Learn to ride on a new Harley-Davidson® X350RA
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Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy
CMSP MTC

Learn to ride on a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle

Our new rider course will teach you the fundamental skills needed to ride a motorcycle and get you on the road
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Harley-Davidson® New Rider Course

The Open Road Welcomes You

Whether you’re just getting started or just brushing up, learn the skills you need to ride with confidence. We’ve helped thousands of riders achieve their dreams, let us help you too. Learn more about our Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy motorcycle training courses and find a class today.
We're a California Highway Patrol Authorized Site Partnered with Trusted Industry Companies.
What to Expect
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Ready to Learn to Ride?

Join over 3,000 riders already trained by Golden State Moto
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Harley-Davidson® Advantage

Benefits

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Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy

CMSP MTC

California Motorcyclist Safety Program Motorcyclist Training Course
$425
$395 for under 21
Designed for beginner riders with limited or no street riding experience
Learn to ride on a genuine Harley-Davidson® motorcycle
Upon successful completion, earn a DMV skills test waiver (DL389) along with a Riding Academy Certificate of Completion
Instructors certified by California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) and H-D® Riding Academy
Topics include fear, understanding motorcycle controls, motorcycles turns, proper cornering strategies and emergency accident avoidance
Learn fundamental skills required to operate a motorcycle, including safely accelerate, shift, brake, and turn
Sign Up for CMSP MTC
Solomon
CMSP MTC
Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy

CMSP MTC

California Motorcyclist Safety Program Motorcyclist Training Course
$425
$395 for under 21
Designed for beginner riders with limited or no street riding experience
Learn to ride on a genuine Harley-Davidson® motorcycle
Upon successful completion, earn a DMV skills test waiver (DL389) along with a Riding Academy Certificate of Completion
Instructors certified by California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) and H-D® Riding Academy
Topics include fear, understanding motorcycle controls, motorcycles turns, proper cornering strategies and emergency accident avoidance
Learn fundamental skills required to operate a motorcycle, including safely accelerate, shift, brake, and turn
Sign Up for CMSP MTC
Eva
CMSP MTC
Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy

CMSP MTC

California Motorcyclist Safety Program Motorcyclist Training Course
$425
$395 for under 21
Designed for beginner riders with limited or no street riding experience
Learn to ride on a genuine Harley-Davidson® motorcycle
Upon successful completion, earn a DMV skills test waiver (DL389) along with a Riding Academy Certificate of Completion
Instructors certified by California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) and H-D® Riding Academy
Topics include fear, understanding motorcycle controls, motorcycles turns, proper cornering strategies and emergency accident avoidance
Learn fundamental skills required to operate a motorcycle, including safely accelerate, shift, brake, and turn
Sign Up for CMSP MTC
Salim
CMSP MTC
Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy

What to Expect

The Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy New Rider Course will lead you through the steps to learn to ride a motorcycle and get you on the road.
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Harley-Davidson®

Learn to ride, safely accelerate, shift, brake, and turn on a genuine Harley-Davidson® motorcycle
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DMV skills test waiver

Upon successful completion, earn a DMV skills test waiver (DL389) along with a Riding Academy Certificate of Completion
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Expert Instruction

Instructors certified by California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) and H-D® Riding Academy
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Beginner-Level Course

Designed for novice riders with limited or no street riding experience. Learn fundamental skills required to operate a motorcycle
FAQ
Find a Class
Harley-Davidson® Support

