Learn to ride!*

We provide everything you need!
Come enjoy our Basic Rider Course
which includes riding teachnique and
accident avoidance training. We'll
provide the motorcycle, all the gear &
conduct the licensing testing!
We are Motorcycle Safety Foundation
certified - can save you $ off insurance.

Licensing testing

How much do the courses cost?

The BRC starts at $225, the ERC is $100. Private lessons may be arranged. There is a premium charge for morning hours for the training portion of the course on Saturday and Sunday. Our "A" class tuition is $240, our "B" class is $225. We accept Cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express or a Cashiers/Certified Bank Check (From a bank, not a convenience store). If you choose to make payment using a credit or debit card, there is a $10 Administration Fee that will be added to the tuition amount. Full payment must be made by the start of class.

Where is RideSmart located?

Our classroom and range are located at 2530 W. Morningside Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85023. We are conveniently located just east of I-17 and north of Bell Rd.

Are there motorcycles available for me to ride?

The BRC is basically a "show up and ride" course. We provide the motorcycles, helmets, eye protection, and gloves. All you have to do is show up wearing a long-sleeve shirt or jacket, long pants, and boots. ERC students use their own motorcycles. We also recommend that students bring their own sunglasses, and any prescription eyewear as required. Students may bring their own safety gear as long as the gloves are full finger, and the helmet has the D.O.T. sticker on the back. All our training motorcycles are under 350 cc's, this allows students to concentrate on the learning rather than fighting the weight of a larger sized motorcycle. All RideSmart motorcycles are legally street-worthy and consist of Honda Rebels, Honda Nighthawks, Honda Interceptors, Kawasaki KZ305's and 250's.

After I complete the course, what benefits do I get?

Plenty. In addition to receiving your Arizona MVD testing waiver, ( meaning that you don't have to take the State written or riding test to get your license ), you also get an BRC or ERC completion card that, depending on your insurance carrier, could be worth up to 35 percent off your motorcycle insurance.

What if I crash?

Hey, we'd rather you not crash, but if you do, it's better that you do it here, in a controlled environment. The bikes you ride are trainers. They're made for this stuff. We won't hold it against you. You're here to learn, after all.

Will class go on if it's raining?

You bet! Of course, there are some circumstances that may give us pause (lightning, for instance), but we'll pretty much ride rain or shine. We've never had to cancel a class due, so please show up as scheduled!

How many students are in each class?

Personalized, hands-on instruction is extremely important. Because of this fact, we limit our class size to ten people, and this is with two instructors.

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What kinds of tests are there?

Successful completion of the BRC requires each student to pass both a written and hands-on skill evaluation.

What if I don't pass?

Retesting is normally accomplished within 30 calendar days. The first retest is free; subsequent retests are $25.

How do I know if I should take the BRC or the ERC?

The Basic Rider Course is a great class for a new rider, a rider with minimum experience, or is a nice refresher course for someone that hasn't ridden in a while. We hold a BRC just about every weekend of the year. It also has great licensing opportunities, and you don't need a permit to attend. We provide the motorcycle and gear you need to take the course!

The Experienced Rider Course is a course that is held on a quarterly basis. The course recommendations are a minimum of six months experience, or six thousand miles of riding time...in a variety of situations. This course is for someone who already has their motorcycle license, and the rider must use his or her own motorcycle and safety gear.

Do you offer a women's only class?

At this time, we only have male instructors. However, the company is co-owned by a woman, Angela Orton. RideSmart's philosophy is to teach motorcycle riding in a positive environment, rich with patience and encouragement. Never is a person's gender factored in as to how they're going to be trained. We treat all individuals with patience, kindness and respect.

What do I have to wear when riding?

Whether your classroom portion of the course is on Thursday night or Friday night, it's all casual. No special attire is required for the classroom portion. On Saturday and Sunday, you'll need to wear a long sleeved shirt, long pants, and shoes that cover your ankles. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has required these apparel items be worn during the riding portion of the course only. If you do not have the appropriate apparel on for riding, you will be deemed unprepared and cannot participate. Please understand these are not our rules but we must uphold them. Prescription eyewear must be worn if you wear it while driving. Sunglasses are recommended.

