Location

The Hampton Pond’s Plaza
1029 North Rd, Westfield, Ma, 01085

Celebrating our 26th year!

Contact Us!

(413) 525-0049

Celebrating our 26th year!

Two Wheel Courses

Basic Rider Course (BRC) with License Waiver — $435.

Motorcycles are provided by Pioneer Valley Rider Training. Required riding gear is the student’s responsibility.

The Basic Rider Course (BRC) is our most popular course.

If you are thinking about taking this course please read our description of the Introduction to Motorcycling Experience Course, below. This may help you determine where you fit in the selection of the right course for your needs. If you have any questions at all please call the office and we are more than happy to help you in any way that we can. No question is too big or too small, and the only wrong question is the one left unasked.

What you need to know about the course:

  • The BRC is for the person who wants a MA or CT Motorcycle License (this does apply to other states as well) after successfully completing the course (M permit is required)
  • You will receive your MA motorcycle license in the mail
  • Students will take the road test at the PVRT training site before leaving the  Basic Rider Course on their final riding day and DO NOT have to take the road test at the RMV
  • Motorcycles are provided; required riding gear is the student’s responsibility
  • BRC students must be able to balance and ride a bicycle to take this course. A student’s inability to balance and ride a bicycle does omit them from entry into the Basic Rider Course. Please contact the office for further information.

Topics covered during the course:

e-Course topics cover: 

  • Motorcycle controls
  • Rider & motorcycle preparation
  • Basic Riding skills
  • Street Strategies
  • Advanced turning & braking skills
  • Special riding situations
  • Dangers of impaired riding
  • Straight line riding
  • Knowledge test: (print & bring the certificate to class)

 

Riding sessions cover:

Straight line riding

Turning

Shifting

Braking

Advanced turning & breaking

Swerving

Street Strategies discussions

Skills test (License test)

 

The Basic Rider Course (BRC) is the best place to start once you have made the decision to ride (please see the note above regarding the IME Course).  The BRC covers the basics of operating a motorcycle and safety-oriented mental strategies. Motorcycling is a physical, psychological, and mentally challenging sport. Please be prepared.

The on-cycle riding lessons take place at our training facility located at 1029 North Road in Westfield, MA, in the Hampton Pond’s Plaza. The ten hours of practical riding exercises are held in a controlled, off-street private environment over a period of 2 consecutive days. Motorcycles are provided for your use. Students must also complete an on-line, self-paced, e-Course. The required e-Course will take 4-5 hours to complete (done at home before attending the riding section of the BRC, details included in the confirmation letter) and a riding skill evaluation at the end of the course.

Click Here for the BRC Handbook
Successfully passing the on-line e-Course, and also the riding skill evaluation which you will take during the BRC, will waive the need for a motorcycle road test at the Registry of Motor Vehicles and the $20.00 related fee (in MA, related licensing fee in CT). Students receive an MSF Course Completion card upon successful completion of the Basic Rider Course which provides a 10% discount on their motorcycle insurance. Some dealers, as well as some motorcycle manufacturers, give discounts/advantages on the purchase of motorcycles with your course completion card as proof of completion of an MSF safety course.  Other vendors, such as riding gear/riding apparel companies also give discounts for an MSF Course Completion card holder.

Students must attend all riding sessions and successfully pass the e-Course to graduate from the Basic Rider Course and receive an M (motorcycle) endorsement on their license from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Motorcycles are provided for all students for their use during the BRC training course given by Pioneer Valley Rider Training. Required riding gear is the student’s responsibility. Students must bring their own DOT approved helmet and the required riding gear to the course. See the FAQs page for a list of the Required Riding Gear.

Students must be able to balance and ride a bicycle to take this course. Inability to balance and ride a bicycle omits a student from entry into the Basic Rider Course.

What to expect:  Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Approved Rider Coaches will start you off with straight line riding, turning, shifting, and stopping. You will gradually progress to cornering, swerving and emergency braking. The Rider Coaches, all experienced motorcyclists, will advise you on what to wear for comfort, visibility, and protection. You will learn how alcohol and other drugs affect your ability to ride safely. A segment of the course will teach you how to create your own strategy for riding in traffic and how to deal with critical situations.

The Basic Rider Course….
The only commitment is to Excitement, Adventure, and Yourself!

Introductory to Motorcycling Experience  (IME) — $225.

Motorcycles are provided by Pioneer Valley Rider Training. Required riding gear is the student’s responsibility.

