David. wrote: Most of the recent recruits to my local IAM group seem to be guys looking for a ticket to be able to ride for the Blood Bikes, you never see them out on social rides.
So, get an IAM ticket and have a check ride, (not a test) and you're good to go forever.
Unlike RoSPA which, as we know, requires a test every 3 years to maintain membership.
When I said check ride, it is carried out by IAM testers and RoSPA Diploma holders, it isn't just a whip around the block, its carried out exactly like a real test, if they are not up to standard (which does happen) they are sent away to brush up and immediately stopped from duties. Then they are taken out again to show they can reach the standard. I hold both IAM bike, car, and RoSPA bike. I have passed my IAM and RoSPA every 3 years as I normally do a weeks course with 1st class rider training, which is run by an ex Police instructor and all the tutors and testers are either serving or retired Police motorcyclists. So there are no free passes with them. On the course you already pay for an IAM test and RoSPA test, so I use the IAM test as a warm up for RoSPA. I do more than enough motorcycling on duties, covering around 10,000 miles a year just doing Blood Bike shifts. So really do not have time to do IAM or RoSPA social rides. But as I have said IMHO there are advanced riders and some who hold a ticket that are nowhere near what I would call an advanced motorcyclist. Another great company to train with is Rapid, but they do not train you for IAM or RoSPA