Do you offer group discounts?

Yes! We have discounts for groups of 6 or more people, $10 off per person. Tuition must be prepaid at the time of registration.

Where is parking?

The parking available for our suite is somewhat limited. However, right on the other side of the cement curb is additional parking in the Metagraphix parking lot. (East end.) Feel free to park there. Plenty of parking and it's just as convenient as right in front of our suite.

What are the terms on the Money Back Guarantee?

We no longer offer the "Money Back Guarantee". This offer expired on 11/01/06, regardless of any older advertising that may reference it.

What type of cancellation policy do you have?

Our tuition policy is somewhat like non-refundable airfare. To reserve your spot, we take a holding credit or debit card and take your position off the market. We only have 10 positions per class so we can provide the best individual training. That position is then YOURS. If you need to cancel or reschedule, you must do so no less than seven (7) days prior to the start of your course. Seven days prior to the start of your class your position becomes NON-REFUNDABLE. If you do not show up for your reservation as scheduled, your holding credit card will be charged the full tuition amount plus a $10.00 Administrative Fee. If we are unable to process the charges on your credit card, your account will be sent to collections. Non-payment of tuition will result in negative reporting to the three major credit bureaus. These terms and conditions also apply if you were to reserve more than one seat in a class...say for a family member or a friend. If you reserve the seat, your credit card becomes responsible for the payment of tuition, even if your friend does a "No Show". We hate to see friendships damaged over money issues, so we highly recommend that each person planning on attending use their own personal credit card and make individual reservations rather than group ones.

Why don't you offer an intermediate rider course?

We feel that an intermediate rider course has little or no value to most students. The intermediate rider course is designed to reacquaint students with motorcycle operation if there has been a substantial delay after completion of a Basic Rider Course. The intermediate courses offered by other schools are merely a re-hash of the material covered in the BRC; therefore, we feel is has no place in our schedule due to it's limited demand. Bottom line, if you feel you need an intermediate rider course, it would be just as beneficial to complete a Basic Rider Course.

Why can't I use my own motorcycle?

Yes, as long as it is under 500cc, but it is not recommended. During the course you will be expected to perform a number of exercises. You may find that you are reluctant to perform some of the exercises, especially if you have a large, heavy motorcycle. There are no adjustments made to the exercises for different sizes of motorcycles and if you find that you are unable to operate your own motorcycle under the course conditions it may be too late to switch to one of our training bikes. If you do choose to ride your own motorcycle in the beginner's course, Motorcycle Safety Foundation policy is that you must have a valid motorcycle permit, and you must ride your own motorcycle to the class. You must also provide proof of full insurance coverage as well as current motorcycle registration. Simple - we don't want you to damage your motorcycle doing things you may not feel comfortable doing. Let's say for instance that you are practicing a skill during the BRC on your own motorcycle and you crash. You would not be very happy at that point, not to mention the possibility of personal injury. We take some of that worry out of that equation by requesting you to use our motorcycles. That's why we refer to them as "conveniently pre-crashed". All of the skills that you learn on these training motorcycles transfer from bike to bike as long as you take the time to acquaint yourself with the dynamics using your own machine.

What if something comes up and I don't finish my training?

You automatically forfeit your position and tuition. Same goes for if you are late. If you're more than a few minutes late, we can't get you caught up, thus you have forfeited your position and tuition. Please make arrangements to be a few minutes early and review driving directions prior to heading to class. We're happy to assist you ahead of time to aid in driving directions, preparations (proper apparel) and any other issues (area hotel information, etc...) that may interfere with your ability to be at class when you are scheduled.

What happens if I lose my Completion Card?"

Give us a call or email with the date you attended the course. As long as it's within three years that you completed the course, we can reissue you a new one. Please note, there is a $25 fee for this service, and may take up to five (5) business days before we can issue it.

