MOTORCYCLE MASTERCLASS 18

[@edzduc1157]

I know I'm a bit late to the party. I've never made a public comment before..but after seeing the previous posts bitching about a roundabout & your speedo, I felt compelled to post a reply! The original poster, that felt it necessary to pick up on speedo & roundabout, they mentioned they were doing their IAM & what advanced training had you done... Dale I was pretty sure after watching a couple of your vids you had Police training background. Last year I got my IAM green badge & to take training further joined Rospa. IMO the difference between IAM & Rospa was a big leap...& im pretty sure NEITHER probably even come close to the high level the Police have to achieve, it's on another level. Dale you're a legend for producing & posting these videos & like many others I've benefited greatly from them. Even with IAM & ROSPA training, I've learnt so much from your uploads so please keep doing what you're doing fella.

[@edzduc1157]

NOT knocking IAM in anyway before anyone starts.

[@seaflyfisher]

Hi and thanks very much - what's that saying about you can't please everybody all the time - I think that most people take this stuff for what it is and it's only very occasionally that someone feels the need to have a moan - Congratulations on your IAM qualification and for looking to do some more with ROSPA - I have to hold my hands up here as I've never done either so I don't know much about IAM and even less about ROSPA - personally though, I think it's great to see groups like theirs that promote road safety and offer drivers and riders the opportunity to increase their knowledge and raise the standard of their driving. One of the very positive things in the feedback I get on a regular basis is how useful the demonstration and commentated rides are - a lot of folks buy "advanced riding" books (I don't like that word) and read them cover to cover numerous times and come away with some idea of system and control - their riding is usually like a jigsaw - lots of good bits but jumbled up in the box - I'm not sure how it works but very often, just one good demo ride shows them how to complete the jigsaw and put all the good bits together - the commentated rides are brilliant for demonstrating how and what to observe, how to plan and how to apply it. When I started this site, it was all about knowledge sharing by demonstrating a practical keep yourself safe riding style and hopefully encourage riders to continue learning, not just after passing their tests but all the way through their motorcycling life. One of the best things about it for me is the fact that you guys take the time to comment on my films, to let me know that you've found it useful and that I'm pitching it at the right balanced level for whether you're a novice or an IAM member. I've got loads of ideas for this year and I've just put my Triumph back on the road to demonstrate on a different bike - I was struggling a bit to mount a front camera due to its dark screen so I've just made up a custom mount to fit the GoPro to a helmet - it's worked well for video but I've got to get the audio sorted now - bound to be snags - stay safe out there - Dale

[@edzduc1157]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought Police/ Emergency services got honorary membership to IAM/Rospa? Which says it all about the high standards Police/Services must be trained to! I've learnt to try & hone in & pay particular attention to the ex service trainers in particular ..their the ones that give you the extra nuggets (like your videos) 'being detective' looking for & paying attention to the fresh tyre tracks through puddles, A neat trimmed hedge among a line of trees/bushes, Fresh leaves/broken branches in the road, etc.. You've nailed it with 'pieces of the jigsaw' I've made a concerted effort to study Roadcraft book @ least every other day for months & the info just keeps falling out my head! I'm on about my 9th observed Rospa ride & scores have plateaued for last few...until watching your videos & it's helped bring it all together into more of a package. Last ride was mainly 5's with a few 4's, whereas before it was mainly 4's with odd 5 scored. Anyway, enough smoke blowing! Ps was nice to see Christchurch Quay in previous video, Nan used to live in area & not seen it since little boy. Ed

[@Back2TheBike]

This was a great day out. Looking forwards to the pleasure of your company a day in the not too distant future.

[@seaflyfisher]

That was a good day mate, it doesn't get much better than that 😁

[@Back2TheBike]

@@seaflyfisher next time, it will! Two Italian bikes? Imagine the soundtrack...

[@seaflyfisher]

@@Back2TheBike - lol, yes it should sound good, interesting watching this demo again and your footage of it - you set yourself a very high bar so I did you a demo to show you the level of precision you were looking at - you won't ever need to ride at the extreme speeds but the demo shows you where you need to be to do it and for day to day riding it doesn't need to be that extreme - 😎 it's a hard habit to break and not one that I want to for my own riding, but I have to make a very conscious effort to pitch my usual demos at the right level for our audience and tone things down a bit 🙂

[@ICENI-Britannica]

Really enjoyed these vlogs between Neil and yourself; very informative and, great to see fellow bikers enjoying a day out on the road; think i gained a lot so, thanks.

