Views on the IAM Test

Your views on the IAM

  • Have done it, think its great

    Votes: 56 54.9%

  • Have done it, thought it was a waste of time

    Votes: 6 5.9%

  • Doing it at the moment

    Votes: 10 9.8%

  • Would never do it

    Votes: 7 6.9%

  • Might do it, but the IAM is so boring

    Votes: 9 8.8%

  • Would rather do RoSPA, Diamond etc...

    Votes: 14 13.7%
  • Total voters
    102
Nate

Nate

Registered user
Joined
Oct 19, 2005
Messages
1,689
Reaction score
0
Location
Cornwall, Nr. England
Hi all...

Just intrigued about the IAM test... and what people think about it? How many have done it? who wouldnt do it etc??? :nenau

Anyway, if you have any comments etc... please let me know

Cheers

Nate
 
Wouldn't say it was "great", although I do think it, and the learning necessary to reach the required standard, was worthwhile.

To be "great" it would need to be of a higher standard - as it is a "pass" can mean anything from adequate to extremely competent. The graded RoSPA test has more appeal, especially as it has to be re-taken every 3 yrs (I did my IAM 10yrs ago, and am wondering how bad my riding has degenerated since then, but still qualify as an "advanced motorcyclist" and IAM member :rolleyes:).
 
IAM Test Biased view

Hi, I am (IAM get it) :jibber totally biased.
As an IAM Senior Observer with a very proactive riding group, I have to say I think .......
It depends on a lot of things.
1. do you want to be a member of the Countries largest road saftey charity
2. do you want to learn a "Skill For Life" (SFL is the current IAM training package)
3. do you like riding your bike often enough to practice a skill and implement knowledge
4. do you think you have something to learn
5. will you get on with an observer assigned to you (and or will you be able to say it is the individual and not the organisation if you don't gel
6. Have you passes your Bike test and hold a full licence
7. do you have less than 9 points on your licence
8. do you feel comfortable with constructive critic
9. can you assess that critic and ask for explanation if you don't agree
10. are you prepared to do homework and read Roadcraft
11. do you have a good understanding of the highway code
12. do you have a basic understanding of the bike from a maintenance perspective (P.O.W.D.D.E.R.S.S)
13. are you just looking to get another certificate and move on or give something back to biking
14. would you like a dicscount on your insurance
15. go for it folks...... I know there are loads more things to
"consider"
etc etc etc

rgds
Ware's R1150GS
 
No views in IAM but I am doing my initial RoSPA training at the moment.

I passed my DAS in August last year so I am probably not the normal trainee - oh and I am in my early 30's. My reason for doing the RoSPA course was more for the training than passing a test, well initially anyway! When you pass your DAS test their is so much more to learn about really riding a bike that only really comes with time and I wanted to accelerate this as I was using my bike everyday. I began my training a few months after passing my test and even after the first session it made a huge difference to my confidence. I have been very guilty of not maintaining a steady training schedule, partly due to work, but now am at the stage of taking my test next month. My observers have been great, really nice guys and great tutors, mentors and advisors. Apart from learning the safety side and getting advice on those things the DAS never teahces you, it has made me so much smoother and soooo much faster than I ever imagined. Going out for the sessions is great fun. I would highly recommend it to anyone, but especially those in a similar position as me, and especially those that do not ride their bikes everyday - you will not regrett it.

David
 
The IAM test is a decent enough basic test.

The biggest problem is that it's 'pass and forget'. You never need to take a re-test so there's not really any incentive to maintain the skill level you originally attained.

I'm also not entirely sure that the test standard is as rigorously applied as it should be. I certainly know that 2 of my Associates were given 'scraping passes'. As I tagged along on both tests I'd already formed the opinion that they should have failed: yet they passed.

My suspicion is that IAM HQ in their efforts to be the voice of motoring safety are simply after gaining members.

It's also odd that the IAM has been very reluctant to engage with the DSA's new Register of Post-Test Trainers, unlike RoSPA/RoADAR.

