In addition to our own training courses, we also recommend a range of other training providers with whom our own coaching team have personal experience. A list of these organisations can be found below.
In addition to our own training courses, we also recommend a range of other training providers with whom our own coaching team have personal experience. A list of these organisations can be found below.
The BikeSafe programme is a police-led motorcycle safety initiative operated by various police constabularies across the UK. Based on the same Roadcraft programme Ridewise.pro uses as its foundation, Bike Safe provides a range of training videos and a number of constabularies also undertake observed rides with members of the public. Check out if it’s available in your area on their website.
Tom Keenan is a wonderful Irish coach who has put together a series of courses (MC1, 2, 3 and 4) which take participants through motorcycle control step-by-step. The first MC1 course starts out with basic motorcycle slow-speed control, the principles of cornering and braking. The second MC2 course builds your skills and you’ll be shifting your body position and steering positively and within confined areas with confidence. The MC3 course sees you using Tom’s motorcycles and takes you to knee-down at around 20mph. And MC4 goes on to teach some next-level skills of wheelies and stoppies! (Not for the faint hearted, and great fun!)
We genuinely recommend the MC1 and MC2 courses as being suitable for any rider. So, whether you’ve just passed your test or if you’re an experienced rider, this course will leave you smiling and provide you with a range of new skills which are useful every day.
The Institute of Advance Motorists (IAM) has rebranded to IAM RoadSmart and has a number of active car driving and motorcycle riding groups across the UK. They have a structured programme of observed riding and coaching and, as a membership organisation, they operate as a not-for-profit. Voluntary observers work with a rider over a series of sessions and guide them towards an “Advanced” rider test. Whilst the test is good to work towards and nice to have, it’s really the observed rides and the learning that’s important so it’s well worth checking out your local group.
The Ridewise coaching team collaborates annually with a number of IAM observers to ensure their coaching standards remain exemplary, thereby maintaining the high quality of their courses.
The RoSPA course is nicely structured for riders who want to progress and, perhaps, even become an instructor in the future. The first level sees riders work towards an advanced riding test, the standard of which is monitored by the DVSA. Beyond this there’s a nationally recognised NVQ Level 2 award in Advanced Riding Skills, and then a Level 3 in Advanced Motorcycle Instructor Training.
We particularly like this course if you are riding professionally and want to earn some Continuous Professional Development (CPD) qualifications which are accredited at a national level. The courses are well-structured and there’s an ability to track your progression.
The Ridewise coaching team collaborates annually with a number of RoSPA instructors and test examiners to ensure their coaching standards remain at the highest level of quality.
Set-up in 1980 by Keith Code, the legendary track-riding and racing coach who also authored “A Twist of the Wrist”, CSS now has on-track coaching teams who operate around the world. The course has four levels, with levels one to three each taking riders through a series of structures lessons which include throttle control, observational skills, body positioning, trail-braking and many more. Level four combines skills from the previous levels, with students refining techniques under the guidance of both on-track and off-track coaches.
The course consists of classroom briefings, on-track coaching (1 coach to 3 students) and personalised debriefs after each on-track session. The UK school operates on MSV’s circuits for a few days each year and, as well as learning new skills, it offers students an opportunity to try out circuit riding in a professional, safe and controlled environment.
A number of the Ridewise coaching team enjoy track days and have attended CSS. Whilst the courses are very track-focused, the skills taught are highly transferrable to road-riding, and the structured way the course is taught is excellent.
For anyone wanting to try out riding on a real racing circuit, it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Motorsport Vision is the company which owns Brands hatch, Donington Park, Bedford Autodrome, Cadwell Park and Snetterton circuits, which are located across the UK. Through MSV Track days (MSVT) they offer a number of track day products which include both “Novice-only” and “Road Bike only” days throughout the year. Track riding can be great fun, and you don’t have to be a racer, or even on a sports bike!
The novice days are a super way to get started as everyone there is either a first-time track rider or relatively new to it. Cones are laid out by the team to mark turn-in points, apex and exit markers, and you can really play dot-to-dot with these cones until you find your own rhythm. The road bike days are there for riders who want to just ride to the circuit on their road bike, (Complete with lights, indicators and road tyres!), to enjoy the day and to then ride home again afterwards.
The MSVT team are friendly and offer 1:1 coaching in each session for a very affordable price, and you’ll find them all friendly, helpful and ready to answer any questions you may have.
There are a few care points to note, these being that riders must wear one-piece or two-piece leathers (Two-piece leathers must zip together all the way around with a 360-degree zip), a full-length back protector and a brake lever guard must be fitted to the motorcycle. Please see the MSVT website for more details about their novice and road-bike-only track days.
This course is “must” if you’re a motorcycle rider and we can’t say enough good things about it. As a course it’s a little different on the basis it addresses the issues of motorcycle accidents, being first-on-scene and first aid. It’s typically run as a half-day course and teaches valuable skills in respect of how to manage a scene if you come across a collision involving a motorcycle, immediate actions and first aid, and collision prevention and the science of being seen.
Learning these straightforward skills may help reduce the severity of injuries in an accident, assist others, and minimise your own risk of involvement in an accident too. Highly recommended.
We’ve put a website link to the London Fire Brigade’s course as this is the one which is local to Ridewise HQ, however there are many Biker Down courses running across the UK, so please find one local to you and get yourself booked on.