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  1. The Spin Doctor

    New ideas about bike safety

    Sorry for taking so long to get back on this... I don't disagree that "what if...?" is the way to go. I don't know whether you have seen it but the DSA (as was) produced an excellent video of exactly that name back in the mid-90s, featuring Suzy Perry as presenter. Two problems with "what...
  2. The Spin Doctor

    Safety courses/campaigns in the UK

    Direct link to their page is London Fire Brigade - Motorcycle safety They seem to be running them twice a month, which is good. In Kent, we'll be shifting to the new purpose-built unit at Medway in the new year, as far as I know.
  3. The Spin Doctor

    New ideas about bike safety

    We have to be realistic. Not every crash can be predicted but it's true that most bike crashes are in entirely predictable locations and the rider and the other road user (if there is one) make entirely predictable errors. There are a few 'Black Swan' events that genuinely are so unlikely they...
  4. The Spin Doctor

    New ideas about bike safety

    Damn, my cover's blown... I'm Spin Doc on several forums, since Visordown and 2001... I understand what you're saying very clearly because I'm aware of it with my FB page and even more so with my own training - the people who book up a session are a minority, and with a few exceptions almost...
  5. The Spin Doctor

    New ideas about bike safety

    The problem is we're creatures of habit, and our habits tend to narrow down to "what worked yesterday will work today". Let's try to explain how that works. Here in the UK we have a couple of million motorcycle licence holders. Something under 5000 were killed or seriously injured in 2013. Or...
  6. The Spin Doctor

    New ideas about bike safety

    Thanks for the mention! Our group (myself, Duncan MacKillop who is the chap who brought Motogymkhana to the UK, and air ambulance pilot and founder of Helibikes Alf Gasparro) have all come together from different directions but we all firmly believe that a new direction is needed when it...
  7. The Spin Doctor

    Safety courses/campaigns in the UK

    Shame. As we're all volunteers running the course, it has to fit in with our day jobs (I'm usually out instructing during the day time and most weekends) and the shift pattern at the fire station. That's why the course is weekday evenings. But it does move from day to day, so if you have a...
  8. The Spin Doctor

    Safety courses/campaigns in the UK

    Three spaces free tomorrow, if you are interested :)
  9. The Spin Doctor

    Safety courses/campaigns in the UK

    We're up to well over 1000 riders who've been through our very own original Biker Down course in Kent.
  10. The Spin Doctor

    Safety courses/campaigns in the UK

    PS... not sure the "half of riders are killed at junctions" is actually correct. Junctions certainly account for the majority of COLLISIONS particularly in urban areas, but the major killers are cornering and overtaking going wrong out on the open road. I'm a bit busy right now but will see...
  11. The Spin Doctor

    Safety courses/campaigns in the UK

    And the depressing fact is that it won't change a thing, because it doesn't attempt to understand junction collisions. What does "failing to look properly" actually mean? We've a pretty good idea, having extensively researched the problem for our 'conspicuity' talk for Biker Down. Urban...
  12. The Spin Doctor

    Safety courses/campaigns in the UK

    No worries - the plan is to keep the courses going as long as there's funding. Here's a link to the Biker Down UK Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bikerdownuk
  13. The Spin Doctor

    Safety courses/campaigns in the UK

    Thanks for highlighting the Biker Down courses, Martin :) As Martin explained, they were started by Kent Fire and Rescue, and my own post-test rider training company www.survivalskills.co.uk was asked to get involved on a volunteer basis. The module I deliver is entitled 'The Science of Being...
  14. The Spin Doctor

    Motorcycle Gear shops in London - any recommendations? (want to check out Roof Boxer)

    It's not exactly London, but if you have transport it's not too difficult to get, I'd recommend these people: Helmet City - Free UK Delivery on all items, Free European Delivery over £150 HUGE range, very helpful. Helmet City Tatsfield (London & Home Counties) Waylands Farm (on...
  15. The Spin Doctor

    Weekend Workout

    Part Six of the 'Weekend Workout' series went up at the weekend and I hope to get Part Seven completed for the coming weekend! Enjoy!!
  16. The Spin Doctor

    Weekend Workout

    The sportier the bike, the more important it is to try to keep weight off the arms... I had a trainee out just recently who was totally astonished at the way the bike he was riding would steer once he'd been told to keep his weight off the bars. He'd spent a lot of money on all sorts of tweaks...
  17. The Spin Doctor

    Weekend Workout

    Thanks to Martin for sharing this with the forum... good to see some positive reception so thanks for the nice words guys! As Martin says, a lot of the info is available elsewhere (after all, there aren't that many different ways we can accelerate, steer and stop a bike!) but I've found that...
  18. The Spin Doctor

    Urban masterclass part 1

    Some good stuff there... But arguably, the best rider also has a fully developed accident evasion strategy mapped out and practiced, ready to unzip as needed... however good your avoidance skills, evasion will be necessary sooner or later. No rider is perfect either. I was witness to an...
  19. The Spin Doctor

    Urban masterclass part 1

    I prefer not to think of drivers as morons, because it has very negative connotations and sets up a "them and us" divide, and also leads to stress and anger* when something does happen. I'm a bit prone to losing my rag so it definitely helps me to remember that drivers are just ordinary people...
  20. The Spin Doctor

    Urban masterclass part 1

    Yes, I bought the wrong bike - an XJ6 Diversion/FZ6R... :confused: :D
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