FAQs

Everything you need to know about the Harley-Davidson® Academy New Rider Course. Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.
Common Questions
What do I need to bring to class?
You will need to bring these items to class with you:
  • Your Driver's License and/or Learner's Permit. A current, valid, government issued photo ID. This may be issued from California, any State or any Country
  • A signed waiver, emailed when you book your course
  • Proper riding gear for the range session (see gear question)
  • Proof of completion of any pre-required course study
  • Any materials provided to you prior to or during class
  • Water in a reusable bottle and snacks
  • Pens and notepad
What should I wear?
You will need to wear these items:
  • Long-sleeve shirt or jacket
  • Long pants (heavy denim or riding pants recommended)
  • Over-the-ankle boots (sturdy, not canvas, low heel)
  • Eye protection (helmet visor, eye glasses, sun glasses, goggles acceptable)
  • Full-finger gloves (motorcycle specific recommended)
  • DOT-certified helmet if you have one (full-face or modular)
We provide Harley-Davidson®  motorcycles and helmets. You may use your own DOT-approved modular or full face helmet if desired.
How to I register for Harley-Davidson® CMSP MTC?
You can sign up for class at San Jose Harley-Davidson® here.

You get all the benefits of our CMSP MTC with the added bonus of the Harley-Davidson® experience. You will train on a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle at San Jose Harley-Davidson® You'll get a Roadbook, a small Harley-Davidson® journal during classroom instruction. Upon successful completion, earn a DL389 along with a Riding Academy Certificate of Completion.
Can I take CMSP MTC if I am under 21?
Yes, if you are over 15½ and under 18, you must bring a photo ID and a parent or legal guardian to sign a waiver with you. Your parent must provide ID as well. Once the waiver is signed you are ready to participate.
What is covered in the course?
The new rider class is based on years of motorcycle safety research conducted by Total Control Training. We teach the most updated motorcycle safety information to provide a professional learning environment. The course consists of two classroom sessions and two riding sessions. These sessions total approximately 15 hours of learning with 5-hours of classroom instruction and 10-hours of on-cycle instruction
What is required to pass the course?
There are written and riding evaluations to ensure you have competence in the material covered in the basic course. You must attend all sessions in full and pass both evaluations to graduate from the course. There is no guarantee of course completion and course completion does not guarantee safety.
Detailed Answers to Common Questions
What should I expect prior to class?
After enrolling, we will contact you with any specifics to your course, including what to bring, what is required, and where and when to meet. We teach the Total Control curriculum.
You will need to bring these items to class with you:
  • A current, valid, government issued photo ID. This may be issued from California, any State or any Country
  • A signed waiver, emailed when you book your course
  • Proper riding gear for the range session (see gear question)
  • Proof of completion of any pre-required course study
  • Any materials provided to you prior to or during class
  • Water in a reusable bottle and snacks
  • Pens and notepad
What happens in the classroom before you go to the range?
There are a variety of schedules. This example of a typical weekend course will give you a feel for what to expect.

The first class meeting typically runs three hours: You’ll get a tour of the dealership, fill out all the class paperwork and get to know your peers and coaches. During the paperwork session, you will hear a lot about counseling and being on time and having all the gear. Don’t fret, it is just to set clear expectations for everyone. Being that an endorsement waiver is provided through this class, it has some structural aspects that the state requires to allow for licensing.

You’ll get a ROADBOOK - this is a small Harley-Davidson® Journal that you will use to reflect on important points throughout the class. A lot of what is being discussed you have already seen firsthand as a car driver. Then the class will turn to new material – an activity to help demystify motorcycle controls and their use will be held, as well as an activity to help understand important aspects of riding gear.

At the end of the night, instructors usually spend some time talking about the range days, what to bring, where the range is and when to be there.  The range is simply a practice lot; it is a large flat piece of pavement that may be on dealer property or down the road a few miles.

This site is usually blocked off from car traffic and offers a controlled environment to learn in. The classroom will probably conclude with a discussion on the range rules and hand signals. These are all intended to help you understand how the range works and to ensure everyone has a good time during the riding portion of the course.

Instructor Tip
If you are not sure where the range is, take time to drive by it on the way home versus frantically searching for it in the morning. Pack whatever snacks you need to keep going physically and mentally.
What happens after your time on the range?
On the last classroom meeting there might be state specific content to cover, more paperwork to complete and some celebrating to do. This is it, you are in the family now, enjoy the ride!

