Harley-Davidson Riding Academy launched in US
Harley-Davidson has unveiled its Riding Academy in the US, which is a program developed by the iconic motorcycle company to help students take their first lessons in riding and that too on a Street 500 motorcycle.
The Harley-Davidson Riding Academy is a national rider training program and is being hosted by dealerships across the country
The Riding Academy is a national rider training program and is being hosted by Harley-Davidson dealerships across the country. The students will be trained on the motorcycle that they will be riding and will also be taught the basics of rider safety. All that the student needs to bring is the riding gear that consists of a long sleeve jacket, jeans/pants, ankle length footwear, full gloves, eyewear and DOT standard helmet. The academy will provide the rest like a motorcycle and certified instructors from Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). The course will feature minimum 20 hours of classroom and range training with each instructor guiding six students at a time. The practice range is where the students will learn maneuvers such as turning, braking, going over obstacles and controlling skids.
The Street 500 used in the academy is fitted with a vehicle protection kit that protects the motorcycle in case a student is not able to maintain balance and topples it. Apart from the kit, a first of its kind Power Limit Calibration system is also in place to restrict the bikes at low gear speeds allowing only the maximum speed needed for the course.
Once the training has been completed, the students will get an MSF Basic Rider Course completion card which may even exempt students from taking the riding part of a motorcycle license test but this varies from state to state. Harley says that this card may even help you in getting a discount on your motorcycle insurance. Harley-Davidson is expanding the academy on a global scale with Mexico, South Africa and China on the horizon.
Harley-Davidson Amps Up Rider Training with Launch of Harley-Davidson Riding Academy
| MILWAUKEE (April 24, 2014) - Pumping the adrenaline by learning to ride a motorcycle just got a lot cooler, not to mention more fun. For the first time ever, those dreaming of riding can now learn on a genuine Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. Today, the company unveiled the new Harley-Davidson Riding Academy the only national rider training program hosted by Harley-Davidson® dealerships and conducted on an all-new Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. "For years we've been delivering a life-changing, freedom-inspiring training experience," said Angela Thundercloud, Harley-Davidson Rider Training Manager. "Now, we're taking rider training to a new level by incorporating a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that students will want to keep riding long after class is over." Designed to Instill Confidence There is nothing like the independence of the open road. Since its inception in 2000, Harley-Davidson's rider training program has successfully trained more than 350,000 new riders with a premium Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF)-approved rider training experience that guides students on their journey from the classroom to the street with an emphasis on building student confidence on their road to independence. The Harley-Davidson Riding Academy's New Rider Course provides nearly everything students need to take the first step on their motorcycle riding journey, including MSF-certified instructors, use of a motorcycle to learn on, and a minimum of 20 hours of combined classroom and range training with a guaranteed 6:1 student/instructor ratio. All students need to bring to class is appropriate riding gear. Harley-Davidson Riding Academy students will learn to ride on the new Harley-Davidson Street 500 motorcycle. Its confidence-inspiring handling and agility, smooth powertrain and authentic Harley-Davidson Dark Custom styling not only appeal to young, urban riders around the world, but also make it an ideal vehicle for learning to ride. Additional features developed specifically for use in the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy include an industry-first Power Limit Calibration that puts a ceiling on the vehicle's low-gear speeds, allowing only the maximum rate a student needs in the course, and a unique Vehicle Protection Kit that allays student fears of damaging the vehicle in a tip-over. "Instilling confidence is vital to preparing new riders to move from the classroom to the open road," Thundercloud said. "We designed everything the experience, the curriculum and the equipment to inspire that needed confidence and empower new students to have a ton of fun learning to ride on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle." In many states, completion of a Harley-Davidson Riding Academy course can exempt riders from needing to take an additional road test before becoming licensed, and many insurance providers offer discounts to graduates. Global Expansion In addition to changes in the United States, where more than 180 Harley-Davidson dealers offer training courses, Harley-Davidson Riding Academy is expanding globally into Mexico, China and South Africa. | |
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