Very professional and supportive. The instructor was very friendly and knowledgeable. She made us feel very comfortable and confident in the whole process of learning and testing. read more

I had a really good experience here. And not because I passed because there were sections I really struggled on, even at the morning of day two. Had a lot to learn from our instructor Barbara and the rest of the students. Even if i failed this would have still said the same. Even though I booked in November, it was still kind of toasty. It can be a pretty long but you get a good 5-10 min break between each exercise to recoup yourself. Also you get a bunch of free stickers at the end of the course.... read more

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Don't waste your time. This place blows. It's marketed as a beginner friendly class that will teach you from the ground up, but definitely not for people who have never touched a motorcycle before. Plenty of other schools in the area that will take better care of you and not leave wildly unprofessional and passive aggressive responses to reviews begging them to do better. Spend your money elsewhere! read more

This has been a struggle working with this school. I am a rider who used another school and decided to take a refresher at a closer location. The instructor was dismissive and cold to students making the experience difficult and uncomfortable for the students. I've attempted multiple times to contact the school and their director, Mindy. who has sent calls to voicemail and no one from the school has reached out for rescheduling. I don't typically leaves reviews but I don't have any other options to get the schools attention. - if you are a new rider I'd advise you to seek learning from another school read more

FANTASTIC having Travis as our instructor. He's incredibly knowledgeable about all things motorcycle and his wry sense of humor put us at ease. His authoritative style served us perfectly to follow instructions on the test and not get disqualified! He also provided personalized feedback throughout, allowing quick learning and application. I could feel my skills improve after each iteration. Thanks to him, it was so much more than getting the 'M' designation on my license! Delco is a super convenient location and the parking lot is a perfect training ground (3rd entrance from Manor). The course is a series of exercises where each is first explained, then instructor demonstrated, then practiced. Helmets provided. It's best to choose the small bikes (pictured) as many of the exercises require maneuverability. Arrive with your online test certificate and release forms ready - and don't be late! read more

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Just tool the Basic Rider course at this school. The worst course ever. They cut hours short, and if ones need more time to practice they simple kick them out with no chance to take the skill test and don't offer any refund. On their website they call it "concealing out". I stopped several times during practicing the assignment and that was considered a disruptive behavior. Instructor didn't let me to finish all the tasks sent me away without a change to take a skill test. If you already know how to ride a motorcycle and just need M endorsement, it will work for you. If you need training and coaching and want to learn how to ride and get the M endorsement, save your money and go somewhere else. read more

An incredibly unresponsive school that dismissed certain class topics and canceled classes early. There are better schools in the Austin area. read more

Completed the BRC-2 Intermediate Training in Taylor, Texas. Ken was the instructor and was very professional, knowledgeable and involved. The Intermediate class is for riders who already possess solid riding skills and know how to handle a bike. The class focuses on improving bad habits riders develop, works on stopping, swerving, low speed turns and swerves, etc. It is a legit course and we spent 5 straight hours doing practice maneuvers prior to the range test. Be prepared for honest critique. Safety is top priority so if a rider isn't following instructions, they will let you know loud and clear. I would highly recommend Ken and Total Rider for the BRC-2 Class to get your Texas M endorsement. Read the directions on what to wear carefully. This is not a casual, laid back event. This is a focused driven, serious class that will make you a better and safer rider. read more

Jason was our instructor for our rider course. If you get him, know this: HE WILL FAIL YOU! Meaning no favors, if you pass you pass If you fail then you fail. He's not one of those "hey do mostly everything good and you're good" type deal. No, he will fail you. And if you drop your bike at any point in the skills test you're out. Some poor guy found that out the hard way. Jason never mentioned it prior. Then he brought the whole class over and called him out in front of everyone. How embarrassing!? He failed some girl because she screwed up the u-turn test! Like damn dude, she did everything GREAT! U-turn needed some work but he FAILED her! Dude is an asshat. Everyone is there just to get legal and not "ride dirty". Guy was cool up until the point where he sucked for those two. I passed the skills test for those wondering. read more

Total Rider - Motorcycle Safety - Austin - Driving Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

