No. The Shift Happens 2-Day Beginner Rider Course is designed for people with little or no motorcycle experience.

You do not need to know how to use a motorcycle clutch, shift gears, or operate a motorcycle before class. Training begins with the fundamentals and progressively builds your riding skills over two days.

If you already ride confidently and have solid clutch, throttle, braking, shifting, turning, and low-speed control, our 1-Day Motorcycle Endorsement Course may be the better choice.

Yes. You do not need previous motorcycle experience to take our 2-Day Beginner Rider Course.

The course starts with basic motorcycle operation and progressively develops your skills through hands-on exercises.

You don't need to practice on a motorcycle before class, and you don't need to own one. We provide the training motorcycle at no additional cost.

If you've never ridden before, you're not behind. You're exactly the kind of rider the beginner course was designed to teach.

For riders returning after a significant break, we generally recommend the 2-Day Beginner Rider Course.

Motorcycle skills are perishable. Clutch control, braking, turning, shifting, and low-speed motorcycle control can diminish after several years away from riding.

The two-day course gives you substantially more riding time than a short private lesson and allows you to rebuild foundational skills before progressing into more demanding exercises.

The question isn't whether you used to know how to ride. It's whether your current skills are ready for the course you're choosing.

If you're unsure, contact us before registering and we'll help you choose appropriately.

Choose your course based on your current riding ability.

If you're learning clutch and throttle control, shifting, braking, starting, stopping, turning, or low-speed motorcycle control, choose the 2-Day Beginner Rider Course.

If you already operate a motorcycle confidently and have solid clutch, throttle, shifting, braking, turning, and low-speed control, the 1-Day Motorcycle Endorsement Course may be appropriate.

The 1-Day course is not a shortcut for learning how to ride. It's designed for people who already know how to ride.

Not sure? Contact us before registering. We'd rather help you choose the right class than put you in one that doesn't match your experience.

The 2-Day Beginner Rider Course teaches the fundamental skills needed to operate a motorcycle safely and competently.

You'll progressively work on skills including:

• Clutch and throttle coordination

• Starting and stopping

• Shifting

• Straight-line riding

• Braking

• Turning and cornering

• Low-speed motorcycle control

• Swerving

• Hazard-response strategies

The exercises build on one another, so you start with the basics before progressing to more complex motorcycle control.

You aren't expected to arrive knowing how to do these things. That's why you're taking the class.

Motorcycle class is active, hands-on training with coaching throughout the course.

Your RiderCoaches explain and demonstrate each exercise before you practice it on the range. They'll observe your riding, provide feedback, and help you make corrections as your skills develop.

Some exercises may come easily. Others may take more repetition.

You don't have to arrive knowing how to ride, and you don't have to be perfect while you're learning.

You do need to be willing to listen, practice, and make corrections.

Motorcycle training can be physically and mentally demanding.

You'll spend several hours outdoors riding, balancing and maneuvering a motorcycle, repeatedly starting and stopping, and concentrating on new skills.

Colorado weather can add another challenge, particularly during hot, cold, windy, or wet conditions.

Arrive rested, hydrated, appropriately dressed, and ready for an active day of training.

Our first response is to coach — not simply give up on the student.

Students don't all learn at the same speed. When appropriate and safe, our RiderCoaches will identify what is causing difficulty, provide feedback, and give you an opportunity to make corrections.

Sometimes a different explanation or another repetition is what makes a skill click.

Safety requirements still apply, and there are circumstances where a student may not be able to continue.

But our goal is to provide every student a fair opportunity to learn and succeed, not simply move the class along as quickly as possible.

No. No responsible motorcycle training school should guarantee that everyone will pass.

Successful completion requires demonstrating the required knowledge and riding skills.

What we can promise is a fair opportunity to learn, practice, receive coaching, and demonstrate those skills.

We won't lower a safety standard simply to produce a passing result.

Confidence matters. Competence matters more.

For questions about evaluations, retesting, and earning a Colorado Motorcycle License Waiver, visit our Colorado Motorcycle License & Endorsement FAQ.

No. You do not need to own a motorcycle to take the Shift Happens Beginner Rider Course.

Training motorcycles are provided for the 2-Day Beginner Rider Course at no additional cost.

Experienced riders taking the 1-Day Motorcycle Endorsement Course may use their own qualifying motorcycle or request to use one of ours.

Motorcycle use is included in the course price.

No. You can learn to ride before buying a motorcycle.

In fact, training first can give you a much better understanding of motorcycle controls, size, weight, ergonomics, and what feels manageable to you before you make a purchase.

Shift Happens provides motorcycles for the Beginner Rider Course, so there's no need to buy a bike just to start learning.

Learn first. Then you'll be better prepared to decide what motorcycle is right for you.

We don’t sell gear, but we’re happy to share helpful resources riders often explore. For example, some riders look at Viking Bags when researching motorcycle luggage and saddlebags.

We share links like this as a convenience only — riders should always research and choose gear that fits their motorcycle and riding needs.

There are lots of great places to shop for motorcycle luggage and gear. One option many riders like to check out is Viking Bags, which offers a wide selection of saddlebags and motorcycle storage options.

We like sharing helpful resources, but just to be clear—Shift Happens Motorcycle Rider Training isn’t affiliated with or sponsored by Viking Bags. This link is simply provided as a helpful starting point while you’re researching gear that fits your bike and riding style.

Visit Viking Bags https://www.vikingbags.com/pages/motorcycle-harley-davidson-saddlebags

Yes. DOT-compliant helmets are available for students who need one.

