Beginning Class Information

This information is vital to your being prepared for and admitted to class, so please read it very thoroughly and carefully!

Please add office@motorcycleschool.com and 888.744.2268 to your contacts, since we will communicate by email, text and phone if there are any changes to your class. If you did not provide the best number to receive texts, please email or call us at office@motorcycleschool.com or 888.744.2268 from the phone/email address that you used to register so are able to reach you if there are any problems with your class.

Our office is open Mon.-Fri. from 9am-5pm. Instructors are always available to answer questions and we love to help, so please call or email us if you have any questions.

The curriculum in our beginning class is based upon the latest research of both motorcycle- related crash statistics and adult learning principals, and is designed for beginners who have never sat upon a motorcycle before. In your first riding session you will learn where the controls are, how to use them and then to ride.  Most beginners are riding within the first few exercises!

However, the purpose of this class is to create safer riders out of the average beginning motorcyclist, NOT to make it easy to get a license. While most beginning students are able to pass this class the first time they take this class, it is also not uncommon to be counseled out so you may come back for more repetition, since everyone learns at a different pace. If you are counseled out or are not able to pass the first time through, our policy allows instructors to waive the standby fee so that you may come back as many times as you are able to get into a class over the 6 month standby period.

We LOVE it when students come back over and over in an effort to learn to ride and improve their skill and we will root for you and do everything we can to help a diligent student to succeed, BUT there is no guarantee you will pass this class!

We provide all students with a motorcycle, helmet and gloves automatically. You may not ride your own motorcycle, but you are welcome to bring your own helmet and gloves. If you would prefer to ride a scooter in SF or Alameda, please confirm availability with the office, since we cannot guarantee availability less than two weeks ahead of time. Scooters are not available at all at the Vallejo location.

REQUIREMENTS

  • SIGN OUR WAIVER(S) You must read and acknowledge your agreement to the terms and conditions laid out in our waiver by signing the one most applicable to you.  If you are a minor, your parent must come to the first in person session of your class with their valid, government issued photo ID even if they fill out the waiver ahead of time. BAMT does NOT accept notarized letters in lieu of a parent/guardian's physical presence. If they are not able to come to the first session please contact the office to see if we can accommodate you:
  • IDENTIFICATION You will need to come prepared with a valid, government- issued photo ID.  It does not need to be a driver’s license or from the U.S., but you will need to show the same valid, government- issued photo ID to the instructors at all in person sessions, so you must have it with you at all times.  Valid school IDs are fine for students that are under 18 that do not yet have a passport or other government- issued ID

  • GEAR Clothing labeled as ‘motorcycle’ does not always meet our requirements, since it is often a reference to motorcycle ’style’ instead of the fit and protection we are required to have you wear. PROTECTIVE street motorcycle gear is always acceptable for taking our class, but gear that is motorcycle style is almost never protective, and so is almost never acceptable. For a guide to gear that is actually protective instead of merely ‘motorcycle style’ consult the section on gear in the MTC Handbook.  Please note that what we are allowed to have you wear in our very low- risk controlled riding sessions is NOT what we would recommend for wearing while riding on the street!  This class is very long, and weather is unpredictable at all three of our sites. It goes from very cold to very hot back and forth several times during a typical class, so bring many long sleeved layers!!:

    • Helmet- Full-coverage and DOT-compliant helmets will be provided. BAMT only allows helmets that are full face and DOT compliant, so if you would like to bring your own full face helmet you may, but if the instructor cannot confirm that it meets our requirements, you will be required to use one of ours instead.
    • Gloves- Full- fingered, 100% leather work gloves are acceptable and can usually be found at any hardware store. You may bring your own, but if the instructor cannot confirm that they meet our requirements, you will be required to use ours instead. Off-road motorcycle gloves, leather dress gloves, ski gloves, or work gloves of material other than leather will NOT be accepted.
    • Footwear- Only sturdy, over-the-ankle, snug fitting, reinforced footwear that supports the ankle will be accepted. Most laced and tied hiking boots will do as long as they fit snugly around the ankle with thick, padded/reinforced material so that your ankle bone cannot be felt. They must also be laced up so the sides are snug against the foot/ankle in order to provide ankle support. Hiking boots that merely cover the ankle and/or are worn in such a way that does not provide ankle support will NOT be accepted(ie: Chuck Taylor or other high tops, Uggs, cowboy boots, boots with elastic on the ankle, any footwear previously mentioned that is fastened loosely so that ankle support does not function properly, motorcycle- specific footwear that do not provide ankle support in the instructor's opinion, etc.).  If you are not able to ride due to being unprepared, you may come back to a different class as a standby student for a reduced fee
    • Shirt/Jacket- A full-sleeved and high- cut shirt and/or jacket that allows no skin(including wrists and parts of your chest) showing when seated on the motorcycle when your body is leaned forward and your arms are outstretched to ride is required at all times you are seated on a bike.  Your jacket/short may not ride up your back, either- there can be no skin below your neck showing when you are seated on the motorcycle!  Since temperatures fluctuate quite a bit through out the day bring many full sleeved layers, since you will not be allowed to ride with short sleeves.  If you are not able to ride due to being unprepared you may come back to a different class as a standby student for a reduced fee
    • Durable Pants- Denim jeans or anything made of durable, rugged material, such as protective work pants will be allowed. We are NOT allowed to let you to ride in stretch pants or stretch fabric (including ‘jeggings’), or ANY pants with rips, tears, or any sort of holes, no matter the material. Pants must cover all of the leg when seated on the motorcycle with feet up on the foot pegs - no skin/socks, etc. showing. Unfortunately there is no way to know for sure which motorcycle you will end up riding and how long the pants will need to be unless you use the following test: while wearing the footwear and pants you will be riding in, sit down or lie down on your back and bend your knees all the way to your chest. If your pants ride up up near or past the top of your boots so that your socks or skin are showing, then they may not be long enough once you are riding, so you must get longer pants and/or taller boots.  We are not allowed to let you ride if your skin or socks are showing.  Instructors really do not want to have to send you home, so please make certain there will be no skin or socks showing when your feet are on the footpegs and you are leaning forward!!  If you are not able to ride due to being unprepared you may come back to a different class as a standby student for a reduced fee
    • Rain Gear- We do NOT cancel for rain so arrive prepared for rain. If you are not able to ride due to being unprepared you may come back to a different class as a standby student for a reduced fee
  • READ THE MTC HANDBOOK The MTC Handbook contains all of the information needed in order to pass our class.  Classroom sessions are designed to be taken after you have read the MTC handbook, so please read it before taking your classroom sessions(regardless of whether they are online with eRider or in person) in order to pass and to get the most out of your class.  This resource is updated regularly with the latest research.  We strongly encourage you to review it regularly after you have passed our class.
  • FOOD AND WATER There will be no place to buy food or drink during class, regardless of how close stores/cafes look on the map, so bring PLENTY of snacks and drinks, ESPECIALLY PLENTY OF WATER!!! You will be not be allowed to continue if you are late for a session or coming back from a break, but you may come back to a different class as a standby student for a reduced fee
  • POSITIVE ATTITUDE You will be asked to leave if you display threatening, obscene, or inappropriate behavior or messages regardless of how they are expressed, and/or if the instructor suspects any kind of impairment/intoxication of any kind with any drug, including alcohol or any other legal, illegal, prescription and/or over- the- counter substance(s), or if you intentionally or unintentionally interfere with other students enjoyment of the class. You will be asked to leave and you will not be eligible for a refund, to be rescheduled, or to return to our school under any circumstances
  • ATTEND ALL SESSIONS We are not allowed to let you into your session late!  That being said all instructors hate to send students away and are as generous as they can be.  Please be aware that the time listed is your check in time, since check in can take quite a while.  Once instructors have made sure all students have met all of the gear and other requirements, the class will start as soon as they have made sure that everything else is ready.  How long it takes to check everyone in can vary quite a bit, so please be patient.  The instructors will do their best to keep everything moving, but be ready to have to wait, especially if you are the first student to check in.  Even if it looks to you like the class has not started yet, that does not mean it is true and it definitely does not mean the instructor is able to take extra time in order to go though the long check in process with you, so avoid this issue BY ARRIVING ON TIME!!!  Since riding sessions take place in a big parking lot, addresses are APPROXIMATE.  When it is dark and/or foggy it can be EXTREMELY difficult to find us, so please scout the area out the day before and give yourself a LOT of extra time to get lost so you can be sure to be on time!  If you are late you may come back to a different class as a standby student for a reduced fee
    • ATTEND ALL CLASSROOM AND RIDING SESSIONS IN ORDER WITHIN 60 DAYS This course includes approximately 5 hours of classroom and 10 hours (broken up into two 5 hour days) of in person training on a motorcycle. The State of California requires that all students attend/complete all classroom(s) and riding sessions in order within a 60 day period and pass the written and skill tests in order to pass:
        • If you attend in person classroom sessions your schedule will be:
          1. Study the MTC Handbook                                        complete at home
          2. 1st Classroom Session                                              meet at classroom
          3. 1st Riding Session                                                      meet at riding area
          4. 2nd Classroom Session                                             meet at classroom
          5. 2nd Riding Session                                                    meet at riding area
        • If you attend eRider classroom sessions your schedule will be:
          1. Study the MTC Handbook                                              complete at home
          2. Complete minimum of chapter two of eRider*          complete at home
          3. 1st Riding Session                                                            meet at riding area
          4. Complete minimum of chapter four of eRider*          complete at home
          5. 2nd Riding Session                                                           meet at riding area
          6. Complete all chapters of eRider by midnight*            complete at home

      *Both completion AND proof are REQUIRED in order to be allowed into the riding sessions! If you do not have proof you may be able to come back to a different session as a standby student for a reduced fee

