Police Advanced (Motorcycling) Riding Techniques DVD

I wish I had gone on a course with Mike when he did them, he's retired now....but he could still smoke me though? I have been on tracks and been taught all the things that seem so alien to a road rider - that you don't do it at all - out of instinct. I know that I will never be a Steve Hyslop or Mick Doohan....Rossi, Marquez etc. BUT, I ride my bike to work, for fun and sometimes because I do want to push myself...we all do - even a Copper I know has 9 points for speeding on his bike...yet they tell us? You can see why, after the Police are trained to such a high level of observation etc...of course they are going to practice what they know, I bet they have to to keep their chops up to scratch. Mike has such an engaging way of getting over what he wants to say... like one of the really good teachers at school we all knew - and funnily enough, the one NOBODY messed about in his class, because he made you think, learn and practice what he just said... in a no nonsense but straight way, pushing on and bringing the whole class along with him... because he explained it so well, that the kids on the back row, who where usually the biggest pains, where asking questions. Finally being treated like all the rest, and actually learning for the first time in ages...they got engaged...and boy did they learn. Mike is an excellent rider of course, but we 99% use the roads, as he does, and you will learn so much. Watch it once and you think, "OK that was alright, I'll do a bit of that at the weekend then and see if it helps" You WILL come home and watch it again, and again, and never stop tiring of watching it, as your ears will pick up on a phrase or two, and you think,"Hold on? - I've seen this twice - yet I never heard that bit???- No wonder this or that felt a bit wrong" A truly magic piece of work, and I know, as I have emailed Mike a lot, he values like mad what we think - as his goal is to help people, he is putting something back into the transportation he loves. I know he was also a Police car driver too at a high level, but he gives away his real passion... as he made a bike DVD ! Well done Mike, and good health and ride as much as possible. I still watch this DVD with a three month break...and it always washes over me like new... too much information for one viewing....when you really want to improve, you will stick in the old DVD again and again, when the Wife is out of course LOL. Well done Mike, wish you'd do some more?

So what do you get - one DVD, well produced in a thin DVD case. Professionally done, and gives the general overview you'd expect to see on a case. The DVD autostarts to a standard menu, no roaring sounds of bikes, or flash photographs showing all many of roads and bikes on them, just an icon that you click on! DVD fires up and you meet Mike, the guy who shows you how its done. The DVD is basically split up in to three sections, basic techniques, various ride outs reiterating the techniques you are shown at the beginning, and the final part of being out on a ride with instructors and punters... Does it work? Totally! The techniques are shown very clearly and repeated constantly throughout the DVD. Putting the techniques into the ride realyl does hammer it home showing where you want to be and what you want to be doing, be it gearing, position or where to look. It is very clear Mike knows what his doing and comes across as a person who HAS been instructing for years. Stunning commentary throughout does put you in the feel of the ride and what is going through your mind when you are there. The commentary is backed up with some stunning shots from on the bike, of the bike, elevated at the rear of the bike by a trailing car, on the road side when the bikes ride pass, its always the best shot to show what you need to be doing. Good camera work throughout. The thing that makes the whole thing incredibly easy to watch and enjoyable is Mike, the words and phrase's you hear really shows a guy who has told a million students the same thing a million times. Getting this DVD WILL aid your riding to be much safer and oddly much quicker through control, observation and positioning. The other thing you will also know that everyone who has watched it will at some point during a ride out, commute to work or down the pub, say to themselves or to their mates.... "lets pick up them daisy's", "I want to know what his had for breakfast" and my favourite "his a volvo driver, so his bound to brake" If money is tight think of it this way, forfeit a couple of decent bacon and egg butties, on the next couple of ride outs and you have the DVD - you'll be lighter and better equipped for the road - no brainer then!

I have watched this DVD many times both during my initial training and now through IAM and just for the pleasure of it. I have looked at some of the more unfavourable reviews and think frankly they missed the point. This DVD is an insight into the Police system of riding presented by an ex Class 1 rider and instructor, in other words they don't come too much better. No this is not a Hollywood production but its fantastic for what it is. Is it repetitive? Too right it is because the Police system of riding is repetitive in reality its very simple once you get you head around it which does take some getting used to. Is this DVD too basic? Frankly only if you think you know it all, this is not about track riding or riding like a Muppet and well beyond the speed limit its about reading the road picking the correct line and position on the road for what's coming up. The principles are basic because they don't have to be complicated. Will you learn about counter steering and getting your arse off the seat? Nope but then this is not a substitute for proper instruction and practise. The DVD states that its not about riding in town although there are several 30 mph areas ridden through, the system does not change. I have watched this DVD many times and love it I don't think there is a lack of emphasis on anything important, you don't see many lifesavers because that's the Police system. Look in your mirrors more often and take note of what's going on behind you. Look ahead and keep your eyes on the hazard in front. I completely understand in practice this is not easy. The narration simply says you can adopt the techniques if you agree with them. Its a flexible system. Personally I would suggest watching it a few times and I would also concur with another reviewer in that Mike Waite makes this stuff look easy. The DVD shows what is achievable if you follow the system and are very well practised. I would suggest novice riders pick and choose very carefully where they put some of the principles into practice (speaking from experience). I have my course booked and am very much looking forward to it and I'm definitely no sports bike rider.

in one way I don't like to give this 3 stars but I have to point out what the DVD does not: two things: 1. the lifesaver, or over the shoulder look, before any major move on a bike, is not mentioned or demonstrated. This is a must and has saved me on more than one occasion, not only on a motorbike but also in a car. 2. Mike Waite is an extraordinarily skilled rider. He can ride close to other bikes and get away with it, but he has to understand mere mortals like us need to stay back and remember the two second rule. Other than that I love the video and it condenses several significant lessons into one. You will learn a lot from this and it needs to be viewed several times. This video will shorten your learning curve and save you money. These techniques will also save lives!