"Worst class I have had in 18 years,"... not our statement... this is what the instructor stated to students. This is Poor instruction and I should know, I am a retired professor. Also Teach many other courses, like scuba and self defense. My spouse failed the final riding test by 1 point. This was the culmination of a weekend of drama based on instructor comments and left us with no choice but this review. Earlier we were going to talk to the company about some of the comments. Since my spouse is fully aware of higher education, they did question The failed part of the riding test as any good student should and my spouse asked for clarification -- length to stop was an issue - but instructor could not cite a requirement and my spouse argued that it was not presented in the course how can you arbitrarily place a requirement on your scoring? Did no good. He failed two students in this class. Both on this test section. The other student didn't understand the requirement as well (told in the parking lot) and argued with the instructor it was not clear. I searched the Dps manuals and there is not a standard on page 50. Stopping distance is always calculated based upon the weight of the rider, the size of the bike and surface conditions (should be). But Why would this happen???? The instructor is in the wrong line of work, to show the lack of professionalism and sensitivity to all students in the course, he stated "there will be no victory lap" advertising some people failed. That type of comment is demeaning creating unnecessary angst while people wait for the results. it only speaks to the power-play that the instructor had going the entire time. Like passive aggressive walking off and waiting for the class to follow... really. For two days I heard every comment made by the instructor. Quickly we decided to keep track as the comment to management was going to be based upon our perception. He allowed teaching moments about distracted drivers looking at hot babes during the course exercise. This is obviously derogatory to women in the class and women in general when it's used especially in context of potential accidents based upon gender and attractiveness. the instructor also ventured into political comments, he stated he didn't agree with the current protest activity in the USA and that he didn't agree with anyone there, "if your going to protest, protest the right thing". Stated this on Saturday and Sunday. the instructor also said he is carrying his gun (violates Conceal carry law) when discussing looters and if someone try's to loot his house they are not leaving his yard. We took these as a racially motivated and found them horribly offensive. My spouse even cast disapproving looks towards the instructor (thus the failure I believe) and spoke to a few other students. Other students confirmed what we felt, this person was out of line. There was also a comment made by the instructor in relation to a derogatory homosexual comment made by a student using the phrase D/ck. The instructor stating he would never know anything about the "taste" of d/ck. Yesterday his response to a student saying cocksuck, he said "well if that's what you chose to smoke"... All totally inappropriate comments for a course that advertises "teaching people to ride" when what They really taught was intolerance and discrimination. And to top it all off today instructor had a meltdown -- stating he has been doing this for 18 years and he must be doing something wrong, as students were messing up. " I am so frustrated, what do I need to do better?" He asked....a female student spoke first and others added his instructions were unclear. Tim didn't respond. this goes directly to not understanding a requirement to pass one of the test items. We have emailed the company with the comments the instructor made and requested exactly what is the process to retest Because their marketing material has nothing in it about if you fail here's what we do to help you succeed.... ugh. Total rider policy is you must demo knowledge and skills ... failure refund at the discretion of the sponsor. Nothing about a retest or help to learn what you paid for in the end. FAQ silent. read more

I recently completed the MSF Basic course with Total Rider in Buda, TX. The entire experience was nothing but positive for me. I learned a lot, met some decent people and most importantly, I passed the course and am now a legal and well-informed motorcycle rider. The classroom portion was informative and the instructor - Jeff - as well as some of the other students shared a lot of personal knowledge, stories, and anecdotes that went beyond the course material. This is where I feel they exceeded my expectations. Our instructor during the riding portion - Kyle - did the same and shared so much knowledge from his own personal experience. His instructions were very clear and easy to follow, and I really could not have asked for a better instructor. The bikes that Total Rider provided were in great shape, the parking lot that we rode in was ideal for the drills we were doing, and Kyle's attitude made for a great group experience where we all were able to open up and have a collaborative learning experience. One rider was very much a beginner and actually dropped the bike early on in the course, but Kyle worked with him and gave great pointers and that person ended up passing with ease. I highly recommend Total Rider to anyone, and especially Jeff and Kyle. read more

I've never encountered a business before so uninterested in improvement. It's easy to see why there are so many 1-star reviews. This company always puts the blame on the customer. Ask yourself if you want to be taught by people so unresponsive to criticism. If that many customers are unhappy with your service, maybe consider that you're the problem. I don't doubt that they'll respond to my review with a passive aggressive paragraph, but I won't waste my time reading it. When I emailed them regarding my experience, they did not ask for any details and instead immediately regurgitated their no refund policy, which makes sense as if they did offer refunds most people would likely want one. Immediately when the class begun, I could tell the teacher had no interest in helping the students and just wanted to push us through as fast as possible. The site will tell you the beginner course is for beginners who may have not had any experience riding a motorcycle, however most of the people in the class already had riding experience, and the teacher had little patience for those of us who didn't. They actually seemed surprised to hear I hadn't ridden before. Did you forget what class you're teaching? Right from the start, I had apprehension about the learning environment. The teacher rattled off instructions so fast you could tell they were bored explaining stuff. Any little mistake made got me a dirty look from the instructor. If you have so little patience for beginners then why teach? I also had the misfortune of being placed at the back of the class where I couldn't hear hardly any of the instructions that were being yelled at me across the uneven parking while sitting on what the instructor described as a "cranky old man bike". Obviously it's going to be hard to hear with a helmet on and multiple motorcycles revving -- invest in a megaphone. The attitude of this whole company is negative. We're the customers. We paid you money for your service. At least try to teach us and accept criticism with grace even if you don't agree with it. They want your money, your satisfaction is irrelevant. They're fine with taking your cash and then not providing you the service you paid for. read more

