The Basic RiderCourse (BRC1)

---

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's (MSF) BRC1 is designed for those who;

1. Want to learn how to ride a motorcycle just for the fun of it.

2. Want to learn how to ride a motorcycle and get their motorcycle license/endorsement.

3. Have some riding experience and want to get their motorcycle license/endorsement.

4. Already have their motorcycle license/endorsement and want a refresher before getting back on a motorcycle.

Since our mission is to help reduce motorcycle crashes in the State of NJ and our priority is the safety of our students, we offer the MSF's preferred version of the BRC1, which is a 2 1/2 -day, 18-hour course that consists of four modules or parts; 

Module 1- You begin by first taking a 3-hour interactive online course (the MSF Basic eCourse) which familiarizes you with some of the physical and non-physical skills needed to ride a motorcycle safely, which you do at home on your own at your own pace.

Module 2 - After completing Module 1, you watch a 1-hour pre-recorded Power Point Presentation (Supplemental eCourse) on your own, which explains the course format, the Course Rules and Guidelines and goes into the four basic physical riding skills in further detail.

Module 3 - After completing Modules 1 and 2, you attend a 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session on a Tuesday night, which covers a variety of crash-avoidance techniques and concepts with other students taking the course so you can meet who they are, find out a little bit about them and meet one of your instructors before attending the riding sessions (Module 4).

Module 4 - After completing Modules 1, 2 and 3, you take approximately 10 hours of practice riding (5 hours per day for two consecutive days) in a large, enclosed parking lot with 11 other students taking the course. You get hands-on training with two NJ MVC & MSF certified motorcycle safety instructors. The curriculum consists of 14 riding exercises designed to help you develop and acquire the basic physical riding skills, and the critical crash-avoidance riding skills. The total miles ridden after completing all the riding exercises is approximately 20 miles. (The riding exercises must be taken on the two consecutive days for the class. You can't take one riding exercise in one class and the other riding exercise in another class unless you pay the full course fee for both classes).

The course contains a Knowledge Test (30 multiple choice questions) and the NJ MVC Motorcycle Road Test. The Knowledge Test is given before taking the practice riding sessions (Module 4) and is based on the information contained in Modules 1, 2 and 3. The Road Test or Skill Test is given after all the practice riding exercises have been completed. If you pass both the Knowledge Test and the Skill Test, the NJ MVC allows us to give you paperwork that waives the NJ MVC motorcycle written permit test and the NJ MVC motorcycle road test. (This paperwork is not a motorcycle permit). So you can get your motorcycle license/endorsement in 18 hours without having to go to the NJ MVC to get a motorcycle permit, without having to take the NJ MVC motorcycle written test and without having to go to the NJ MVC to take the NJ MVC road test. You do it all with us. It's that simple.(You only have to go to the NJ MVC to get the motorcycle endorsement put on your NJ Driver License).

As stated in the previous paragraph, you do not need a motorcycle permit to attend this course as long as you have a valid Driver License. You do not qualify for the NJ MVC waivers unless you have a valid NJ Driver License. (If you do not have a valid Driver License, you will need a valid & current NJ motorcycle permit to attend the course. However, you will not qualify for the waivers. You will still have to take the MVC motorcycle road test at the MVC). If you have an out-of-State Driver License, you will not qualify for the waivers unless your State reciprocates the MSF BRC1 completion card or you move to NJ within 180 days after completing the BRC1. (Check with your State DMV to see if they will reciprocate).

If you are under the age of 18, you are now required by NJ law to take the BRC1 if you want to get a NJ motorcycle license/endorsement. If you are under the age of 18, you must have a NJ Driver License and parental/guardian permission before taking the practice riding exercises (Module 4) of the course.

The Basic RiderCourse (BRC1) is a NHTSA-approved curriculum for entry-level motorcycle riders.

THE MSF BASIC eCOURSE (Module 1)

As stated above, the MSF Basic eCourse is the first part of the course. If you have an issue with the Basic eCourse, contact the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at msfsupport@msf-usa.org or call (949) 727-3227 x3158 Monday thru Friday between 8:00am - 4:30pm Pacific Time. Tell them your name and the username/e-mail that you are using to log in to the Basic eCourse.

