Staffordshire Police Bikesafe 2008 with commentary

[jsemanglican]

Who is commentating, certainly doesnt appear to be police standard commentary!

The commentators riding lines are all over the shop, riding very close to the police BMW too!!!

A few occasions he is within arms stretch of the BMW...

[advancedbiker]

@jsemanglican - To be honest it was me, I was the camera bike and using a bit of cameramans flair, trying to get different camera angles etc. I agree not the best advert for advanced riding, but the bikes in front were the ones to be watching.

[TheCoolPickles]

I live in staffordshire :D

[rawhide901]

RE: 50>30

As a newish VFR rider myself, it's quite interesting to hear another former VFR rider describe the Ducati as one of those bikes that just stops when you close the throttle.

I thought the VFR had a fair bit of engine brake, but I've never riden a big twin. I imagine it must be very much more pronounced for you to comment on it. Is it?

[advancedbiker]

@rawhide901 - You need to try one. I have moved on to a BMW R1200 GS, and that has great engine retardation in the right gear.

[aeroplod]

Advancedbiker, you are too generous. A good point maybe, but poor obs on my part. Perhap's had I been riding the obs would have been better but I have no real excuse!! The day we think we have it all cracked is the day we should stop riding! Thanks for al the videos. They are great refreshers for me as I go back into biking.

[aeroplod]

At 6.21 on the video the distant bikers disappear from view over a hump. I wouldn't want to be up to the white line approaching it as the police and the ducati are without a good view of what is over it. Maybe the video gives a false impression of the riders view.

[advancedbiker]

@aeroplod Thanks for the comment and yes I can see where you are coming from. If you view from 6.12 onwards, where you get a riugh idea where the road goes and if there are any oncoming vehicles. The only unknown is a parked vehicle as yet unseen. But good point...

[chrisabrahamsson]

is it legal to ride in bus lanes outside of london, for example banbury?

and when over taking is it ok to exceed the speed limit when passing the slower moving vehical? for example if im going down a country road speed limit is 60, when over taking is it ok for me to exceed that speed to make the overtake faster and therefore safer as im spending less time on the wrong side of the road

please help me

thank you

[pentlandpirate]

My god, that's boring

[2wheelsteve]

It took you til 7.00 until you mentioned the sheep, I notice them wiggling their bums straight away :¬))). I would find it extremely difficult riding with a cop behind me for that length of time so no wonder he's sticking to the speed limit haha

[2906pete]

Ref my posting about left-handers on 'Bends - what went wrong', look how close the police biker goes to the double white lines, with pannier hanging over in places - maybe a bit too close methinks; there's no margin for error either by him or by oncoming drivers!

[advancedbiker]

@2906pete - I agree, having looked at the vid, the officer perhaps should have moved over to equalize the margin of safety of some of the narrower roads. Good feedback comment - Thanks

[neckender321]

what a pair of t**ts in high vis, as everyone who knows these roads long straights nice bends with good visability this should be the national speed limit with this type of road 60MPH

[advancedbiker]

@neckender321 Sorry, but we were in Derbyshire, where they appear to have adopted the practice of 50 mph everywhere. Must have got some signs cheap....

[ayseayseo]

Helmet cam helps more for who watches the video for view and reading the road. Thanks very much for all vids, and comments.

[TheGasman777]

50 is a joke on this road, and everyone with a brain knows it. If you want to make it safer, it would have to be seperate carrage or at least double whites.

[gold333]

Anyone else think that roads like this are actually the easiest to do right on a bike. I'd like to see this video done in a busy city centre with bicyclelanes and buslanes left and right. That's where motorbiking is hardest (and requires different skills than carriding) imo.

[MickeyCBR1100XX]

wayneatutube the bird is deffo put to good use as a POLICE bike :-)

[wayneatutube]

Riding through coventry last winter and I saw 3 different types of marked police bikes all together. One was definitely a Blackbird (silver/grey), I couldn't get a good enough view of the others. Good to see the bird is still in good use

What a lovely road. Shame they're trashing all the roads speed limits. If the Gov't want to do things properly and not on the cheap (bulk load of 50 signs) goto somewhere like Sweden where the roads are planned properly.

[Blenkey117]

poor ducati man, he goes for a nice relaxing ride and hes getting judged by 2 police men.lol. not relaxing.

p.s. that road looks very straight for a 50. I think ppl would respect speed limits more, if who ever authorised them respects the road uses more. its just too easy for them to say oo we'll have less crashes on this road if we reduce the speed limit... rabble rabble

[advancedbiker]

We were in Derbyshire, who like 50 mph limits. I thinks they had a great offer on a load of signs......