TERRIBLE - GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IF YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO RIDE! A really big disappointment. I came to classes to learn how to ride a motorcycle, I have zero experience of riding a motorcycle and my expectations were that course help me to build necessary skills. That is was my big mistake. The class was full of people with some experience. The class portion of the training went fine. Coach Tim Shea is a good man, the class portion went fast and interesting. The range part was terrible. Once I lost control because of the motorcycle front brake level was too far for me and I accidentally push the throttle. Important: I was able to back control and I didn't drop the bike, I didn't take any damage. Well, it is OK. I was not sent to the home on the first day. At home, I realized the reason, why I have had issues with control - I don't have a comfortable position on the bike. The next day, I asked to replace the bike or adjust controls, however in response I heard that I should be sent to the home and I signed an agreement that I'm OK to use what the school will give me. Later the couch dismissed me with an argument that I'm not following the instructions. Well, it is his opinion and right. However, what I would like to say in my turn. I'm an immigrant and I understand English very well, yes I have an accent and it is doesn't mean that I stuped or don't want to follow the instruction, I want to follow and I tried to hear the couch. The issue that I have zero experience of riding. I can not keep pace as people who have riding experience especially on the bike that isn't comfortable for you. For me important to understand what I'm doing and why. The coach just read the exercise steps, without explaining what is the goal, why it is important. Videos from MSF classes that you can find on youtube shows that people do excises on the range with good markup. Unfortunately, on the Hutto Range, it is difficult to read markup on the range I even had the idea to come with paint and help to add a markup, because Total Rider doesn't have enough money to refresh range markup. Also, the Couach never mentioned the markup at all!!! My understanding, the standard range markup should help students to navigate during excise. I was dismissed, the Total Rider policy said, that I can not expect a refund. I lost my time, my money, however, I didn't lose a hope to try other classes and coach. I just had the bad luck to meet Total Rider and coach who is good for people with experience but had a lack of will or desire to work with people without riding experience. I expect an answer to my review in the style: "Motorcycle is not for everyone". My response: Couching and work with beginners is not for everyone. If you have many years of motorcycle experience it doesn't make you a good couch for beginners. You can read the full story here: https://medium.com/@v.fedoroff/total-rider-terrible-customer-experience-e6d970b9c2bc read more

These folks are great! Jeff (aka Steve) is the program manager and also handled the classroom portion of the instruction. Our RiderCoach on the range was Kyle. When it comes to motorcycling, these guys are absolutely subject matter experts -- and they're just generally good guys too. Between he and his wife, Kyle owns twice as many different bikes as there are people in his household . . . and JeffSteve has settled for a really nice not-Harley Victory which is cool enough to make even him look cool. Between them, they have about a gazillion years riding experience. They were knowledgable, patient, fun and in the end, created an environment were we were all successful. Money and time well spent and now it's time to go motorcycle shopping! read more

Got the job done! Decided to go with Total Rider because they have a woman's only class... and I like supporting companies that support women - when all else is equal... Class is broken into 3 sessions: (1) classroom Friday night Friday night 5:30-10:30pm at the Veteran's building... freezing... bring layers, then (2&3) 5 hours on the course Sat and Sunday. Be aware of heat or cold when scheduling... you will be outside on in a parking lot. (They set up chairs for you and you keep your water, food, etc there. Very convenient.) At first the class seemed slow then John, the owner took over, and really got into it. What was incredibly helpful were comments by people that ride... such as... watch out for big trucks because you will need to prepare for their wind draft, once on a cycle wave... it's a friendly community, etc. At first I thought John was going over some things a little too much.. like "look, lean,roll"... but once you get to class... it plays over and over in your mind and you stay upright on your bike... even through tight turns. (As the saying goes... keep the shiny side up.) Please note: this was the first time I turned on a motorcycle by myself. (I've ridden a few times on back and a couple times in front... but always with another person - except a scooter which I owned from 15-17 years old.) LaLa was my instructor and she made me feel very comfortable. I highly recommend them. read more

