Fast Track Training

Iwas interested in bikes at a very early age, spending hours just watching motorcycles passing by the house. Then one Christmas, my parents bought me a Yamaha PW80 dirt bike, when I was nine, and I loved it. I’d ride around the nearby fields, building obstacle courses and just having fun. I’d also often run it into the ground and have to figure out how to fix it, luckily with help from my uncle. Life with the little Yamaha ended when I reached 15 and found that my knees kept getting in the way of the handlebars...

I worked hard to save up for my first real bike, a Yamaha YZF125, which sat in our backyard for two months until I took my CBT in September 2018, as soon as my provisional licence arrived. The guy who sold me the YZF had recommended 3D Motorcycle Training at Tockwith near York, so that’s where I went. I have autism, which can affect my confidence when dealing with new experiences, meeting people and new places, so finding a training centre which understood my needs was very important. Fortunately I was able to explain my condition and trust the trainers – on the day, they brought the best out in me, enabling me to pass my CBT.

That meant I was able to get out on the Yamaha. I used it every day to commute to sixth form college in Harrogate even through the winter, all weathers. My best friend had an identical bike so at weekends we would head off, exploring the Yorkshire Dales and local back roads whenever we could. Our favourite run was to Scarborough and round to York then back home – nearly 200 miles on a 125 in crouched racer mode could be challenging but these are still some of the best memories I have. I rode the YZF over 12,000 miles in a year and a bit.

Mod 1, Mod 2

Thanks to the Pandemic lockdowns, I couldn't renew my CBT until April 2021, once again back at 3D, where knowing the tutors already was a big help. Interestingly, returning to training revealed that I had developed some bad habits, so I had to go back to the basics for a while – the ABCs and OSMPSL (as in Observation –Signal – Manoeuvre – Position – Speed – Look.)

With a new CBT (not to mention another winter) under my belt I was able to book for Mod 1 and Mod 2 courses for my A2 licence. Just like the CBTs, these were challenging in parts, but I passed the Mod 1 in late April, Mod 2 in early May. Now I could buy my first big bike, a 1994 Honda VFR400 NC30. Unfortunately the Honda didn’t really work out, and wanting to return to the dirt I decided to upgrade to a bigger adventure bike. I spent a long time deciding which one to go for, and whether to wait until I had a full A licence.

In the end, I decided that a BMW F800GSA would be the best option, as I could restrict it for the A2. It turned out to be a good decision, and I couldn’t be happier with my GSA, having made a few changes to really bring out its capabilities on the dirt.

Of course, the BMW was also the tallest, heaviest bike I’d ever ridden, which took some time to get used to. So I booked onto 3D’s slow speed handling course one weekend, gaining much more confidence with the balance, control and handling of the bike. The tutors took all the attendees on this course back to basics, which refreshed my thinking and developing greater understanding of clutch, brake and throttle control – the three hours was well worth the time and money. Interestingly, several of the older, more experienced riders struggled to master the basic skills early on in the course and had a few ‘interesting’ moments. Thankfully no dropped bikes though.

Nation Wide

While on the slow speed course the tutors mentioned that some of them plus a ladies group would be riding the BMF National Road Rally the following weekend. Having never ventured too far from home, my interest was piqued. The group was very welcoming and invited me to join them, along with a couple of other former customers who, like myself, had not done anything like this before.

The NRR was everything I had hoped for and one of the best motorcycling experiences I have had – certainly the longest day’s ride I had ever done, at 320 miles. In bright sunny weather the route and checkpoints were easily reached and there was fantastic scenery, especially over Kirkstone Pass and along Ullswater. No one was in a hurry and everyone helped each other to enjoy the ride, meeting many similar bikers on our route. The time and effort that several of the people at the manned checkpoints had put in made the whole experience even more memorable.

We did lose Mark G, one of the tutors, in Penrith, but a few phone calls later we were all together again, heading further north towards Alston and over Hartside Pass. I was learning a lot, and the tutors’ advice transformed my use of gears and acceleration sense on the GSA, with everything just flowing more smoothly and more controlled. Even though this was a social event, the tutors were really impressed with my confidence and riding ability, which is usually conservative on the road. We completed the route around 8.30pm, nearly 12 hours after starting, enough to bag me an NRR Gold! I was so excited by the whole day, I felt like I could have gone on and done more.

Go Advanced

The instructors and I talked about something else during the NRR ride – the possibility of some advanced training. I decided do a Blue Riband, which I booked for the beginning of winter, giving me plenty of time for more coaching sessions and to get plenty of practice in.

I had to do some homework on Roadcraft (the police riders’ manual) and brush up on my Highway Code as there were a couple of question papers to complete before my training/development day. Once again, the tutors really helped me through those stages with great patience.

The development day was based on a longish road ride, and it was here that the theory really started to kick in. It was certainly varied, taking in urban, rural and multi-lane roads, all providing different challenges to a relatively inexperienced rider. Being able to listen to the tutor through a Bluetooth earpiece while riding really helped, especially when being given demonstration and commentary. Following, listening and seeing helped my understanding of the techniques and skills involved.

After six hours we had ridden around 120 miles, including stops for discussion and a few brews, with plenty of opportunity for questions and advice. The development day turned out to be an excellent preparation for the actual Blue Riband assessment –I had improved my riding far more than I would have expected in just a few short hours.

Assessment day dawned, starting with a check of tax, insurance and licence paperwork, plus an eyesight test, then a pre-ride brief before setting off on a 40-mile route. Although my development day had been in the same area, the test route was totally different, though it took in similar elements of rural, urban and dual-carriageway/motorway riding. It even included a U-turn and an emergency stop, (still on the road, but in a safe place).

It was a continuous ride, over in just under an hour, and I then faced a few questions testing my understanding of the ride, asking me to explain my actions and understanding. I did find this de-brief a little difficult and something which needs further practice for me to develop. Still, I was awarded a Blue Riband Gold standard by my assessor, something I didn’t expect to get. I was delighted, and hope to maintain the standard now. My certificate is framed, hanging on the wall at home.

The Future

Having come through some great training with the guys at 3D MTC, they asked me about my future riding ambitions. In fact, they offered to help me with further training aimed at become a DVSA accredited trainer to work with them. Although I need three years post-test riding experience before I can officially start training, I have taken an opportunity to shadow CBT instructors at weekends and I am starting to understand what’s needed to deliver courses – I’m looking forward to helping those new to motorcycling.

It gets even better. I have also been enrolled by 3D to deliver an in-house basic motorcycle maintenance course to a group of current and former customers. With further sessions planned for 2023, I’m hoping to pass on a bit of the knowledge gained through both my own bikes and my day to day work as a vehicle technician.

Of course, I am also looking forward to the new biking season and taking the NRR challenge again – I’m aiming for Platinum this time round as well as the three-country challenge. On top of that I have two trips planned for the year, one to Dumfries with the 3D social group, and another to Wales for some green laning and camping – I’m sure there will be other rides in 2023.

Although I have packed in a huge amount of development into a short time, I feel that my motorcycling journey has only just begun. The focus required to ride a motorcycle greatly assists with managing my autism, and being on a bike always helps me to relax. Explaining this to the tutors has also enabled them to understand and recognise early how to deal more effectively when training motorcyclists with a range of similar conditions, as well as those with other mental health issues. It probably won’t come as a surprise to BMF members, but I haven't found any better therapy than a nice relaxing ride in some beautiful scenery.