Improve your turning technique by taking the TBC

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When you slow down your motorcycle by using the brakes, or rolling off the throttle, or by engine braking, the weight shifts forward putting more weight on the front suspension than on the rear suspension. When you ride through a curve/turn, you should have equal weight on the front and rear suspension to maximize traction, which is crucial on a motorcycle since you only have two tires holding you up vs. the four you have in your car. You can accomplish this law of physics by trail braking. 

When you take the Trail Braking Course (TBC) with us, you will learn the theory and concepts of trail braking, and practice trail braking on your own 2-wheel motorcycle on our practice riding range. No need to take a track course to learn this technique. (Trail braking is not just for sport bikes. It can and should be used with any type of motorcycle. It is the proper way to turn on a motorcycle).

Sounds contradictory, doesn't it? Motorcycle riders, in general, only lean their motorcycle up to 30% of it's capability. Why only 30%? Fear of leaning which is the fear of falling. You can actually negotiate your curves/turns better by leaning your motorcycle beyond 30%. You can actually lean your motorcycle more by leaning less. It's called the "Kiss the Mirror" technique. When you take the TBC with us, you will learn the theory and concept of "Kissing the Mirror" and practice it along with trail braking on your own motorcycle on our practice riding range. 

The TBC is a 1 day, 3-4 hour group lesson course that consists of two modules or parts; 

Module 1 - You begin by first taking a 5-hour (average time) asynchronous interactive online course (the MSF eCourse) which is a great tutorial or refresher of the physical and non-physical skills needed to ride a motorcycle safely, which you do on your own, at your own pace. The eCourse must be completed before Module 2. We suggest doing an hour a day. (This is the same eCourse requirement for taking the BRC1, the BRC2 LW, and the APBRC with us). 

When you complete the eCourse, you will receive a Certificate of Completion with an ID#. (If you already took the eCourse, you don't need to take it again unless you want a refresher. Just re-print or download the Completion Certificate. You can access your eCourse Completion Certificate with this link. Click "Returning Student").

If you haven't taken the eCourse, as soon as you register for the TBC, you will receive a link in the confirmation email/tickets from Eventbrite (our registration platform) that enables you to take the eCourse for free. (You’ll find it under "Additional Information", item #2). You will need the Completion Certificate ID#.

Module 2 - the practice riding exercises. For 3-4 hours, we explain the concepts of trail braking, "Kissing the Mirror" and Delayed Apex and you practice these techniques on your own 2-wheel motorcycle in a large, enclosed parking lot with other students taking the course. You get hands-on training with two certified motorcycle safety instructors. The class is held rain or shine unless the conditions adversely affect traction. The maximum number of students permitted in each class is 12. 

The TBC is held at Montclair State University in parking Lot 60 located at 35 Clove Rd in Little Falls behind the student bus platform and the bus garage. (From Rt. 46 East, make a right onto Clove Rd, which is just before McDonalds. Bear right at the traffic circle, make a right after going under the train trestle and go to the end of the lot by our storage container).

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MSF eCOURSE

As stated above, taking the MSF eCourse is a pre-requisite for taking the TBC. If you have an issue with the eCourse, email the Motorcycle Safety Foundation at msfsupport@msf-usa.org or call them at (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 eCourse.

• The MSF 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.
• Be sure JavaScript is enabled on your browser.
• The eCourse is available in English and Spanish.
• When you complete the eCourse, you will receive a Completion Certificate with a Completion Certificate ID#. Either print the Completion Certificate or take a picture of it. You will need the Completion Certificate ID# when you fill out the indemnity waivers before your class starts. If you already took the eCourse, just re-print or download your Completion Certificate. You can access it with this link.
• If you haven't already taken the eCourse, as soon as you register for the TBC, you will receive a confirmation email/tickets from Eventbrite (our registration platform) that contains a link to take the eCourse for free. (You'll find it under "Additional Information" item #2).

Bring the following with your own 2-wheel motorcycle;

1. Your Driver License w/motorcycle endorsement, or your Motorcycle License or a current & valid NJ motorcycle permit (passed the NJ MVC written test and the NJ MVC eye test).
2. Your motorcycle registration.
3. Your motorcycle insurance card.
4. Your RANJ (Riding Academy of NJ) MSF BRC1 or RANJ MSF BRC2 LW course completion card to get the course rebate discount. (See below)
5. Your MSF eCourse Completion Certificate or a picture of it.
6. Sturdy over-the-ankle footwear (leather preferred) to protect your ankles from injury.
7. Long non-flare denim pants or material of equivalent or better durability. (No light material pants or holes in the pants).
8. A long sleeve garment (shirt, sweat shirt, jacket).
9. Full-fingered gloves (leather preferred) to protect your hands and fingers from injury.
10. Eye-protection (glasses, sunglasses, goggles, face-shield).
11. A DOT (Department of Transportation) certified motorcycle helmet.

You will not be allowed to ride the practice riding exercises unless you have all the items listed above. (If you do not have all the items listed above for the practice riding exercises, you will be dismissed from the class and receive a partial refund. You will have to pay the full price of the course to attend another class).

MAKE SURE THE TIRE TREAD ON YOUR MOTORCYCLE IS GOOD AND THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE IS CORRECT FOR MAXIMUM TRACTION. The class is held rain or shine unless conditions are too severe for adequate traction. If they are, we will contact you by email, phone, or text and notify you the class is cancelled. If the class is going to be conducted in the rain, wear rain gear (rain jacket, rain pants, waterproof shoes, waterproof gloves or wear latex gloves under your gloves) to keep you dry.

No passengers are allowed to ride the TBC exercises with you.

MOTORCYCLES WITH LOUD PIPES (SOUND LEVEL EXCEEDS THE EPA DECIBLE RATING) ARE NOT ALLOWED AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY.

The price for the TBC is only $110. There is a 10% rebate if you took the MSF BRC1 or the MSF BRC2 LW with The Riding Academy of NJ. You must show your RANJ MSF BRC1 or RANJ MSF BRC2 LW Completion Card the day of the class to get the rebate. The rebate will be refunded on your credit card after completing the course. Rebates can only be made through your original payment method.

Click here to go to our Course Schedule page and select the class you want to attend. We accept all major credit cards. Click here to READ OUR REFUND 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. 

If a TBC class is not posted on our website, go to the Course Schedule page of our website and follow us on Eventbrite (our registration platform) for email notifications when we post them. You can also sign-up for our newsletter on the Home Page of this website, "Like" our Facebook page and/or follow us on Instagram. The BRC2 is usually offered 3-4 times per year.

WAITLIST

Because of our reputation, there is a very 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 registering 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 join the Waitlist. Join the Waitlist. You will get a confirmation email from Eventbrite (our registration platform) that you are on the Waitlist. If we get a cancellation for that class, an email is automatically sent from Eventbrite to the first person on the Waitlist. That person has one day to register for the class. If the person doesn't register for the class after one day, another email is automatically sent from Eventbrite to the next person on the Waitlist. There is no Waitlist for future classes. There are only Waitlists for Sold Out classes posted on the Course Schedule page of our website.