Introduction to advanced motorcycle riding with Steve

Advanced Motorcycle Riding, IPSGA, IAM & riding Using the System

[@tnetroP]

Thanks. My right ear learned a lot today.

[@vipladva]

Excellent video. Need to watch a number of times, theres so much in it

[@KamalSingh-wc4pw]

More useful than most videos.

[@haywoodstheman]

New rider here. Great job narrating the real time analysis of the ride, your procedure and how you approach the motorbike is great exposure for a newbie like me.

[@MrGlendragon]

As a professional bus driver there is much in this video that we do on a daily basis and I ride to these standards when out on the bike and It needs saying that I find the ride much more enjoyable the only problem I have is these dreded L plates I must display I really must bite the bullet soon and ride the test and with videos like this makes me want to do it more thanks for sharing this knawlage it really helps

[@Glasshousebc]

Reading some of these comments.... wish I hadn’t. Video was great, and I, for one, appreciate the effort made. Clear commentary, safe riding, and with riding season being over (winters in BC means no riding for this fella for a few months) a good way to keep me sane. I must admit though, the ‘system’ you use and I’ve adopted is very different to the way riding is taught over here.... especially taking bends. Since using vanishing points and steady throttle, my riding has become a lot more natural feeling for me. From a UK ex-pat, many thanks.

[@thehairybikers2108]

Glasshousebc Glad that you found this helpful. Yes some of the comments are or must be from those who are experts. I however am just a rider who teaches advanced riding with a police motorcyclist background and am only passing on my knowledge

[@thehairybikers2108]

Please watch the other video on Jo's channel re positive steering. This exercise will give you confidence in how your bike reacts to positive steering alone and then it is marriage of lean and positive steering along with the use of the system. If everything is done before you commit to the bend and have a steady throttle you will never loose the front end

[@scott5186]

Brilliant riding skills matey. Thanks for posting that great video up. Ride safe.

[@richardsherwin3259]

Just re-watched this. Needs a couple of watches with all the information that’s in the video. One of the best I’ve found so far. 👌👍

[@oldbirdonabike2493]

Richard Sherwin really glad you’ve found it useful Richard, thanks to Steve & watching this several times I’ve just got a RoSPA Gold pass

[@richardsherwin3259]

Old Bird on a Bike Excellent. Well done 👌👍

[@richardsherwin3259]

Old Bird on a Bike Good Evening. Just wanted to let you know I’ve managed to get a RoSPA Silver (just missed a gold by one or two silly mistakes) still I’m chuffed with a Silver. Thanks to your videos, They helped a great deal 👍

[@jb1876]

You need to make more videos, top class advice 👍

[@vainparasite]

Wow that seems absolutely exhausting. I don't think I could do more than 10 miles with all that going on in my head.

[@steve1962]

Brilliant introduction Steve - I've never had any advanced training but do try to ride as per your ethos - living in the countryside as I do (Cotswolds) we have the added perils of wildlife and tractors (wide turning angles on those buggers) so you have to keep yer wits about you. Steve

[@johngrannan]

Great video Steve - very clear and informative!

[@andyseal5463]

Good info and commentary. I'm doing an advanced course and found this really useful

[@bonsaigardenwithmarksander968]

Very informative video, I’ve just past my test so looking to do advanced riding soon. Gone from a 125 to a BMW 1150 RT 😀

[@plumduff3303]

Brilliant thanks for sharing

[@cloudmaker]

Great video this with lots of useful information.Thank you.

[@springwood100]

Great video thanks I've learnt a lot.

[@ljgarrison6910]

What a beautiful piece of riding, wonderful

[@ABell676]

Love that you use the POWDER method when checking the bike over. Been drummed into me too.

[@gford816]

Now updated to POWDDERSS

[@Hurdl]

Really great ride. and Thanks for the great tutorial-video. Greeting from austria :) Ride safe

[@Jim553just]

Austria, Mmmm, home of KTM. Thank you for wonderful new brand of bikes ;)

[@judgedredd49]

In the latest Roadcraft manual the 3 positions are near to the nearside kerb where the inside wheels of a car would be and not close to to the kerb or verge as that could contain debris or potholes or grids. The 2nd position can be called the sump line. This position was not advised many years ago due in part to diesel or petrol or oil spillage but nowadays there is little of that and so its considered safer. Finally the 3rd position is not right up the middle lines as that could be an dangerous position particularly on left hands bends where we want to be as far out for safe vision but not putting oursleves in the path of oncoming vehicles on the bend..