[@seaflyfisher]

Keith Craddock - thanks Keith we had a great day on some very nice roads, a pub lunch - can't be bad B-)

[@wl660]

8:20. Indicating at painted Mini Roundabouts. My Observer is recommending not to indicate at all at Mini roundabouts if going straight over. My position and speed is my indication…what guidance do you have for this? Earlier in the video you say to indicate but you didn’t here…(not being critical, looking for best practice).

[@seaflyfisher]

Good morning W, good question and I probably didn't signal on that one because the car to my right was held by the oncoming car - usually I use a signal if there is a choice of route and someone is there to benefit from it as it will clear up any ambiguity with your intentions - sometimes with the mini roundabouts the junctions are very tight together but on this occasion, my use of a signal to leave would have been useful to the van driver coming into the roundabout from my 12 o'clock position so it wouldn't have hurt to use one - as long as you can justify what you do and particularly if it's made your ride safer, your observer shouldn't have a problem with it - the information stage of the system is where we take in and put out as much as possible to keep the ride smooth and safe and, as you say, your positioning is one element of your intentions and if confirmation by use of a signal improves that situation, then why not. Very often when I ride with Neil, we know ish where we're going, but if I'm leading, if there's a choice of route on an empty road, I'll use a signal for Neils benefit just to confirm, rightly or wrongly, where I'm going - Neil works out our routes and it's happened a few times that I've got it wrong and will be leaving a roundabout or turning off where he's not expecting me to but as long as I tell him what I'm about to do, it's never a problem. Generally I use a signal for a choice of route because that's what I feel happy with, it's your ride and your safety, so do what you feel happy with - a test is only a test but your everyday riding and safety is what you're training for - thanks for taking the time to comment and never worry about asking why I've done anything you're not sure about, this channel is dedicated to road safety and hopefully encouraging people to consider some further training and improve their standard - please let me know how you get on with the test and if there's anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to ask - stay safe out there and have fun - DB

[@wl660]

@@seaflyfisher Great response, I appreciate the 2nd opinion. I am really enjoying working my way through all your Masterclass videos (paused one to reply!). It was a 2 mini roundabouts in quick succession situation I was referring to, where there is a lot going on with positioning and observations, and often your indicators are barely on, before being off again. I checked the Highway Code and it didn’t say you don’t need to indicate for white painted roundabout - it made no distinction between these and other roundabouts. Your first comment about change of route and “benefit” makes sense. Thanks again. Wayne.

[@seaflyfisher]

@@wl660 Welcome, always glad to help if I can :-)

[@NooBiker]

Hi Dale. I'm a long time subscruber, first time poster. Have really enjoyed watching these videos and have learned a lot, which I'm putting to practice in my riding. I'm also doing the IAM Roadsmart, but I'm a relatively new rider compared to Neil. One thing I've noticed is how low you tend to keep your revs. It's been suggested to me that motorcycle engines are built to rev higher and I've actually found it beneficial in terms of control especially on bends to keep to a lower gear and higher revs. Whereas you seem to ride the Benelli (and itgas a gorgeous sound, by the way, very envious) much like I drive my diesel 4x4, at around 2k RPM ;) It seems to work for you, wherras on my parallel twin 650cc injected Japanese bike I'm tending to find it better to keep in the 5-7k range (redline at 9k). Is this because there's something specific to the Benelli engine (dry clutch?) or torque / power curve? I don't think I've seen on of your videos where yo so much as get close to 5k RPM. Really interested in your thoughts on this. Thanks for the masterclasses! Angelo.

