Basic Rider Course (BRC) - Section 3

Beginning Riders

This course is designed for someone who has little or no experience operating a motorcycle, and it focuses on the development of basic riding skills: clutch and throttle coordination, straight-line riding, braking, turning, and shifting. Training motorcycles are provided. Privately owned motorcycles are NOT permitted.

The course also provides a fast track to motorcycle endorsement (CY); successful completion results in a certificate that waives the written knowledge test and riding-skill test, which would otherwise be administered by the Secretary of State and a third-party testing agency, respectively.

Instruction consists of approximately 17 total hours – 5 hours of online preparation to be completed prior to your class start date and 12 hours of hands-on training, activities, evaluation, and testing.

Standard Weekend students need to be available, but not necessarily on-site, for all of Saturday and Sunday. Students are placed into groups during classroom instruction on Friday; those in Group A will ride in the morning, and those in Group B will ride in the afternoon. While we do our best to accommodate student schedules, we cannot guarantee placement into either specified group. Please reserve any requests for your instructor on Friday.

Prerequisites:

• Ability to ride a bicycle
• Valid email address on file with the College. Must complete the online eCourse prior to your class start date and bring the completion certificate to the first class session. The link to the eCourse will be distributed by the College via email at least one week prior to the start date of your class. If you have not received an email by this time, you must contact the office at (734) 384-4127.

• Driver’s License: Students under the age of 18 are allowed to provide a graduated driver’s license if they are at least 15 years old; however, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the student on the first day of class.
• DOT-Compliant Motorcycle Helmet: The helmet must be in good condition, appropriately fitted, and meet the DOT (Department of Transportation) motorcycle-helmet standard; look for a DOT sticker on the back of the helmet to confirm it meets this baseline standard. Additional helmet standards include Snell (Snell Memorial Foundation), ECE (Economic Commission of Europe), and FIM (International Motorcycling Federation). Acceptable examples include full-faced, open-faced, three-quarter, half, modular, off-road, and dual-sport DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets.
• Eye Protection: Additional eye protection is required even if you have a helmet with a face shield because your eyes must be covered at all times while seated on a motorcycle; this will allow you to leave your face shield cracked to better hear your instructors and allow for better airflow during those hot summer days. Acceptable examples include goggles, eyeglasses, sunglasses, and safety glasses.
• Long-Sleeved Jacket or Long-Sleeve Shirt: The long-sleeved jacket or long-sleeved shirt must cover your wrists in the riding position and be appropriately fitted to avoid loose fabric interfering with motorcycle controls. Acceptable examples include denim jackets, leather jackets, long-sleeved cotton shirts, and long-sleeved polyester jerseys that cover your wrists in the riding position.
• Full-Fingered Gloves: The gloves must completely cover the hands and fingers and be appropriately fitted to allow the use of motorcycle controls with ease and precision. Acceptable examples include leather motorcycle gloves, textile motorcycle gloves, textile mechanic gloves, leather tactical gloves, and textile tactical gloves that completely cover the hands and fingers.
• Pants: The pants must be made of a durable fabric, reach your boots while in the riding position, and be appropriately fitted to avoid loose fabric interfering with motorcycle controls. Acceptable examples include leather motorcycle pants, textile motorcycle pants, and denim pants that reach your boots in the riding position.
• Boots: The boots must cover the ankle and have a hard sole with minimal heel and minimal flex. Nearly ¼ of the bones in your body are in your feet, and we want to make sure they are as protected as possible. Acceptable examples include motorcycle boots, carpenter boots, tactical boots, and work boots that cover the ankle and have a hard sole with minimal heel and minimal flex.
• Rain Gear & Cold-Weather Gear: Dress in layers! Riding occurs in inclement weather, so you will want to be prepared with appropriately fitted clothing to brave the elements. Having rain gear and cold-weather gear can often be the difference between completing the course and throwing in the towel!
• Pen or Pencil: Don’t forget your writing utensil!
• Umbrella: A helpful addition to rain gear during breaks. There is no shelter on the range!
• Water / Lunch / Snacks: Come prepared with a packed lunch and enough water and snacks for the whole day; if you think you have enough, pack more!

Additional Requirements

• Age Requirements: Students under the age of 18 are allowed to take the Basic RiderCourse or Basic RiderCourse 2 starting at age 15 if they have a graduated driver’s license. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the student on the first day of class, and his or her signatures will be required for the course waiver.
• Availability: You must be available and on time for each scheduled session or you may be denied admission.
• Email: Ensure you a valid email address on file with the College.