Motorcycle licensing and rider training: how to learn to ride safely
How to get licensed, choose a state approved course and keep building your riding skills
Picture a 45 year old who rode a friend’s dirt bike as a teen and now buys a used cruiser, figuring the rest will come back. Some of it might, but much of what she needs was never taught to her. And this bike is far heavier and faster.
The gap between “I can make it go” and “I can handle trouble” is where training matters. In 2024, 6,228 motorcyclists died on U.S. roads, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports. Per mile traveled, riders were almost 27 times as likely to die as people in passenger cars [1].
This hub for our rider safety series covers licensing, state approved courses, the research on training and lifelong skill building. It includes a rider development path, a practice plan and a returning rider checklist.
Why riding takes different skills than driving
A car balances itself, goes where you point it and wraps you in a steel shell with belts and air bags. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) notes that motorcycles are less stable and harder to see, with no enclosed space to protect you [6].
RiderCoaches focus on five differences:
- Balance: at speed, momentum and steering keep the bike upright. But at walking pace, balance depends on smooth clutch, throttle and rear brake control.
- Countersteering: above walking pace, a motorcycle turns by leaning. You start the lean by pressing the handgrip on the side you want to go. So press left to go left [2]. It feels backward until practice makes it automatic.
- Two separate brakes: on most motorcycles, your right hand works the front brake and your right foot works the rear. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) says the front brake can supply 70% or more of your stopping power [2]. Relying mostly on the rear brake wastes much of that power, a habit RiderCoaches work hard to correct.
- Traction in a lean: when the bike is leaned over, less grip is left for braking [2]. Sand or wet paint that a car would barely notice can take a rider down.
- Being seen: a narrow bike is easy to miss, so riders learn lane positions and escape routes. Our guide to motorcycle awareness for drivers covers the driver’s side.
Knowing these ideas is not the same as doing them under stress. In a 2018 review of 177 crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) looked at riders who tried to avoid a crash. They picked a suitable move about two thirds of the time but carried it out well only about a quarter of the time [7]. Coached practice is how you close that gap.
Licensing basics: permit, test or course, endorsement
Every state requires a motorcycle endorsement or license on top of a regular driver’s license, NHTSA notes. Most states also require a written test and an on bike skills test [8]. The usual path looks like this:
- Pass the knowledge test to get a learner permit.
- Practice within the permit’s limits, which often bar passengers, night riding or highways.
- Prove your skills, either with the state’s riding test or by passing an approved course that waives it [8].
- Get the endorsement, often called Class M, added to your license.
Too many riders stall at step 2 or never start. In 2024, 35% of motorcycle riders in fatal crashes had no valid motorcycle license, compared with 14% of passenger vehicle drivers [1]. NHTSA has flagged one reason: many states let riders renew a learner permit again and again, which may discourage them from finishing [5].
State approved training: what a beginner course looks like
As of 2019, all 50 states offered some form of rider education, NHTSA’s Countermeasures That Work guide reports [4]. States run or approve the courses, so names vary. Many use the MSF Basic RiderCourse, while some approve other curricula.
Here is what the MSF Basic RiderCourse involves, as one common example [3]:
- Who it’s for: beginners age 16 and up who can ride a bicycle and hold a driver’s license or motorcycle permit.
- Format: about 5 hours of online lessons, then 10 hours of on bike coaching over two days on a closed range.
- Equipment: a motorcycle or scooter, a helmet and gloves are provided. You wear eye protection, a long sleeve shirt or jacket, sturdy long pants and over the ankle boots.
- Skills: 14 riding exercises, from finding the clutch’s friction zone to cornering, swerving and quick stops.
- Payoff: most states waive the riding part of the endorsement test if you pass.
MSF says tuition runs from under $100 to over $300, depending on where you live [3]. Some states cover the cost. Pennsylvania’s courses are free to residents with a motorcycle permit or license. Its basic course provides the motorcycle. Permit holders who pass earn their license without a separate skills test [10].
To find a course, contact your state’s motor vehicle agency, as NHTSA suggests. Sign up early in spring [8]. Course space depends on the number of sites, instructors, and bikes and helmets available for students [4].
Beginner, intermediate and advanced courses
Training should not stop at the endorsement. MSF’s current lineup and Pennsylvania’s program show the ladder of courses open to most riders [3, 10, 11].
