Continuing Education > Motorcycle Safety

Western Nevada College offers motorcycle courses in Carson City for riders of all skill levels. Classes are offered most weekends from March-November.

Basic Motorcycle Rider Course

Aimed at beginning riders, this program introduces students to motorcycle controls, motorcycle riding, basic maneuvers, street riding and traffic skills. All levels of experience are welcome. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) completion card to take to Nevada DMV to obtain a class M (motorcycle) endorsement on their current Nevada driver’s license.

A motorcycle is provided for all students. Classes use 250CC Honda Rebels and Suzuki TU250s.

Please Note: WNC is now using the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s online eCourse as a prerequisite to the Basic RiderCourse. This change will allow more time for individualized instruction and practice on the motorcycle range. This is an online study course that prepares you for the Basic RiderCourse, and it takes about 3 hours to complete. When you register for the course, you will receive an access code for your e-course via e-mail. We ask that you complete the e-course prior to the start of your Basic RiderCourse on Friday evening.

A note about course fees: Motorcycle course registration fees are non-refundable. Once you complete your registration, your class fee will not be refunded unless WNC cancels your scheduled course. Please note that course fees will not be refunded if you are dismissed from your course for tardiness, failure to comply with instructions, failure to wear required riding gear, failure to make the required skill progression, or any other reason. RiderCoaches reserve the right to dismiss students from class, and the final authority to make these decisions rests with the RiderCoach assigned to the course. If WNC cancels your scheduled course, you will be refunded your course fee less a $15 processing fee. You will still have access to your online course content.
If you need to switch to another section of the course, WNC reserves the right to apply a $10 switch fee. The ability to switch courses is dependent upon class availability and subject to the discretion of WNC. It is not guaranteed. The inability to switch courses does not entitle students to a refund of course fees.
Exceptions to this policy may be made in extenuating circumstances. Please call the Continuing Education office at (775) 445-4210 with inquiries.

Basic RiderCourses run from 6-10 PM on Friday evenings and from 7 AM-6 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

Course Requirements:

• Students must be at least 15 1/2 years of age with a class C or A license, or proof of completion of a 30-hour driver’s education course.
• Students under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian sign their class waiver prior to the start of class. Please call the Community Education office at (775) 445-4210 for a copy of the waiver.
• Students must be able to ride a bicycle.
• Students must be a resident of Nevada or a member of the United States Armed Forces currently stationed in Nevada.
• Students must complete the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s e-course prior to the start of their Basic RiderCourse on Friday evening. Please see your registration confirmation e-mail for access to the course.
• Students must be able to maneuver the motorcycle on their own, including up hills. Students who are shorter than 5’2” or who weigh more than 400 pounds should contact the Continuing Education office at (775) 445-4210 to arrange for a bike that will meet their needs.
• Required riding attire includes a DOT-approved helmet (must be full face or three-quarter), boots or shoes that cover the ankles, long pants, long sleeve shirt or jacket, full-fingered riding gloves and eye protection.

Class Fee: $150

Range Only Course

This is an on-cycle program consisting of riding exercises from the Basic RiderCourse (see above). It is designed for riders to practice their basic skills, whether or not they were successful in the standard Basic RiderCourse. There is no formal classroom instruction. Motorcycles are provided for your use. A skills test is an option for those students who did not successfully complete the skills test in their first Basic RiderCourse.

In order to enroll, students must have previously completed the full Basic RiderCourse at Western Nevada College and successfully passed the written exam as a part of that course.

Course Requirements:

• Students must be at least 15 ½ years of age and possess either a valid driver’s license, a class C instruction permit, or proof of successful completion of a driver education class.
• Students under 18 years of age must have a parent or guardian sign their class waiver prior to the start of class. Please call the Continuing Education office at (775) 445-4210 for a copy of the waiver.
• Students must have completed all portions of the Basic RiderCourse. (Students do not need to have passed the range test in the Basic RiderCourse.)
• Students must be able to maneuver the motorcycle on their own, including up hills. Students who are shorter than 5’2” or who weigh more than 400 pounds should contact the Continuing Education office at (775) 445-4210 to arrange for a bike that will meet their needs.
• Required riding attire includes a DOT-approved helmet, boots or shoes that cover the ankles, long pants, long sleeve shirt or jacket, full-fingered riding gloves and eye protection.

