The Rapid route to safer riding

Motorcyclists will tell you a motorbike is one of the most fun, liberating and enjoyable ways to get about. Those who don’t ride will tell you it’s too dangerous, especially compared with driving a car. Both can be true at the same time, of course, and for all the attractions of being on two wheels the accident statistics don’t lie, riders still accounting for a disproportionate number of road casualties.
Something Honda, as the biggest manufacturer of powered two-wheelers globally, wants to address as a matter of corporate responsibility. But it can only do so much through engineering, even with the widespread adoption of tech like traction control, anti-lock brakes and the rest. No. If you really want to stop bikers crashing you need to fix the nut that holds the handlebars. And for that you need training.

Getting your licence – whether for a car or bike – is only the first step, and as many experts will tell you the learning only really starts after you’ve binned the L-plates. Honda’s new partnership with Rapid is intended to avoid that being the hard way. This is an extension of a programme of rider training Honda has developed since the 60s, and since rolled out worldwide with appointed third-party training providers certified to the manufacturer’s specified levels. Enter Rapid, which was set up in the late 90s by a group of ex-racers and police riders sensing opportunity to develop training to help motorcyclists get more from their riding, as well as doing it more safely. The relationship has now been formalised, and for an introductory period buyers of certain new Hondas will get a £250 voucher towards a dedicated Rapid training session and flavour of where it can take you as a rider. Which is what we tried out at the launch event for the new partnership, the package available whether you ride a Honda or not.

Turns out more than two-thirds of bike crashes are on machines of 500cc or over, and on rural roads. Suggesting it’s not just younger, less experienced riders on smaller capacity machines having accidents and, in fact, older riders with plenty of miles under them can still benefit. Yes, it turns out old dogs can indeed learn new tricks! To those ends and on top of the one-day Honda package Rapid also offers its more involved multi-stage Roadmaster and Bikemaster courses running from the basics of advanced riding all the way through to expert level. Clue in the name and all but Roadmaster is all on the public road, where Bikemaster combines this with track skills sessions to hone your technique. If having done your Honda day you feel motivated to continue your training with Rapid the instructors on the day can direct you to the appropriate package, based on what they see of your skills.

Our day starts with a demonstration of how the track elements of a Rapid training course work, and how they are then applied to road riding. We’re doing a condensed version but the principles are the same, the one-on-one tuition breaking cornering down into three ‘drills’ covering line choice, throttle application and braking. While Rapid’s roots are in racing this is more about learning bike handling skills for the road, so it’s not just for those with racing leathers, knee sliders and sports bikes. This is similar in principle to the IAM Roadsmart training we’ve done previously, using the fact you’re riding the same corners over and over to build the muscle memory of how and when to brake, when to be on the throttle and the best line for maximising pace and visibility. Our instructor Gareth does this through simple lead-follow, showing the line and using hand signals and exaggerated weight shifts around the bike to demonstrate body position, before following to observe and then debrief afterwards to identify any areas to work on.

Rapid’s approach to road training differs from the more structured approach of some advanced coaching, and is more about instilling riders with the right instincts and habits than a rigid, procedural checklist of how to take a corner or deal with particular hazards rather than a certificate or qualification. To those ends the road training elements of its Roadmaster, Bikemaster and Honda packages are conducted with one instructor to two pupils, in our case on flowing Lincolnshire B-roads round the Blyton Park circuit we’ve been using for our track instruction. Saying that, Rapid has instructors all over the country, so you won’t have to travel too far to benefit from the same.
The core principles of all advanced driving and riding remain the same, though. With the basics of body position and control of throttle and brakes covered in the track element instructor Les demonstrates the importance of road position for opening up sightlines for spotting potential hazards sooner and maintaining the appropriate speed. At one point he even pulls us over to the side of a quiet road and asks us to get off our bikes and stand at different points across its width to demonstrate how a metre either way can translate to hundreds of metres of additional visual range. As on the track, he alternates between leading us along to show us line or following to identify any errors, talking us through it all on an earpiece as we go. The training is detailed but relaxed in delivery, and pitched according to your experience levels, whether fresh off your L-plates or with decades of riding under your belt. Safe to say, the instructors have seen it all and know how to bring out the best in anyone.

Honda’s one-day training course is intended as a taster for how you can develop your skills with some expert tuition, and how Rapid’s ethos informs its various multi-step programmes. While available the £250 voucher just sweetens the deal, to the point you’d have to ask why on earth you wouldn’t. Certainly, it’s not about any sort of finger wagging or judgement about the way you ride your bike. The Rapid trainers are all passionate motorcyclists who share the love of riding, and just want to see everyone equipped with the skills to do it safely. And if they see something they don’t like they’ll give you a tactful nudge, not a telling off! Which is what makes it so valuable for riders of any experience level. We’d happily be signing up for the full programme, given the opportunity.