Types of motorcycle training courses
Motorcycle training schools offer 3 types of motorcycle safety courses:
- Novice course for beginners
- Intermediate course for riders with about 1 year and 3,000 miles of experience
- Advanced experienced rider course for riders with about 1 year and 5,000 miles of experience
Novice course
The novice course is designed for students with little or no riding experience, and lasts a minimum of 16 hours.
Fees
If you are over the age of 18 and are a Washington resident, a subsidized novice course costs $125, and a non-subsidized course costs about $250.
If you are under the age of 18, the course costs $50.
What to bring with you
You must bring all of the following to the novice safety course:
- If under the age of 18, a completed parental permission form (prior to the first riding session)
- Pen or pencil for taking notes
- Department of Transportation-compliant helmet (The program has some helmets for students.)
- Eye protection (glasses, goggles, or face shield)
- Long-sleeved shirt or jacket
- Long pants
- Sturdy over-the-ankle shoes
- Full-fingered gloves appropriate for motorcycle use
- Foul weather gear (courses conducted rain or shine)
- Snack/lunch and non-alcoholic beverages
- Sunblock, as needed
Intermediate course
The intermediate course is designed for riders with about 1 year and 3,000 miles riding experience. This is a 1-day course.
Fees
Fees are determined by the course provider. For more information about providers, see Motorcycle training schools.
What to bring with you
You must bring all of the following to the intermediate safety course:
- Your own motorcycle
- Your own motorcycle insurance (proof of insurance card)
- Your motorcycle endorsement or motorcycle instruction permit, and any other documents needed to get your motorcycle to the course legally
- Your motorcycle registration
- Parental permission, if you’re under the age of 18
- Pen or pencil for taking notes
- Department of Transportation-compliant helmet
- Eye protection (glasses, goggles, or face-shield)
- Long-sleeved shirt or jacket
- Long pants
- Sturdy over-the-ankle footwear
- Full-fingered gloves appropriate for motorcycle use
- Foul weather gear (courses conducted rain or shine)
- Snack/Lunch and non-alcoholic beverages
- Sunblock, as needed
Advanced experienced rider course
The advanced experienced course is designed for riders with about 1 year and 5,000 miles riding experience. This is a 1-day course focusing on improving a rider’s street riding ability, mental processing, and level of risk taking. The course includes exercises in:
- Threshold braking
- Brake and evade
- Cornering adjustment (swerving and/or braking while cornering at speed)
- Decreasing radius curves
- Multiple curves
- Traffic mix and gap management
Fees
The fees are determined by the course provider, and are generally in the vicinity of $165. Not all course providers are capable of offering this class. For more information about providers, see Motorcycle training schools.
What to bring with you
You must bring all of the following to the intermediate safety course:
- Your own motorcycle
- Your own motorcycle insurance (proof of insurance card)
- Your motorcycle endorsement
- Your motorcycle registration
- Parental permission, if you’re under the age of 18
- Pen or pencil for taking notes
- Department of Transportation-compliant helmet
- Eye protection (glasses, goggles, or face-shield)
- Long-sleeved shirt or jacket
- Long pants
- Sturdy over-the-ankle footwear
- Full-fingered gloves appropriate for motorcycle use
- Foul weather gear (courses conducted rain or shine)
- Sunblock, as needed