[@yessure5291]

It is worth mentioning following distances. Two seconds from when the vehicle ahead of you passes something until you reach the same place. Applies to ANY speed. Three seconds is better in bad weather or heavy traffic.

[@markb9419]

excellent, textbook riding.

[@GTsGarage]

Nicely presented..

[@richardsherwin3259]

What a wonderful video 👌👍 I’m just returning to advanced training after a layoff. This video is excellent for some tips. Fingers crossed I can pass my advanced with rejoining my local group and also videos like this one. Fingers crossed I can then do some good and. Join the local blood Bikers and Cary on with training and advanced group riding. All the best. I’ll be subscribing and looking for other videos of yours. Excellent thanks again

[@oldbirdonabike2493]

Richard Sherwin glad you enjoyed it & pleased you’ve found it helpful, good luck with your training

[@richardsherwin3259]

Old Bird on a Bike Cheers Steve. I’m sure these videos will help. Love watching your riding. Richard

[@thehairybikers2108]

Hi Richard. Glad you found them helpful. This is Jo's blog and I just do the riding bit for her.

[@dekewhite7180]

something i do sometimes is look at the activity of the cars suspension in front of me. if it jumps i know there is a bump or pothole he hit

[@alisiahoinart318]

Where is this? edit: went back to the beginning,

[@Addy29plus5]

Good video, you must be an Ex or current serving police officer. Your riding is fantastic. U.K. Police motorcyclists are excellent at maintaining bubble, positioning and not using the brakes unnecessarily

[@thehairybikers2108]

Addy E Good guess spot on. ex police motorcyclist but still in the job and teach in my spare time

[@Addy29plus5]

Thought so 😁, keep up the good work and look forward to future videos. Stay Safe

[@douglasmcgarvie483]

steve puckering n

[@sn00pgreen]

good vid..early june evening I go into deer mode..so I start thinking gateways as well as all the other potential hazzards

[@sn00pgreen]

oh and I never get too close to that near side, no escape

[@eddieintheironmaiden]

Watched "bends" too. No mention of the road surface. I have mental issues with the loose gravel you get in the middle of the lane. Always try to avoid it but this obviously effects your position. Also surely if you can see clearly round the bend on the road you can use more of a racing line rather than hugging the nearside / offside as you advise for the road?

[@judgedredd49]

At 8.15 you are committing to an overtake on a 60 mph road. A little earlier you said that the speed limit was 60 mph and to maintain that speed. I saw no real braking or slowing before the overtake so assuming that the van was doing 60 mph that on the overtake you were going faster than that. Was that the case?

[@wmgthilgen]

Tis amazing that since the birth of the GoPro and U-Tube, the number of would be experts there are.

[@thehairybikers2108]

William Guy Thilgen Jr. .I don't claim to be an expert but I am an ex police motorcyclist and still teach via IAM. What is your expertise to make such a comment.

[@SBKPete]

steve puckering ; Steve, don't rise to it; it's not worth it. On April 21st this year I will have been riding on UK roads for 40 years, and I'm always looking to learn more. Thank you for taking the time to upload; it was very informative. Kind regards.

[@krytenLister]

There are plenty of would be "experts"passing on their "knowledge" on youtube (more often wrong and\or dangerous advice), and then there are real experts with the highest level of training and years of experience under their belts.

[@2wheelsrbest327]

Hi Steve just found this and enjoyed it as your commentary is great and I will now look at your others. Hardest part for me riding at this standard is keeping at 30mph. Any tips on doing that. Playing devils advocate were your panniers a bit close to the solid white lines ! Cheers Ted

[@thehairybikers2108]

Hi Ted. In a 30 you want to be in 2nd gear and try to aim for 27mph that way you will not go over. In a 40 use 3rd gear as both these gears are more responsive for those speed limits

[@2wheelsrbest327]

Thanks Steve I will do that, I only mentioned the panniers because its something I have only just realised. Although going back 50 years I was told to treat a solid white like a brick wall so I should have realised but I have always just ensured my wheels were inside the white line rather than the width of the bike. Once again it proves your never too old to learn. Ted

