'New Bike Book is Definitive Guide to Riding'

[ozzzie]

The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has today (14 July 2009) launched its all-new biker manual at Mallory Park, providing riders in the UK with the definitive guide to defensive riding.
“How to be a better rider”, written by IAM staff examiner Jon Taylor and motorcycle titles editor Stefan Bartlett, will form the backbone of the IAM advanced riding course and test preparation.
With new graphics and images illustrating how to deal with tricky riding areas such as filtering, positioning and revised steering techniques, the IAM manual will be of practical use to all riders,
whether relatively new or with many years experience, says the IAM.

IAM Chief Examiner Peter Rodger said: “The new IAM motorcycle manual is all about guiding principles. It’s not a ‘book of rules’. “The advice is contemporary, topical and fully accessible to riders, whatever their level of skill and experience. For example, bends have always been an area of uncertainty for many riders, but the limit point for effective bend assessment is now usefully explained.” Urban bikers have an illustrated eight-page explanation about ‘stepping stones’ while riding around town, coupled with new guidance on blind spots technique. “How to be a better rider – Advanced Motorcycling, the essential guide” is available from the IAM website, iam.org.uk, at £9.99 plus postage and packaging. The book is included free with the IAM’s motorcycle course, the £139 Skill for Life programme.

Having seen the new book I can say that it is definitely a step forward. It looks brighter and much more modern then the current book.

[SimonJ]

I've only had a chance for a brief flick through Billy's copy but at first glance I tend to agree.

[tfdodo]

+1
it's now the useful middle-ground on the way to MCRC* (which is still very heavy) that we need.
Wow ! Yam Central doing something right ! I love it !

*thatll be MotorCycle RoadCraft

[Evel Knievel]

Did I hear a rumour that observers will be getting a copy in the post from IAM House...?? If so, anyone got any ideas when?

[ozzzie]

Did I hear a rumour that observers will be getting a copy in the post from IAM House...?? If so, anyone got any ideas when?

Thats right, but all we know is that it's imminent.

[Horse]

Does it worry anyone else that the book is described as 'definitive'?

The first on-line dictionary I looked at gives (amongst four):

2. Supplying or being a final settlement or decision; conclusive.
3. Authoritative and complete: a definitive biography. See Usage Note at definite*.

* Lists:
1. Having distinct limits: definite restrictions on the sale of alcohol.
2. Indisputable; certain: a definite victory.
3. Clearly defined; explicitly precise: a definite statement of the terms of the will.
4. Grammar Limiting or particularizing.

Is it being sold as 'the only book you'll need', or will it set limits on its own definitiveness (I probably made that word up )?

Yes a pedantic point, but . . .

[ozzzie]

Does it worry anyone else that the book is described as 'definitive'?

Yes a pedantic point, but . . .

Hey, this is a more modern IAM, including sophisticated marketing (i.e. lying).

More to the point, oh great guru of the holy tome, what do you think of it's take on Roadcraft?

[Horse]

Does it worry anyone else that the book is described as 'definitive'?

Yes a pedantic point, but . . .

Hey, this is a more modern IAM, including sophisticated marketing (i.e. lying).

More to the point, oh great guru of the holy tome, what do you think of it's take on Roadcraft?

Too kind.

But flattery will get you places faster than my R850

Dunno yet. I'll have a look in Waterstones etc

[tfdodo]

OK, so having taken a year or so to pick up my Observers' copy of this & do a little dissection...
-my initial impression confirmed - it is good. Accessible stepping-stone to MCRC, with actual photographs (wow) (but in fairness good photographs that add value, and as an added bonus don't all show old fogeys with flip-front Flat 'Ats on RTs)
-contents page and index both useful
-fairly long description of vanishing point*
-goes some way to address the tendency of MCRC to ignore bike control
-what 'How to Pass your advanced test', the [vacuous, noddy] previous [blue, A4] effort, always should have been

minuses to be aware of when steering associates - one major one which concerns me
-despite having a 'steering' section, and an apparently unrelated 'cornering' section, no emphasis at all on look where you want to go. All fine and dandy to major on countersteering**, but if people are busy target-fixating on an oncoming pickup, or in my case the gravel trap at Donny, the rest is [avoidably] history, countersteering or not.****
and the rest are minor...
-can come across as a little chaotically organised
-**[the IAM, around launch] having a punt [elsewhere] at how the gutter-press covers counter-steering may be justified, but trying to fix that by re-branding it as Positive Steering is sad and counterproductive. stress to associates that 'Positive Steering' and 'Countersteering' are one and the same.
* in extensive coverage of Vanishing Point [also re-branded ;/ ] , fails to suggest Spin Doctor's concern that it can lead you astray if a long corner opens significantly then tightens again***. Although stressing the integral linkage between VP and "be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear" is a major improvement.


***imagine, tight corner [VP closes, you slow, take it appropriately] ; opens loads over a distance [VP shoots away, you accelerate +50mph even whilst cranked over , chasing VP] then goes into v.v.tight 100degree [ouch. VP suddenly starts informing us we need to be going loads slower, but we are cranked over in a corner at speed ]

**** so remember folks - even if you forget the rest of this post, this bit could save you [or your associate] hospital food - if it all goes wrong in a corner
-relax
-Look Where You Want To Go
-push on the inside bar [countersteer/Positive Steer] assertively and
-trust the bike

and at least if you run out of lean and come off, you'll know that it wasn't un-necessary... [Oz ]

[ozzzie]

I didn't run out of lean ACTUALLY, I just made a slight miscalculation in terms of how far the twisty thing should be twisted when on the edge of the black sticky thing.

Humpf!

[tfdodo]

accepted. I almost put a disclaimer on 'un-necessary', but it was too long already ...
either way I hope we're agreed that looking where you wanted to go was a positive influence, even if enthusiasm for slaying larger bikes was excessive