One of our dealership staff or Riding Academy staff can help get you signed up either over the phone or in person. You'll need to have your valid driver's license ready, and you'll be asked a series of questions about any previous riding experience. After that, all that's left to do is pay the course fee (starting at $349) and show up for class! Please keep in mind that the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy requires all students to be at least 18 years old in order to take the class.

After enrolling, you should be contacted by us with any specifics to your course, including what to bring, what is required, and where and when to meet. We will contact you, welcome you, remind you of items to bring, and answer any questions you might have about the class.

The Kegel Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy utilizes the Motorcycle Safety Foundation curriculum and the MSF Basic eCourse as a component of your overall class.

The eCourse replaces a classroom session at the dealer and can easily be completed at your convenience no more than 30 days prior to the first night of class. 

Upon paying for your class, the dealership will send you a link via e-mail to the MSF Learning Center so that you may complete the eCourse before you begin your Riding Academy adventure.

Be sure to budget time prior to the first day of class to complete the eCourse –  even if you have previous experience with motorcycling, you cannot fast forward through any sections of the eCourse. The eCourse can take around 5 hours to complete.

You will receive a completion certificate at the end of the course, be sure to print that out and bring it to the first day of class.

You will need to bring these items to class with you:

• Your valid Driver's License
• Motorcycle Learner's Permit (you earn this by passing the approx. $10 written exam at the DMV - you WILL NOT be able to ride a motorcycle without this)
• Proof of completion of any pre-required course study
• Any materials provided to you prior to or during class
• Wear, or bring, all the items on the "CLASS GEAR CHECK LIST"*

*This can be found in the "What to wear" section of this page.

Gloves and a helmet are the only essential motorcycle specific items, but we recommend that sometime before the first night of class, take what you have to the dealer to get it checked out.

Our experienced Motorclothes® Staff can help you ensure that you have the right equipment.

CLASS GEAR LIST

• Long-sleeve shirt or jacket
• Long pants (heavy denim or riding pants recommended - NO HOLES)
• 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 full-face or 3/4- helmet (we have some available to borrow during class)

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.

The staff at your dealer are trained to fit a helmet and will ensure you get the right one. Helmet fit is so important that they will most likely suggest you wear the one you settle on around the dealer 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.

Coach Tip: The more helmet the better, full face is the best, followed by a modular. An open face helmet or ¾ open still provides good protection if you feel too cooped up in a full face. Half helmets, while very popular, offer the least amount of protection and ARE NOT APPROVED FOR RIDING ACADEMY USE.

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.

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 review of the eCourse will be next, which gives you a chance to better understand important points of the eCourse. Jump in there and participate! 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, coaches 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 located behind the dealership. (See photo below)

This site is 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. 

DEALERSHIP MAP

Coach Tips: 

• In order to ensure your timely arrival, feel free to stop by the dealership for a tour of the property. Any of the Kegel Krew would be happy to assist you. 
• The best place for students to park is in the back of the service lot. 
• Feel free to whatever snacks you need to keep going physically and mentally. 
• Bottled water, soda, and light snacks are provided by the dealership.

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.

Programs 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.

Coach Tip: Learning to ride can be mentally and physically exhausting. Make plans to rest up the day before and throughout the duration your Riding Academy Course.

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.

Coach 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.

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 completion document. However, it does not count as a license and is not recognized by law enforcement as a license to ride.  

After you complete the dealership portion of your Riding Academy Course, your Coach will coordinate with you when to meet at the DMV to take the riding portion of your state license exam. They will bring a Kegel Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy motorcycle with them for you to use during your test.

Once you’ve gotten your license, get out and enjoy the ride!