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Negative stars would be a more appropriate rating; however, not an option on yelp. I am incredibly disappointed in my experience with Total Rider. To validate a review listed below (Erik) ... I found our instructor disrespectful, insensitive, unhelpful, lacking ability to regulate his own frustration (among several other attributes that make him unfit as a motorcycle safety coach). My husband and I took this class together excited to learn a new skill. From the first second of entering the class, we noticed there was absolutely NO forethought nor precautions put in place to make students more comfortable about the pandemic the world is facing. I understand that not everyone subscribes to the same precautions; however, my husband and I were assured prior to attending the class that these safety guidelines would be put in place (my husband confirmed with Mindy)... the small classroom, encouraged huddle up, and sharing of protective equipment without proper cleaning suggests otherwise. Our instructor (Tim Shea) was self-proclaimed sarcastic, which I can appreciate. That said, I simply CANNOT tolerate his complete lack of sensitivity to the members of the class' personal beliefs. He specifically made several comments regarding his disbelief around racial protests, use of offensive slang toward non-heterosexual persons, off-color humor around "running over children" during an exercise. Not appropriate. Still on Tim here: outside of the above mentioned inappropriate commentary, he was extremely unhelpful as an instructor. While he did sufficiently share some useful tips for new riders, I do not believe a person as impatient and self-proclaimed "never been so frustrated in my years of teaching" should be responsible for appropriately coaching new riders and offering a sense of safety. Instead, he frequently teased the class on our lack of skill or ability to remember ALL the details (WE ARE BEGINNERS IN A BEGINNER'S CLASS ... isn't this how we learn?) He gave minimal feedback outside of voicing his frustration. At one point he asked for feedback; however, when a student shared helpful feedback, Tim denied that he would be willing to support our learning in that way because "it wasn't in the instruction card" ... what is the point of asking our feedback if you don't plan to alter your teaching style. Lastly ... I did pass, which I am grateful for. That said, I felt as though who passed and did not was completely arbitrary and I speculate that the instructor formulated his judgement on certain individuals and allowed that to interfere with his ability to appropriately evaluate an individual's skill and safety level. I was surprised by who passed and who didn't given my observations of class members. If I'm being honest, I believe each of our classmates were committed to learning, had a positive attitude, and demonstrated skill/safety that warrants a license certificate. His explanation on why I passed and why others did not didn't add up and essentially suggested it was his discretion on what items he chose to doc points for. I appreciate that this instructor was generally kind to me, but I fully believe that it was due to me keeping my thoughts/feelings to myself as I didn't feel safe expressing anything to this instructor due to his emotion dysregulation and my prediction that this would influence the evaluation. Based on my experience, I could not endorse this coach nor Total Rider as a program. Disappointed. You need to do better. -AVL (Licensed Psychotherapist) read more

I had a wonderful time taking the Intermediate Class in Taylor with Kenan & Tim! They were patient, knowledgeable, and really made the experience fun. With everyone's different learning styles they were personable and able to adapt to assist all of us. 10/10 would HIGHLY recommend taking their class!!! read more

don't be late, don't be early. wouldn't let me take the class cuz I showed up early and dozed off in my car. Had to take the course 3 times

In one weekend I learned how to ride a motorcycle have fun and receive enough information to pass and receive my motorcycle license ! Now I have a vespa ! And i had a great time learning in a relax atmosphere! Well worth the money ! Lots of fun! read more

I had a great experience with Total Rider. I took their Basic Rider Course this past weekend. I got to work with two of their instructors due to a storm causing day 2 being cancelled. Mindy was great about getting me rescheduled as soon as possible. My first instructor, was Jeff. He made the classroom portion and day 1 of riding fun and informative. Next was Tim, in my rescheduled class. Tim also did a great job of keeping the course fun and informative. To me it seemed they both wanted the students to not only learn but enjoy the experience. Having said this, safety is paramount and the instructors were definitely on top of it. Not only in teaching the proper techniques but also coaching us to improve our skills. I appreciated being called out quickly on errors so I could correct them and improve my skills. Some things to note: Do not be late. There's a lot to cover and trust me they will not wait or stop for you. Follow the instructor's commands and instructions to a "T", this goes back to my statement about safety being paramount. Thanks Total Rider for a wonderful experience! I look forward to taking the Intermediate Riding Course next spring. read more

