For your Advanced Rider Course, you’ll be paired with one of our highly skilled Observers, themselves Advanced Riders who hold an additional Institute of the Motor Industry recognised National Observer qualification.
Your assigned Observer will meet you at a locations and times that are convenient for you both. Over a series of observed rides, you’ll develop your core riding skills and learn how to continuously apply the ‘IPSGA’ framework (Information, Position, Speed, Gear, Acceleration) to a variety of on-road situations including on bends, junctions, motorways, and during overtakes.
Although all the Observers are volunteers, we do ask for a contribution of £15 for each observed ride to cover some of our motorcycle running costs.
All your observed rides will be logged on Tracker on your own personal page – so you can keep a record of your advanced rider journey.
But there’s more to it than just observed rides:
Introduction to Advanced Motorcycling (ITAM)
At the start of your advanced rider journey, we encourage you to attend our Introduction to Advanced Motorcycling (“ITAM” for short). In a morning’s classroom session we will cover some key principles, such as the system of motorcycle control. In the afternoon you’ll do an observed ride to start putting some of the principles we discuss in the morning into practice. It’s also a great opportunity to meet some of the other new members and well as some of the Observer Corps!
Slow Riding Course
We also host a slow riding course every month between March and October. Hosted in a closed car park, it’s a great opportunity to help develop your slow riding skills in a controlled environment.
Think you’re good already - we reckon we can help you get even better!
Associate Sunday Rides
Before you can join the standard club Social Rides, you’ll need sign-off from your Observer. But never fear - throughout the year we host “Associate Sunday Rides” which you are immediately welcome to join!
Totally free to attend, they’re run strictly in line with IAM Roadsmart Advanced Rider Standards, and we’ll take you on a winding tour through what we consider to be some of the best biking roads in Kent (and maybe even Sussex…) We’ll teach you the “drop-off system” which is our way of getting up to 30 riders (on a standard Sunday club run) from the start to the finish point using markers at each junction.
Associate Rides always have at least two National Observers in attendance and we’re there to make sure everyone enjoys themselves and stays safe. Whilst the main aim is a social ride - it’s an opportunity to practice the system of motorcycle control which you’ll be working on with your assigned observer. Observers attending the ride will be happy to offer feedback at the end, should you request it.
We’ll always end up at a café for tea and cake at the end!
Annual Training Weekend
Each year the Observer Corps run a Training Weekend away. It’s a bit like an “intensive” rider training course – where you can log three observed rides in a weekend, a further three more rides tailing a fellow member and observer and a group ride on the Sunday afternoon. The benefit is we can take you on roads you’ve never been on before and it’s a great social event as well as brilliant for your rider development. Ask your Observer for further details.
Training for and Taking the Test
You will work with your Observer at a pace and in timescales that fit with you. When your Observer believes you have reached the standard required to pass the Advanced Test, and following a check-ride with one of our senior observers, you will go for test. The test itself will be a ride, exactly as you have practiced with your Observer, only this time observed by an IAM Examiner.
So what happens once you pass your Advanced Rider Qualification?
Well – the journey is by no means over! At any time that you’re a member of EKAM, you can get back in touch with the Observers and ask for a one-off refresher ride. We’re always happy to take our existing members out for an assessment to make sure you’re still riding to an advanced level. You may then choose to do more observed rides – and that’s no problem either!
Members Assessment
If you receive a pass at your advanced rider test, then the observer corps can help you with further observed rides until you feel confident to retake the test and perhaps qualify with a F1RST. Don’t worry – you won’t lose your initial qualification!
Become an Observer
Want to challenge yourself? Then why not become an Observer and help others pass their advanced rider test? Being an Observer is open to anyone who has passed their Advanced Rider Test and its an opportunity to give back to the club, as well as giving a new purpose to your riding.
The training can take up to 12 months, but at the end you’ll hold a nationally recognized qualification and be able to help others on their advanced rider journey. It’s challenging, but incredibly rewarding.
Masters
And if you really want to challenge yourself then why not train for a Masters Qualification. The highest civilian qualification for motorcycling. You can do so under very favorable terms; EKAM will sponsor up to 4 candidates a year to do their Masters Qualification.
Only open to full IAM Roadsmart Members who have passed their advanced rider test with a F1rst, the Masters programme provides true one-to-one mentoring support and guidance carried out by “Masters Mentors”, who are highly qualified National Observers or local examiners.
Make no mistakes – this course is not for everyone and demands a huge amount of commitment to pass. To do so however means you will have attained the highest standard of civilian riding ability in the country.