Stay Upright - Refresher Training - The Smart Option

It's a great feeling to be getting back into bikes after a break, checking out the latest models and equipment, and looking forward to those fun days on the road enjoying the freedom you know only motorcycling can bring. But is it as simple as brushing off the cobwebs and riding away into the sunset in search of adventure, possibly with someone you care about on the pillion seat? If you are coming back to motorcycling after a lengthy break, you may be surprised at how much bikes have changed and, possibly, how much you've changed, too. Once you get into your 30s and older, you are liable to be less fit and a bike that was comfortable back when you were 20, may not feel so good any more. So there are some important decisions to be made, not the least of which is to consider where your riding skills are at, at the moment. How well will you be able to handle your dream machine in the traffic and through the corners? If you're a little rusty in the skills department, you may find your pillion passenger suddenly has something else to do the next time you suggest a weekend ride!

Add in the odd anxious moment, as you try to rewind the clock a few years and discover the reflexes aren't as sharp as they once were, and the rider training you thought you didn't need becomes a valid consideration. Even if bike control problems start to appear whilst riding in heavy traffic or part way through a corner, a refresher training course may be the way to bring back confidence in your riding abilities. Don't think for a moment that we are suggesting you have forgotten how to ride. What we are saying is that, for most people returning to riding after a lengthy break, there is excellent value to be had in a refresher training course.

Our own refresher Training Courses in QLD and TAS allow 'returnee' riders the opportunity to brush up on vital bike control skills such as braking and low speed turning. As part of the course, time on the road with a qualified instructor can help re-focus your hazard perception and minimise the risks associated with riding in traffic.

Refresher Training Courses are a relatively new addition to the Stay Upright range (currently in QLD and TAS only), and the feedback from participants so far has been great. The atmosphere is relaxed and untrained riders, as well as those who have undergone previous motorcycle courses, have both indicated major gains from doing a Refresher Course. In Queensland and Tasmania, subsidies are provided so that the cost of participation is reduced.

Think you could do with some "refreshing"? Check out the website or contact Stay Upright TAS - 1300 366 640 or QLD - (07) 3829 9991 for more information. Hope to see you soon!

Until Next Time,
Stay Upright. . .in a refreshed way!

Brendon Thompson
State Manager - Tasmania
Stay Upright
Motorcycle Techniques