Students who successfully complete the classroom and range sessions will be issued a DMV skills test waiver (DL389) along with a Riding Academy Certificate of Completion. DL389 may waive you from taking a motorcycle operator skills test through the DMV.  However, it does not count as a license and is not recognized by law enforcement as a license to ride.  Your instructor or your local DMV will provide you with instructions on steps to take to convert the completion document into a license.

You will need to take your DL389 to your DMV and complete any additional steps required to get the motorcycle endorsement on your driver license. Once you’ve gotten your license, get out and enjoy the ride! 
What should I wear?
Class Gear List
  • Long-sleeve shirt or jacket
  • Long pants (heavy denim or riding pants recommended)
  • Over-the-ankle boots (sturdy, not canvas, low heel)
  • Eye protection (helmet visor, eye glasses, sun glasses, goggles acceptable)
  • Full-finger gloves (motorcycle specific recommended)
  • DOT-certified helmet if you have one (full-face or modular)
We provide Harley-Davidson®  motorcycles and helmets. You may use your own DOT-approved modular or full face helmet if desired.

Shopping for a Helmet
A helmet is the most important piece of motorcycle gear you will invest in. A helmet is a very personal piece of gear. Consider buying a helmet vs. borrowing one, that way it is yours and it fits you perfectly and allows you to focus on learning to ride.

We are trained to fit a helmet and will ensure you get the right one. Helmet fit is so important that we will most likely suggest you wear the one you settle on around for about 15 minutes. It takes that long for the helmet to really let you know if it will be comfortable in the long run. Remember, helmets are not typically returnable once they leave the dealership, so take the time to find the right one

Instructor Tip
The more helmet the better, full face is the best, followed by a modular.
What happens on the range?
A typical course will include two days on the range. Here is what to expect.

‍First Day Riding
‍Your first range day will focus on getting to know the motorcycle, how to properly start it up, move it from point A to point B, and shut it off. You learn the fundamentals of clutching and shifting, turning and stopping.

Each exercise is designed to build on the previous exercises and allow you to learn quickly and effectively. Expect each exercise to take about 40 minutes. After every other exercise, a break will be held. This is usually a ROADBOOK opportunity and a chance to just rest, get a drink of water and hang out with your classmates.

We typically hold a classroom session at the dealership after the first range day. The afternoon classroom session is focused on behaviors and self-assessment. This is important stuff! The more you participate the more you will get out of it.

‍Instructor Tip
‍Learning to ride can be mentally and physically exhausting. Make plans to rest Saturday night – you want to be fresh for the second range day.
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‍Second Day Riding
‍Day 2 will focus on the skills of riding: cornering, swerving and maximum braking. Just like the first day, expect two exercises back to back with a ROADBOOK break in between. These exercises are at slightly higher speeds than yesterday's and are a lot of fun! Expect to see smiles spread across the faces of your classmates.

At the end of the second day on the range, the coaches will set up and score the five evaluation exercises. These are based on the same exercises you just rode and the same skills you learned over the last two days of riding.

Relax and be sure to breathe – This is just a fair measurement of your current abilities to ensure that you are ready to leave the range and venture out onto the open road. Listen to your coaches and watch each student ahead of you as they ride the test exercises. You want to be sure of the path of travel and the technique being scored.
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‍Instructor Tip
‍Don’t score yourself during the evaluations. Not all areas of the riding exercise are scored, and most mistakes are just a few points. Riders that get worked up because they made a riding error often ride worse and make more errors. Ride on and do your best!

At the end of the evaluations, your coach will let you know how you did. If you did not pass, don’t freak! There are often opportunities to take a portion of the course over or to retest later. See your Riding Academy Manager as soon as possible regarding these options.
How do I get my California motorcycle license (M1) and how long does it take?
After successful completion of the Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy CMSP MTC you will be mailed a California DMV form DL389. Receipt of DL389 may waive the DMV skills test. With this form and the passing of the DMV written evaluation, you will be eligible for a M1 motorcycle endorsement. It takes up to 10 business days to receive the DMV waiver in the mail.

Still have questions?

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