Home

Welcome to Rotherham Advanced Motorcyclists.
We are an officially recognised motorcycle group of The Institute of Advanced Motorists aiming to promote road safety for motorcyclists by the personal improvement of riding skills.

With guidance from Rotherham Advanced Motorcyclists and successful completion of the I.A.M. motorcycle test you will get full membership of the I.A.M., be a safer rider, plus the advantage of lower insurance premiums.

Please follow the link to the I.A.M. website and have a look at the Skills for Life package in detail.

Before you commit to joining we would welcome you to come and meet members of the club either at our Saturday morning ride or at a club night. Details of both are posted in the new members section of the website.
Contact details for all the Committee are also listed if you want to have a chat first.

If you want to improve your riding, if you want to have an excuse to get the bike out at least once a week or if you want to pass your Advanced Motorcycle Test then please get in touch.

Remember, never regret the things you have done, regret the things you never did!

10 Ways to be Safer

Assume Drivers Can’t See You
Ride assuming that you and your bike are totally invisible to motorists. That means you must never assume that drivers can see you. The odds are, they can’t so believe it yourself and always have an “out” for dangerous traffic situations. Bike Safety depends on you.

Maintain Safe Spacing
Leave plenty of space in front and back and to the sides from all other vehicles.
Be an island. Stay away from traffic as much as possible. This gives you more visibility and more time to react to situations.

Anticipate Trouble
Anticipate trouble situations and know what to do when you see them. Analyze what drivers are doing and try to predict the outcome. Then make sure you’re ready to avoid a bad traffic situation.

Beware of Oncoming RIGHT Turners
Beware of oncoming motorists turning right in front of you at junctions. This is the leading cause of death of motorcycle riders. If you only remember one tip here, let it be this one. Slow down before you enter a junction. Have an escape route planned. Stay visible. Don’t travel too close to cars in front of you. Position your bike so it can be seen by the right turner. Eye contact is not enough.

Ride Your Own Ride
Don’t try to keep up with your friends who may be more experienced. Know your personal limits. Ride your own ride.

Watch Out for Bends
Beware of taking bends that you can’t see around. A parked vehicle or a dead badger may be awaiting you. Remember the four principles of cornering, it’s in the book.

Don’t Give In to Road Rage
Do not give in to road rage and try to “get even” with another rider or motorist.
If you follow these tips, most likely you won’t fall victim to road rage. It’s better to calm down, slow down, and collect your thoughts first. Then continue on and enjoy the ride. That’s what we’re all out there for in the first place.

Don’t allow Tailgating
If someone is tailgating you, either speed up if it’s legal to do so, to open more space, or pull over and let them pass. Life is too short. Remember that a bike can stop faster than a car so you don’t want a vehicle on your tail when you find yourself trying to brake to avoid an accident. Also, don’t tailgate the vehicle in front of you Oncoming drivers can’t see you. Use the two second rule everywhere not just on the motorway.

Don’t Be Blinded by Sunglare
Beware of riding your motorcycle into sun glare. All it takes is turning a corner and finding the sun either directly in your face or passing straight through your visor. Some helmets have shields to block the sun. But sometimes you just find yourself blinded by the light. Slow down, pull over, shield your eyes and look for a way to change direction.

Avoid Riding at Night
Avoid riding at night, especially late Saturday night and early Sunday when drunken drivers may be on the road. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t drink and ride. Going to the Pub? Leave the bike at home and find a designated driver.