Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy

The idea behind Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy New Rider Course is simple.

We want to enable non-riders to experience motorcycling while learning basic skills in a way that's fun and involving. Our Riding Academy New Rider Course Instructors are dedicated enthusiasts who have received certification from the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation®), as well as additional training from Harley-Davidson®. Not only that, but they are seasoned riders with years of on road experience.

Course Breakdown:

Our Riding Academy New Rider Course is 20 hours total over the span of three days. It is made up of a combination of classroom, range, and testing time.

You will have ample time to get one on one direction from our certified coaches.

Tuition is $349 / This includes the use of our Harley-Davidson® Street 500 Motorcycles, eCourse link, and all necessary classroom materials.

Please Sign up At www.harley-davidson.com

What Gear Should I Bring?

1. DOT approved helmet
2. Protective eye-wear
3. Long sleeves and pants
4. Over-the-ankle boots
5. Full-fingered gloves

*Note: Its a good idea to bring your gear with you to the first day of class so the instructors can approve it for your safety before riding.

We work with MSF to ensure that you're getting all the skills and knowledge to ride safe when out on the road. Before coming to class, you will need to complete an eCourse through the MSF website. You will receive a certificate that is valid for 30 days that you will need to bring with you on the first day of class. Keep an eye out for that email to come through consisting of the eCourse link that will allow you to take the course at no extra charge.

What will I be riding?

You'll be learning to ride on a 500cc Harley-Davidson® Street 500. The Street is an excellent bike for beginners for two very good reasons... it's very easy to ride and has both a low and high seat to accommodate the height and build of the rider.

What do I get from the Riding Academy Course?

The Riding Academy Course allows you to obtain your motorcycle endorsement and takes the place of the written test and the road test. After your completion of the course, you will receive a completion certificate email from The State of Michigan stating that you have successfully passed the written test and the road test. After the completion certificate is awarded, you can go directly to the Secretary of State to have your motorcycle endorsement added to your operator license or you can login to your Michigan.gov account HERE to add your endorsement to your license right online.

The Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy Course is more personalized and in-depth than the state course. Our objective is to ensure riders are safe and confident on the road.

Register Today!

Upcoming Classes:

Yes! We do have a cancellation list! Call us at (616) 896-0111 so that we can get you on two wheels even sooner.

What some of our recent graduates had to say

"I just wanted to say that I had a great time at the Riding Academy this weekend. Both instructors were fun and went the extra mile for us showing us tricks and tips to becoming better riders. Plus they calmed down some people that were having a tough time on certain exercises and even kept one person from quitting. With their patience and calm instructions, the young lady passed with quite a good score. Once again thank you I had a great time." - Jeff
"Good morning!!!!! I have been back from my mini-vacation for a week already and have been wanting to let you know that the class was great!!!!! The coach.... greater... he is beyond doubt an asset and he knows and is experienced. I have no regrets on anything (even when I fell lol) but only have praises ... I only do regret not dropping by to see you and say Hi, but hopefully someday. Well, Thank You!!!!! and thanks to all the great people there (I do remember Sami, Al, Scott, Bernie :)" - Gregorio
"I thought that the class was first-rate, and may owe my life to what I learned during the four days of class. I think this says a lot about your dealership being top-notch and I was impressed when at the dealership. Both Russ & Darrin took the time to make sure we knew how to handle a bike and why." - Tom
"I wanted to let you know how much we appreciated and learned at our riding class this weekend, thanks to our great instructor Russ Leonard. My wife Jean and I had never ridden, and his skill and instruction were outstanding. We appreciated his commitment to safety and function while keeping it fun and fast-moving. Thanks again, we learned a ton, and are anxious to ride more and expand on our experience." - Bill
"I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the Riders Edge Class I just completed. I have not had a motorcycle for over 30 years and I was more than a little nervous about getting back on a bike, especially one that is a couple hundred pounds bigger than what I have ever ridden before. The course was well designed to provide a solid base of knowledge and skills on which I will continue to build upon. I now have the confidence that I can operate my new motorcycle safety. I look forward to a long relationship with Grand Rapids Harley®. Please let your instructors know how much I personally enjoyed the course and their leadership." - Mr. Howse

Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy Cancellation/Payment Policy: Payment is due in full at the time of signup. If no payment is received within the required timeframe, the student will lose your place in the class. A full refund is available up to 14 days before class begins. Once the class begins, no refund will be available. Students who wish to cancel or reschedule must do so 14 days prior to the first day of their scheduled class. Students must provide notification via phone, or email of intent to cancel the class reservation no later than 14 days prior to the scheduled start time in order to receive a refund. If a student fails to provide the required notice or if a student elects to drop out of class at any time during its presentation, the student will not receive any refund.

Approximately 30 days prior to the start of class, students will receive a link and coupon code to take the MSF e-course at no charge. The cost for the e-course is regularly $19.99, in the event that the student pays the $19.99 e-course fee, the MSF is unable to offer a refund. It is required that students complete the e-course prior to the start of class, if the e-course is not completed before students come to the dealership for the course, the student will not be permitted to continue in the class and no refund will be offered.

Occasionally, an instructor must counsel a student out of the class if he/she feels that the student is not meeting the objectives of the class and/or is a potential danger to themselves or other students. If a student is asked to leave the class by an instructor for safety or performance concerns, they will not receive a refund. However, the student will be able to re-enter a later class at no charge, based on availability. In the event that a student misses the classroom portion of the course or an exercise on the range, they will not receive any refund and will not be permitted to continue in the course. If a student is asked to leave class due to a disciplinary problem, they will not receive any refund.

Additionally, Grand Rapids Harley-Davidson® reserves the right to cancel any scheduled class for any reason. All efforts will be made to reschedule the class at a later date, or place any registered student in the next available opening. A full refund will be given if a class is canceled and the student is unable to reschedule.