My long journey to becoming an Advanced Rider

First a Thank You

I would like to pay tribute to all the observers who have supported and guided me, to gain my advanced rider qualification. This was made easier with the encouragement of other club members tolerating my poor riding, particularly in the early days, offering their own words of guidance and advice.

The Back Story

I first learnt to ride while still at school. One of the teachers arranged a couple of training sessions in the school playground. Most of the boys in the group wanted to ride the teacher’s 350 cc bike not surprisingly, but I had never ridden before, along with two others, so we were taken aside to use a 50-cc bike. The benefit was more opportunity to try riding bike.

In 1975, I got my first moped, a Yamaha FS1-E. I was told by my parents, that I would only be allowed to ride it locally initially, and not to go into the town. So where did I go, into town naturally. Of course I was spotted by my mother, who was not best pleased. However, she got over it and I used my FS1-E getting from my home in Gravesend to Dartford for work and College. I did brave the Swancombe cutting when it was only three lanes, seeing how fast my FS1-E went. Well, it was screaming somewhat at 60mph downhill with the wind behind me, tucked in as much as possible! I was much slimmer in those days too.

Sadly, less than a year, my FS1-E was stolen never to be seen again. I was then relegated to a Puch Maxi, which was definitely a come down. In 1976 I was able to purchase a Suzuki B120. In the same year I passed my motorcycle test on this bike, which is nothing like today’s format. It was riding around the block a couple of times, perform a figure of eight and undertake an emergency stop with the examiner jumping out somewhere on the test route. The furthest I rode on the B120 was from Ashford to Weston-Super-Mare, However, I have to say that the bike was somewhat underpowered for travelling that distance, particularly on the hills, as the bike was well loaded.

After a few years I sold the bike in favour of a car, and it was another 10 years before I got back on a motorbike. Yet another low powered machine, a Yamaha RXS 100cc, used for transport for work as it was cheaper than buying and running a second car. After a couple of years this bike was also stolen.

That’s where it all ended, until 30 years later, when I had the urge to get back on a bike, one with a bit more power than I had previously ridden. I had a look around at various bikes, but I was wary as to how I would feel about riding again and whether I was up to it. Some dealers were happy for me to just test ride a bike, despite the fact that I hadn’t ridden for over thirty years. I on the other hand was not, so arranged a taster session with an instructor checking that I was safe performing slow riding manoeuvres, before going out on a Honda CB500 under supervision. I was deemed safe enough to ride, allowing me to test ride a couple of Honda bikes, ultimately I settled for the Honda NC750.

After a couple of months I concluded that I did not feel in control of the bike and needed to do something about it. I was already an Advanced Driver and a National observer with the IAM for cars, so it seemed logical to go for my green IAM badge. On the 28^th May 2024, I enrolled for the Advanced Motorcycle course joining EKAM.

How the Training Went

Being an IAM observer for cars, I didn’t think that it would take me too long. How wrong was I. Whilst I knew about IPSGA, putting that into practice on a motorcycle was a whole different ball game.

After six months of riding, I realised I should have researched more; the Honda NC750 was too short for me and caused frequent cramps that interrupted my rides.  I took several test rides of varying manufacturers, ultimately opting for the Triumph 900 Rally Pro. It was so much more comfortable, with more whistles and bells than I was used to. It took a little time to adjust to the capabilities of the new bike and I am still learning.

I continued to ride during the winter as I felt that I needed that experience of inclement weather. However, on the 13th March 2025 while negotiating a left-hand bend on a narrow lane I met a car, we collided and I had an unplanned dismount, resulting in a fractured ankle. Fortunately, my bike was repairable through insurance to the tune of £5,000. Sadly, there were no witnesses to the incident and the insurance company settled 50/50. Had Dashcam footage been available, this may have gone more in my favour. I have since installed a front and rear dashcam to my bike.

I could not ride for three months and the nearest I got to a motorcycle was when an evening EKAM club ride went past my house and I was in the front garden on crutches. When I could finally get back on my bike, I was very anxious, particularly on bends. This anxiety gradually improved but has been a stumbling block in my progress.

I have had the good fortune to ride with several observers, each having their own perspective on my riding. Peter Ferguson has had to endure me the most, I am sure that there was frustration on both sides as to my progress or lack of at times. Sometimes it felt that I was making progress only to regress again. At one point I had considered giving up, but I didn’t really want to quit, as knew that I was better than when I first started, so became determined to finish. I later discovered that this is normal, having recently read a book called “Remember you are a rider” by Claire Jones who talks about the psychological effects of riding and how confidence and competence do not progress at the same rate.

Before my accident, I had booked an additional day of training through a company, but I was unable to attend. I was able to rebook an alternative session when recovered, which turned out to be an Enhanced Rider Scheme assessment. It was interesting day riding completely unfamiliar roads, which meant a high level of concentration being required to read the road. I was not only able to take on board the learning, but it also gave me more confidence in my own ability, especially after being told that I had passed the ERS Assessment.

Test Ready?

A couple of more sessions with Peter and I was told that I was ready for a check ride with Steve Wynn. This went well and I was told that I could put in for my test. Then the nerves started, but I just had to remember, that I would not have been told I was test ready, if I wasn’t. On the day of my test, I arrived three quarters of an hour early, time to relax, a cuppa tea and make myself comfortable. My examiner Mark Sutton arrived about 15 minutes prior to my test at Tesco’s Park farm. We chatted about my motorcycling history, short that it is, together with the format of the ride, all being an attempt to get me to relax. Yes, I was still a little nervous when we started but that is only natural, and I gradually settled into the ride. I knew the first part of the route which helped, but soon after I was onto unknown territory for a while heading towards Pluckley and Charing. We had a brief pause on the way, as a road closure sign had popped up overnight, causing Mark to have to reroute our journey.  When heading back towards Ashford on the A20 I remembered to increase my speed to 70 mph by the crematorium for the short bit of dual carriageway which apparently made Mark smile. We went from junction 9 to 10 on the M20 before heading back to where we started. As I hadn’t had much opportunity for slow riding, I was asked to perform a figure of eight and that was the end of the test. I breathe a sigh of relief! Mark asked a couple of questions and provided some feedback on my riding. I was pleased to hear that Mark had enjoyed the ride and that I passed my test.

A Real Result !

It was a few days later, I received Mark’s report from IAM and I was so chuffed to see that I had received a F1RST.

It has taken me nearly two years to get to an advanced motorcycle standard. I could not have done this, without the support, not only of all the observers who have guided me to improve, but the encouragement and words of wisdom from other members of EKAM. So, a big thank you, to you all, especially for those having to put up with my very novice riding skills in the beginning.

Infinity, and Beyond…?

So, what next? I would like to preserve my current skills and improve them; hence I have booked to go on the training weekend in July and a Skills Day at Thruxton in August. After that, who knows?