I went to Blyton Race Track to finish my Rapid Training and my Bike Master course with Bike Master 3. Find out all about it.
For transparency, Rapid have discounted the courses for me but has not told me what to say. All thoughts are my own.
https://www.rapidtraining.co.uk/
Visit our sister channel all about our motorhome adventures @stchristopherofatlantis
48 Comments
Hi Andy, we are very impressed with your riding skills and pheasant dodging at its best. The track day riding made me smile with you ringing the neck of the alien 😂😂 its so much fun on a track when they let you loose to go for it. Rapid training has obviously worked for you and bought you up to speed very quickly. Well done! Cheers Andy and Lyn ❤
Don't laugh. I watched the opening track ride thinking blimey! That's a bit rapid. Go on Andy mate! Cor! And then realised I had the video speed set to x1.25 cos the last fella talked…..too…..slowly.
You’ve done really well mate. All us old boys had to learn the hard way. Riding in the snow, coming off a few times. All without riding aids and the safest kit available today. Jeans, leather jacket, shit gloves and polycarbonate helmets. I remember I had a pair of nylon insulated rain trousers in a fetching blue colour. When I was out in the rain at night, you could see the sparks from the plug leads on my Suzuki GS550 electrocuting my knees. 😂 0:02
Road 6 are a good road tyre . I've put them on my super duke . ive used them on track on a street 675 , they boarder over heated and striding away .
wouldn't used them on anything over 120 bhp on track
Great video
Andy I think you have done fantastic . Can I ask now you have done these advanced training . Has it made a difference in your insurance kind regards Martin.
Knowing how to use it, is key.
A bad Tradesman always blames his tools.
Safe riding to you.
The KZ 650 is a good engine. It has plenty of poke. The 500 is a bit of a dog. It is decent but doesnt have any real torque. The 650 is pretty good.
Superb, Andy. How many miles in total, (approximately of course), do you think you've covered in the 18 months you've been riding? Thank you.
I'd love to see you ride with usernamekate ❤
You are so right with your mind set and it shows it is not what your riding its the way you ride, plus you are now riding with confidence which makes a big difference. Well done you
You can't beat getting advanced training, or a good old Versys 650.
Well done you 👍
I mean you should be able to keep up, your bike can prob do 120 mph. Your fast speed range in the video was around 70 mph. The other bikes may have a better 0- 60 by a second or two, but unless the faster bikes were driving significantly faster than you, then they’d would always be in your sights. In moto gp, best riders in the world , after 20 minutes of racing, there is only 10 seconds difference between first and 10th. I watched a video of a pro rider riding a “slow” bike and a novice rider riding a “fast bike” and you can guess who won the race.
Not only is it smart to get more training but the instructors should pick up and correct any bad habits you have slipped into, thus making you a better and safer rider. Well done Andy.
Crap tyres on new bikes should be made illegal ,so important having decent tyres ,few weeks ago I fitted Bridgestone s23’s on the Honda ,they just stick and feel great,had road 6 on ninja 650 and they were also good after I took off the Dunlop ditchfinders that were utter junk . There’s a lot of things you can do without on a bike ,grip isn’t one of them .good tyres are the first and best mod you can and should do .
Great vid.
I did a 2 day bikesafe course many years ago. It was without doubt the biggest single thing that contributed to the standard and enjoyment of my riding.
Someone said on that course, “the biggest performance increase you can make to your bike is to adjust the nut on the saddle. “
It’s been a long time and I’m certainly considering more training. Rapid is one I’ve looked at.
Interesting video Andy , brilliant tyres,
Hi Andy, love your videos. I’m going through IAM at the moment. I think you had a mixed review on them with the location and availability on a previous video. Think they are the same advanced principles though with IPSGA. It’s certainly bringing me along. Like you I was riding in too high a gear on the twistys to start. Now in mostly 3rd all the time in the 60 limits. Hardly use the brakes now. Just bought an R 1250 R which I’ve only ridden home on Monday from Motorad Glasgow. Cant wait to get out on it proper tonight for a decent run. Not sure if you have tried the Boxer engine? I’m sure I seen you on a GS but maybe it wasn’t the 1250. Keep up the excellent content mate 👌
I can confirm, this man rides very differently now, compared to his humble beginnings. That guy feared a large roundabout, and deviating from a daily piece of road to office and back. Well done Andy.
