JOIN THE CLUB

British Motorcyclists Federation

The BMF promotes motorcycling, campaigns for bikers’ rights, and runs shows and rallies across the UK. There are more than 200 local clubs affiliated to the BMF across the country.

Membership costs £28 per year (£34 for two people living at the same address).

www.bmf.co.uk passed your driving test: you probably couldn’t wait to ditch the L-plates and wave goodbye to your driving instructor for the last time. Now that you have many years of extra life experience you’re likely to feel differently when you earn your full bike licence.

Motorcycling gets under your skin, and becoming a better rider will be part of what drives you on. These are some of the schemes that can improve your riding, and often reduce your insurance premium too.

Biker Down

A free three-hour course, Biker Down covers accident scene management, first aid for motorcyclists, and the science of being seen.

The thinking behind it is that many riders travel in pairs or small groups, so if a rider is involved in a collision the next road-user on the scene is often another biker.

Having completed the course you’ll be given a certificate and a first aid kit to take with you on the bike.

Iam Roadsmart

The Advanced Rider course costs £175. You’ll be paired with one of IAM’s observers, who will help develop core skills including road positioning and bike control. You’ll also receive a handbook and associate membership of IAM RoadSmart. After several rides the observer will decide you are ready for the test.

Once you pass, full IAM RoadSmart membership will cost you £39.

www.iamroadsmart.com

Bikesafe

BikeSafe is a national motorcycle initiative run by the police. It aims to raise awareness of the importance and value of accredited post-test training. BikeSafe workshops involve an observed ride with a police-graded motorcyclist or approved BikeSafe observer.

The exact course content varies depending on where you are in the country, but BikeSafe workshops aim to cover attitude, observation, cornering, overtaking, filtering, junctions, group riding, hazard awareness and motorcycle control.

There are 36 police forces involved in BikeSafe, with 75 workshop venues. BikeSafe costs £65 per rider.

Enhanced Rider Scheme

The Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS) is run by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA). Whether you have just passed your test or are returning to biking after a

Motorcycle Action Group

Run by volunteers, MAG promotes motorcycling in the UK and stands up for riders’ rights. MAG speaks up on issues such as bus lane access and bike theft. It runs both national and local events, and offers members various benefits including discounted insurance.

It costs £30 for single membership and £45 for joint membership for two adults.

www.mag-uk.org long break, ERS is for you.

To begin with you’ll have an assessment with an expert trainer riding in a variety of different road and traffic conditions. This usually takes an hour or two. If the assessment shows that you’d benefit from extra training, you’ll be given a training plan.

You’ll get a DVSA certificate of competence, either when you have completed the extra training or immediately after the initial assessment if you make the grade. Most insurers will then give you a discount.

Costs vary depending on the instructor and how much extra training you need.