[@seaflyfisher]

Hi Angelo - excellent question and yes you're right - bikes vary so much in power and the way that they produce it that what works for one won't necessarily work for another - the Benelli is a physically small, very light bike with a big, fuel injected triple engine thats easily re-mappable depending on what you want it to do. On tickover it sounds very busy but it has lots of power and it delivers it very effortlessly at low revs - I have a huge problem making these videos trying to restrain it to the legal limits - 60 in top is only 3000rpm - it has an exup valve on the exhaust that used to act like a turbo at 4000rpm and then it was hook in and hang on and it fired itself down the road - i've got the valve wired open on it now which makes for a much smoother power delivery and that hoof is there all the time. The Italians are genius at making beautiful looking, beautiful handling drivers bikes that you don't have to slow down for much on - this lets you keep the engine relaxed and on the Benelli I can't use more than four grand legally. Whatever you ride though once you're at speed you can relax the engine and it will tell you if its happy or not - I've got a four cylinder Triumph 1200 that also produces 150bhp and its a different kettle of fish from the Benelli as its a big old bus and likes to rev more. If you've been watching Neils stuff you'll see that use of the gearbox can really make or break your riding so no matter what you ride its all about being in the right place on the road at the right speed AND with the right gear engaged for the situation. Whatever your bike needs to get that done is what you need and the way you need to ride it. Best of luck with your IAM Test - stay safe - regards - Dale

[@NooBiker]

seaflyfisher Thanks for the reply, makes sense. I must say I'm watching your videos more than Neil's as he does ramble on a bit. Although sometimes when I'm struggling to sleep... Also agree with the gear comment. That's been the single biggest improvement to my riding: understanding what is the right gear to be in and what it sounds and feels like. When I've progressed a bit more in my riding or stopped caring too much about reliability I'll have a try on Italian bikes. :)

[@seaflyfisher]

Yes Neils videos are without a doubt some of the best on KZbin ........... for insomniacs :D - as far as the Italians go, I've never owned an unreliable Italian bike - the days of the seventies poor paint, chrome and electrics are long gone and as long as they're serviced right they're as good if not better than anything else - I've had loads over the years from Dukes and Guzzis to Laverda and Benellis and all have been superb drivers bikes - I find that the Japanese stuff does what it says on the tin and you can't fault most of them but you get off thinking - it was okay - bikes like the Benelli are in a class of their own and even if you just pop out for milk you get off grinning like a Cheshire Cat, they have such soul and character its like something alive and a real experience every time you ride it - and that noise - the thing is just beautiful - a precision road tool thats not the easiest bike to ride but well worth the effort to learn it and get the best out of it. If you've never ridden anything Italian I'd recommend them - everybody's got a GSXR, Fireblade, R1 or Ninja but even people that don't know bikes stop and look at the Benelli - whoever designed the thing was a genius, not unlike myself really :D

[@seaflyfisher]

Angelo - make sure you watch the next one - I hit four grand in fifth coming off an open left hander - it'll give you some idea of what would happen if I stayed between five and six - the front tyre wouldn't be on the floor much and I'd be in three figures most places - I'm sure that it would sound just awful too :D

[@mikeroberts]

Busy town work. Scooter rider was a statistic waiting to happen! Sometimes you have to join the mini-RABs to queue to exit. Not entirely desirable but with continual flowing, heavily congested town centres, you'd never get anywhere, otherwise. Loved the debrief comment on the BMW painting. Did it include the plough attachment? :)

[@seaflyfisher]

Mike Roberts - It was three numbers different on the registration number than Neils :-D

[@parf2665]

Brilliant , every one of them. Directed to your channel by Back2TheBike. At the end you talked about how you switch off and park. Do you do anything different when parking on a hill. I've been told about parking in first gear and having the back wheel against the kerb. Any advice would be appreciated.

[@seaflyfisher]

sharkface 70 - Hi and thanks for your comments - I covered a bit about parking on MMC 4 but ideally I look for a solid flat surface - if you need to park on a slope I always try to use the bike to my advantage so I don't have to haul it about too much - putting it into gear before you step off is a good idea as it can't roll anywhere - be careful with the slope of the surface to make sure that the bike leans towards you - if it leans away and starts to go over you'll never hold it - I'm wary of new tarmac on hot days particularly if you use a main stand but whichever stand you use, they will sink if the tarmac goes soft - if you have a big heavy bike and park it facing downhill against a wall or a kerb you'll make really hard work for yourself trying to haul it backwards up the slope so a bit of thought can save your back and the risk of dropping your bike - glad you enjoyed the videos - stay safe out there - cheers -Dale

[@parf2665]

seaflyfisher Thanks, don't know how I missed it. Everything I wanted to know. As Neil eluded to in his video, you are a very knowledgeable rider. Can I ask where you built up your knowledge. Were you a police rider?

