Basic Rider Course (BRC) – FAQs

For most students, yes. The range portion begins with hands-on learning. For example, location and function of all of the controls, proper mounting and dismounting techniques, proper start-up and shut-down procedures.

If you have serious doubts about your abilities, consider an Introductory Motorcycle Experience class. If you have been riding on your permit for a season or so and have your own motorcycle, the Basic RiderCourse 2 for License Waiver might be a better choice.

Click here to go to the online enrollment page. Once there you will be able to see current course availability for all our training locations and select your training dates.

The Basic RiderCourse costs $321

Basic RiderCourse participants must be at least 16 years of age and be able to ride a bicycle. If you are a New York State resident you must possess a valid car driver’s license during your class.  You will need to obtain a motorcycle learner’s permit in order to apply the road test waiver. Obtain it from the DMV either before or after your course dates.

Out of state participants

Out-of-state participants must have a valid car driver’s license from their home state; check with your home state’s DMV to see if they will honor a New York State BRC completion card for licensing benefits.

Students under the age of 18

Students under the age of 18 will need to have their parent or guardian’s signature on the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program Release, Waiver and Indemnification form.

The parent or guardian can accompany the student to class and sign the form in the presence of the RiderCoach with proper identification (photo ID), or the student may bring the pre-signed form to class so long as the parent’s signatures are notarized.

Please note that BRC graduates under age 18 will need to hold a valid motorcycle permit for at least 6 months before they can apply for the road test waiver.  Click here for information on the Graduated Licensing Law.

Go Motorcycling, Inc. has two training locations at the Mohawk Valley Community College Campus in Utica and one at Jefferson Community College in Watertown. Our Watertown location is closed this season due to construction.

In Utica, our training season runs from late April thru October. In Watertown, our training season is limited to late May thru late August. Our Watertown location is closed this season due to construction.

The Basic RiderCourse has at least 11 hours of hands-on instruction. This is mostly comprised of motorcycle riding time, but there are also valuable range-side activities to relate your eCourse learning to the riding exercises, and ultimately, to the riding you will be doing on your own once you are licensed. Generally, classes are scheduled over two consecutive days, though other options may become available. All BRC scheduling options qualify for the NYS road test waiver.

Each BRC consists of a 5-hour (approx.) eCourse that you complete on-line, on your own, prior to your class. You do not have to do the eCourse all at once – you can complete the course over several visits. You will get an access code to the eCourse once you are enrolled.  Do not attempt to access the eCourse directly on the MSF website; you will be charged a non-refundable fee.  Wait to receive your eCourse details in your BRC Confirmation to get free access.

If you are nervous about diving right in or not sure if motorcycling is for you, you may want to consider an Introductory Motorcycle Experience (IME) course as your entry point to training.

You can see the full schedule, plus availability for each location, by clicking here.

Once you are enrolled in a Basic RiderCourse (BRC), you will receive an email confirmation containing several links.  One of these links will provide free access to the ePackage 1 eCourse.

Note:  If you have previously been enrolled in a RiderCourse, you may have received access to other eCourse(s).  This access is ongoing, and your new BRC eCourse link may allow access to the prior version of the eCourse, as well as the current version.  Be sure to select the ePackage 1 option.  ONLY access your BRC E Package 1 eCourse by using the links that will be provided after you enroll.  If you sign up directly on the MSF’s website, you will be charged a non-refundable fee.  Wait for your link and take the eCourse for free as part of your BRC!

After you complete your eCourse, be sure to print out your completion certificate – you will need to bring this to class with you. A photo or a screen shot will suffice if you are unable to print a hard copy.

Your eCourse certificate is only valid for 30 days, so be sure to wait until you are within the 30-day window before your complete your course.

There are no more than 12 students in each BRC.

All of our Basic Rider Course (BRC) training motorcycles are 250cc or smaller. Some of our current models are Suzuki’s GZ250 and Kawasaki’s BN125. Each student has their own motorcycle to ride during the course.

It is recommended that BRC students use our training motorcycles during the course. Students may use their own motorcycles or scooters if they meet certain criteria.

You do not need to be a fitness star to ride a motorcycle (or take a RiderCourse), but riding does require physical stamina, alertness, coordination, balance (two-wheeled operation), grip and fine muscle control of the hands and feet. 

Certain medical conditions, recent surgery or injury and/or prescription or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with safe motorcycle operation.  If you have medical issues, it is important to consult with your doctor or pharmacist before the course to determine if your medical condition, or the drugs that you are taking for it, could interfere with your ability to safely operate a motorcycle.   

Please consider that you will be outdoors for extended periods in ambient weather conditions. You will spend a full day expending mental and physical energy as you learn new skills.

