Learn How To Ride A Motorcycle With Discover The Ride

Getting into riding motorcycles can be tough and the multiple barriers to entry have proven enough to slow the growth of the industry in recent years. Older riders are aging out and there aren’t enough newcomers to make up for the decline. Progressive International Motorcycle Shows is working to change that.

Related: Motorcycle Riding Tips For Beginners: Learning From Mistakes

Last year, the IMS started its Discover the Ride program, which gave non-riders a chance to get a taste of motorcycling life. Participants took part in adult riding courses and attended new rider seminars to learn the basics. It was a successful endeavor, with close to 8,000 people taking part during the tour. One-quarter of the attendees were absolutely new to motorcycling.

Related: Five Great Motorcycles For Short Riders

This year, IMS is extending Discover the Ride with Next Steps, a program that will further the training of new riders to the point that they can choose to become fully licensed. Next Steps is made possible by a partnership with the Academy of Motorcycle Operation.

“We’re thrilled to team up with IMS to support the growth of the motorcycle industry,” said Charlie Fernandez, general manager of AMO. “We always put safety first, and we also believe it’s important to learn to ride in a positive, supportive environment that’s a blast! We look forward to welcoming those who have participated in IMS’s Discover the Ride program, taking their experience from the course to the open road.”

The IMS-sponsored Next Steps course with AMO will take place October 19 and 20 at AMO’s Altadena, California, location. It’s open to all attendees of the 2018 Long Beach IMS who were part of Discover the Ride’s New Rider Course. The IMS sponsorship includes full course compensation for four course participants and five discounted course tickets. If you qualify for the course or want to learn more about Next Steps, contact Leah Boles at lboles@motorcycleshows.com. Registration is open now until September 20, 2019.

“It was amazing to watch so many new riders hop on a motorcycle for their very first ride during last year’s IMS tour through Discover the Ride,” said Tracy Harris, senior vice president, Progressive International Motorcycle Shows. “Now that so many of our Discover the Ride participants have expressed interest in getting their motorcycle license, we’re thrilled to be able to make that journey a little bit easier for them by offering comped and discounted courses through the Academy of Motorcycle Operation, a trusted organization committed to rider safety.”