Get trained - and have more fun

Proper rider training is not only essential to legally ride a motorcycle on the road.

It’s of vital importance to keep you and fellow road users safe and gaining knowledge and as many skills as possible could, of course, save your life.

Just because you’ve passed your motorcycle test it doesn’t mean you need to stop learning.

Why not gain more out of your riding and motorcycle by taking the enhanced rider scheme? Your own trainer will be able to help you make your riding even more enjoyable.

All trainers who are able to undertake Enhanced Rider Scheme Assessment and any subsequent training must be very experienced and knowledgeable and able to transfer their skills to those undertaking training.

Once you have found an enhanced rider scheme trainer, you will have a riding assessment to find out what you are good at.

You’ll gain a ‘DSA certificate of competence’ if you don’t need any help from your trainer, who should be able to offer you tailored training to help you be among the best and get more out of your riding.

There’s no actual test involved as the enhanced rider scheme is for fully licensed motorcyclists who have passed their test. It’s ideal if you’ve just passed your test, are returning to riding after a break or upgrading to a more powerful motorcycle. It builds up your confidence when riding by yourself or when out in groups by providing a ‘health check’ on your riding skills.

Many insurance companies and their brokers support the scheme which means that it should be possible to obtain a discount off your insurance premium.

At the end of the assessment, if you don’t need any training, the process ends there and you’ll then be eligible for an insurance discount. The enhanced rider scheme assessment will find out what you’re good at and where your trainer can help you get more out of your riding.

So what happens during the enhanced rider scheme assessment?

You’ll go for a ride out with your trainer in which you will be riding in a variety of road and traffic conditions to you can show them your skills.

The ride will last long enough for your trainer to make an accurate assessment of your needs and for most people that works out to be between one and two hours.

If your trainer believes that you do require some training to bring you up to the highest standards you’ll get your own personalised training plan to sharpen and hone your skills.

This plan will focus on the areas where you are weakest so that you get more out of your riding.

The training programme doesn’t offer a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

It’s personalised to match your needs and requirements and your trainer will provide you with expert advice and show you how to improve your skills in areas such as cornering, filtering into traffic safely, negotiating bends, road positioning and the ability to ride smoothly.

The amount of training provided varies with just how much you need to undertake to improve.

Some trainers may offer all-day courses or shorter sessions so that you can more easily fit training into your daily routine.

After you have completed all the training you require, you’ll be given a report about your riding and a ‘DSA certificate of competence’ which you can use to obtain an insurance discount, as many leading insurance companies support the Enhanced Rider Scheme.