Reading WA’s annual road fatalities statistics is enough to frighten any motorist, but the statistics are particularly sobering for those of us who ride motorcycles.
A total of 136 people have been killed on our roads since January 2024 — and 23 of them were riding motorcycles.
Riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous but accidents can be prevented. The facts tell us most motorcycle accidents are due to rider error — and let’s be honest, most of us who ride are guilty of thinking we are better than we really are.
Motorcycle riders will happily cruise along at up to 110km/h on the highways but I suspect that a large percentage of them don’t have good defensive riding skills, let alone the skill to safely perform an emergency stop at that speed.
Chances are that the last time they practised that skill was when they went for their licence — and that may have been years ago and at a much slower speed.
Riding a motorcycle safely means paying attention to a lot of things at the same time. It’s not just about being able to stop. Being able to identify potential hazards, select the best road position, and read the minds of other motorists are equally important.
There is no point being in the right or even having right of way — because you are always going to come off much worse compared to someone in a tin can.
Good riders will practise riding skills such as emergency stops regularly but for a real tune-up of skills, there’s nothing better than a proper course where instructors share their knowledge. A defensive riding course — or an advanced riding course, for that matter — will make you a much better rider and mitigate the risk of becoming part of the statistics.
DEFENSIVE RIDER TRAINING
West Wheels was invited to join Perth Hills Motorcycle Training’s rider enhancement course at the Driver Risk Management training facility near Perth Airport.
DRM is the perfect place to practise your skills in a safe and controlled environment, and PHMT offer several different courses ranging from motorcycle lessons for beginners to performance rider training and group riding lessons.
The rider enhancement course is a full-day course that teaches riders advanced road-riding techniques.
I meet PHMT owner Chris Westerduin and his assistant Craig Anderson, an expert motorcycle riding instructor with decades of experience as a rider and instructor, at the training facility on a sunny Saturday morning — perfect for riding motorcycles.
Our day begins in the classroom for a theory session with Craig.
His See-Plan-Do mantra covers topics like motorcycle road worthiness, identifying potential hazards, and riding techniques. “Always think: what could go wrong, choose the correct road position, and always be prepared,” he says, as he goes through various road-hazard scenarios during an informative PowerPoint presentation.
After morning tea, we hit the skid pans where Chris and Craig put us through several practical exercises designed to make us better riders. We begin with slalom exercises through a series of cones then we practise cornering techniques, weaving left and right from one side of the skid pan to another. After each run-through, we get feedback. “Look up and look where you want to go, not at what’s in front of you” is the most common suggestion.
Our next exercise is emergency stops. We begin at 60km/h and gradually increase the speed. We are encouraged to hit the brakes hard, so we can experience the ABS kicking in. My bike has twin Brembo discs at the front and a single at the back and it stops really well, but it’s quite sobering to realise how much longer the stopping distance is as I increase the speed.
Another challenging exercise is the slow figure-eight U-turn. This is all about throttle control and head position. “Keep the revs steady, a light touch on the rear brake, and look where you want to go” are the instructions from Chris and Craig.
Despite their good advice, I stuff up my first turn and have to put my foot down. After the dodgy start, I soon get the feel for it. It’s amazing how big a difference correct head position and a bit of confidence can make.
After lunch we come to the most anticipated part of the day when we can put our skills to the test on the track. The tight circuit is not a racetrack as such. It has been designed to resemble everyday conditions with several bends of varying difficulty. Chris and Craig each lead a group of six on the track and stop on occasion for trackside briefings with more tips on braking points and correct road position.
It’s a lot of fun but, more importantly, it’s a great opportunity to all get to know what our motorcycles can do in a safe and controlled environment with on oncoming traffic.
I can highly recommend this course. I did one several years ago but it’s always good to refresh your skills. To have experienced instructors on hand to iron out any bad habits you may have developed is a a bonus.
It was fun and educational — and if it has increased my chances of walking away from my next ride alive, it’s been well worth it.
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PHMT’s rider enhancement course is is limited to 12 participants. There’s always two instructors and plenty of time for one-on-one instruction and feedback.
The course costs $340 and includes a total of six hours training as well as morning tea and lunch.
For more information about this and the other courses offered, head to perthhillsmotorcycletraining.com.au.