One issue with both organisations is that car drivers dominate. And car drivers have very little idea about how bike riders operate. Many are genuinely puzzled by the enthusiasm of bike riders, and their level of activity. But them most bike riders do it as a hobby activity and not their main source of transport.

That being said, if you go the IAM route, and if you then take up 'Observing' you'll find that your skill levels tend to remain very high.

Becoming a RoSPA Tutor requires you to start with a Gold level pass and being retested on both your own riding and your Tutoring skills every three years.
 
Ware's R1150gs said:
Hi, I am (IAM get it) :jibber totally biased.
As an IAM Senior Observer with a very proactive riding group, I have to say I think .......
It depends on a lot of things.
1. do you want to be a member of the Countries largest road saftey charity
2. do you want to learn a "Skill For Life" (SFL is the current IAM training package)
3. do you like riding your bike often enough to practice a skill and implement knowledge
4. do you think you have something to learn
5. will you get on with an observer assigned to you (and or will you be able to say it is the individual and not the organisation if you don't gel
6. Have you passes your Bike test and hold a full licence
7. do you have less than 9 points on your licence
8. do you feel comfortable with constructive critic
9. can you assess that critic and ask for explanation if you don't agree
10. are you prepared to do homework and read Roadcraft
11. do you have a good understanding of the highway code
12. do you have a basic understanding of the bike from a maintenance perspective (P.O.W.D.D.E.R.S.S)
13. are you just looking to get another certificate and move on or give something back to biking
14. would you like a dicscount on your insurance
15. go for it folks...... I know there are loads more things to
"consider"
etc etc etc

rgds
Ware's R1150GS
Click to expand...

Consider grammar and spelling :augie
 
They say, how do you know if someone is in the IAM?
...........................................................................................................................................they wear a badge and will tell you:augie
 
IAM's a good start, but it ain't the be-all and and end-all.

The thing with training, developing and learning as a rider is it should never stop :thumb2
 
having just passed mine yesterday......

it is worthwhile... i don't think any formal training is wasted, i hope i never stop learning how to avoid being killed:thumb

it is important to latch on to a good observer though, i quite quickly evaluated the observers and stayed with the right one for me!

the test was an hours ride on a wide variety of roads, like the standard driving test you either pass or fail... a "grade" of pass might be more appropriate at this level?

i would say it was very good! but not excellent:thumb

how much
 
I passed my IAM test a couple of years ago and still go out with the group for rideouts. I think its worth doing as you will learn something.

But,

I feel as though you get a different story depending on what observer you talk to and not all observers are as good as they think they are! The group has asked me if I would like to be an observer, I'm going to hold out for a while longer.

It also frustrates me a bit when I see a new (young) associate being corrected for their mistakes by an old geezer - the young associates mistake was that he had his feet pointing outwards!!! Well, IMO, that is one quick way to put someone off the IAM.

In our group we have a retired bike cop. I always try to be with him when we go for a ride. He always says or does something that I learn from.

Cheers.
 
IAM are for old people!

This is how you should ride

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/j7bHlwjXkF8&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/j7bHlwjXkF8&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
 
I like the thought of doing some further training. Something to consider doing next Spring. I bought myself the books to read and see what I can pick up out of them. There's no substitute however for riding with someone (in my mind at least) who is able to provide a decent critique of how I could get better.

I worry that whilst I am generally a quick rider and pretty confident with it, after 13 years of riding some bad habits have definitely crept in, so a bit of new learning would help get rid of the bad behaviours

So I'm in favour of it all, just need to pick the society who will provide the best learning, I'm not in it for the 'badges' though

and lastly a passing thought......:thumb

DaveGSCymro said:
Consider grammar and spelling :augie
Click to expand...

<img src="http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee148/biker_garfield/grammarnazi.jpg">
 
Any training is better than none. In the three and a bit years since starting biking again, I've done 85,000 miles and without advanced training I reckon I would have had a serious off by now. Some things you might forget or let slip over time, but if I'm following someone on a bike I can normally tell whether they've undertaken any training in the past. Some riders make me cringe and I keep well away from them.