[@seaflyfisher]

sharkface 70 - Hello again and glad I could help - in a previous life I used to work for the Emergency Services and was lucky enough to receive their training - I've had a passion for motorcycles for as long as I can remember and get a lot of satisfaction out of passing on some of the things I was taught to hopefully promote safe riding - thanks again for your comments - Dale

[@stevejackson3507]

Hi Dale Brilliant videos really informative and together with Neil's channel I am learning a lot about observation and positioning. I have noticed however that nobody seems to come whistling by you as you follow all the speed limits. Is this because of your clever positioning or is that in my part of the world (Norfolk) we have lots of idiots.

[@seaflyfisher]

Steve Jackson - Hi Steve that's very kind of you to say so and I'm glad you're finding some of this stuff useful - one word of warning though - I wouldn't follow Neils channel for fashion advice he did put a link for that jacket on here and KZbin quite rightly removed it :-) as for the idiots - they're a countrywide resource unfortunately but good positioning can at least make them overtake you properly and put you in the best place to see them coming - I'm off to a breakfast meet this morning so a nice ride across the Forest followed by a sausage and egg bap, a bucket of coffee and set the world right and talk bikes for a couple of hours - and the sun's out - can't be bad

[@oliw3664]

21:45 😂😂😂

[@andrewbloomer306]

Really enjoyed this series and your chemistry with Neil, although you really need to stop knocking his RT - they are great bikes!!!! I don't think it will be long before he passes his IAM test and then onto his Masters......

[@seaflyfisher]

Andrew Bloomer - Italian is the weapon of choice for Jedi Knights Andrew - precision tools with bags of hoof and the best handling B-)

[@andrewbloomer306]

Ha ha each to their own eh?? I'll stick with my ZZR1400 and RT for touring and wet weather riding. I'll leave the Italian bikes to the Jedi Knight Dale....

[@Back2TheBike]

ZZR1400 - fastest production road bike? v Benelli. I'll buy a ticket to watch that.

[@seaflyfisher]

Back2TheBike - We could get Andrew to come down and start our own Isle of Stonehenge Tourist Trophy - Winner gets a brand new RT - second place gets two of them :-P

[@Back2TheBike]

Looks like the gauntlet has been thrown down ;-) You'd better not teach me everything you know or I'll want to enter myself ...

[@Glasshousebc]

Magnificent.

[@seaflyfisher]

Glasshousebc - Be difficult not to be on something as special as the CR :-)

[@HepcatHarley]

I knew that Panzer design went back to neolithic times but didn't know they bragged about it even then with drawings on the cave walls. :) Where's me stick of rock anyway? and don't say in a field half buried. :D

[@seaflyfisher]

Hepcat Harley - hello lad - I didn't see any sticks of rock - the beach was rubbish too - I blame Neil B-)

[@IanWheldale]

The kid on the moped obviously a disciple of Thai following distances :)

[@seaflyfisher]

Amazing isn't it or should that be frightening !!

[@swiss26x]

how about putting it in 1st gear then you dont need the front brake and it wont roll ...

[@seaflyfisher]

Hi Swiss - for me it's bad practice and if you are thinking of doing any sort of Advanced training they won't like it either - you'll find there are a lot of comments about this and the reasons why throughout my videos but it's a safety feature primarily and some machine sympathy for the clutch - even in gear, the bike can still roll unless you're riding the clutch which is going to cause unnecessary wear and tear. For anything other than a momentary stop, putting the bike into neutral and having your right foot down and the front brake on leaves you with more safety options as well as taking that phenomenal load off of your clutch springs and mechanism. You can go into gear quickly if you need to and in the event of an emergency, if you're hit from behind and come off it or, if you need to abandon ship quickly the bike won't be taking off by itself out of control and doing its own thing and more importantly landing on top of you with the rear wheel and chain and sprockets flying round like a chainsaw. Particularly relevant if you have a bike with a cable clutch and it snaps from the continual strain of long periods of being engaged - your clutch is designed to be out for most of its life and only in for purposes of changing or initially engaging gears - to continually put this enormous strain on it is increasing the likelihood of a mechanical failure - cable breaks never usually end well but if you're the lead vehicle at the junction mouth you could find yourself suddenly launched out into the traffic - Tesco artics weigh 40 tons - stay safe out there - Dale

[@tinkertime7165]

seaflyfisher that’s the best reasoning I’ve heard so far. Makes good sense. I have been training my brain, “anything except a momentary stop - right foot down, select neutral”. If you don’t focus and change the brain patterns we just revert to old habits.

