Plod assessment ride

Quality response - but how about the 306BB:

"This is a BMW ex-cop bike. It's got a cop motor, an eleven-thirty
cubic centimetre plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop
shocks, it was a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run
good on regular gas ...

 

Dover.

 

....Part Deux

I said I would report back after my "Bikekraft" assessment with
Northamptonshire's finest. The weather was good, a few hazards
dutifully presented themselves at opportune moments, we rode along
some excellent local roads (all of which I have used at some time or
another) and it was a useful exercise. The assessor gave me some
useful advice on riding techniques, and all in all it was an
experience I would wholeheartedly recommend.

In all probability, it's off to the local IAM meeting point tomorrow
morning.

 

The suspension on *my* Bandit is really fucking hard.

Eeek!

 

Veggie Dave hasn't got a Duke 2.

 

LC4.

 

**** knows.

As soon as is reasonably practicable, I will.

 

I turned up and the outcome was an observed run to Melton Mowbray. The
second half of the run takes was along the B6047; a fantastic
motorcycling route I have ridden in the reverse direction when
travelling back from Lincoln via Colsterworth, on occasions when I
really don't want to drone south along the A1 and face the dubious
joys of the A43.

I spotted a minor discrepancy between what the police examiner said
yesterday, on the Bikekraft assessment, and what the IAM observer said
today with regard to road positioning, but other than that it all
semed to coincide.

The lure of a 20% reduction in my insurance premium makes the whole
experience worth pursuing. Renewal is at the end of October, so I've
put in for my test to try and get everything through by then.

 

20%?!!

Suddenly I'm all turned around on the matter.

 

Paul Varnsverry said:

Usually the companies that offer a discount for IAM membership are 50%
more expensive in the first place.

 

This wouldn't be the Northampton IAM, would it? I remember that being
one of the regular runs.

These discrepancies are what did it for me. Even the various IAM
observes couldn't mange to tell me the same thing. That and the fact I
didn't agree with some of their rules.

--
John

SV650
Black it is
and naked

 

On Sun, 07 Sep 2003 19:24:28 +0100, Simon Atkinson

[northants IAM and plod examiner]

LOL.

You don't have a high opinion of these people do you?

 

Bear said:

I can reveal that they've not offered me the PR job yet.

 

My fully comp insurance was £216 last year.

This year, I'm an IAM member and it's £148 fully comp.

I'm a happy bunny )

 

Charders said:

I am not a member - I am paying about 20 quid more than you to insure an
1100cc bike. I think we are of a similar age (I'm 41).

Which is good.

 

<cough> Yes, similar ;o)

 

Yes it was the Northamptonshire section of the IAM, but everyone got
out of the car park upright and in one piece. I made sure I was the
last to leave because I *hate* riding in convoy. That way, I would
have been able to weave between the debris rather than being a part of
it.

Sounds like Simon had a bad experience on both counts. A couple of
things were said to me at the IAM meeting that gave me an insight into
why he possibly took exception. I just smiled and maintained a
diplomatic silence. I went to the group in order to continue to
familiarise myself more fully with how I will have to ride to pass the
IAM test, and will possibly attend at least one more meeting and
observed run before my test. It is purely a means to an end.

I had heard anecdotal evidence that different people have different
interpretations of how to apply the advanced riding techniques
necessary to pass the IAM test. I debated with both the police assesor
and the IAM observer that whilst there are some rules that must be
followed to the letter, everything else has to remain in a state of
flux to suit the prevailing road, traffic, light and weather
conditions, etc. On this basis, I don't think I would make a very good
"team" member amongst a local group, IYSWIM.

 

Does that mean you passed the IAM test or you're just a member? What's the
dealio here?

 

You have to pass the test to become a member.

Paul

 

Whatever, I don't want to make friends with the fuckers but at 1800 quid
TPF&T, 20% is a lot of Barons.