I did my car test first and found the East Sussex IAM car group to be really anal picking me up on things like letting the handbrake rachet sound. But I really enjoyed the bike training--the East Sussex Advanced Motorcyclists have a great attitude. I've now applied for 2008 training with the local Rospa group.
 
Yep - I've done the test. Was a bit "easy" though. Amazingly some people struggle, but its just common sense riding.

I ride every day, but maybe more of use for weekend jockeys or born agains.
 
Done it worthwhile, think there should be some form of retest at some point, personally use Bike safe every couple of years to retune me brain. Re testing would also help retain members, take and forget not the best way forward, this could give it more status in regards to insurance premuim reduction.

Have same opinion of the basic test for your license, you should have to prove your ability to retain it, it could prevent a lot of "t**ts" being on the road.
 
I have been riding on the road since 1969. I passed my IAM test in 1982 when I thought I had nothing left to learn. I was wrong!!! I had a good observer and my examiner was a very well respected Police Instructor. I enjoyed it and I rode quicker with a greater margin of safety than before, as opposed to riding faster and like a total w*nker!

Fast forward to last year. I had let my membership slip, so I had to do the whole thing again. The standards today are inconsistent, well at least the observers are. Instead of 1 observer to 3 "pupils", now I had 1-to-1. The issue was, I had 4 different observers over my 6 rides. One observer was an absolute w*nker!!! He was overtaking between 2 way traffic on a 60mph limit A road when I was doing 55-60, he passed me doing over 70 and later said the whole purpose of IAM was to "make progress"!!! OK if you want to progress to the cemetery! He also boasts of riding from Newport in South Wales to the Dorset sea-front gatherings on Tuesday evening in 2 hours!!!!! Go figure!

In fairness, he is/was an exception. The guy I spent the most time with was very good indeed and I did enjoy it.

One other comment. 20 odd years ago, all the South Wales tests were carried out by one guy. Now, there are at least 2 and they have different agendas, so the test standard isn't consistent either.

The IAM course is a good one IF you get a good observer, in my experience, there are too many that are not so good. Consistency is essential in order to maintain standards.
 
cheers all...

Thanks for all the interesting comments and different perspectives...

I guess the main things that have come out are

a) the inconsistency of the Observers and Examiners. Something that the IAM appear to be solving

b) The need for retraining / re accreditation. But i guess, if you go on to become an observer / senior observer, then you have to re test periodically and your riding becomes better and better as you go up through the grades.

c) Shaun... Shame on you... You really should go back to your group and try the observer route... well worth it :nenau

d) IAM car groups are full of picky T***er's :spank

Cheers gang...

Nate
 
Tim Cullis said:
Any training is better than none. In the three and a bit years since starting biking again, I've done 85,000 miles and without advanced training I reckon I would have had a serious off by now. Some things you might forget or let slip over time, but if I'm following someone on a bike I can normally tell whether they've undertaken any training in the past. Some riders make me cringe and I keep well away from them.

I did my car test first and found the East Sussex IAM car group to be really anal picking me up on things like letting the handbrake rachet sound. But I really enjoyed the bike training--the East Sussex Advanced Motorcyclists have a great attitude. I've now applied for 2008 training with the local Rospa group.
Click to expand...

Yep.

RoSPA SMART is the way to go.

You don't need to wait for the 2008 Ride School, though.

'Tis one of the groups for which I am a tutor.

Well organised, and generally very friendly.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wildbeeste
Claiming on other driver's insurance
Replies
14
Views
565
trebor
trebor
Which is best / easiest to remove - centre stand or side stand?
2
Replies
39
Views
1,482
theoneandonly
theoneandonly
Suspension to soft, blowing though travel on potted tarmac...
Replies
7
Views
234
Morpheus
Wapping
Wapping’s Wanders - Trip to France - Friday 24 May to Monday 27 May
Replies
13
Views
444
The Other PaulG
The Other PaulG
Engine will not crank. I
2
Replies
32
Views
1,872
Santa-2512
Santa-2512


Back
Top Bottom