Well done Andy, I’ve done 2 lots of advanced over the last 8 years and loved it. As you say, it really helps you to enjoy the bike. My wife has commented on how my car driving has improved too. Heartily recommend any form of advanced training.
Great video i did a advanced training course not on a bike but a 44 ton artic with ROSPA and passed with a gold standard and I thought after nearly 40 years driving them I was good till I took cause and learnt a hell of a lot can't recommend taking these courses enough be it a bike a car or truck you learn so much more than what you where tourght when learning
If i would keep the needle on the middle third of then red counter i would be red lining most of the time.
Hi Andrew well done loved the track time I thought you did fantastic you have come such a long way in such a short time when I watched you pinning your kawasaki on the track my first thoughts were the Boy becomes a Man I hope you you praise your kawasaki for working so well with you I bet you've staired and them tyres and thought how far did I lean into the turns …. as for the slow moving white car situation all ways expect the unexpected there the ones having issues its normally there driving skills have mometly deserted them or they have completely run out of talent or did I lock the back door or I hope the cat ok well done on all counts regards Steve 😊
The instructor should not be pushing you to go faster than you are comfortable with on the road on day one no less. That's a big red flag for me.
When you first started with your Keeway, did you have any idea that bikes would take you on such a journey?
Thanks for the video Andy really enjoyed it Ty. 😊
Great video. Thank you.
Sorry, but what a long winded dribble. Painful to listen to, get some years/experience under your belt first. Then I might be interested in your comments, otherwise give a rest please!
great viewing Andy.. cheers Micky !
Could have been condensed slightly I feel, I switched off after about 13 minutes. Normally I enjoy your content but struggled today.
Bearing in mind andy that your 70bhp “tame underpowered” bike is the same bhp of the honda 750/4 in the 70s. The bike that started the race of the big 4s to get to the top ending with hyabusa etc. my 750/4 seemed the fastest thing on the road in its day. I have had 44 bikes and a few sports bikes but now 70bhp torquey engine is where I feel safest. V strom 650. Much in same league as the versys. If I could afford it I’d have a sports bike just for the odd thrill and handling. So good to watch your rapid progress from new biker
Don't get these short exhaust pipes on bikes. Watch out for CO poisoning when stationary.
Match gear to speed limit, notice how the gears have been matched. So at 30 limit use 3rd gear if busy traffic. 5th at 50mph, etc. Power band on rpm has just started. Best is to go on the same route over and over as though going to work. Know every bend, side road, junction. I have a few runs, been on many times, can enjoy the chill on the bike know what's around the next bend.
I am booked onto their track master soon. Looking forward to it!
Looking good on that track there Andy.. good job.
I have the exact same 2010 Versys that I purchased as a second do-everything bike. Simple, extremely reliable and capable of doing 95% of what you need it to do. Even though I picked mine up for only 2k$ (Canadian dollars) last year, I’ve noticed the values creeping up this year. Hmmm, I wonder if it’s just a sign of how bad the economy is right now, or if there is a genuine demand for these older, simpler bikes?
By the way, it’s funny you call yours the alien. Mine I call the Xeno….it actually looks like the alien monster (xenomorph) from the “Alien” movie franchise.😂
Well done 👌👍
Sunny day, country road, I was going to pass a car quite quickly when it suddenly veered towards the centre line, because of a pothole near his kerb. Think on, and read the road ahead 👍
It certainly would be to your advantage to have a half day ride out once a year with your ex police instructor so he can critique your riding so he can pick up stuff youve got lazy with or bad habits youve picked up without realizing.
That was blipping good Andy, nice one mate.
I feel these about the IAM course I’m on
Loved this and il say it again you are the perfect ambassador for advanced training and how it can benefit any rider making them safer you showcased this to me the day we rode together and what a bloody good rider you are keep it up keep polishing it 🙏
12:05 fact : pheasants are the dumbest bird in the world, especially where roads are concerned 😂
I’ve rode bikes for60 years man and boy am nothing flash just your normal rider and all i can say is am thrilled that you’re getting the buzz they can bring so enjoy and treat all cars at junction that they will probably not see you and pull out
Great video, its been a pleasure to watch your journey so far
Another cracking video Andy!
I’ve looked at Rapid training. My confidence has really taken a dip and I need to learn to trust my bike again. I was worried the training would be too much, too fast and I’d be under skilled for it.