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
| Level | Who it is for | Whose bike | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Try it out | Curious people who don’t ride | Provided | MSF First Ride (2 hours) |
| Beginner license course | New riders | Usually provided | MSF Basic RiderCourse; Pennsylvania Basic Rider Course |
| License course for current riders | People who already ride but lack the endorsement | Your own | MSF Basic RiderCourse 2 (1 day) |
| Intermediate or skill practice | Newly licensed and returning riders | Your own | MSF BRC2 Skill Practice and Rider Skills Lab; Pennsylvania Intermediate Rider Course |
| Advanced | Experienced riders | Your own | MSF Advanced RiderCourse (1 day); Pennsylvania Advanced Rider Course (3,000 miles of experience required) |
MSF’s advanced course pairs braking and cornering drills with hazard awareness and a personal risk check [11]. Pennsylvania’s intermediate course focuses on managing traction [10].
What about track days? Some riders move on to coached racetrack sessions run by private schools. MSF describes its advanced course as good preparation [11]. A track removes intersections and oncoming traffic, but speeds are higher and falls do happen. If you go, pick a school with instruction and a novice group.
Does rider training reduce crashes?
The evidence is mixed: NHTSA’s Countermeasures That Work gives rider training 2 of 5 stars [4]. A Cochrane review of 23 studies found conflicting evidence on whether training reduces crashes or traffic offenses, largely because most of the studies were weak. It also suggested that required training before licensing may cut crashes mainly by discouraging some people from riding [4].
Some findings are more hopeful: in a 2014 study cited by NHTSA, riders given training focused on risk and hazards showed safer riding behavior than a control group. The authors stressed that results depend on a well followed curriculum and skilled trainers [4].
A weekend course gives you the basic controls and a path to a license, but it cannot give you experience. NTSB found higher crash risk among riders with less than 2 years of on road experience than among those with 5 or more years [7]. MSF’s manual adds that more than half of crashes involve riders with less than 5 months on their motorcycle [2].
The rider development path
Think of rider education as a path, not a single class. This table is our stage by stage guide. Its time frames are suggestions, not rules.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
| Stage | Goals | How to train | How long (our guidance) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Get ready | Learn the controls and rules; decide if riding fits you | Online course, a short intro session on a provided bike, knowledge test and permit | 2 to 4 weeks |
| 2. Beginner course | Basic control, braking and swerving; earn the endorsement | State approved beginner course | 1 weekend (about 15 hours) |
| 3. First season | Turn course skills into habits | Short weekly lot sessions; quiet daytime roads; no passengers | First 6 months or first 1,000 miles |
| 4. Intermediate | Sharpen braking and cornering on your own bike | Skill practice course; easy rides with a trained mentor | End of first season |
| 5. Advanced | Traction management, hazard spotting, honest self checks | Advanced course; optional coached track school | After 2 seasons or about 3,000 miles |
| 6. Lifelong | Keep skills sharp | Monthly practice; a refresher course every few years and after any long break or new bike | Ongoing |
Closed course practice: a parking lot session plan
Before you ride a new or unfamiliar motorcycle in traffic, NHTSA advises getting used to it in a controlled area [8]. MSF gives the same advice for a borrowed bike [2]. Regular practice also keeps emergency skills ready. MSF offers free practice drill videos covering stops, turns, weaves and swerves [12].
Try this 45 minute session, keeping speeds under about 20 mph.
Coming back after a break
Riders today are older than they used to be: in 2024, the average age of riders killed in crashes was 40 [1]. Riders 50 and older made up 31% of motorcyclist deaths in 2024, up from 3% in 1975, IIHS reports [13].
NHTSA’s motorcycle safety plan points to research on older riders who crash. Some rode when they were young, came back in middle age, possibly skipped refresher training and then bought much more powerful motorcycles [5]. Bikes, traffic and your own body have all changed since then.
Why friends and online videos are not enough
Many riders learn from a friend or from online videos. Both can help, but neither replaces structured training.
- No progression: a course builds skills in a set order, on a closed range, on a bike suited to beginners. A friend’s lesson often starts on a public street on the friend’s bike.
- No trained feedback: you cannot see your own head position or brake timing. A video cannot watch you. A RiderCoach spots a habit and corrects it on your next pass.
- Habits get passed along: a friend may teach shortcuts they never questioned, like leaning on the rear brake. Even formal programs depend on trainer quality, researchers note [4].
- Knowing is not doing: videos build knowledge, but motor skill comes from repetition with correction, as the NTSB execution gap shows [7].
MSF is clear on this point: no state accepts its Basic eCourse alone as a license waiver [14]. NHTSA calls a rider education course a good way to get the correct instruction and experience [8].