[Limpandtotheleft]

@Blenkey117 If this is a Bikesafe run, the 'poor ducati man' knew fine well the copper was behind him, and had, indeed, paid for the privilege. The aim being to get some high-quality feedback of your riding skills.

As for speed limits, I'm increasingly thinking that two forces are in action. The 'speed Nazis' who seem to thing speed over the limit, per se, is the sole cause of accidents, rather than inappropriate speed. And, also it's cheaper to put up speed limit signs than repair the roads.

[matoco1temp]

Northamptonshire police have now got an unmarked R1 same as above!

[advancedbiker]

Try and get the number and I'll put it on Youtube

[gotobedandtickler]

Excelent training footage, it pays to keep up with the safety issues. I have enroled for the Staffordshire "Bikesafe day" to which I will be attending shortly. It is always an advantage to take anything of this level to an area which you have never been. I live in Manchester and have no idea of the route we will be taking.

A challenge to even the most skilled of riders.

[advancedbiker]

Good luck and let me know how it goes.  Can you be my spy, as after the assessment they are surposed to point to other training, if appropriate. Let me know if that happens

[trevorsdad]

On my bikesafe weekend, Warwickshire police introduced us to their new two unmarked bikes - an FJR and K1200 (both in grey) so watch out. Apparently they focus on the 3 Es . Education, Engineering and no 3, Enforcement to strict targets is now high on the agenda so speed at you peril.

[paulgg1]

excellent vid, very informative....

[advancedbiker]

It just gives you an idea of what to expect, Thanks for the comment

[paulgg1]

I'm doing my Bikesafe in a few weeks time.....eek!!  I hope they're kind after 15 years of riding....

[hornetobiker]

Hi Nigel.

Totally unrelated really mate, but I have a question that the above vid just reminded me about.

Why is it recommended to turn in to a left hand junction (off the main road) taking the nearside line? As opposed to taking the centre line on an eg blind left hand bend?

I would guess as a precaution for running wide into oncoming traffic, but again that seems to me to be a justification to take the centre line.

Ok. What have I not got?

[robinphillips]

I keep waiting for him to say "fasten your seatbelt ladies and gentlemen, cabin crew prepair for take off"......great vid ;-)

[benjyboba]

His gaining on the ducati through the bends at 50mph. The ducati could run way out of line and still get round it faster than them police bikes if it was a race track or they was going fast. I agree with keeping on the throttle and lining up with the bends but they are going way too slow for that to become an issue whilst cornering(50mph). Ducati's are best cornering with power on or gently trail braking. If those speed limits wasn't used then the rider observation and smoothness would be best.

[advancedbiker]

Derbyshire is a county to stay out off. They seem to have bought a job lot of 50 mph signs. Well it is cheaper than bringing the Police Traffic department back !

[benjyboba]

Its never as sensible as having a few good traffic "BIKE COPS" who know advanced riding and can help spot and educate people who need it. I know from experience that you can ride along at a reasonable speed in good saftey. Speed signs say 50 mph, people just ignore them. The signs or limitating speed will never improve the riders observations or dangerous manovers (such as overtaking in blind circumstances). People really need more freedom but education to learn to become a truely safe fun rider

[slider640]

i've been trying to get on one of these bikesafe courses either north wales or cheshire, but they are allways full.

ps,

nice vids.

[policeblue999]

Nice, and i bet it is great to ride on some rather spectacular roads!!!, especially that Cat & Fiddle

[advancedbiker]

I would lke to agree with you n the Cat and Fiddle, but alas I knew it when there were no idiots using it, so I tend to try and avoid it. I use the road from Macclesfield to Whalley Bridge, much better and for now has the national speed limit of 60 still on it..

[unicyclelord]

Come on 60 limit we all know how fast you go on the quiet, you can work it out if you know how far the white lines are appart!! Ps loving your videos believe i met a friend of yours the other week at a BNI breakfast Max hammond

[advancedbiker]

You quote 60mph limit, you will be lucky, we were in Derbyshire......50 mph from the border all the way to Hug Bridge.

Yes Max, we have ridden together in the past, including Normandy and he asked me to BNI. I didn't know there were 2 6.30's in the day.

[unicyclelord]

Derbyshire good point! Ive had BNI forced on me a few times theres a breakfast at least though to help nurse you through it