First Ride is an introduction to motorcycling. It is meant for those individuals who are learning to ride for the very first time and lets you “try out” a motorcycle to see if this is really something you want to do. First Ride is 4 hours of low stress instruction that gives you some experience in controls and the basic handling dynamics of the motorcycle. It helps build confidence to better prepare you for the Basic Rider Course. Classes are kept small, no more than 3 students and 1 instructor, to maximize personalized instruction to student’s needs. You must know how to ride a bicycle before this course. First Ride starts out in the classroom, where the basic controls of the motorcycle are introduced. After 30-60 minutes in the classroom, you go out to the range where we will put you on one of our motorcycles. You will then learn how to control the speed of the bike using the clutch (friction zone), starting and stopping the motorcycle smoothly and riding in a straight line at slow speeds. First Ride is an introductory course meant as a pre-cursor to taking a license waiver course. There is NO testing in this course, and it will NOT get you your motorcycle endorsement. It is also NOT mandatory to take the First Ride course before taking the Basic Rider Course. You cannot be late for any portion of this class. We cannot and will not “catch you up”. The curriculum does not allow the time to do this.

The Intermediate Rider Training (updated) is an 8 to 9-hour course designed for riders who have recent motorcycle experience but no endorsement, or for those people returning to riding after a few years of not being on a motorcycle. If you’re not sure whether or not this is the right course for you please see our FAQ page. You may ride our bikes in this course, so if you are just returning to the sport and don’t have your own bike yet, we will have one for you. Or you could ride your own bike. This course assumes that you have some motorcycle experience, so it does NOT teach the basics that are taught in the Basic RiderCourse. Students will go through familiarization on the motorcycle, then must demonstrate skills in shifting and stopping, and must perform a control skills exercise (offset weaves and clutch control) to the satisfaction of the instructors. Any student unable to demonstrate sufficient skills in the first exercise will be advised to register in the Basic RiderCourse. Students must successfully pass both a written test and a skill test (both tests must be taken in the class, regardless of any prior testing) to pass this course for a “2-wheeled only” motorcycle endorsement. If needed and upon the recommendation of the instructor, you will be able to retest the written and/or the skills test. Fees for testing are $35 for a written retest and $50 for a skill retest. You will also get unlimited retests, paying for each one, within 90 days of the original date of your Intermediate Rider Training class. You cannot be late for any portion of this class. We cannot and will not “catch you up”. The curriculum does not allow the time to do this. If you want to ride this class on your personal motorcycle/scooter, the following must be provided for instructor inspection when you get to the class Proof of insurance on your motorcycle/scooter (your name must be on the insurance card), Proof of ownership (your registration with your name on it will work), Your motorcycle must be street legal and able to pass a safety inspection.

The Additional Riding Session is 4 hours long, and is done completely on the range. If you feel like you need more practice on a motorcycle, regardless of whether or not you passed the Basic Skills Test in the BRC, the Additional Riding Session was created just for you. You’ll be riding some of the same exercises from the BRC under the expert supervision of our Professional Motorcycle Safety Instructors without any pressure of a passing a test. You also have the opportunity to retest during the Riding Testing Session that is scheduled following the class if you need to AND if you took your BRC from PNW Motorcycle Safety. (NOTE You must retest with the company that you took the BRC from.) Use our bikes or ride your own. (to ride your personal bike/scooter in the class, you must be able to show the instructor that you have insurance on the bike, that you are the registered owner of the bike and if you ride it to the class, you must have a 2-wheel endorsement or valid permit). You must have completed the Basic Rider Course within the previous 12 months in order to take this class. If you completed the BRC with a different company other than Pacific NorthWest Motorcycle Safety, you will need to provide some sort of proof of that completion.