Class Fee: $85

Online Registration is not available for the Range Only course. Please call (775) 445-4210 to register for this course.

Advanced Rider Course

This course is designed for riders with real road time and mileage on a motorcycle. This course covers self-assessment, risk management, rider behavior, advanced cornering techniques, braking, throttle operation, riding posture, body position, tire traction, swerving, avoiding traps, traffic kill zones, and emergency stops. Working in small groups, students will learn how to create riding strategies with plenty of emphasis on the special skills and mental attitude necessary for dealing with traffic.

Course Requirements:

• Students must possess a valid motorcycle license and have recent riding experience.
• Students must provide their own street-legal motorcycle and proof of insurance and registration. Please note that if the motorcycle you plan to use is not registered under your name, you will need to bring a note from the registered owner of the motorcycle providing you with permission to use the motorcycle for the course.
• Required riding attire includes boots or shoes that cover the ankles, long pants, long sleeve shirt or jacket, full fingered gloves, DOT-approved helmet, and eye protection if there is no face shield on the helmet.

Class Fee: $85

Here are some things to keep in mind as you consider choosing WNC as your motorcycle safety provider!

Switches, Cancellations, and Wait Lists

You can take a look at our Policies and Procedures page for the official legal-ese, but here’s the short version. If you need to switch classes, that’s usually not a problem. Give us a call at (775) 445-4210. Keep in mind we may apply a $10 switch fee.

If you need to cancel, unfortunately, we can’t provide a refund, but we do still appreciate you letting us know. If we need to cancel (due to weather, instructor illness, etc.), rest assured you’ll receive a call from us and a full refund.

At this time, we don’t offer a waiting list. If you have special circumstances that are making it difficult to get registered for a course, feel free to give us a call and we’ll see what we can do to help you out.

Preparing for Class

The most important thing you’ll need for class is your required riding gear: sturdy, over the ankle boots (low, square heels or no heels; no cloth material; no spiked heels); long, non-flare denim pants or material of equivalent or better durability (no khaki material); full-fingered gloves (preferably leather; no skin exposed); and eye protection (sunglasses, safety goggles, prescription glasses or a face shield on your helmet). You’ll need this gear for Saturday and Sunday, but you don’t need it Friday night. However, on Friday night, you will need your driver’s license or ID, and if you’re under 18, you’ll need a parent or guardian present to sign your class waiver (or you’ll need to bring a copy of the waiver you’ve had notarized beforehand).

For Saturday and Sunday, we also recommend bringing lots of water (at least a gallon), sunscreen, and anything else that will help keep you cool during the warm summer months.

You don’t need to study before class, with the exception of completing your e-course. We recommend completing the e-course as close as possible to the start of class so the information is fresh when it’s time to ride.

For the Advanced RiderCourse only, you’ll be riding your own bike. You’ll need to bring your registration and proof of insurance with you on the first day of class. If the motorcycle you’ll be riding is not in your name, you will also need written permission from the owner of the bike to use it for this course.

Range Only Course

Please keep in mind that seats in our Range Only course are reserved only for students who have completed the full Basic RiderCourse at Western Nevada College. We cannot accept students who have completed the class elsewhere or students who have passed the written test at the DMV.

Accommodations

If you’re shorter than 5’2″ or weigh more than 400 pounds, please let us know so that we can be sure to have a bike available that meets your needs.

If English isn’t your first language, please let your instructor know how they can best help you out. We don’t offer the BRC in Spanish, but we can provide you with a Spanish-language course workbook and Spanish-language written exam. We can also read the exam questions to you out loud.

If you believe you’ll need other accomodations in order to be successful in your class, please contact our Disability Support Services office at (775) 445-4459.

Once You Get The Waiver

Once you’ve earned your M-class waiver, all you need to do is take it to any Nevada DMV location to get the M-class endorsement added to your license. There’s no additional cost.

If you’re from out of state (if you are not a Nevada resident, you must be a military member stationed in Nevada in order to take this course), please check with your local DMV to verify that they’ll accept a waiver from Nevada. We’ve had good luck in the past with students from California having our waivers accepted, but we can’t make any guarantees, so please check beforehand!