If you already own an appropriate DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet, you may bring it.

There is no additional helmet rental charge.

Students must wear appropriate protective gear while riding.

Bring:

• A DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet — or use one of ours

• Eye protection

• Full-finger gloves

• A long-sleeve shirt or jacket

• Long pants without holes

• Sturdy over-the-ankle footwear

Your clothing should also be appropriate for the day's weather because motorcycle training takes place outdoors.

No. Riding footwear must cover the ankle.

Choose sturdy over-the-ankle footwear that allows you to comfortably operate the motorcycle's foot controls.

If you're unsure whether your footwear is appropriate, contact us before class rather than discovering a problem when you arrive.

No. Long pants without holes are required for motorcycle training.

Training takes place on pavement, and exposed skin does not provide appropriate protection.

Wear durable long pants that allow you to comfortably sit, stand, and operate the motorcycle.

Register as soon as you know which class date works for you.

Shift Happens motorcycle classes have limited enrollment, and popular dates — especially weekends — can fill in advance.

Registering early gives you the best selection of available class dates.

The Beginner Rider Course takes place over two consecutive training days.

Plan for full training days and avoid scheduling other commitments that could interfere with completing the course.

Your registration confirmation will provide the exact schedule, arrival time, and class location.

The 1-Day Motorcycle Endorsement Course is approximately 6–8 hours.

Because the course is designed for experienced riders and progresses quickly, students should already confidently operate a motorcycle before registering.

If you're still learning basic motorcycle operation, choose the 2-Day Beginner Rider Course instead.

Yes. Students must complete the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation eCourse before attending their scheduled training.

For the 2-Day Beginner Rider Course, students complete the required MSF ePackage 1 eCourse.

For the 1-Day Motorcycle Endorsement Course, students complete the required MSF ePackage 2 eCourse.

You'll receive eCourse instructions after registering.

Complete your eCourse before class. Do not wait until the morning of your training to begin it.

Arrive before your scheduled class start time so you're ready when training begins.

Your registration confirmation and pre-class communications include your exact arrival time, parking information, and instructions for finding the training area.

Give yourself extra time to park and locate the range.

Motorcycle training follows a required schedule, so arriving late can affect your ability to participate in the course.

Shift Happens motorcycle training is held in Denver, Colorado, with our primary training range at Regis University.

Your registration confirmation and pre-class communications include the exact location, parking information, and instructions for your class.

Always follow the location instructions provided for your specific training date.

Yes. Rain alone does not automatically cancel motorcycle training.

Motorcycle training takes place outdoors, and Colorado weather can change quickly. Students should arrive prepared for the conditions.

Lightning, severe storms, or other conditions that make the training range unsafe may cause training to be delayed, suspended, or canceled.

Safety — not an early weather forecast — determines whether training can continue.

If conditions become unsafe, training may be delayed or temporarily suspended while we wait for conditions to improve.

If weather or range conditions prevent training from safely continuing, Shift Happens will provide students with instructions regarding the next steps.

Do not assume your class is canceled because of the forecast.

Unless Shift Happens contacts you with different instructions, plan to attend your scheduled class.

Shift Happens motorcycle courses are taught by Motorcycle Safety Foundation-certified RiderCoaches.

Our RiderCoaches combine established motorcycle safety curriculum with direct, practical coaching focused on developing skills you'll actually use when riding.

We aren't here to sell you a motorcycle.

Our job is to teach you how to operate one safely and competently.

We built Shift Happens around giving students a fair opportunity to succeed.

Learning to ride doesn't happen at exactly the same speed for every person. When a student struggles, our goal is to identify what's causing the problem, coach the skill, and give the student an opportunity to make the correction when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

We don't promise everyone will pass, and we don't lower safety standards simply to produce passing results.

We promise honest coaching, clear expectations, and a fair opportunity to learn.

If you're willing to put in the effort, your goal becomes our goal.

Yes. Shift Happens offers private motorcycle training in Denver for $100 per hour.

Private instruction is scheduled based on the rider's experience, goals, and specific training needs.

It can be a good option for riders who already possess the fundamentals and want focused coaching on a particular skill.

Private training is not automatically the best or least expensive option for every rider.

We'll tell you which type of training we believe makes the most sense for your situation.

Private motorcycle lessons work best when a rider has a specific need that benefits from individual instruction.

That may include targeted work on a particular riding skill or circumstances where one-on-one instruction is more appropriate for the student's learning needs.

For someone learning to ride from the beginning, the 2-Day Beginner Rider Course usually provides considerably more training time and value than purchasing multiple hours of private instruction.

We'll recommend the option that makes sense for your goal rather than automatically selling you the more expensive option.

Most new riders do not need a private lesson before taking the Beginner Rider Course.

The 2-Day Beginner Rider Course is specifically designed to teach people with little or no motorcycle experience.

Private pre-class instruction may make sense for someone with a specific learning need or significant anxiety that would benefit from individual instruction before entering a group class.

If you're simply worried because you've never ridden before, you do not need to learn how to ride before coming to a class designed to teach you how to ride.

No. A one-hour private motorcycle lesson does not qualify a rider for a Colorado Motorcycle License Waiver.

Private lessons can be used to develop specific riding skills, but earning a license waiver requires successful completion of the applicable approved motorcycle training course and its required evaluations.

If your goal is earning your Colorado motorcycle endorsement, we'll help you determine which approved course is appropriate for your current riding ability.

TEXT LINK: Learn how Colorado motorcycle endorsements work
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