[@stevepuckering4523]

umm a lot said there. In relation to always turning your head (the life saver) necessary when turning right and exiting roundabouts etc but not always necessary on overtakes as with mirror checks you should be aware of what is behind you. If circumstances dictate then such as riding in a group then yes life saver before you commit. Not necessary to have both feet on the ground when stopped. Do I take it that you keep the bike in gear and not in neutral. If both feet are on the ground then you must shuffle to place the bike in gear. The central position is taken for on coming vehicles to increase the safety bubble on the offside of the machine and ride to the condition of the road surface at that time. You cannot control the movement of vehicles behind you other than show a brake light or ease off from the vehicle in front of you if they are to close to you and position as you said to where you have an exit when stopping. You mentioned the two second rule which is correct but this is a short video and not all aspects of advanced riding is covered in it

[@chrisd7789]

It can be useful to keep the bike in gear in case an emergency getaway is required to escape a rear end collision.

[@kasztan2008]

Overtaking just before the junction was quite risky at 8:13 I suspect if someone who is trying to pass Advance Riding could have difficulty getting a score when doing so ?

[@thehairybikers2108]

Mike K. What I did not say on the video was my view for that overtake. Approach to the van my eyes were looking at the approach road on the left to the junction. Clear view of the road leading to the junction which was clear. Clear view ahead so overtake was on

[@judgedredd49]

@@thehairybikers2108 Not by what I was a seeing. but if you say so.

[@Boyko1996]

Windows 10: Settings -> search "mono" and turn on mono audio, don't forget to disable after. (This might be missing if you're running an older Windows update.)

[@thehairybikers2108]

Paul. This was just a demonstration video it would not be possible to cover all aspects of advanced riding in a 20 minute video. This was just to demonstrate the use of the system IPSGA.

[@ljgarrison6910]

It does say "intro" in the title..

[@yessure5291]

You do have some control of what happens behind you >> If you are in a car or truck or bus and someone rams into the back of your vehicle you just have to sit there and take it. But you are on a small, nimble motorcycle. And I may assume you have 2 good legs for jumping off the motorcycle if need be. Why would you sit there and get hit? How to avoid being hit in the rear of your motorcycle when you stop: Two feet down for every stop - only when the motorcycle has fully stopped - 1) Have both feet on the road - one foot means the motorcycle is leaning - to ride off you have to spend effort to get the motorcycle vertical before you can do anything. (you might need that one second) - so 2 feet down. If it is an uphill stop or downhill stop you want the security of 2 feet down. If it is off camber when you stop you want both feet down for security. These things apply especially to beginners. But is good practice always for every rider. Next be sure to be in first gear - you can't ride away quickly if you are in a high gear. All of that happens the instant you stop. Next immediately turn and look behind you (NOT look in your mirrors) mirrors tell you what you cannot see - does the driver see you? Make eye contact. Let them know you are watching them. So next you have determined they may run into you: 2) First is to always stop way back from the vehicle in front of you - you might just need to ride ahead enough to allow the car behind you to stop - if you are the first in line at the stop or red light - stay back from the white cross line and the intersection - same reason - you may just need to ride ahead a bit to allow the car behind to have more stopping distance. 3) Because you are back from the intersection you can ride ahead and make a 90 degree turn either right or left and avoid being run into - this means you are essentially sideways maybe even in the pedestrian walkway - who cares - you avoided being run into. 4) You are not first in line - you perceive you are going to be run into from behind - ride ahead between the vehicles ahead of you either to the right or left of any of them - let the car behind run into them not you. 5) You are not first in line - make a sharp right or left and go between the cars ahead of you and end up crosswise across the front of somebodies car - who cares - you didn't get run into. 6) You perceive you are going to be run into from behind - in a millisecond you determine there is nowhere to go - jump off your motorcycle and run aside - who cares about a piece of metal and tires and plastic compared to your body - you can always get another motorcycle. 7) As you determine that traffic is going to stop ahead of you, you have a few things you can do before stopping - check how close is the vehicle behind you - start slowing earlier than usual - the vehicle behind will notice and start slowing as well - if they are too close turn around and look at them - it shows them you are a human not just the back of a helmet - make a pushing back motion with your left hand palm facing the car behind you - indicating to them to push back - blink your brake light rapidly with your rear brake pedal - this will not slow you - but will draw their attention that something is going on - initiate your 4 way flashers if you have them - rapidly alternate your right and left signals if you don't have 4-ways - and /or do both at the same time - alternate signals and flashing brake light(s). Are they using a cell phone in some manner? 8) You notice someone behind you too close - you get a 'feeling' - you can put on your signal light - slow down and turn off or pull off to the side of the road and let them drive by to be a problem for someone else - you count to 15 and then continue on your way - the one minute you lose means nothing - you are not in a hurry you are on a motorcycle for fun. Get their attention in preparation way ahead of the stop situation you see ahead of you. You are in charge of the guy behind if you do it right. Remember you are not in a hurry - you are on a motorcycle for fun.

