I just had a quick trip through the "safe riding tips" to see if anyone recommended a riding course to do. I have been thinking of doing one of the Stay Upright courses in Vic. Any comments on them or others
I think they should be mandatory, even for experienced riders. I have done a couple of stay upright courses and they are very good, I had been riding for years, but was amazed at how much i learned from them guys, The key is not to go in with attitude, because if you think you know it all already and you are a good rider, then you are wasting your time, you need to be open minded and be willing to learn, and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. There was a guy on one of my courses that was their because his Dad paid for the course for him because he was always falling off and wrecking himself or the bike or both. It became obvious the second he opened his trap, why he was always falling off. He knew everything about riding bikes, and the instructors couldnt teach him anything he didnt already know, and openly told the instructors as much!!(LOL) Unfortunately his ability to ride fell way short of his ability to mouth off, and he had so many bad riding habits, that the instructor spent most of his time just shaking his head in wonder at how he was still alive! He went away learning absolutely nothing, and I dare say is probably permanently maimed or dead by now. You cant teach someone who thinks he knows it all already. But if you are willing to learn, it is one of the best things you will ever do for youself and your riding ability. Hope this helps a bit.
well worth it... couple of outfits in Perth run them... did the full AHG course just so I could do the advanced and put the Street Bob around their track.... had a blast even though it was pissing down later in the day.
Thx a lot folks, I have just enrolled into the Stay upright course in Hoppers Crossing, Melb on the 14th of Feb. It is an intermediate course, I am sure I will learn plenty.
All the posts have only been glowingly positive for these sort of courses, I have done a few other courses like this (not m/c) & they are usually good especially if you are keen to learn.
If I am up to scratch will probably enroll in the next advanced course in March.
Dermie let me know how the course goes,i want to do it but cant make next week as it is the ac/dc concert on sat night might not be feeling to good,good luck.
Highly recommended, I've done 2 Stay Upright advance courses through Defence, both were well worth while, 2 areas I improved were slow riding and braking, up until then I had never practiced braking hard, makes you aware what's required, especially on a Harley, HOG in Sydney also do a discounted course just for Harleys riders and their partners, it's done over near Mona Vale on the old police rider training site, can't remember the company but it's not Stay Upright .
Gibo
Give them a call you never know they maybe up for a pay on the day deal. Then if you turn up, then & feel up to it after your night out you could come over to Hoppers X'ing & burn some rubber, then there would beat least two Harley's there. As its an intermediate course it may be full of young wannabe ' s moving up from their 250's. I plan on doing an advanced course in March as well, that is if I do not scare the sh**t out of myself at this course. But I am sure it will be all good.
That last post is reply to Irelands post. And yes I will put up a report lon the course
Uncle Ho, thanks for the info. I know the old AHG centre but always thought that was cars only, I'll take a squiz at them.
Cheers Dermie .
I've done three courses at HART on Mona Vale Road (mentioned by imoo6170 below) at St Ives in Sydney. They have a circuit which is a regular road and includes lots of variety including bends with a tightening curve as you go around (doesn't sound much but try it at speed without realising it tightens up half way through) and negative cambers.
No need to be nervous about these. Instructors have been great and very understanding. I did the Handling Dynamics course yesterday. They only have six students plus the instructor. My group including a bloke who was intending getting back into riding and had hired a Honda 400 for the course, a very competent girl on a 1000 GT Ducati, and a very tentative girl on a Bonneville. A pretty good mix.
We really should do these courses periodically just to freshen up. A couple of bad habits of mine they attended to were two finger front breaking and looking down during emergency breaking. The BIG one I got out of it though was braking in a corner - that is, standing the bike up momentarily half way through the bend if you go in too hot so you can brake then lay it down again - it might be common to the rest of you but it sure got my heart beating faster. Best of all - terrific fun.
The Duc girl and I are also in the Advanced Course on 28 Feb, which amongst other things expands more on braking in corners.
They are in NSW, Vic and QLD:
http://www.hondampe.com.au/repository/motorcycles/training_licensing/courses.aspx#nsw
An Iron & a Duke, m'mmm nice match. It would be nice to swap occasionally & do it in tandem as the Iron Duke, or she could be the Duke of Iron. That would be of course unless she was a Duke already & only interested in Duchesses but then for an anti monarchist like me that would be no good.
And no wonder they were ogling your Iron, they are one cool bike. It is the bike was lusting for but I got a good deal S/Hand on my 2005 Sportster C, If the Irons had been 1200 I would have gone for it. But in hindsight I think the Iron would be fine anyhow.
That little ad really put those bikes in peoples mind.
Bugger bugger, the Stay Upright people have just called me & told me that the course I had thought I had booked into (wrong credit card info) is now booked out.
So I will have to look around for another one or wait 'till March for the next Intermediate course.
Any one recommend courses in Vic, I could even ride up to Canberra for a day.
Can anyone reccomend one in Adelaide
do you get a certificate to show you have done the course?
