got quite a long waiting list.

 

Hi Captain, not sure what the Bikesafe course is but I did this recently, only £20 for two days (it's subsidised) first day is classroom stuff then covering aspects of bike handling and emergency braking etc. Second day was about 100 mile ride-out with in-helmet comms and an instructor. Absolutely fantastic value and I can't recommend it highly enough. Smart Rider I think it's called. The 2nd day really made the difference, riding roads I wouldn't normally take and really putting to use the techniques discussed the previous day, it really helped with my approach to bends and how to read the road. Invaluable and to be honest I now find myself practicing what I've learnt over those two days. I guess the dates are running out now but I promise it's worth it if you can reserve a place. Hope this helps?
Advanced Rider Coaching link -> Untitled document

 

Well worth doing.

I did a Bikesafe course at the Ace cafe with the Met, must be 13-14 years ago (when I'd been riding 3 years or so). Excellent value for money - a mixture of classroom stuff (common causes of accidents), plus a good observed ride round Buckinghamshire. It was this Bikesafe course that introduced me to the concept of target fixation, and gave me the best bit of biking advice (look where you want to go, not where you're afraid you'll end up). They still only charge £45 for the day although it's no longer based out of the Ace cafe Rider Skills Days - BikeSafe London

About 4 years ago I did a track based Bikesafe at Cadwell Park, in conjunction with Hopp Rider training, where instead of riding on the road, being followed by a bike cop, the riding was on track and gave you a chance to practice e.g. hard braking (getting you to lock up wheels so you know what it feels like when it happens). The day was rounded off with a few laps of the Cadwell circuit (just to play).

Not sure they still do the Cadwell track based Bikesafe but there's a similar thing done at Castle Combe once a year (Castle Combe Circuit - Events - Other Events - Bikesafe & Castle Combe Track Experience - Saturday 12 April 2014

You might not agree with absolutely everything they say (I seemed to recall the Lincolnshire guys had an irrational faith that the bike as it comes out of the factory can't possibly be improved, that the OEM tyres are the ultimate for any bike and that any modification like fitting different tyres would be more dangerous), but there will be some useful advice and analysis of situations where things have gone wrong in the past.

Generally they encourage you to consider advanced training afterwards - Bikesafe is not itself advanced training, but the assessed ride will be a good starting point, especially if you're afraid you're a bit rusty.

 

Bike safe is good, you get really good feedback from the police rider following you. A lot of the Motorcycle training centres do sessions for returning riders which might be worth a try.

 

Cumbria Police Bikesafe was free and definitely was worth it as a starting point.

 

Nope, rubbish

 

I did the Wiltshire one in 2005 and would recommend it. Its useful stuff and certainly went a long way towards making me safer rider. It didnt slow me down, just showed me how to be safer at the speeds I was travelling at. The coppers were decent blokes too

 

I'd suggest that after 20 years not riding a bike, some form of training was essential for you and other road users. If not something supported by the local traffic police, then what ? I had 1 evening and a Sunday morning every week come rain or shine for 12 weeks with Thames Valley traffic police when I was 16 and whilst it didn't stop me doing stupid things immediately, over time experience showed me that what they taught me was right. To put it crudely JFDI, you will not regret it. Andy

 

Bikesafe is well worth doing, but its also worth continuing onto the Rospa training/exam as well. There are others available too. Rapid Training for example offer some great riding courses, but you don't get a certificate (just in case that sways you). RT is great for a top up every two-three years too

 

I did a similar thing with Devon and Cornwall Police. I thought it was well worth it (if only because it got me out of work for the afternoon!) although I was initially distracted with my (GSX-R) mirror being constantly full of white and blue motorcycle.
He told us to play the game in 30s and 40 limits but to ride as normal in NSLs. It was enjoyable too, if only for a change.

 

Did Bikesafe on Saturday with Dyfed-Powys police. Well, it was free and only just up the road from me so was rude not to. If you've never done any kind of 'advanced' training then it is definitely worth doing. I did the IAM many many years ago so was familiar with the general techniques of positioning and hazard awareness etc, but it was good to have a refresher and discover that my riding wasn't as bad as I thought it had become in the subsequent years

It's aimed at making people think about their riding, and the many hazards on the road. And the techniques to reduce the risks.

It was also an unexpected opportunity to 'make progress' along the A44 with a police escort at the end of the afternoon. :Angelic:

 

I have not doen one, but I would say NO. Not yet anyway. Get back in the saddle, possibly do a "refresher" course at a bike school, then do the BikeSafe.

 

Hell yes! I was away from riding for 15 years, did a course on come back and it was brilliant. Also - track days.

 

Defo worth doing some new/return to biking type training.
I did the shortened Bike Safe version and TBH a waste of time IMO. I do hear very good things re the the two dayer.

 

Where abouts are you based?

 

Did it <mumble> years ago at the Ace Cafe. Very much worth doing
Doesn't cost much, and gives some good ideas. (although I was told I "ride it like you stole it"... which was a little surprising, although it may have been the fact I was on the GPz500 and flogging it to keep up).

 

I went to the Bikesafe roadshow at Castle Combe a couple of years ago where you went out on a 2-1 ride out on the local roads with the police, so two punters, one copper. That lasted an hour and we took it in turns to lead, we then got a de-brief afterwards. When we got back to the circuit we then had a 15 minute track session, which was really the reason I signed up. So my experience wasn't the full course, but it was still worth doing and got some decent advice from the police chap.