[@krytenLister]

ROFL - What exactly did you teach? You can boil all this down to Take Use Give Information

[@yessure5291]

Didn't you read the previous comment?

[@judgedredd49]

Later on at just after 7 mins out in a 60 mph zone he is keeping good safe distance behind a white van and states that if there is a straight later on he will intend to overtake the at vehicle This means that he could possibly exceed the legal speed limit and commit an offence under provisions of the RTActs. He has been on a road that has sweeping long bends and sometimes ther is lkittle gained by moving from one side of the road to the other. With that amount of good visility one might as well stay as one is and just alter position for other safety reasons. In town earlier on he turned at a number of roundabouts some big ones but I saw no indicators flashing on his dash. Perhaps he doesnt use them to give Information to other road users of his intentions at roundabouts. In at least one ocassion there was traffic waiting to turn in and he turned left before he got to them. They would have benefited from his informing them of his intention to turn first left..

[@tonyemans4512]

Really good commentary, well explained

[@rob.1963]

At 8.16 overtake you don't do a lifesaver, is there a reason why?

[@thehairybikers2108]

If you look again I know what is behind me and I check off side mirror twice.

[@canopus101]

Very good video with good information. However, personally, I would either not have done the overtake maneuver at around 14-20 or exceeded the 40 mph limit for a while. It seems that brake was already being applied as soon as the car was passed. I don't know who is driving that car, could be a fiery temper type. Although he should slow to the set limit he may not be of that mindset and just sees a biker overtaking and then brake lights going on. This may piss him off. I think I would have left this overtake and passed him when I had a good stretch of fast road. I fully understand that this is an instructional video and limits had to complied with but getting in front of someone and showing brake lights is provocative. If I had not noticed the speed limit decrease before the over take maneuver I just would have rolled the throttle shut and ignored the fact that I was exceeding the limit for a short distance. I may be wrong in this, I am always learning, but I must be doing something right in forty two years of riding bikes in all weathers.

[@Denverbreslin]

Hi there. Does Advanced Steve have his own cannel by any chance?

[@oldbirdonabike2493]

Denver Breslin - no, he shares mine :-)

[@Aiken47]

I dont agree with the times you pulled to the left when 1: Solid walls where cars would need to poke the front end out onto the road to see traffic, a great way for you to ride into them. 2: those driveways have had mud and gravel dragged onto those sections of road make them low traction areas. The safety bubble and forethought advice regarding other vehicles and corner line of sight was great.

[@thehairybikers2108]

Asnl45 We position to extend our view. We never sacrifice safety for that view. Observation skills are the key. We don't just look for other traffic we are looking at road surface micro climates debris pedestrians the list goes on. You may not agree that is your opinion and you are of course entitled to it. However I have the experience and training to know what is safe and position accordingly. These videos are just a guide to help riders to enjoy their riding and be more safe. Best wishes

[@yessure5291]

Mirror checks are interesting but not the whole story. You should turn your head and look. If you see something in your mirror you cannot move. If you do not see anything in a mirror then you must turn and look. At the safety school where I taught, if someone shows up to take the course on their own motorcycle the first thing we do is put a sock over each mirror forcing the habit to turn and look. Before every time you move off turn and look 360 degrees. Even if it is 6 feet ahead. And every stop turn and look. Be fully 360 degrees aware.

[@judgedredd49]

At or about 20.00 he mentioned sounding his horn and the sun might be in the drivers eyes of a car on the offside waiting to join his carriagway. If you look to the front of his machine he is following a long shadow. the shadow of his bike and therefore he knows as I do that the sun is directly behind him and low down so that constitutes a danger. One that is not always recognised so be aware if you cast a shadow in front of you other drivers looking towards you my just see nothing but sun and be dazzled. ok.