I just completed the Total Rider course with Arsenio and Amanda. They are incredible coaches who make the course fun, but remain focused on safety and professionalism. I had initially planned to just learn on a scooter but they gave me the confidence to learn on a motorcycle. They fostered a community of support between all of the participants and I left feeling much more competent on a motorcycle/scooter. I learned a ton of skills while laughing and having a great time. What a fantastic way to spend a weekend. THANK YOU Total Rider for offering this course and for having such wonderful coaches. read more

Total Rider - Motorcycle Safety - Austin - Driving Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Kyle, Steve and Jeff are so patient and knowledgeable, they really go above and beyond to work with their students. They create a welcoming, fun, and interactive environment. I came in not knowing what to expect with no idea how to ride a motorcycle, and in the course of a weekend, I can successfully ride. I never felt overwhelmed, they always take things step by step in such a fashion that feels natural and safe yet incredibly exciting. However, there are things that you should know before taking their class: 1) Bring all your gear on range day, they are completely serious when they say that won't let you ride with any missing gear. They prioritize safety above all else. 2) Pay attention to the 3hr online session. The written exam WILL have questions over it. Be SURE to bring proof of completion. 3) DO NOT BE LATE. They take this very seriously. Come early, nobody wants their time wasted, students and instructor included. 4) Have fun! I came in super nervous, but honestly it all melted away by the experience they were able to create. read more

Total Rider - Motorcycle Safety - Austin - Driving Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

I just completed the Basic TotalRider course and plan on taking the second with my husband in 2023. The group I was in totaled eight of us and RiderCoach Tim handled all of us well. I think everything he said is spot on. i appreciated his time and his dancing; he spent more time with our group then was allotted. I'd highly recommend TotalRider even if you have never driven a motorcycle. read more

My boyfriend taught me as best he could before he signed me up for this class so I did have some base knowledge but plenty more to grasp. Sue was the ideal instructor. She was super personable and invested in each person in the class. I definitely had a hard time trusting the bike during the 2nd day riding and I honestly didn't know if I was going to make it through but sue was so patient and encouraging to me. I know she was frustrated but she never got angry and that made a huge difference in my morale. I'm grateful to her ability to teach and connect with her students. It was really cool to see how much better the whole class got under her instruction over the weekend. read more

I'm Chinese,my English no good!Everyone gave me patient!Nino is best! I'm Chinese,my English no good!Everyone gave me patient!Nino is best! read more

Total Rider - Motorcycle Safety - Austin - Driving Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I recommend this school for your motorcycling needs. The class instructor was Arsenio. He did a great job teaching us to ride with confidence. He communicated well and was instrumental in making me a better rider. If you are looking for a motorcycling class that will actually teach you so you will be a better rider, come to Total Rider. read more

TERRIBLE - GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!! I booked the intermediate class and was on my was to Hutto (coming from South Austin), when the heavens opened and I had to slow down due to standing water and visibility. Took me longer to get to the venue, and I arrived at 10 past 7am, when the course started. I knocked on the door, and a very aggressive jobsworth instructor said "you're late boy, you'll have to call Total Rider and see what they can do for you" and slammed the door in my face. I called total rider to ask about rescheduling and was told they don't offer that, it's not their fault it was raining and I had to pay the full fee again. These people are pirates and I would urge you to Avoid them at all costs. read more

I just finished the weekend course to brush up on skills long since gone rusty in preparation for getting back on two wheels as a weekend pursuit. I don't have any interest in commuting but riding in the Hill Country is something I've thought about ever since we moved here ten years ago. The safety course wasn't much different from what it was when I took it all those years ago, and it was nice to get back on a motorcycle in a controlled environment. The e-course is new, of course, but that was actually pretty useful and I had no issues with it at all. The classroom portion on Friday night was enjoyable and combined two classes together. Everyone participated and learned what we needed to, and everyone passed the written test. The morning sessions (early start - 7 am) were held on Saturday and Sunday, and our group consisted of six riders of varying skill levels. Kyle, our rider coach, took exactly the right tone to get the points across, direct where necessary but not afraid to lighten the mood when appropriate. It is a testament to his ability to teach skills that everyone in the class passed both portions, and there will soon be five newly-licensed riders out there with at least the basics skills to stay safe. I already had my M certification, but the course was exactly what I needed to boost my confidence and blow some of the rust out of the mental gears. I plan to go back in a few months for advanced level training, as I'm a firm believer that you can never have too much training or education. Well done, Total Rider, and especially well done to Kyle. read more