[@swiss26x]

Thanks for the comment but what I meant was when you stopped and got off the bike!!!! as you stated you pull the front brake then get off the bike and put the stand down... That cannot be good practise anyway not worth anymore comments as we all ride differently....

[@seaflyfisher]

Oh I see - on a flat surface where i don't need to park the bike in gear, putting the front brake on holds the bike steady when I get off so that im in full control of it - then I can put the stand down and my foot locks the stand in place until the weight of the bikes on it and I can move the handlebars to where I want them depending on whether I'm going to put the steering lock on or not - as you say personal thing but I don't put the stand down and let the bike down onto it whilst I'm sat on it - stepping off gives me full control and with all the plastics and fairings on them these days it's easy to write a bike off purely by dropping it - being off the bike lets me have a good look at the ground and put the stand foot exactly where I want it and onto a good solid surface - thanks for your comment and I hope that explains why it works for me - cheers - Dale

[@MultiOutdoorman]

That Benelli sounds "so" fruity...and not like my 10 a penny GSA

[@seaflyfisher]

Like Neil Diamond said "It's a beautiful noise" I love the way it sounds, its got such character and huge fun to ride - I'm very lucky to own it

[@calvinbailey2513]

Hi I've been watching your blog's and over all I've enjoyed them. I've noticed that you've covered your Speedo up and the only reason for that is that your breaking the speed limits, and in the 18th video you broke the law again by riding over the round about time 2.50. I've not studied all you videos but if you going to try and help let's get I right and legal.

[@seaflyfisher]

Calvin Bailey - Hi Calvin - you're absolutely right - I covered my speedo over in case I exceeded the speed limit - for filming and assessment purposes I need to be close to Neil to see how he's riding the bike and to keep him well in the shot so that you can see him and he's not just a dot in the distance - I live in the real world as far as riding is concerned and if I exceeded the limit it would be by a few miles an hour and momentarily - it would be pretty much impossible to ride at this level without some slight variation in speed and obviously you can't ride along staring at the speedo to make sure you don't go over by a few miles an hour on occasion - I've always tried to demonstrate practical sensible stay alive riding in my videos and this was something a bit different - I think that it would be unprofessional to show a demonstration ride where you are blatantly and intentionally speeding and it's something that I don't do - as I'm sure you can see, we were at or below the speed limit during the rides - this is the first time that Neil and I have met and ridden together - it was an advanced level ride so naturally it was at the speed limit wherever possible. Thanks for your comment and I'm glad that you've enjoyed the videos.

[@seaflyfisher]

Oh yes the roundabout - can't argue that but as I said I live in the real world as far as driving is concerned and I took the smoothest straightest safest quickest course across the roundabout without straight lining it and keeping well away from the traffic to my left likely to enter the roundabout and come into conflict with me - Devizes was pretty busy as you can see and personally I think that there were far more important things to be concentrating on than running over the edge of a circle of paint on the road surface - with the greatest of respect - this is "live" TV - it is what it is - none of us are perfect and my safety comes first

[@seaflyfisher]

Hello again Calvin - I see that you haven't replied to me - I would just like to say that I put a lot of time, effort and my own money into making these videos for the benefit of other people and that only promote road safety and safer riding which obviously, I don't have to do - I find it rather sad that out of all those hours of video, and in particular, this hour long, advanced level ride at the speed limit and with full live commentary, you've concentrated your efforts into becoming the condescending, critical "nine o'clock jury" and that the only thing you seem to have come away with out of all that information are two negatives, one of which is an assumption on your part - comments like yours make me wonder why I bother.

[@calvinbailey2513]

seaflyfisher I'm not ignoring you I'm undergoing IAM, what advanced test have you taken. so what you have done is great. But if your going to do it not just for me but the other viewer's out there and for the sceptics they just want to screw you on everything you do. The comments are hopefully constructive and hopefully help you and help other. my comments are not a snipe at you but just my observation and hopefully we can all learn as I have from you.

[@seaflyfisher]

Calvin Bailey - Hi Calvin - I would just watch another channel but best of luck with your IAM test - regards - Dale