If you are particularly short, please contact our office so we can arrange for you to “try on” one of our training motorcycles a week or two before your class.

If you feel that there are motor skill ability, age, physical condition or language limitations that may limit your ability to learn to ride, please feel free to contact our office to discuss what provision can be made to assist you.

In most cases, yes.  If you are VERY short, please contact our office; we will arrange for you to “try on” a motorcycle a week or two before your class.

All students are responsible for bringing their own riding gear which shall include sturdy long pants/jeans (no yoga pants, no holes!), sturdy over-the-ankle footwear (like a hiking boot or a work boot, 1” above the ankle; no sneakers!), full-fingered gloves, and long-sleeves (sturdy shirt or jacket).  If you come to class unprepared you will not be permitted to participate in the course and will be subject to forfeiture of the entire course fee.

All students must wear a motorcycle helmet and eye protection that meet DOT standards.  Students are encouraged to provide their own DOT approved helmet and eye protection.  Motorcycle helmets and eye protection are available to borrow, but we prefer that you bring your own.

You will also need to bring a copy of your eCourse certificate (or a screen shot); your driver’s license (and a paper copy for our records), snacks, water, a folding chair.  You might consider bring a bag lunch, for convenience.  If you are under age 18, you will need to bring a copy of the NYSMSP Release, Waiver and Indemnification Form signed by a parent (and notarized!)

You will receive a complete list in your confirmation materials.

Yes, the courses will take place during “normal” rainy conditions, bring a rain suit if rain is imminent. We will cancel or reschedule classes in the event of severe weather – your RiderCoaches will make that determination that day, so you should show up for class no matter what.

You do not need your motorcycle permit to take the  Basic RiderCourse, but you will need to obtain a motorcycle learner’s permit before you can use the road test waiver document to obtain your license. You may obtain the permit either before or after your class dates.

BRC students are required to have a valid car driver’s license during their class.

Out-of-state participants will need a license from their home state in order to enroll/participate. Out-of-state participants should check with their home state’s DMV regarding licensing eligibility though a New York State BRC.

Obtain you learner’s permit at a local DMV office or online at the DMV website.

You will be required to take a multiple-choice quiz testing your knowledge of the rules of the road and motorcycling. You can study for your quiz by reviewing the DMV Car and Motorcycle Operator’s Manuals.

Students must participate in the entire BRC (ePackage 1 eCourse, range exercises and activities, and successfully complete a skills evaluation in order to receive the motorcycle road test waiver document.

BRC students who fail either the written and/or skills evaluations, will be given an opportunity to re-test at no charge. Re-tests must be taken within 30 days of your course completion date.

Not that instant, but almost. Successful students will receive a New York State Motorcycle Safety Program BRC completion card. You will need to bring this card, along with your license and motorcycle learner’s permit to the DMV to amend your license. If you do not have your motorcycle learner’s permit prior to your class, you will need to get one before you can apply the road test waiver.

You can obtain your permit and amend your license in one visit to the DMV. Students under age 18 will not be able to utilize their road test waiver document until they have held a motorcycle learner’s permit for at least six months.

To reschedule, first cancel your existing class, and then re-enroll in your new class. Follow the instructions in your BRC Confirmation email.

IMPORTANT!  If you reschedule to a different class, you MUST cancel your existing class or you will be charged for both classes!

If you would be interested and available to move to an earlier course date than the one for which you are scheduled…Our enrollment system will accommodate a limited number persons to be waitlisted per class.  Visit our enrollment system to place your name on a waitlist for a particular course date. Please limit your waitlist sign-ups to a single class.  People on the waitlist will be notified in order with a 30-minute window between notifications.  After that, the open spot will be made available to the general public. The spot will show as available until someone enrolls and claims it. A waitlist notification is not a guarantee of a spot in that class; you must respond to the notification and enroll in the new class date to secure the spot.

If you sign up to fill a waitlisted spot, you MUST remember to cancel your existing class, or you will be charged for both classes. The enrollment system will not automatically cancel your original class.  You must do that manually.  Cancellation fees will apply. 

Naturally, if your personal schedule changes and you learn that you will no longer be available on your waitlisted dates, we ask that you remove your name from the waitlist to make room for someone else.

Check back on our website periodically; additional classes may be added. If you reschedule to a different class, you MUST cancel your existing class or you will be charged for both classes! Cancellation fees will apply.

NOTE: If your scheduled class starts within the next 7 days, and you reschedule to a class that starts even earlier in the next 7 days (for example, you were scheduled for a Thursday start date, but rescheduled to the Monday class that starts three days earlier), please call our office to cancel your original class as the enrollment system will charge the larger “within the week” cancellation fee. In this circumstance, we will reduce the cancellation fee to $20.