What We Teach

Cycle School Motorcycle Safety

What We Teach and . . .

... what we can't teach.

We teach the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic Rider's Course (BRC) and Experienced Rider's Course and License Waiver (ERC/LW). Successful completion of either the course will waive DMV testing in the Great State of Nevada. (See course descriptions below)

What we can't teach is balance and coordination.

If you have balance issues due to age, medications, medical conditions, or other reasons, we highly recommend that you ride a bicycle for a while to see if you have the ability to balance on a two-wheel vehicle before enrolling in class.

Also, motorcycles are complex machines that require coordinated actions. While most people have no problem with this, we cannot teach you coordination; we can only teach the skills and techniques needed to operate a motorcycle and to help you build confidence. It may also help to learn to drive a stick-shift car before enrolling in class.

Although we do not teach any dirt bike courses at this time, we recommend that you go to www.dirtbikeschool.com for information.

Click on the pictures below for a glimps of motorcycle safety training. Please note that these are large files (15 mb and larger), so we recommen high-speed Internet connections.

BRC Highlights

What to Expect in Class

MSF's Guide to Group Riding

What All Riders Should Know

Basic RiderCourse (BRC)

Course Fee: $250.

The BRC is designed for beginning or returning riders. Approximately five hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of riding exercises in a controlled environment provide a complete introduction to motorcycling. The course is conducted over three days (see our Schedule and Registration page). Motorcycles and helmets are provided for your use during the course. Prerequisite: students must be able to ride a bicycle.

Basic RiderCourses

The Basic RiderCourse is aimed at beginning riders of all ages. A minimum of five hours classroom instruction prepares the student for at least ten hours of practical riding in a controlled, off-street environment. Motorcycles and helmets (if needed) are included in your course fee.

In this course, you'll learn how to operate a motorcycle safely, with a lot of emphasis on the special skills and mental attitude necessary for dealing with traffic.

Your RiderCoaches are certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. They'll start you off with straight-line riding, turning, shifting and stopping. You'll gradually progress to cornering, swerving and emergency braking. In the classroom you'll learn about the different types of motorcycles, their controls, and how they operate.

The RiderCoaches, all experienced motorcyclists, will advise you on what to wear for comfort and protection. You'll find out how alcohol and other drugs affect your ability to ride safely. A very important segment of the course will show you how to create your own strategy for riding in traffic, and dealing with critical situations. The course concludes with a knowledge test and skill evaluation.

To review the BRC student handbook prior to class, click here.
For a printable version of the first two chapters, click here.

Welcome to the Ride

An Intro to the World of Riding

A Common Road

or ... How to Play in Traffic

The Experienced RiderCourse and

License Waiver(ERC/LW)

Course Fee: $125 (your bike); $150 (our bike)

Even if you have been riding for some time, there is always something new to learn.

The shorter ERC/LW is designed to help you hone your riding skills and fine-tune the mental skills needed for survival in traffic, while allowing experienced riders to obtain their license without having to go back to fundamental skills development in the longer BRC.

The ERC/LW is a one-day class designed to help you become more comfortable controlling a motorcycle while providing you an opportunity to get a motorcycle license in a low-risk environment. Depending on how quickly you and your fellow riders’ pick-up and demonstrates the techniques being taught, will determine how long you ride. The class typically runs seven to eight hours.

You'll discuss with your peers how to balance the mental and physical aspects of safe riding, manage risk, increase visibility and optimize your lane position. You'll put into practice the techniques of managing traction, stopping quickly, cornering and swerving.

The ERC/LW also covers protective gear, rider responsibility, motorcycle inspection and care, the effects of alcohol and other drugs on riding, and includes an optional skill evaluation and knowledge test.

The ERC/LW is typically ridden on your own motorcycle, helping you get a feeling of what your motorcycle can do. You should provide your own, fully insured street-legal motorcycle, and provide all required riding gear.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a class for novice riders or riders who have not ridden in a long time; you must already have good basic proficiency. The ERC/LW is designed for people have been riding for at least six months and already have command of a motorcycle. Students lacking basic skills will be identified early in the course and dismissed, without refund. If not certain, call before signing up, or consider registering in the Basic Rider Course.