The principal reason we exist is to offer training to members, usually in preparing for their RoSPA Advanced Test. This is provided to new Associate Members starting their training and also to existing Full Members for their three yearly re-test (which is a requirement for continued membership). We currently have about 90 members. Basically we are a group of bikers who share a common cause and that is to improve road safety through training and practicing the techniques we have learnt. Our group is made up of people from all ages who share a love of all things motorcycle

• To encourage and train Associate members to prepare for and pass their RoSPA Advanced Motorcycle test.
• To publicise RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders (RoADAR) Association and its work.
• To adopt the Highway Code as the guide to good driving/riding practice and to acknowledge the “System” as recommended in the Police manual, “Motorcycle Roadcraft” as the standard by which we ride.
• To promote the interests of road safety in association with the Police and other road safety organisations.
• To improve standards of riding

We have for many years been a advanced motorcycle group – in 2024 we added a car section and we are gradually building up the car driving side.

 There is no separate membership for the two sections, even though we operate independently, we are governed by one committee. Advanced training is managed through a network of qualified tutors all of whom are volunteers.

The main aim of our group is to offer advanced training, regardless of experience to any rider who wants to improve their riding skills. We also offer:

• Regular ride outs – a chance to practice and enjoy rides to various places with like-minded people (pillions are welcome too).
• Monthly group meetings open to all irrespective of training level which may be either:
• A training and development evening reinforcing the skills you have learnt.
• Group talks by experts in their field from road safety to legal issues
• Ride out with a training theme
• Access to our member pages for discussions and information on various topics biker related

The group is run by its own voluntary Committee made up from members and any organised ride or event is open to all members.

We are working on a fully automated system but in the meantime simply contact membership@rospabikers.club

 Acceptance is automatic, once complete you will be contacted by someone from the Training Team who will take you through the allocation process.

The joining fee is £65, which includes a copy of Roadcraft and Highway Code; annual membership is only £20 pa.

All our training is carried out one-to-one, your allocated Tutor will be your mentor through the whole period that you are training, so it is therefore important that we make sure you are paired with a Tutor who is well-matched to your needs and able to plan your progress.

All of our Tutors are made up from enthusiastic members who volunteer their time for the benefit of other members.

All of our Tutors will have been themselves tested to the very highest standard as part of their qualification process. They also undergo regular additional training and monitoring to ensure they are able to offer the very best training, matching these standards.

The training team consists of the Chief Training Officer and Tutors. They meet regularly to discuss training matters and ensure high standards of training.

All of our training is centred around the Highway Code and the Police Federation publication – Motorcycle Roadcraft – which is identical to that used by all the emergency services.

Some other training organisations often insist that everyone – tutors and associates alike – follow a rigid and very inflexible approach and generally, their test pass level is significantly lower than that required by RoSPA. This method of training will also often rely on working within a fixed and prescriptive framework, with little adjustment being made for individual needs and abilities.

Although the RoSPA test will be at a fixed standard, we do not believe that getting to that standard is a simple mechanical process. Real road situations require real solutions, to answer this we pride ourselves in adopting a flexible tailored approach, with Tutors matching training technique to the varying needs of Associates.

Achieving a Gold during a RoSPA Test is recognised worldwide as being the highest qualification available at civilian level. A Gold pass at test cannot be bettered, all of our Tutors are trained to this standard.

Training will take place with you using your own bike, accompanied by your tutor riding his / her own machine. Your Tutor, being a volunteer, is giving you their time without charge but they will have to pay for their own fuel and cover their own expenses. As is normal practice, we expect Associates to make a contribution to help cover these costs of up to £20 per session. In reality many trainers will take a breakfast instead but you should agree this in advance.

Training is what is sometimes described as “Pursuit Style Training”. Normally you will ride in front with your Tutor close behind. They will not Instruct, the decisions you make will be yours alone. However, the Tutor may well make timely comments about what they see, which will be discussed in detail at debriefs. Also, your Tutor may well draw your attention to features or hazards that they feel you should be responding to. Again, these will be part of later discussions. At some point your Tutor may well give you a Demonstration Ride; showing the Roadcraft principles as you follow.

Depending on ride content, weather, time of year and time constraints, each training session will usually be between two and four hours. Generally, they will be somewhere between 30 and 80 miles, but all these factors are negotiable and varied to your circumstances, and subject to what you have and agreed with your Tutor.

All training is carried out in your free time, the amount of which is available varies from person to person. People start from different levels and learn at different rates. It is therefore not possible to predict how long it will be before you are ‘Test Ready’. As a general rule, 8 -10 sessions are sufficient, but it often depends on outside factors such as an Associate’s ability or commitment to practice.

Your Tutor will be as keen as you to get to a point where you are test ready. When this time comes, your Tutor will arrange for another Tutor to offer you a ‘Mock Test’, which will give you good insight as to what to expect with the real thing. Providing you and your Tutor are happy with the result, they will guide you through the process of applying to RoSPA Head Office for your test.

Remember this is not compulsory, it is designed to provide a fitting end to all your hard work.

The test will be conducted by a RoSPA Examiner, who will most likely be either a serving or a past Police Officer on similar roads that you will have been using during training and it will last about an hour. Depending on your performance you will be awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze as a pass. If the examiner considers that you have not quite achieved the standard on the day you will get full feedback and we will use that to ensure you ready for retest as soon as possbile.

Included in the test fee you will pay, will be your initial subscription to RoSPA (which is different to belonging to us at Rospa WM). If you keep up your annual Rospa WM membership (currently £20 per year), you will be offered free re-tests every three years, which everyone finds very much helps us all keep up our standards.