I used this DVD in conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Motorists' handbook 'How to become a better rider' as preparation for passing the IAM Advanced Motorcyclist's test. I found the DVD extremely helpful. Its main focus is on explaining the 'visual or limit point' to adjust speed into and out of bends and learning the 'visual links' to anticipate the direction the road will be going. It gives guidance on positioning, lines through a series of bends and on overtaking. It certainly helps to train one to look much further ahead up the road than one is used to and consequently to be a smoother rider because potential/real hazards are spotted much sooner and a 'riding plan' formulated in good time. Technically, one of the sequences was, unfortunately, filmed through a wet windscreen and the raindrops detracted from the overall quality of the production. Did it help in my encounter with the examiner? Yes it did, and I can recommend it to others. The DVD arrived, securely packaaged, the day after I placed my order.

This DVD is excellent, clear to follow, easy to understand and Mike explains the subject at hand in a very clear and concise manner. If you're a biker or driver for that matter and you want to be a safer rider/driver, no matter how many years experience or how good you think you are, this DVD is a must-have and a bargain at that. Although I always try to think of myself as being a rubbish/slow/novice rider (and I am!) watching this DVD has taught me to corner more safely and has given me valuable knowledge and tools for dealing with hazards such as summits and corners. This DVD has also given me an even higher found respect for the skill of police riders. Mike is an excellent rider (as shown in this video) and although the purpose of this DVD is not to show how great Mike is, it gives you an idea of the level that can be achieved if you work at it and practice your skills in a safe way. To give you a rough idea about the content of the DVD, the subject of the visual point is in my opinion the most important subject on this DVD, is covered in some depth and will no doubt help any rider who watches this DVD to corner more effectively and more importantly in a safe manner. I've been driving for 11 years and riding for 3 years and nobody has ever taught me about the visual point. Once you've learned it though, the knowledge is invaluable and you can use it for both driving and riding. In summary, the subjects covered on this DVD are extremely useful and I thoroughly recommend that all bikers/drivers purchase and watch this DVD. Twice. You won't regret it one bit and it WILL help you be a safer rider/driver. As an aside, Mike is a very friendly chap and posted this out to me in double quick time so top marks for customer service there too. Thanks again, Mike and safe riding.

I got this DVD because I'm returning to riding after 15 years away and I figure I owe it to myself and all my family to be as safe and skilful as I can be. I was positively influenced by the other Amazon reviews and some comments in one or two on-line forums. Let me tell you I am not disappointed. The DVD arrived next day and Mike was very helpful with all the questions I had. Think Advanced Riding is boring? Not with Mike Waite! Mike's highly individual and enthusiastic style of commentary is infectious so that I now find myself repeating him almost word-for-word as various events unfold on the road ahead. It's clearly going in to my addled brain and staying there! Much of the advice contained will save your life at some point if you ride regularly. He should present a motorcycle program on TV! Much more engaging than the often humourless and monotone advanced riding commentaries I have come across elsewhere! He is a masterful exponent of what he teaches and clearly enjoys his riding: 'What a cracking overtake', 'Just look at that visual point!...' Watching this DVD is going to be a regular thing for me from now on as it is entertaining as well as packed with useful information. The next step for me will be to get some advanced training and work towards passing the RoSPA test. The (slightly) low budget packaging and DVD menu setup is not an issue for me because the content is all that counts as far as I'm concerned. I can thoroughly recommend this DVD.

An excellent video resource which all riders should study. I have recently returned to biking, having ridden when younger and I always tried to use the police motorcycle roadcraft system as my method to stay safe on the roads. The DVD shows you use of the system visually which adds a lot more than just reading the book. Todays roads are a more dangerous place with more and faster traffic, aggressive motorists using mobile phones and dangerous idiots driving as if they own the road. This DVD gives a great deal of information to at least consider carefully and you can take the parts you believe will work for you and then use them - always! For example, the whole system is based upon correct positioning, focusing and scanning ahead and riding defensively as if no other road user has or can see you! This works for me. For me personally, however, the section on upping the pace does not appeal, my riding preference at my age is for quiet B and C roads on my Honda Transalp where forward observation and careful planning are most vital to safety. Always expect the unexpected, plan and review as you ride and think safety. My other hobby is flying light aircraft and I have found that planning and operating the machine for safety first and in a responsible way can be part of the challenge and fun of riding a motorcycle in a similar way to flying an aircraft. Buy this DVD and up your game. Safe riding!!