• The MSF Basic eCourse is video intensive. A strong, steady network connection on a personal computer or mobile device is required. Broadband connections work best.
• Current versions of Chrome, Safari, and Firefox are supported. For Internet Explorer, version 10 or higher is supported.
• When you complete the Basic eCourse, you will receive a Completion Certificate. The NJ MVC needs the Completion Certificate ID#. We can't issue you the License Waiver unless we have your Completion Certificate ID#.
• As soon as you register for the BRC1, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to take the Basic eCourse for free.

You will learn; 

• What riding gear is best to wear
• How all the motorcycle controls work and how to use each one
• The four basic physical riding skills; taking off, turning, shifting, and stopping, and practice the correct way to perform all four skills on both riding days
• The safest way to start and shut off a motorcycle
• How to perform slow speed maneuvers and practice doing them
• How to stop quickly and safely in the shortest distance and practice doing it
• How to swerve to avoid a hazard and practice doing it
• How to develop situational awareness to avoid a crash
• How to use 2/4/12 to avoid a crash
• How to ride in rain and wind
• How to start off on a hill without stalling
• How your risk-taking level and your riding skill level can determine your chances of crashing
• Why motorcycles crash and the things you can do to avoid a crash

and much, much more. You'll learn things that your friends, relatives and YouTube don't and can't teach you.

You need a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone and an email address.

For the Tuesday night 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session (Module 3), you will need to have a pen or pencil handy and you will need to download all the forms from the DOWNLOADS page of our website, or you can download all the forms from our zip archive into your computer's Downloads folder by clicking HERE. The link to all these forms will also be emailed to you along with the link to the 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session (Module 3) and the link to the Supplement eCourse (Module 2) four days before the start of the 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session (Module 3).

For the practice riding exercises (Module 4), you will need the following; 

1. Demonstrate your ability to ride a bicycle. (Get on the one we have and ride it for a few yards).
2. Sturdy over-the-ankle footwear (leather preferred) to protect your ankle from injury.
3. Long non-flare denim pants or material of equivalent or better durability to protect your legs from injury.
4. A long sleeve garment (shirt, sweat shirt, jacket) to protect your torso from injury.
5. Full-fingered gloves (leather preferred) to protect your hands from injury.
6. Eye-protection (glasses, sunglasses, goggles, face-shield) to prevent something from getting into your eye.
7. Any DOT (Department of Transportation) motorcycle helmet to protect your head from injury. (We have some full-face motorcycle helmets with face-shields available if you do not have a motorcycle helmet).

You will not be allowed to ride the practice riding exercises unless you can demonstrate that you can ride a bicycle and have all of the last six items listed above. (If you do not have all of the last six items listed above for the practice riding exercises, you will be dismissed from the class and forfeit all your money).

We supply the training motorcycles that are used for the practice riding exercises unless you want to use your own motorcycle or scooter that is registered & insured.  If you use a scooter for the Skill Test, your motorcycle endorsement from the NJ MVC will include a 500cc restriction which means you will not be able to ride a motorcycle that is larger than 500cc. Our fleet of training motorcycles consists of 125cc fuel-injected motorcycles (Honda Monkeys, Honda Groms, Kawasaki Pros and the Popio), 200cc fuel-injected motorcycles (Suzuki Van Vans), a 250cc carburetor motorcycle (Suzuki GZ), and a 310cc fuel-injected motorcycle (we have the new entry-level BMW). These are considered to be the best motorcycles for training purposes. We also have a Honda Navi, which has an automatic transmission, if you want to ride a scooter.

HEIGHT REQUIREMENT 

You should be able to place both of your feet flat on the ground when sitting on our training motorcycles. You should be at least 5 feet tall. To make sure, stop by our training location on the weekend during a training session and sit on one of our training motorcycles before registering for one of our BRC1 classes. If you cannot place both of your feet flat on the ground, you will not be allowed to take the course for safety reasons.

LANGUAGE BARRIER

If you don't understand or speak English well, you must have someone with you during the Tuesday night 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session (Module 3) to translate for you and you must bring someone with you for the riding sessions (Module 4) to translate for you. It is imperative that you are able to understand the instructions given by the instructors. If you can't, you will be removed from the class and your course fee will not be refunded.