      • eRIDER REQUIREMENTS- eRider takes approximately one hour per chapter, consists of 6 chapters and can be done at your own pace, since you can save and exit at any time. You are taking the written test as you progress through it, so be sure to study the MTC Handbook before you start it.  Since eRider can be done at your convenience in the comfort of your home, the hours to complete it are not included in the class hours you signed up for.  This resource is updated regularly with the latest research.  We strongly encourage you to review it regularly after you have passed our class.
        • BRING PROOF OF COMPLETING CHAPTER TWO BEFORE THE FIRST RIDING SESSION Even if you do not pass, bring your grades to your first riding session. A printout or a screenshot is adequate. Please don’t send your grades to the office.  Proof you completed them needs to be brought to the first riding session. Since sessions must be taken in order, if you do not have proof we will not be able to let you in and you will not be eligible to attend any of the rest of the sessions in that class, but you may come back to a different class as a standby student for a reduced fee
        • BRING PROOF OF COMPLETING CHAPTER FOUR BEFORE THE SECOND RIDING SESSION Even if you do not pass, bring your grades to your second riding session. A printout or a screenshot is adequate. Please don’t send your grades to the office. It needs to be brought to the second riding session. Since sessions must be taken in order, if you do not have proof we will not be able to let you in and you will not be eligible to attend any of the rest of the sessions in that class, but you may come back to a different class as a standby student for a reduced fee
        • FINISH ALL CHAPTERS BY MIDNIGHT OF YOUR SECOND RIDING DAY You will receive a failing grade if you do not finish all chapters by midnight of your second riding session, regardless of the grade you have already earned.  So if you also fail eRider by getting less than 80%, it will count as if have have completed your written test twice you will have to redo all sessions as if you are a new student and we will not be allowed to count any of your previous scores or attendance.  You may return as a standby student for a reduced fee or pay the full fee for a confirmed seat.
        • ONE ACCOUNT PER STUDENT Since eRider is testing your knowledge as you progress, each student MUST complete their own eRider class in their own account, and all students and must present their own report card. If you do not have proof of YOUR grades we will not be able to let you in and you will not be eligible to attend any of the rest of the sessions in that class,  but you may come back to a different class as a standby student for a reduced fee
        • GRADE OF 80% OR MORE You need an overall grade of 80% in eRider to be eligible to receive a DL389. If you receive a grade below 80%, eRider will give you another chance to get a better grade after you have completed the riding portion of your class as long as you complete it before midnight of your second riding session.  Be sure to review the MTC Handbook, review eRider and ask plenty of questions in order to get a better grade next time. The phone is usually answered by instructors, so please call us if you have any questions!
        • USE A DESKTOP OR LAPTOP COMPUTER Most problems finishing the course are created by using unsupported devices, not following directions or having a poor internet connection. Since it is your responsibility to be sure you have everything you need in order to log in and complete eRider(just as it would be your responsibility to arrive at the classroom on time if you were taking class in person), we STRONGLY recommend that you complete all 6 chapters at least one week before your riding sessions begin so you can get help from the office if you have any trouble.  We cannot refund or reschedule you if you are not able to finish due to starting too late to get help from the office, but you may come back to a different class as a standby student for a reduced fee
        • PLEASE BE AWARE eRider grades are processed electronically when DL389s are assigned. If you fake your grades to get into the riding sessions the office will catch it when your scores are processed. You will NOT be eligible to come back as a standby for a reduced fee. If we get permission and decide to allow you to come back, you will have to pay the whole class fee again for a confirmed seat and will have to start again from the beginning, even if you have passed some of the class already.  Please do not waste our time or yours by faking your grades.
      • IN PERSON CLASSROOM REQUIREMENTS- Attend all sessions in full and in order.  There will be a test given at the end of the second classroom session.
        • ATTENDANCE All sessions must be attended in full and in order.
        • STUDY BEFORE CLASS The presentation in the classroom is designed to improve your understanding of the material in the MTC Handbook, so be sure to finish reading it beforehand so you will be ready to absorb the information presented and are able to ask questions of the instructor.
        • PASS THE TEST A test will be given at the end of the second classroom session.  The instructor will go over any questions missed at the end so as to make sure everyone understands why the answers were not correct in the hope you will better understand the material.
        • IF YOU DO NOT PASS THE WRITTEN TEST You be given one more opportunity to retake the written test after your second riding session.  If you do not pass again we are required to have you retake all sessions in order as if you had never taken any of them before.  If you return as a standby student, you will have the option to have the standby fee waived, so you may only have to pay for a new eRider account if there are no classroom sessions available.

      Please call or text 888.744.2268 or email office@motorcycleschool.com if you have any questions.  Our office is open Mon.-Fri. from 9am-5pm. Instructors are always available to answer questions and we love to help, so please call or email us if you have any questions.

      Thank you and have a great class!😄

      Bay Area Motorcycle Training Staff