Motorcycle Training Courses: Choosing the Right Level at Road America

Road America offers motorcycle training courses for beginners, licensed street riders, scooter riders, and off-road enthusiasts. Its programs range from basic motorcycle operation and licensing preparation to advanced braking, cornering, evasive maneuvers, passenger handling, and dirt-bike control.

Training takes place on controlled, off-street ranges across Road America’s 640-acre property. Current options include the Basic Rider Course, Scooter Basic Rider Course, Street Skills Course 1, Street Skills Course 2, Dirt Bike Course 1, and Dirt Bike Course 2.

Choosing the correct course depends on the rider’s experience, motorcycle type, and intended use.

Basic Rider Course: Learn Core Motorcycle Controls

The Basic Rider Course is Road America’s entry-level program for people with little or no riding experience. It uses a Motorcycle Safety Foundation curriculum and combines an online e-course with approximately 11 hours of practical instruction on a state-certified training range.

Students begin by identifying and operating the motorcycle’s primary controls. Exercises then progress through:

• Starting and stopping
• Clutch and throttle coordination
• Shifting gears
• Straight-line riding
• Low-speed balance
• Turning
• Controlled braking
• Basic hazard response

The closed-course format allows students to repeat each maneuver without managing public traffic at the same time. Instructors can identify problems with clutch use, braking, vision, or balance and provide feedback before the student moves to the next exercise.

Successful completion may also support the Wisconsin motorcycle-licensing process. Students receive a completion card that may allow them to obtain a Class M endorsement without taking the state’s Motorcycle-in-Traffic road test, subject to current Wisconsin DMV requirements.

Scooter Basic Rider Course: Training for Automatic Scooters

Road America’s Scooter Basic Rider Course is taught on Yamaha Zuma 125 scooters. It is intended for participants who plan to ride an automatic scooter rather than a manual-transmission motorcycle.

Without a clutch and manual shifting sequence, students can concentrate on:

• Throttle control
• Straight-line balance
• Low-speed maneuvering
• Braking
• Turning
• Visual direction
• Hazard awareness

The course follows a similar structure to the Basic Rider Course, combining online preparation with practical range instruction. Successful completion may also qualify participants for a Wisconsin Class M endorsement without the standard road test, subject to current state requirements.

This course is suited to commuters, recreational scooter riders, and participants who want licensing instruction on the type of vehicle they expect to use.

Street Skills Course 1: Improve Control on Your Own Motorcycle

Street Skills Course 1 is intended for developing riders who already know how to operate a motorcycle but want more confidence with routine street-riding tasks.

Participants must have completed a Basic Rider Course or hold a valid motorcycle endorsement. Road America also recommends at least one season of experience on the motorcycle used during the class.

The course concentrates on four areas:

• Cornering confidence
• Clutch and shifting confidence
• Starting and stopping confidence
• Braking confidence

Students use their own street-legal motorcycles. The motorcycle must be licensed, insured, equipped with motorcycle-specific DOT-approved tires, and capable of passing an instructor safety inspection.

Using a personal motorcycle allows the instruction to address model-specific characteristics such as weight, clutch engagement, throttle response, handlebar position, braking feel, and low-speed balance.

A rider on a heavy touring motorcycle may need help with tight turns and stops. Another rider may be comfortable at speed but inconsistent with clutch engagement or firm braking. Street Skills Course 1 allows those weaknesses to be addressed in a controlled setting.

Street Skills Course 2: Advanced Street-Riding Techniques

Street Skills Course 2 is intended for accomplished riders who want to improve their ability in more demanding street situations.

Participants must hold a valid Class M endorsement. Road America recommends at least three riding seasons before enrollment and recommends prior completion of Street Skills Course 1.

The curriculum covers:

• Traction, tires, and suspension
• Enhanced cornering
• Enhanced braking
• Evasive maneuvers
• Motorcycle loading and passenger handling

The course includes classroom instruction and practical exercises at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex. The paved training area contains nearly one mile of roadway, more than a dozen curves, elevation changes, linked turns, varying lean angles, and limited sightlines.