[@ali41Bongo]

Do you used to be a police motorbike rider mate?

[@thehairybikers2108]

Yes a few years ago

[@paulm1162]

I would love to see one of these videos shot in Cumbria with manholes in wet and dark on bend, cow s**t, gravel, wind etc but alas, as good as this video is, for me, the real hazards as already mentioned are never dealt with....such a shame that :(

[@jonogsx]

that would be pretty cool

[@eddieintheironmaiden]

"avoid the white paint where possible" 😂 "the danger is behind you" how many bikers are hit from behind? Not many is my guess. The danger is in front of you. It's what the whole video is about.... Great vid though Steve 👍

[@judgedredd49]

At 13.55 he went round a left handed n bend and closed right up behind the vehicle in front. If that vehicle had had to brake hard or had had some form of accident then he would not have been in a safe following on position and being over on the tyres he could have suffered a fall off or be thrown off. A few minutes later he overtook the car and had to brake brake brake because he was entering a slower speed limit. One should not overtake under those circumstances.

[@thehairybikers2108]

I have looked at 13:55 and 14:55 can't see that I am to close on a left hand bend and you mention the overtake of the same vehicle. Look again I am back on the correct side of the road and we'll.clear of the vehicle that I have overtook before I break for the 40 and do not affect that vehicle or cause it to brake or alter course

[@judgedredd49]

Steve prior to this bend you had kept a good safe distance behind the vehicle in front. Its in accord with the Manual and as you are aware is called the Following on Distance. That is the distance one should always be should one be required to stop in an emergency. A few seconds later one is through the bend after mentioning the vanishing line or point. Before the bend you went close to the white lines and said that one might have to sacrifice that line should you meet with any oncoming vehicles. In the latest manual that line is no longer recommended to trainees. Its recommended to move out but not that close to the line,. Why put oneself in an increasingly dangerous position if one has to move away from it at a later date. After the bend you can plainly see that whilst you were telling us about the vanishing point you ended up travelling much closer to the car in front, Half the previous distance in fact. Vanishing point is all well and good in many but not all circumstances. Its generally of value if one is following less severe bends and other longer curves in the road . If one comes across a severe bend then one has to slow right down and follow the advice of keeping safe distane enough to be able to see ahead and to stop in. That is obvious however you ended up well within your safe following distance and that is a dangerous position. Thats at 13.50 As a result you had to slow considerably and then allow the car in front to move away to a safe following on distance again before you accelerated. Finally after the end of the double white lines and when the road was clear you executed a good safe overtake from well back [ the following on position] using the benefit of the bikes acceleration. However one could see the 40 mph signs ahead and I would suggest you pulled in rather sharply in front of the car and its clear that at the speeds of yourself and the car just overtaken there would not be sufficient safe stopping distance between the two of you if it were necessary to brake suddenly. In the overtake You pulled by his side at 14.19 and pulled in at 14.21 so your overtake from being side by side to pulling in was just 2 seconds. If he was travelling at 50 mph he would have been travelling at 75ft per second and at your overtake speed if it was within the legal speed limit of 60 mph which it should be you would be travelling at 90ft per second. So starting off side by side in that two second period he would have driven 150ft and you would have travelled 180ft so you would have been only 30ft in front of him when you pulled in.. [ distances rounded up for ease of calculation ] Again the Manual does not recommend an overtake on approach to a slower national speed sign.

[@chrisd7789]

@@judgedredd49 'The Manual' is only to be taken as a guide.

[@judgedredd49]

@@chrisd7789 Yes I understand what you are saying but without guidance from all the training books and more there would be mayhem and chaos on our roads. So they are useful. Why teach to them and then say to candidates no matter what I teach you you can do whatever you like. That defeats the object of training doesn't it.