As stated above, the link for the MSF Basic eCourse (Module 1) is included in the confirmation email you will receive after registering for the course, and in the reminder email you will receive 1-3 business days after you register for the course. 

The login information for the Tuesday night 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session (Module 3) will be sent in another email 4 days before the start of the Tuesday night 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session along with the link to download all the forms needed for the remote/virtual classroom session. This email will also contain the link to the Supplemental eCourse (Module 2). (We also send this email again 1 day before the start of the Tuesday night 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session and again for the third time the morning of the Tuesday night 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session). 

The practice riding exercises (Module 4) are held in Montclair State University's parking Lot 60 off Clove Rd. The AM class's 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session (Module 3) starts Tuesday night promptly at 6:00 PM and goes to approximately 10:00 PM, and the practice riding exercises (Module 4) normally start on Saturday morning (7:30 am - 1:30 pm) and finish up on Sunday morning (7:30 am - 2:00 pm). The PM class's 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session (Module 3) also starts Tuesday night promptly at 6:00 PM and goes to approximately 10:00 PM, and the practice riding exercises (Module 4) start on Saturday afternoon (12:30 pm - 7:00 pm) and finish up on Sunday afternoon (12:30 pm - 7:00 pm). The WK class's 4-hour live remote/virtual classroom session (Module 3) also starts Tuesday night promptly at 6:00 PM and goes to approximately 10:00 PM, and the practice riding exercises (Module 4) start on Thursday morning (7:30 am - 1:30 pm) and finish up on Friday morning (7:30 am - 2:00 pm). 

The maximum number of students permitted in each class by State regulations is 12.  (As stated above, the riding exercises must be taken on the two consecutive days for the class. You can't take one riding exercise in one class and the other riding exercise in another class unless you pay the full course fee for both classes). 

Our price for the BRC1 is only $325 (the lowest in the State). 

MSU Discount - There is a $100 discount for current undergraduate Montclair State University students and staff. (Show your MSU ID card on the first riding day of the class to receive the discount. The discount will be refunded on your credit card after completing the course. Make sure you ask us about the discount). Before we issue the discount, we submit the name of the student requesting the discount to MSU and they let us know if the student is enrolled as an undergraduate.

College Discount - Current undergraduate college students receive a $75 discount.(Show your college ID card on the first riding day of the class to receive the discount. The discount will be refunded on your credit card after completing the course. Make sure you ask us about the discount). 

First Responders & Military Discount - There is a 10% discount for active military personnel, active state, county & local police officers, active firefighters and active EMT's. We appreciate our first responders and those in the military who put their lives on the line to protect others. (Show your first responder ID card, or military ID card on the first riding day of the class to receive the discount. The discount will be refunded on your credit card after completing the course. Make sure you ask us about the discount). 

Family Discount - If you attend the class on the same dates with an immediate family member (husband and wife, parent and child, brother and sister, sister and sister, brother and brother), there is a 20% discount for each family member. (The discount will be refunded on your credit card after completing the course. Make sure you ask us about the discount). 

Only one discount can be applied. Discounts cannot be combined or mixed.

Click here to go to our Course Schedule page and select the class you want to attend. We accept all major credit cards. Courses are offered on weekends from mid-March to October. Click here to READ OUR CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS POLICY BEFORE YOU SIGN-UP FOR A CLASS SO YOU KNOW YOUR OPTIONS ABOUT REFUNDS, SWITCHING CLASSES, NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND A CLASS YOU SIGNED-UP FOR, DROPPING OUT OF A CLASS, ARRIVING LATE FOR A CLASS, BEING DISMISSED FROM A CLASS. We usually post classes two months in advance.

WAITLIST

Because of the high demand for our classes, our classes sell out very quickly. We sell out our classes before any other motorcycle school in the State. If a class is sold out, you can get on the Waiting List for that class. Just go through the process of signing up for the class, even though it is sold out. It will tell you there are no seats left and ask you if you want to sign-up for the Waitlist. Sign-up for the Waitlist. If we get a cancellation for that class, an email is automatically sent to the first person on the Waitlist. That person has 24 hours/one day to register for the class. If the person doesn't register for the class after the 24 hours/one day, another email is automatically sent to the next person on the Waitlist. You can sign-up to be on the Waitlist for several classes.