These features allow riders to practice reading unfamiliar curves, selecting entry speeds, adjusting lines, and maintaining control when visibility or traction is limited.

The passenger and loading portion addresses how added weight affects:

• Acceleration
• Braking distance
• Suspension behavior
• Steering response
• Cornering
• Low-speed balance

Street Skills Course 2 is not a racing program. Its exercises are designed around situations riders may encounter during everyday road use.

Dirt Bike Course 1: Learn Off-Road Motorcycle Operation

Dirt Bike Course 1 provides six hours of hands-on instruction for participants age 12 and older who meet the listed inseam requirement.

Riders may bring a suitable dirt bike or use one of Road America’s Yamaha TT-R125 motorcycles. The course is appropriate for beginners learning to operate a manual, clutch-equipped motorcycle and for riders who need a refresher before returning to off-road riding.

Instruction may include:

• Standing riding position
• Clutch and throttle coordination
• Braking on loose surfaces
• Balance
• Turning on dirt
• Terrain assessment
• Risk management
• Responsible trail use

Off-road riding requires different techniques from paved-road riding. Loose surfaces reduce available traction, terrain changes affect balance, and the motorcycle may move underneath the rider more actively.

The course gives participants time to adjust to those differences before attempting more difficult terrain.

Dirt Bike Course 2: Develop More Advanced Off-Road Skills

Dirt Bike Course 2 is intended for riders who already have basic off-road experience.

The six-hour course continues developing motorcycle control, risk management, and responsible riding practices. Participants may use their own dirt bike or one of Road America’s Yamaha TT-R125 motorcycles.

Where Dirt Bike Course 1 focuses on basic operation and control, Dirt Bike Course 2 introduces more demanding exercises and terrain.

Participants should already be comfortable with:

• Clutch operation
• Throttle control
• Braking
• Basic turns
• Standing position
• Balance on loose surfaces

The second course gives riders an opportunity to improve those skills under more varied off-road conditions.

Which Motorcycle Training Course Should You Choose?

Road America’s course structure provides a clear route based on experience:

• Basic Rider Course: New motorcyclists and licensing candidates
• Scooter Basic Rider Course: New automatic-scooter riders
• Street Skills Course 1: Recently licensed, returning, or developing riders
• Street Skills Course 2: Experienced street riders
• Dirt Bike Course 1: New or returning off-road riders
• Dirt Bike Course 2: Riders with established dirt-bike fundamentals

The best course is the one that matches the rider’s present ability. A new rider should establish reliable clutch, braking, turning, and balance skills before entering an advanced street program. An experienced road rider moving to dirt should begin with off-road fundamentals rather than assume that paved-road techniques will transfer directly.

What to Review Before Registering

Before selecting a course, participants should review:

• Minimum age
• Licensing requirements
• Previous-course prerequisites
• Required riding experience
• Motorcycle requirements
• Protective equipment
• Inseam or size requirements
• Course duration
• Weather policies
• Current availability

Some courses provide motorcycles or scooters, while others require participants to bring a licensed, insured, and mechanically sound motorcycle.

Equipment requirements may include a DOT-approved helmet, eye protection, full-fingered gloves, sturdy over-the-ankle footwear, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket. Requirements vary by course and should be confirmed before arrival.

Motorcycle Training Courses at Road America

Road America’s motorcycle training courses cover several stages of rider development, from first-time motorcycle operation to advanced street control and off-road riding.

Beginners can learn foundational controls and work toward a motorcycle endorsement. Licensed riders can improve braking, cornering, shifting, evasive maneuvers, and passenger handling. Dirt-bike participants can develop balance, traction management, and terrain-reading skills on loose surfaces.

Review the course descriptions, prerequisites, equipment rules, and available dates to select the program that best matches your experience and riding goals.