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Saturday, 1 June 2013

IAM - not just for the seriously fast bikes

The Institute of Advanced Motorists in NZ coaches both riders and drivers employing the criteria broadly used for UK police training.  In other words, a truly measurable, advanced standard.  Many people think that that they have to own big capacity, fast bikes to benefit from joining IAM but t'aint so!  Provided a person has a bike which is capable of sustaining the open road speed limit and that they have a full licence combined with reasonable post-learner experience, they'll benefit hugely from membership.

NZ IAM has a complete mix from scooters through to pure sports bikes and cruisers.  There's no egos (egos vanish after the first assessment ride, haha!) and everyone is there to encourage each other to attain Advanced Test standard and beyond - a fantastic atmosphere and organisation to be part of.  Here are a few of the machines at last weekend's Auckland regional ride.

Piaggio MP3 and BMW1200GS

A real mix, including single cylinder trail bikes and the latest Repsol Fireblade

Fellow blogger Roger's beautiful (pretty?) new K1200 S
(showing unusual generosity by letting Bruce sit on it!)

Andy's brutal  new K1300 R
(This is the bike Darth Vader would own!)

Actually, it was a very special day for Andy.  A few days beforehand, he'd passed the hugely demanding written and practical Observer (Advanced Instructor) tests and received his accolades in front of the assembled riders - very well done indeed mate!

Receiving the Observer certificate and IAM hi-viz vest

...and a bottle of special reserve NZ Pinot Noir!

Advanced cake-eating demonstration from Richard
(an essential part of the IAM curriculum)

As always, a wonderful day with a great bunch of women and guys.  It takes a lot of time to be an Observer with IAM (which is a major reason why Rogey and I don't post much these days) but the satisfaction and gain in skills is literally priceless.


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30 comments:

  1. Roger1 June 2013 at 19:16

    How come, my bike is pretty..and Andys is brutal.......you so not my friend any more.....

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    Replies
    1. Steve1 June 2013 at 19:54

      How come we haven't seen a blog post on your so called new bike. It could be a myth except for the pics posted here by Geoff as actual eveidence that it really exists. Pull you finger out rog and give us a run down on your new beast.

      Geoff is right it is a pretty bike.

      Delete
    2. Geoff James1 June 2013 at 20:14

      Steve,
      It's been a bit wet and Rog doesn't like getting it dirty. Give him until next summer - fair's fair :-)

      Delete
    3. Mark2 June 2013 at 12:55

      Rog - it's easy... yours is yours and Andy's is Andy's - enough said... Yeah, I know, I ride an overgrown mutant Italian scooter...

      Delete
  2. Geoff James1 June 2013 at 19:24

    Stop whining, yours IS pretty (or gorgeous if you prefer). Andy's has been beaten with the ugly stick. Sigh....... No pleasing some people.... Tsk!

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  3. James1 June 2013 at 19:49

    I love the "advanced cake-eating demonstration" - who doesn't need one of those every now and then?

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    Replies
    1. Geoff James1 June 2013 at 20:08

      James,
      It's the only thing which gets us there early on a Sunday morning! It's followed by advanced pie eating :-)

      Thanks for dropping by,

      Delete
  4. RichardM2 June 2013 at 02:38

    Up until now, I thought the IAM was all about safely riding and handling mostly sport bikes. I assume you still lump similar performing bikes when doing your check rides.

    BTW, I think Roger's new ride is a pretty bike as well...

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    Replies
    1. Geoff James2 June 2013 at 07:22

      Richard,
      Yes, we do have to group the bikes. Sometimes, it can be a slowish ride when following a scooter when the Observer is on a sport bike but we're all more than happy to take turns with whoever we're allocated to. Thanks for the comments re Roger's steed - it's a terrific looking bike in the flesh, however much we bait him :-)

      Delete
    2. Mark2 June 2013 at 12:59

      Slowish ride?? SLOWISH RIDE???? what do these words mean??

      You're not too old - ok, mature - for a clip across the ears!

      Grumble, grump...

      Delete
    3. Geoff James2 June 2013 at 13:23

      Hahahaha - thanks for the schoolteacher-like bite Mark ;-)

      If you had been present when Andy sat his "Observing a fast rider" training module with Roger and me, no explanation would have been necessary :-). Just wait until its your turn *grin*

      Delete
    4. Ken2 June 2013 at 13:42

      Poor Andy had to endure me on a 'slowish' scooter for his final test, but I had cut his teeth on a slower scooter some time before. So he is an all-round Observer, not just one to handle 'fast riders'.
      Good show! Well done that man!

