First started riding bikes on the road back in 1978 with a Honda CB250K3, got hooked and have ridden ever since. I've mainly had Hondas with the odd Triumph and Moto Guzzi thrown-in for good measure. Staying faithful to Honda I currently have a CB1300 but also an Aprilia RSV-R for summer riding and track days. I took the IAM test back in 1998 and have been 'observing' ever since. I am a qualified RoSPA Advanced Tutor and IAM Senior Observer.

Although I always dreamed of riding motorbikes when I was younger - nothing ever came of it, until around 2000 when I took some training and passed my DSA test; it was some time later that I started regretting not doing it sooner.
It was less than a year later that I started my advanced training with IAM and now as a senior observer, I enjoy teaching observers and associates alike. Having always preferred the larger bike, I currently have the pleasure of riding a BMW K1300GT - which comes out of the garage practically every day.

At the age of 10, I jumped on a friend's Triumph Tiger Cub Trials bike - the ride was brief but I was hooked!
I secured a Saturday job in a local motorcycle shop when I was 12 and my passion for bikes continued to grow. A Malaguti Olympique sports moped was my first road bike hastily followed by a 500 Triumph, having borrowed a BSA Bantam, to take my test on. Then came a Triumph Bonneville, a Triumph Trident culminating in a Kawasaki Z900 by the age of 19. My involvement in the bike trade allowed me to ride the majority of machinery around in the late 70s and 80s. I tried my hand at club racing on a Yamaha RD250 LC - not overly successful - either the bike blew up or I fell off! I passed my IAM bike test in 2001, the car test in 2003, and obtained my Senior Observer qualification in 2008. I really enjoy observing and seeing riders’ skills and awareness develop. My current bike is a Honda Blackbird.

One of my childhood memories is of riding pillion on my Dad's Francis Barnet. We broke down on the way to Brighton so arrived late; then travelled home way past my bedtime he made me sing to prevent me falling asleep. My first biking entailed commuting to school in South London on a 175cc BS Bantam with more adventurous trips to Holland and the S of France (yes on the Bantam); then there was a huge gap while dealing with life's challenges (career, kids etc) before returning to biking on a Yamaha Diversion. I now have two bikes - a Ducati Multistrada 1200S and a Vectrix electric scooter. And occasionally I manage to find time for a "duty" on Severn Freewheelers 'Blood Bike'.

Began riding on an old 350 AJS field bike, being lifted on and off by some older lads who thought it would be funny to see how far an 8 year old could go before falling off! Thanks lads, you got me started! A succession of shared field bikes followed leading to my bike test in 1969. I've been riding ever since thanks to a number of 650 / 750 Bonnevilles and Norton Commandos until the rebirth of the Hinckley Triumphs "modernised" me. IAM training gave me the improvements to my riding I was looking for, and through Observing I thoroughly enjoy bringing new associates up to scratch and seeing their riding skills increase as they go through their Skills For Life course. I currently ride a 750 Norton Commando and a 1050 Triumph Tiger and look forward to riding with you.

Passed basic motorcycle test in 1978. Passed IAM Car test in 1981. Passed IAM M/C test in Nottingham in 2001 with Nottingham Advanced Motorcyclist (NAM). Became Group Qualified Observer in 2002 and Senior Observer in 2005. Acted as Secretary, Events Member and Observer Training Co-ordinator with NAM between 2001 and 2005. Moved to Herefordshire in late 2005 and started Motorcycle Section within Hereford Advanced Motorists. However, lack of observers inhibited development and hence need to coordinate effort with like-minded IAM riders. John rides a STX1300 Pan European.

I started my motorcycling career with a 70cc Capri scooter at the age of 14! I graduated through lots of bikes but notably a Thruxton Velo, a Triumph Bonneville and Norton Dominator before the decline of the British bike industries. A Honda 400-4 led into a succession of boring BMW boxers and a brief flirtation with a Pan ST 1300. Now happily back in the BMW camp, initially with a K1200 GT, now with the K1300S and the little X-Moto. I'm an IAM- and RoSPA- qualified Senior Observer on bikes and am passionately interested in developing riders' skills and awareness.

