Today's motorcycles are more powerful than ever

The course is thought to be the first in Scotland to combine the BikeSafe programme for qualified bikers with first aid training tailored to the sort of accidents they are likely to come across.

Across the UK, motorbike deaths have risen by 14% this year, figures show.

Many of those killed were "weekend bikers" who saw the country roads of Northern Scotland an attractive challenge during their leisure time.

Northern Constabulary has joined forces with the Scottish Ambulance Service to encourage those who have been described as "born-again bikers" to take fresh training.

The scheme has the enthusiastic backing of ambulance service paramedic Alan Knox.

Compared to a car it is a far more dangerous form of transport so you've got to be aware of that, aware of your own mortality Stewart Moore Biker

Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, he said: "In the Highlands and Islands there have been five motorcycle fatalities this year, which is five too many.

"We want to make motorcyclists aware of how to be safer on the roads and, if something did happen, they would know what to do - perhaps save someone's life."

The leisure bikers who make for the Highlands on summer weekends include a large number of older men who get back on a bike after several years' break.

'No retraining'

With their families growing up, they are often able to afford more powerful machines without fully realising the challenges of using them safely. In response, many of these bikers say they are being unfairly tarnished by an irresponsible minority.

"They've got a bit more money," according to Northern Constabulary's Road Traffic Officer John Hier.

"Motorcycles have changed so much in the last few years - the power, the way they can corner - these bikers aren't used to it.

"They're not getting any retraining, they're going by what they used to drive 10 years ago and how they used to drive 10 years ago."

'Dangerous transport'

Insurance broker Stewart Moore fits the profile of the middle-aged biker who is said to be at greater risk.

He recognises that there are dangers in travelling on two wheels and said: "If you've any sense, on a bike you'll always feel vulnerable.

"Compared to a car it is a far more dangerous form of transport so you've got to be aware of that, aware of your own mortality.

"But if you take appropriate protection in the way of training, proper gear and being aware of other road users and the hazards on the road, then you're going to minimise the risks as much as you can."

Champion's advice

Someone who is well aware of the risks is motorcycle champion Magnus Houston, currently confined to testing bikes at an Inverness garage after being injured in an accident.

Although his spill took place during a race, he believes the same circumstances could arise in everyday driving.

"It was just an unfortunate accident," he said. "When I approached a corner a previous motorcyclist had dropped oil and I crashed on the oil.

"The same could happen on the road and you've got to think about that when you're riding round the next corner, that there could be something that you didn't expect there."

The rise in accidents involving bikers has started to distort the overall statistics for road deaths.

Neil Greig, Head of Policy for the AA Motoring Trust, explained that researchers often have to organise their figures to take account of the trend.

He said: "We've highlighted this already with a study this year in which we actually had to take motorcycling out of our analysis of unsafe roads because it was completely distorting the picture.

"The only form of transport in which deaths and injuries are going up is motorcycling."