What is EKAM?
First and foremost EKAM is a charity whose aim is to promote
better riding on our busy roads. We have a well-practised scheme to get
you to a higher standard of accuracy, safety and fun (see below).
EKAM is a group of riders who enjoy getting together as often as
possible to enjoy biking of all descriptions. We have a full social
calendar as can be seen in the “What’s On” section of the magazine.
Throughout the year many additional events happen either because the
committee organise them for all club members or because smaller
groups have decided to do something together. So, for example, you will
be able to: do track days, visit Flatford Mills, enjoy a week in Spain, take
a weekend break in Wales, or enjoy a Sunday morning ride round Kent’s
finest roads. The list is limited only by the imagination of our members.
Who can become a member of EKAM?
To join EKAM you need a full licence for a bike that can quickly get
up to the national speed limits (probably a bike with no less than 25 hp).
What is the Scheme?
You start off with a session that takes a whole day. The morning is
spent in the classroom with presentations and discussions on the various
knotty riding issues we all have or have had. We use the Police Riders’
Handbook as our bible, which gives plenty of scope for lively discussion.
The afternoon is spent on the road putting into practice what has been
discussed in the morning. One of our fully trained Observers (male or
female) will follow you and make helpful comments about your ride. He
will also ride in front to show you his riding style, parts of which you will
want to include in your ride. At the end of the day he will give you a
record of how your ride went to help you with your development.
In subsequent weeks you will make arrangements to ride with your
Observer on mutually convenient days and times. These sessions last
about two hours and cover about 50 miles. You will see your ride
improving and your enjoyment flourish. You will pass the IAM Test and
be delighted.
So what to do to join?
Contact Eddie Smith by one of the following methods and he will
sort out the paper work with you and answer all you questions.
e-mail:
Home Tel
01227 263161
I thought I’d pass on a recent
experience of mine. Following the
closure of Motorline in Ashford for
Ducati servicing I scoured the
Internet for alternatives – wanting to
keep up with the warranty etc. on my
bike. I fell upon P & H Motorcycles in
Crawley (www.phmotorcycles.co.uk)
Now armed with a postcode (RH10
9RD), I attempted a googlewotsit to
find directions and with a bit of jiggery
pokery came up with a cunning plan.
I phoned the service department and
without any hassle they booked my
bike in for a service on my week off
and put aside a courtesy loan bike in
case it was needed.
On the day, I took what turned out to
be a really nice ride out from home
(CT6) over to Charing, Pluckley,
Tenterden (A262) Lamberhurst,
London (A21), Crawley (A264) – all
good roads, the weather stayed
dryish (a light sprinkle around East
Grinstead but you can’t have
everything) and I arrived about mid-
day. Bike booked in, I was told it
would probably be best to take the
courtesy bike as they didn’t want to
rush the job and I’d asked for a tyre to
be fitted as well. So paperwork done,
I headed out on the loan bike (Kwak
750S) and I opted for the boring way
home. For those of you that know
Gatwick, the shop is situated one
roundabout from Junction 10 off the
M23, an easy cruise to the M25, M26,
M20, A249, M2 and home – I won’t
tell you how long it took, but I made
good progress.
Day 2, I had a phone call at 10am to
say bike finished and ready to collect.
I set off and repeated the journey in
reverse with no hassles.
Now I know this is a long way to go
for a service and I probably did about
300 miles in two days BUT – a
legitimate reason to be out on the
bike, in good weather on fun roads,
the garage service was as good as
any locally, there are several food
outlets in the same area and vending
machines in-store, as well as racks of
clothing etc. The garage is a
dealership for Yamaha, Victory,
Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Honda and
Ducati so lots to see!
If you are thinking of a ride-
out to somewhere different
then this could be
somewhere to aim for. It’s
probably about 2 hours ride
from Ashford and somebody
could probably make a
better return route than I did.
You may also be impressed
enough to use them for your
servicing as well.