I obtained my motorcycling licence in 1998 after a direct access course with no previous experience. After a years riding on an old BMW I changed to a modern sports bike and obtained my IAM certificate in 2000. I continued with the group moving onto a Kawazaki ZZR which I loved and obtained my Senior Observers certificate in 2002. I then had a BMW R1150R which I did not love, then a BMW K1200 RS, a very accomplished motorcycle. Latterly I've defected to a Suzuki 1200 Bandit - beautiful! I would categorise my riding skills as adequate for this level of riding but I feel that I have a talent for training others to be better than me.

Allan has more riding experience than many of us will ever get. He rides a Suzuki SV1000 on Club runs but has be known to bring a trail bike too. On occasions Pauline can be seen on the back of the Suzuki but she draws the line at the trailee. When he isn't biking he teaches Gliding at Snitterfield - so if you'd like to try something different Allan's your man!

I started motorcycling in 1980 on a yamaha RS125 two stroke single which was my pride and joy for two years.
Passed my DSA test a year later and trained to be an instructor for the first part of the then two part test.
Moving house and mortgages took me away from biking until 2000. Then a brand new more tollerant wife and a XJ600 helped me back to biking. Passed my IAM test in 2008 on a 1200 VMAX and now own a FZS1000.
As a group qualified observer its great to see new associates taking on the skills for life programme and passing their test. Theres nothing better than passing on the skills to other riders.

Guy first bike was the Yamaha "Fizzy" Sports moped. At that time the word Sports was very important! He spent the rest of the 80's messing around with various small bikes both on and off road. After that a series of larger road bikes of varying makes including Honda, Suzuki and Ducati was followed by the usual break - in Guy's case nearly 15 years! Last year (2008) Guy's judgement returned and he bought his current bike, the BMW R1200S. Not much change from the FS1E then?

As usual Tony was tempted to talk about his charm, sophistication and athleticism, however this is more appropriate..... Tony has been motorcycling for 28 years on bikes as diverse as a 50cc moped to his current 1200cc Sports Tourer. Tony worked with the BMF sponsored ACU Star Rider training schools through the 1980s, helping students through their CBT and up to DSA test standards. After a short break from training he joined the IAM in 2002 and is now an IAM qualified Motorcycle Observer. Tony rides a Hayabusa and a Yamaha Fazer 600.

There is somewhere a picture of Phil aged 5ish sitting on the back of his father's old British bike; but he started biking for himself in 1979 on a CB250N. A couple of Hondas and a T140 Bonneville followed and then came the family break although the biking bug lay dormant and he returned to biking in 1996. He has had several Triumphs since and now rides a Sprint ST.
Phil found the Advanced riding techniques greatly increased both his skill and his enjoyment of biking. He really enjoys being an Observer and seeing associates improve as they progress to the Advanced Test.

Angus started off-roading as a teenager, taking his first licence overseas at 14 and 'heavy-bike' licence at 16. With a gap of 20 years, returned to riding and soon joined the UK’s biggest IAM motorcycle group, Thames Vale. This helped regain and enhance former skills (and to slow down) - he became an Observer in 2001 going on to train other observers in the class-room and on the road. He normally does at least one European tour and other UK tours each year. His regular job as international coach and author prove useful in mentoring and coaching at WHAM.

I started riding a Honda CB200 back in the 70's and have stayed with bikes ever since; moving on to a CB250n, a CB750 and currently have a 650 Transalp and an ST1300A Pan-European.
I have spent 23 years in the Police, mostly as a traffic officer and mostly on two wheels. During this time I was also able to attend non-standard courses such as VIP security and advanced pursuit.
During the 80's I spent some time instructing at the CBT level and have been driving HGVs for the past few years.