Use friends and videos as add ons. After your course, a trained, patient rider can be a fine mentor on easy rides. Videos from official programs or certified instructors can reinforce what you practice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate license to ride a motorcycle?
Yes. Every state requires a motorcycle endorsement or license on top of a driver’s license. An approved course can often replace the riding test [8].
Do I need my own motorcycle for a beginner course?
Usually not. MSF’s basic course provides a motorcycle or scooter, a helmet and gloves. Pennsylvania provides motorcycles for its basic course [3, 10]. Intermediate and advanced courses usually require your own street legal bike [10, 11].
How much does a motorcycle safety course cost?
MSF says tuition ranges from under $100 to over $300, depending on location and the student’s age [3]. Pennsylvania’s courses are free to residents with a motorcycle permit or license [10].
Can I learn to ride from YouTube videos?
Videos can teach ideas, but they cannot watch you or correct you. Learn the basics in a state approved course, then use videos from reputable sources as a supplement.
I haven’t ridden in years. Do I need to retake a course?
If your endorsement is still valid, the law may not require it. Still, a closed course refresher is the safest way back. NHTSA notes that riders who return in middle age may skip refresher training [5].
Do advanced courses or track days make me safer?
Research has not settled whether any rider course, basic or advanced, lowers crash rates [4]. Coached courses let you practice hard braking and cornering where it is safe to do so. Treat them as one part of ongoing skill building.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Get licensed through a state approved course before you ride in traffic. Then keep training. Practice in an empty lot often and step up to intermediate and advanced courses. Take a refresher after a long break or on a new bike.
Related articles
- Choosing the right motorcycle: match fit, power and type to your skill
- Motorcycle emergency braking and swerving: learn it before you need it
- Motorcycle protective gear and visibility: what to wear and why
- Motorcycle ABS and traction control: what rider aids can and can’t do
- Motorcycle laws by state (2026): helmets, licenses and lane splitting
Sources and further reading
- 1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Motorcycles: 2024 Data. Traffic Safety Facts, DOT HS 813 824. July 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813824
- 2Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). Motorcycle Operator Manual, 18th edition (PDF). Library page modified December 20, 2023. msf-usa.org/…/motorcycle-operator-manual.pdf
- 3MSF. Basic RiderCourse (modified May 6, 2025), Start Your Ride (modified August 21, 2026) and FAQ (modified September 30, 2025). msf-usa.org/…/basic-ridercourse; msf-usa.org/start-your-ride; msf-usa.org/faq
- 4NHTSA. Countermeasures That Work, 11th Edition (2023), Motorcycle Safety chapter: Motorcycle Rider Training. DOT HS 813 490. Accessed October 3, 2026. nhtsa.gov/…/other-strategies-behavior-change
- 5NHTSA. Motorcycle Safety 5-Year Plan. May 2019. nhtsa.gov/node/98981
- 6Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Motorcycles (research area). Updated August 2026. iihs.org/research-areas/motorcycles
- 7National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Select Risk Factors Associated with Causes of Motorcycle Crashes. Safety Report NTSB/SR-18/01. Adopted September 11, 2018. ntsb.gov/…/SR1801.pdf
- 8NHTSA. Motorcycle Safety. Accessed October 3, 2026. nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycle-safety
- 9Texas Department of Public Safety. Motorcycle License. Updated September 24, 2020; accessed October 3, 2026. dps.texas.gov/…/motorcycle-license
- 10Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program. Accessed October 3, 2026. pa.gov/…/pennsylvania-motorcycle-safety-program
- 11MSF. Improve Your Ride and Advance Your Ride course pages (modified August 21, 2026) and Advanced RiderCourse (modified May 6, 2025). msf-usa.org/improve-your-ride; msf-usa.org/advance-your-ride; msf-usa.org/…/advanced-ridercourse-arc
- 12MSF. Do It Yourself Practice Drills. Modified April 30, 2026. msf-usa.org/do-it-yourself-practice-drills
- 13IIHS. Fatality Facts 2024: Motorcycles and ATVs. Posted June 2026. iihs.org/…/motorcycles-and-atvs
- 14MSF. Basic eCourse. Modified July 15, 2024. msf-usa.org/ecourses/basic-ecourse
This article reflects the safety priorities of motorcycle rider training and motorcycle safety research. It is general education, not legal, medical or professional advice for any individual. Laws, course offerings and data change, so verify details with official sources and your state’s rider training program. Reviewed October 2026.
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