How soon after I complete the test can I go to the MVD and get my license?

You can take your waiver to any MVD licensing office the very next business day and turn it in for your new license! No written or skills test will be required at the MVD. Just make sure you turn it in within six months from the date of completion. And don't lose this paperwork, as it can't be replaced. If you should happen to lose your MSF Completion Card (separate from your MVD paperwork) we can issue you a replacement for up to three years from the date of issue. There is a $25 fee for the replacement, and we'll need the date of attendance to retrieve your course information.

I am under 18, what should I do?

When you are under 18 years of age, Arizona requires that you ride with a motorcycle permit for 5 months, or until you are 18. In order to obtain a permit you will have to go to a driver's license testing office and take the Arizona Motorcycle written test. Once you have completed the Basic Rider Course at RideSmart, the licensing certificate which you will receive will be valid for 6 months. After 5 months passes, take the permit and the class certificate to MVD for your motorcycle endorsement. You do not have to wait until you begin our course to obtain your permit, you can take the Arizona test at any time. The sooner that you complete the permit requirement, the shorter your wait after class before you can apply for your license endorsement. Please have a parent or legal guardian enroll you in the Basic Rider Course, and be available for the first 15 minutes of class to sign your legal paperwork and waivers.

What type of discounts are you currently offering - Teen, Military, Retired?

Starting January 1, 2008, we no longer offer ongoing discounts. Hear us out before you get your feathers ruffled! RideSmart charges the lowest tuition rate in the Valley. Our nearest competitor is $30 above us, and then the neartest to them is another $60 higher than us. What might surprise you is that EVERYONE teaches the EXACT same curricula provided through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Some classes may vary in hours or format, but the curricula is the same. Every other school has been raising their rates, due to the increasing cost of insurance, real estate, and even labor costs. Rather than raising our rates, we decided to cut out set discounts. This is the best way to meet increasing operation costs without passing them on to our students. So please note, there are NO set discounts. Printed materials produced prior to 2008 may reflect discounts, but that information is no longer correct. On occasion, RideSmart may offer seasonal specials. You must meet the terms of the special, and mention the special AT THE TIME you make your reservation. Existing reservations, or once the reservation has been made, the special cannot be applied. For more information, please feel free to contact Angela in the business office, Monday through Friday between 10 AM and 3 PM.

Why do you take a credit card at the time I make my reservation?

Making a reservation is similar to a hotel reservation. We take contact information, including name, daytime phone number, an email address for sending confirmation, and a holding credit or debit card. Since we only have 10 spots in each class, once we reserve a spot for you, it's YOURS. By supplying a credit card, you are making a commitment to attend class and be liable for the positions tuition, and we make a commitment to have a seat available for you and to provide you with hopefully a fun, educational, learning experience. As a courtesy, we do not require payment until the first night of class, although some unique situations may require prepayment. What we do with the credit card upon registration is what is called a "Pre-Authorization". We check with your bank to see if we've recorded the card number correctly. We typically only do a "Pre-Authorization" in the amount of $1, because some banks may put a temporary hold on the funds for up to 72-hours. If, for some reason, during the "Pre-Authorization" process we receive a message that there aren't enough funds to cover the "Pre-Authorization" amount, we will contact you via telephone. Our company policy is, given this type of situation, after alerting you to the shortage, the full tuition amount may be pre-authorized, or we may require that the entire course be prepaid to continue to reserve your seat in class. We NEVER give out any of your personal information. We do not sell email lists, and all of your information is contained in a secure network and triple firewalled for maximum privacy.

Please note, as of 11/01/06, we are no longer offering the "Money Back Guarantee". There is also a $25 Administrative Fee for any changes once a reservation has been made. (Changes accepted up to one week prior to the start ot class.) Reservations become non-refundable and non-transferrable within the week prior to the start of class. All other information included in brochures and advertising is up to date. For more details, please refer to the "A" & "B" Welcome Letters in our Student Area link.