Started riding at 16 and passed my full bike test in 1980. I gave up riding at 24 due to family commitments.
Luckily I found my way back to bikes in 2007 and jumped back in on a Honda 1100 pan European. Lacking confidence and needing to update my riding, I took the skills for life course, which helped me to enjoy riding again, safely.
People are never too young or old to learn life changing skills, increase their safety and become more proficient riders.
In helping other to achieve this I take great pleasure.

My first spill was on my first ride ever on a Lambretta LD150 (twistgrip gearchange!) while at school. I hit the wall behind the squash courts trying to stop. Schooldays saw a BSA Bantam 125cc complete with legshields to pass the bike test followed by a 500cc rigid Matchless single. I slid off in Cheltenham. It's scary to think how many bikes followed. Sand racing in preference to studying during a three year heaven at Liverpool Uni. with a Velo KTS Special then an embarrassingly slow T100 Tribsa which I put together. I finally crashed properly in a race at Redcar on a Hagon JAP grass tracker on dope (the bike not me, but I take your point - it was the 60's). Greeves, DOT ('devoid of trouble' and it wasn't) Bultaco and Ossa trials bikes occupied weekends in the 1970's competing in the Stroud Valley Club. Three-wheel experience was gained on Ariel and Suzuki sidecar outfits. A Velo Venom, two Tritons, four BMWs, a Ducati (appalling!) a Gold Wing (brilliant) and a Moto Guzzi Le Mans all featured, the latter securing me my IAM bike test in 1982 and adding to the car test passed in 1970 at just 22 yrs. Possibly I have the earliest IAM Membership No. in WHAM (five digits)? I scrubbed up in 2006 with RoSPA Gold and then the Diploma course (quite scary). My current steed is a 2005 Yamaha Fazer 1000 and it's a cracking bike. That'll do nicely, thank you.

I suppose you could say I got involved with motorcycle training some years ago when I realised I needed some myself ! I really enjoy riding bikes and even now getting a little older still compete in trials with a Honda TLR and have also become a track day addict with a modified Fireblade but gave up enduros four years ago when my body said enough! Today I ride a BMW K1200s on the road which I find great for general riding and the odd continental blast. I hold a RoSPA Diploma and acted as senior tutor for them. I passed my IAM test seven years ago and joined WHAM when it was formed early in 2007 as an Observer. I would like to think I can pass on a few tips and improve associates' ability to ride safer with more enjoyment. Dennis has just changed to a BMW K1300GT - comfortable odd continental blasts now!

Richard started motorcycling at the tender age of 17. He really enjoyed the initial training and enlisted first as a helper with Mercia motorcycle training scheme, but after more training and experience graduated to become an Instructor. At the same time the lure of larger capacity machines led Richard to the IAM to improve his own riding and safety. He passed his IAM test in 1997 and later became an Observer and then, in 2004, a Senior Observer with the Worcester Advanced Motorcyclists group. For many years Richard had the cleanest and smartest GS in the Midlands - and he still swears he doesn't do anything special! Only recently he's been tempted away to the new 1200RT with which he's just a bit pleased! We're confident the RT will not age or get dirty either! Richard gets a real kick out of his Observing - helping someone to become a better rider is reward enough but he knows it keeps him sharp too.

Tim has been riding almost non-stop since 1974 (one 2 year break whilst abroad). As a rebellious youth he was told by his folks that he couldn't have a bike because they were too dangerous and he would kill himself... he is still trying! Tim tends to to get best value out of his bikes by keeping them for a long time. Consequently he has had few bikes. Starting with a new Honda XL250 Tim graduated to a Meridan built 750 T140E Bonneville, a Virago, a GSX1100 before buying his current first-generation Hayabusa new in 1999. Tim has latterly discovered that he has a "special" - one of the first 1500 imported and prepared for the UK Press to verify the genuine 200mph& top-speed! Though he doesn't frequently buy he nevertheless often tries all sorts of other bikes since anything with two wheels and a motor makes him drool. He's really smitten by bikes and biking but the Hayabusa he loves most of all!