      Delete
    5. Geoff James2 June 2013 at 13:46

      It all goes with the territory Ken and no-one minds. However, two or three sport bikes together makes for a certain amount of enthusiastic riding (In an IAM-approved manner of course, oh dearie me yes)

      Delete
  5. BeemerGirl2 June 2013 at 03:15

    Along side the advanced cake eating demonstration I would have thought a shaken up bottle of champagne to have gone over his head. :) Classy is classy after all.

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    Replies
    1. Geoff James2 June 2013 at 07:24

      Lori,
      Wonderful idea! Perhaps we should have broken a bottle over Rog's fairing by way of an official "launch". I know he would have thanked us. As you say, classy is classy :-)

      Delete
  6. Phil Biggs2 June 2013 at 14:23

    Hi Geoff

    Just returned from a "taster Ride" with the Wellington area IAM group. Fantastic group of people and what was a better turnout than I think was anticipated. Am certainly going to join and start the journey you and Roger have written about :)

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    1. Roger2 June 2013 at 18:39

      Awesome...you wont regret it. I was out with an associate jarrod, he is only 25, but a pilot for jet star, we both talked about how much we enjoy our riding now more than ever having gone through IAM. The fist time I took jarrod out i struggled to fing any thing nice about his riding...he scored an A+ from me today.

      Delete
  7. Geoff James2 June 2013 at 14:40

    Phil,

    Good on you mate! Have seen a few photos from Catherine Merrick (passed her full Membership test just before she moved to Wellington on the Z750)on the Facebook IAM page and it looked like a great event. Good to see my riding partner Davey there on his candy red Blackbird too. A few of us from up this way might come down to help out now and then if we're wanted.

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  8. Trobairitz3 June 2013 at 03:17

    I love that not only are you advancing motorcycle riding abilities and safety, but there is such a camaraderie among the observers. Simply wonderful.

    Mmmmm cake eating demonstration.....

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    Replies
    1. Geoff James3 June 2013 at 07:35

      Hi Brandy!
      Yep, the camaraderie is quite remarkable but it doesn't stop some pretty savage leg- pulling too as that's what friends do and we wouldn't have it any other way!

      The Chief Examiner always puts cakes and coffee on for us first thing. Very welcome when you've ridden 180 km to get to the ride!

      Delete
  9. Dar 4 June 2013 at 06:11

    Cake! I think I may have to move to NZ to take the course to use it as an excuse for cake. I love that there are scooters involved too, it opens up the field of riding and shows everyone that they can reach for higher standards and it is just not motorcyclists who should be striving for better road craft skills. Awesome.

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  10. Geoff James4 June 2013 at 11:58

    Hi Dar!
    The Chief Examiner always provides a pre-ride feast of cakes and pastries. Not sure whether it's to give a temporary burst of energy or to distract the Associates who are going to be examined! In any event, it's very welcome.

    Unfortunately, the car side of IAM isn't as active as the motorcycle side but anything which contributes to road safety has to be worthwhile.

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  11. SonjaM5 June 2013 at 07:45

    Kudos to becoming observer. You really would do anything to find a reason getting out on the bike, eh? When will you be joining the league of liter bikes?

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  12. Geoff James5 June 2013 at 07:53

    Hey Sonja!!!
    Legitimate excuse to get out for a ride "got to do some training, honey". Been there, done that with litre plus bikes. The Street Triple does a pretty good job of making the "big boys" work for their money :-)

    Take care and regards to Roland....

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  13. Brenda5 June 2013 at 19:57

    Great post Geoff!!

    Just goes to show that it's not only fun riding bikes .. meeting people who ride bikes is fun filled too ... there needs to be more cake eating demonstrations in the world :)

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  14. Geoff James5 June 2013 at 20:28

    Hi Brenda,
    Richard has clearly proved that you CAN have your cake and eat it. See next week's thrilling episode of Advanced pie-making ;-)

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  15. Anonymous8 June 2013 at 11:52

    Ugly stick indeed .....I don't think so Matey.....a bit rich coming from a st ripple owner......Andy

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  16. Geoff James8 June 2013 at 11:58

    Hahahaha!

    I didn't say I didn't like it, just that it isn't "pretty" like Roger's and yes, the Striple does have similarities :-)

    I seem to have got some good bites on this post - job done ;-)

    ReplyDelete

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