Category Archives: Motorcycle Training

Motorcycle Training news, from 1st Class Rider Training – Cardiff.

Advanced Training, Advice, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News, Police Class 1, RoSPA

Motorcycle Training in France

1st Class Rider Training are running an Advanced Motorcycle Training Course in France in April.  There are just four spaces left on this trip.

If you are interested in what will be a Training/Social Trip with a likeable group of bikers then you can view the full details on our Newsletter at www.1stclassrider.blogspot.com

To visit our Newsletter Blog click on the Newsletter Link in the tabs on the left.

The training will be based on the Police System of Riding, Roadcraft, and can lead to a final test under the RoSPA Advanced Test Scheme.

Advanced Training, Advice, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, Police Class 1

Five Rules of Braking

Over the years brakes on bikes have become more and more efficient and nowadays are very effective indeed.  Improvements in the Hydraulic Fluid used in braking systems, Combined Braking Systems and ABS all serve to make our brakes highly efficient.

But these innovations are only any use if our brakes are used and operated correctly, and correct braking technique needs practice.

Here are the Five Rules of Braking.

1 Brake firmly only when travelling in a straight line.

2 Brake in plenty of time.

3 Vary brake pressure according to the condition of the road surface.

4 Avoid using the front brake;

*When the machine is banked over

*When Turning

*On loose or slippery surfaces

5 When descending a hill, brake on the straight stretches and ease off in the bends.

Five simple rules which if observed can make all the difference to maintaining the stability of the machine and maximising your own safety.

Practice your braking technique until you are familiar with how your bike will react in different situations and on different road conditions.

Use these Five Rules of Braking to get the best from your bike, without it getting the better of you.

Advanced Training, Advice, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, Police Class 1

Principles of Safe Cornering

In my previous post I detailed the Five Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes. The top 2 causes being related to Cornering.

This could be down to the failure to read the road and match the bike speed to the severity of the bend.

Here are the Four Principles of Safe Cornering.  These principles are the basis of the Police teaching for Patrol Motorcyclists and if applied in conjunction with good forward observation will always result in a safe exit to the bend.

The Four Principles of Safe Cornering are;

1 Your machine should be in the correct position on the approach.

2 You should be travelling at the correct speed for the corner or bend.

3 You should be in the correct gear for the speed of the machine.

and the most important one,

4 You should be able to stop safely on your own side of the road in the distance you can see to be clear.

At 1st Class Rider Training – Cardiff we can teach you to read a bend and help you to understand the adverse affects of the  ‘Cornering Forces’ acting upon the bike as we lean into a curve.

Remember these simple rules, especially number 4

Motorcycle Training

Police Class 1 ?

Our main website proclaims that at 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff we use only Instructors who have acheived the covetted Police Class 1 Riding Grade.  (Also known as a ‘Grade 1’).

So what does this mean.  There has been a recent re-vamp of the Police Grading System and modern day thinking is that there is no Grade 1 or 2 etc.  You have either reached an Advanced Level or you have not.  They have done away with the numbered system.  But how it was, was the  Police Driving and Riding Grading System was made up of 5 Grades.  Grade or Class 1 being the highest.

On a ‘Standard’ Car or Bike Course you could only acheive as high as a Grade 3, and this was needed before you could be considered to transfer on to the Traffic Department.

Grade 5 was needed to drive a Panda Car

Grade 4 was needed to drive the Divisional Response Van, and a Panda Car.

Grade 3 was needed to drive any of the above, and the smaller cc engined cars on the Traffic Department Fleet. Also the speeds that you were allowed to travel was also curtailed by your driving grade.

After a period of practical, live driving duties an Intermediate Course could be undertaken and whilst this wasn’t used to up-grade your certification it was used as a step up before undergoing an Advanced Course.

It was only on the Advanced Car or Bike Course that either of the Advanced Grades (Grade 1 or Grade 2) could be achieved.

Whilst a Grade 2 was seen as a high Grade, a Grade 1 was reserved for those who displayed an expert ability, matched with having shown maximum safe progress and a high degree of flair.  Only a small percentage of personnel achieved this Grade 1.

A Grade 1 was needed before officers could be considered for further training for VIP Escort Work, and the escorting of high risk prisoners.

By using only officers, or former officers with a Class 1 Grade I know my instructors have undergone stringent and extensive training at all levels, and they have an ability to handle and control safely the vehicles in their charge, which is second to none.

In passing this disciplined systematic approach on to our students we can instill in you the foundation of safe driving and riding for life.

1st Class Rider Training by 1st Class Instructors on First Class Machines.

“Safe riding is no mistake”.

Advanced Training, Advice, Motorcycle Training, RoSPA

Five Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes

At 1st Class Rider Training we believe that if you know what the most common causes of crashes are then you can go someway to avoiding being involved in them.

So here is a simple list of the five most common causes of Motorcycle Crashes.

1 Failing to negotiate a Left Hand Bend on a Country Road.

2 Failing to negotiate a Right Hand Bend on a Country Road.

3 Failing to observe correctly the presence or movement of other traffic at Junctions.

4 Overtaking.

5 Loss of Control.

(Data Courtesy of RoSPA)

Throughout our training we use our knowledge and expertise to pass to you, our students the best ways to get the most from your bike without it getting the better of you.  We can teach you how to read a bend, how to match your speed to the limit point, correct overtaking technique and much more.  Remember, when you think you have nothing left to learn, it’s time to hand your bike keys over!

Advanced Training, CBT, Direct Access, Motorcycle Training, Police Class 1, RoSPA

Motorcycle Training Cardiff

For Motorcycle Training in Cardiff 1st Class Rider Training is the perfect choice.  Run by Andy Smith, a former Police Motorcyclist.  We only use Police Class 1 Riders as our Instructors to ensure the highest lever of Motorcycle Training in Cardiff.

Established in 2003 by Andy after he worked initially  for Cardiff Motorcycle School and later United Motorcycle Training, before exclusively teaming up with the local BMW dealership to provide 1st Class Training on Top Class BMW machines. And so it was that 1st Class Rider Training-Cardiff was formed.

1st Class Rider Training is based at the Cardiff County Council Road Safety Centre, at North Road, centrally sited to be in easy reach of all parts of Cardiff and South Wales.  This means that we can carry out CBT in Cardiff on a unique secure site made up of a mini road system with authentic road layouts, traffic signs, traffic lights, a roundabout and box junction.

Our Instructor base has recently been expanded so now you can recieve 1st Class Training right from your CBT through the Direct Access Scheme and up to an Advanced level taking an Advanced Motorcycle Test under the RoSPA scheme.

Looking for Motorcycle Training in Cardiff, there is only one choice.

Advanced Training, Advice, CBT, Direct Access, Events, Motorcycle Training, Motorcycles, News

Welcome to the Official 1st Class Rider Training Blog

Welcome to the 1st Class Rider Training Blog.

I will be updating this blog with news and updates on everything that will affect you as a potential motorcycle learner.

I will also post advice and tips for those taking the CBT, Direct Access or Advanced Training courses.

Stay tuned!

For those of you who may have visited before and are logged in to my Newsletter Blog then you’ll be pleased to know that this will still continue with news of ride outs and social events etc.  We are in the process of re-vamping our Newsletter and this Web site Blog is just an added bonus.

Please bear with us whilst this transistion takes place, all courtesy of my very clever Son Lewis who is taking over my computer from his apartment in Amsterdam.  (No… don’t ask me how!), as he redesigns the these pages.

Andy