[@chrisd7789]

@@judgedredd49 I respect your views on this. You should ride within the law, and the manual should be followed where its practicable to do so. Perhaps Steve's ability and confidence exceeds some of the best practices in the manual, and allows him to ocassionally exceed these guidelines without realizing. I agree that this may be detrimental to some early followers of the advanced riding system. There was perhaps an assumption made about the vehicle travelling around 50mph when passing. Perhaps it was 40mph? Sometimes camera angles and types of lens can distort perspectives. Should this have been the case, maybe his judgement was absolutely correct to overtake and make progress. Slowing to the restriction (yes, almost immediately after), which was observed to be clear, therefore posed no risk to suffering rear collision, nor cause alarm or inconvenience to the overtaken vehicle. Is this a fair conclusion?

[@yessure5291]

Riding in the center of a lane puts you on top of all the oil accumulation on the road. Be careful, especially if it just begins to rain. The oil in the center will float up.

[@chrisd7789]

I hear this theory, but it might be a little outdated. Modern vehicles don't leak like they often did.

[@graemesydney38]

How you rate yourself as an advanced rider I have no idea. I didn't see you cover brakes or slow once, despite multiple dangers at intersections and blind driveways, you need to buffer away from oncoming cars more, you generally don't check your mirrors often enough and I didn't see one head check (a.k.a. Life Saver). Just your average rider but full of hubris.

[@chrisd7789]

Advanced riding is mostly about good observations, and acting on them. A skill which I consider very few riders and drivers possess. How can you be sure he didn't check mirrors? He wasnt being followed by an observer who expects to see eggagerated head movements to confirm observations. Eye movement is not picked up from an externally mounted helmet camera. Covering brakes is not always considered the best strategy, as it can lead to 'panic braking'. Effective and regular use of mirrors may negate the need for 'lifesavers' in many situations, but its drummed into novice riders as a failsafe strategy. There may be much more to consider before jumping to criticise this video. Stay safe.

[@thehairybikers2108]

Advanced riding is about making progress. I am. Seeing and thinking a lot more than what I am.saying in the video Identity prioritise and decide what I am going to do

[@graemesydney38]

@@thehairybikers2108 "Advanced riding is about making progress." Making progress is good for personal development and the satisfaction of riding but is not advanced riding. Advance riding is demonstrating excellence with mental and physical skills to keep the rider safe and injury free. "Seeing and thinking a lot more than what I am.saying in the video". I can't and I didn't comment on what you saw or thought. What you see and think is only of a road craft benefit when it translates into doing. I did comment or what you did and didn't do."I didn't see you cover brakes or slow once, despite multiple dangers at intersections and blind driveways, you need to buffer away from oncoming cars more, you generally don't check your mirrors often enough and I didn't see one head check (a.k.a. Life Saver). " If you want to be considered an above average rider you need to pay attention to greater detail.

[@graemesydney38]

@@chrisd7789 "Covering brakes is not always considered the best strategy, as it can lead to 'panic braking'." What absolute BS. Explain to me how being mentally and physically prepare to brake (the definition of 'cover brakes') can lead to 'panic braking'. "........but its drummed into novice riders as a failsafe strategy." So you know more the the body of instructor and experienced riders who teach 'do head checks' (a.k.a. Life Saver). Your knowledge and logic is faulty.

[@gazhall6233]

I THOUGHT this was what we bikers do standardly, must just be me lol, few things, u was far too close to the kerb thats not advanced riding thats dangerous driving when position 2 was available without any danger at all. dont quit ur day job fella

[@krytenLister]

You obviously missed the point - if he was in that position it was for a reason.

[@gazhall6233]

yes he was because he THINKS he knows best lol life it a long road dont take 1 persons advice on how to do it experience life urself n let u be the judge of that not some numpty here who clearly can not direct any1 how to ride, u silly person lol

[@krytenLister]

gaz hall That'll be because he has the training and experience to know best...but if you think you know better...

[@gazhall6233]

kryten and what if i told u i am a test examiner? would that put a bit of a shit stain in ur comment as u dont know me but speak like u do and that he is more qualified than me, u make me lol

[@krytenLister]

I'd say Yeah, right O

[@NMalteC]

Gave up 4 minutes in. Nothing "advanced" about your narrative. So sorry. Everything you said should be told to new students before they even get on the bike for the first lesson.

[@chrisd7789]

Are you serious? Most people ride and drive without any regard to basic observations - They focus only on the vehicle immediately in front of them, or a space a few meters in front of their own bonnet/mudguard at best. Steves commentary shows an excellent level of observation, which extremely few people practice, and provides some decent clues about keeping yourself safer on the road.