New Speeding Fines from April

[Grip Fast]

My experience of the IAM is that they are an elitist bunch of sanctimonious, clipboard waving, holier than thou snobs, who have a hugely elevated sense of their own abilities and skills.
A more appropriate name for them would be the I - AM.

Advanced training (with IAM) transformed my riding and I now enjoy it much more than I did before. I have no regrets and would recommend it to anyone who doesn't have your natural talent, fontana. However, I strongly object to you calling me elitist and sanctimonious, and I don't remember ever having a clipboard in my possession, let alone waving it about.

[fontana]

I was referring to the upper echelon's of this organisation, and am writing about my personal experiences of them.
People who join to improve their skills are different.
I did just the same as you, and two sessions was all I could stomach.
The bloke who took me on an observed ride was a tosser, who would have been hard pushed to explore the limits of a Puch maxi,
Your experiences may be different but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion, and that's mine.
I know that I'm not alone.
I think that groups like the IAM tend to attract the sort of person who likes to feel important, and tell people what to do.
Silly old farts parading around in dayglo with their IAM group badges plastered over their backs so everyone can how important they are.
Police rider wanabe's

[bigblackfalco]

No mention of speedometer variation +10%??

[Grip Fast]

I'm not objecting to you having an opinion, I'm objecting to that opinion being a blanket condemnation of an entire organisation, based on a limited experience. My 'trial' observed ride with the IAM left me feeling a bit deflated, but the observer I was assigned to was brilliant and I really gelled with him. He taught me a great deal while being very modest about his own skills.

So my experience was clearly different to yours. The IAM I am a member of is very different to the organisation you describe. You may not have gelled with your assigned observer, but that doesn't make the whole organisation bad. I would also accept that the IAM and other organisations are not for everyone - that's fine - say that by all means, but this anger and bile is very energy-sapping.

[SP250]

All I can say on the subject and this is NOT related to road riding ability, is that when I have done track days and courses at the Nurburgring - the folk who were the most difficult to track train and ultimately slower, with a couple of exceptions, were the IAM and ROSPA people (oh and BMW rider club members).
Many of whom could not get the idea of using the full width of track or cresting a blind rise not in the middle of the road out of their heads.
Even if there was a corner after the summit, they were still in the middle of the road time after time, instead of in the kerb giving them a larger radius to the corner coming up.
Had to treat them as mobile chicanes after the first couple of hours. However, they were probably much the safer riders on the road.

[Grip Fast]

No mention of speedometer variation +10%??

I guess we got a bit off topic there... Sorry.

[Britisherspy]

The leading riders in my ROSPA group are without doubt the best I've ever been with. Most of them are also either track day nutters with litre track bikes or racers as well as road bikes, all of them are absolute gentlemen and ladies without a hint of snobbery or hivis clothing. I did find the IAM local group a bit cliquey and that put me off but the group I'm with are fantastic. Oh and even the IAM on a social ride were way faster than me on the road, I don't with to brag but I consider myself a very fast rider but it was a challenge to keep up.

You have to search around a bit for a group that suits your style if you don't want to ride alone all the time that is.

[fontana]

The leading riders in my ROSPA group are without doubt the best I've ever been with. Most of them are also either track day nutters with litre track bikes or racers as well as road bikes, all of them are absolute gentlemen and ladies without a hint of snobbery or hivis clothing. I did find the IAM local group a bit cliquey and that put me off but the group I'm with are fantastic. Oh and even the IAM on a social ride were way faster than me on the road, I don't with to brag but I consider myself a very fast rider but it was a challenge to keep up.

You have to search around a bit for a group that suits your style if you don't want to ride alone all the time that is.

FFS why does everyone assume that riding skilfully is all about who can go fastest.
I'll ask my question again.
If you overtake another rider on a country lane, do you think that makes you the better rider.

[Britisherspy]

The leading riders in my ROSPA group are without doubt the best I've ever been with. Most of them are also either track day nutters with litre track bikes or racers as well as road bikes, all of them are absolute gentlemen and ladies without a hint of snobbery or hivis clothing. I did find the IAM local group a bit cliquey and that put me off but the group I'm with are fantastic. Oh and even the IAM on a social ride were way faster than me on the road, I don't with to brag but I consider myself a very fast rider but it was a challenge to keep up.

You have to search around a bit for a group that suits your style if you don't want to ride alone all the time that is.

FFS why does everyone assume that riding skilfully is all about who can go fastest.
I'll ask my question again.
If you overtake another rider on a country lane, do you think that makes you the better rider.

I don't think I would think about it, just follow the system and if the other rider was slower than me I'd pass if it was safe and Carry on with a merry wave. If it then turned into a chase which has happened before then I'd play it by ear.

[slparry]

Just because some bloke from an obscure anti-speed camera campaign in Dorset says you're 'obliged to' doesn't make it so.

And just because some random bloke on an internet forum tells you it's not necessary, doesn't make it so,
There is plenty of information on this, and it's advisable to at least look at the fine print on your policy.

http://www.rias.co.uk/rias-and-you/insu ... o-declare/

If they ask the question, answer it, end of. If they don't ask it, they're not interested.

Pete

In support of this, I'm going through the annual FCA/ITC exam at the moment and it's training presentation had this regarding insurance .... ie "The customer cannot be held liable for information that has not been requested but would be considered material to the contract terms" and "... the onus is on the insurer or their agent to ask all material questions prior to the sale of the insurance"

[fontana]

The point that I've been trying to make, that has been avoided by some, is that all insurers have different criteria.
Generally, the question will be asked at the commencement of a policy, and that's fine.
You're OK then.
I'm not arguing that.
However do you remember every single question you were asked when you took out your policy ?
I don't.
Therefore, if the offence took place after the commencement of your insurance policy, and before renewal, then it might be worth checking the terms and conditions (fine print) just to make sure that you don't need to inform them.
Bearing in mind that insurers will often leave no stone un turned when it comes to potentially reducing, or even cancelling a pay out
I can't believe anyone would suggest that this is a stupid idea.
Insurers usually operate a “catch all” clause in their policies about keeping them informed about factors which may affect your driving, so make sure.
That's all I'm suggesting.

[boxerscott]

Our lass attended a speed awareness course today in Carlisle. She had an observation to make, the gentlemen running the course needed to go on a Fitness Aware Course, A FAC. She got a nice booklet and had a nice chat with a couple more grannies and a Geordie fella who stated that the only reason he attended this course was because he has held a clean license for 30 years and wanted to keep it that way. In his position I have to admit I would have done the same. There were more females than males and to Amandas surprise only half of them knew what the national speed limit sign meant!

She was also told by the Fac`ers that 1% of motorists were bikers but they accounted for 30% of road fatalities. There were lots of other gloom and doom statistics but amazingly the demographic of attendees were middle to old age. She also learnt that the Scots do not have SACS and that the HGV speed limit laws differ to the rest of the UK. She was also informed that a litre of fuel is nearly 1kg in mass and why would anyone want to run around town with a full tank of fuel! She thought about Pan calling Kettle black

Did she learn anything? She said she actually felt a sense of injustice and unfairness but rolling with it was better than the 3 points.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2017 ... ng-110mph/