The Introduction to Motorcycling Experience Course is recommended for students who are new to the sport of motorcycling and/or students who have little or no knowledge of how to operate a motorcycle. 

What you need to know about the course:

  • The IME creates a more confident student in preparation for the BRC
  • A 2-hour session that introduces you to the motorcycle in an up to 3:1 Student to Rider Coach setting
  • The IME is scheduled separately from the BRC and is conducted on a separate day, prior to taking the BRC
  • The IME is all seat time on the motorcycle

Topics covered:

  • Locate and operate the controls
  • Coordinating the throttle & clutch
  • How to use the clutch
  • Shifting
  • Braking
  • Introduction to straight line riding, making turns
  • Control of the motorcycle
  • How to operate the throttle is also covered in the first few exercises of the Basic Rider Course (BRC).

The more you know,
the better it gets!

The Introductory to Motorcycling Experience is a 2 hour first-touch experience with a motorcycle and is not designed to teach a person how to ride. As a familiarization program that points out the primary parts and controls of a typical motorcycle, it helps a potential rider determine whether motorcycling is a good personal choice. Special attention is given to clutch lever use and controls while astride a motorcycle, and is led into a Basic Rider Course as a formal way to learn to ride. Also embedded in the experience is a self-assessment component to ensure a person is aware of the risks and requirements for being a good, safe, and responsible rider.
Class size is a maximum of 3:1 student to Rider Coach ratio taught by a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) / Massachusetts Rider Education Program (MREP) Rider Coach. The pace is slow, allowing maximum time for Coaching, skill development and confidence building. If you are unsure of your abilities, or unsure if motorcycle riding is the right activity for you, or if you just want to take a more gradual approach to learning to ride, consider the Introduction to Motorcycling Experience Course. If you have NO experience with motorcycling, the IME is the recommended place for you to start your journey into learning how to ride.  Each student is provided with their own motorcycle to use during the IME. The entire class is hands on;  there is no classroom component to this class. You will be learning by practicing right from the very beginning of the class. Being taught the components of the motorcycle by your Coach, learning about the vehicle, how to operate the motorcycle and how to propel the motorcycle forward.  Moving into straight line riding, learning the techniques to ride safely and effectively in a small controlled private setting before moving on to the group style learning format BRC.  Motorcycles are provided for the IME. Required riding gear is the student’s responsibility. Students must bring their own DOT approved helmet and the required riding gear to the course.  Please see the FAQs page for a list of the Required Riding Gear.

Please call us at (413) 525-0049 for more information or to schedule your Introduction to Motorcycling Experience class.

On-line registration is not available for this course. 

Basic Rider Course Formal Remedial Session — $225.

The BRC Formal Remedial Session is a 1:1 student to Rider Coach 2 hour session for novices who require additional instruction outside regular in-course Basic Rider Course (BRC) remedial opportunities. It consists of private instruction of range exercises from among Level 1 and Level 2 range exercises. No formal classroom is required unless segments of the BRC e-Course need remedial training. Motorcycles are provided for your use. Required riding gear is the student’s responsibility. Completion does not earn you a license waiver nor qualify you for an insurance discount.

The BRC Formal Remedial Session is offered to students who have either successfully or unsuccessfully completed the Basic Rider Course. Material covered is based upon individual need and customized per session. We have heard from numerous students that the BRC Remedial Session was the “final link” needed to gain their confidence to ride on the street.  Motorcycles are provided for this course. Required riding gear is the student’s responsibility. Students must bring their own DOT approved helmet and the required riding gear to the course. Please see the FAQ page for a list of the Required Riding Gear.

Please call the office at (413) 525-0049  for more information or to schedule a BRC Formal Remedial Session.

On-line registration is not available for this course.

Learn to Ride, Have Fun, Meet New Friends, and Save on Insurance !

Private Basic Rider Course — call for more information.

 Private Sessions, designed to fit your schedule

The Basic Rider Course Private Lesson is taught privately and individually with a custom schedule that fits your needs as discussed and booked through our office with your schedule in mind. The Private BRC can be taken over a period of days by students who do not have the time to devote to the traditional BRC. This version of the Private BRC is taught using the 1:1 student to Rider Coach ratio. Call the office for more information regarding requirements for Private BRC with the License Waiver. Required riding gear is the student’s responsibility. Students must bring their own DOT approved helmet and the required riding gear to the course. Please see the FAQs page for a list of the Required Riding Gear.

Please call us at 413-525-0049 to discuss your options or to register for this course.

This course is not available for on-line registration.

Professional, Individual Instruction, tailored
to your needs.