Total Rider in North Austin is Awesome I accidently let my MC license lapse and groaned when I learned Texas requires "everyone" to take the new rider course prior to obtaining a motorcycle license, but thanks to Total Rider the experience was much better than expected. I took the class located at 500 VFW Rd (near Braker Ln and I-35) and thanks to Tasha, our badass instructor, I found the course enjoyable and informational. The classes are small, so the instruction really is almost one-on-one and the newbies, four of our classmates, were able to receive the instruction they desperately needed. I highly recommend Total Rider. read more

Total Rider - Motorcycle Safety - Austin - Tasha - Driving Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

To preface this review, I'm a rider of 15-years. I had been out of the country for 7 of those years and needed to go through the government gauntlet to re-acquire my motorcycle license. To my surprise, one can no longer take a road test... So what can be said about a government mandated safety course to get a motorcycle license? Nothing that needs to be said. What can I say about Total Rider Motorcycle Safety Training? Read on... This course consists of three days of 5-hour classes. One class is the pen-to-paper sitting in a chair type. Two classes are on bikes riding around a parking lot. The classroom type course is basically some guy (in my case, the owner, Jon) asking us to find the answers to questions in the MSF handbook interspersed with worse than normal instructional videos. Hands down the worst way of teaching. I basically paid someone to tell me to read the book and watch videos. There weren't enough books, the class setup was not ideal, Jon (for as much experience as he may have) is not a teacher nor does he have a grasp of teaching concepts. The same goes for the course instructor, in my case Scott, the self-dubbed "Uncle Mullet". Entertainer, comedian, bard, story-teller, without-a-doubt. Teacher? Not in the slightest. The riding part of the course was very much the Hong Kong movie type of teaching, where the master executes the form of the four door fist method and the student is somehow by virtue of seeing it done once, able to replicate. One can argue about whether getting pushed out of the nest is a good or even viable method of teaching. The girl in my class that took a spill, twice, while turning might argue that she would have wanted a better explanation about how to turn on a bike. The riding part was done in a gravel-laden parking lot with potholes. The gloves provided were disposable shop gloves (for those that haven't seen shop gloves, they're cotton-y with no-slip grip stuff on the fingers) probably never been washed, hardly ideal for riding and provide NO protection in a fall. The bikes are tiny and easy to handle (which is unreal as most folks will opt for bigger engines). All-in-all, poor materials, poor organization, incorrect information, poor resources, very informal and unprofessional. I look forward to never having to take this course again. read more

I completed (and passed) the Total Rider course this week. It consisted of one night of classroom work (5:30-10:30PM) and two days of riding (in my case, Thursday & Friday 7AM-noon). As others have said, the instructor, Scott Hardy (aka Uncle Mullet) was absolutely great. Lots of jokes, stories, and pretty good impressions mixed with a strong emphasis on safe motorcycle operation. There were 8 people in my riding classes (5 women and 3 men) and I have to say we were a fine group. We ranged in age from young & cute to old & grizzled. It was us against the parking lot. And we won. There was no blood on the tracks. The content was mandated by the DMV, but Scott helped us get the most out of what could have been boring repetition. In my world having fun AND learning a lot at the same time is a winning combination. The fact that what we learned could save our lives when riding makes it even more of a winner. The only negative aspect of the course was out of Scott's control: it was hot. Damn hot. We could have gone to the surface of the sun to cool off. Scott made sure we had plenty of breaks and kept hydrated, but it's August in Austin...it's just going to be hot. If you can time taking this course in April or October, it'd be absolutely heavenly. But, I just got my bike after not riding for (ahem, cough 40) years and was eager to get licensed, insured and on the streets. If you get a motorcycle, take this class. It'll make the world (or at least Austin streets) a better and safer place. read more

Total Rider - Motorcycle Safety - Austin - the training bikes - Driving Schools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Took the plunge, rather a little late in life (and I say this with no conviction whatsoever - as a man in his late 30s, I wasn't sure what to expect) but had an absolute blast at Total Rider. There are two big Class M training facilities in Austin. If you pick this one, you are in good hands, trust me. Choon was my instructor, and he was incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, skilled, and accommodating. Felt safe the entire class. Learned a ton, and can't wait to get out there riding safely with others. Would absolutely recommend TR if you're itching to learn how to ride motorcycles safely and effectively. read more

About a year ago I went and took my Beginners Course at the VFW location. Since I went through the course it has been an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE. I am going to use this to describe my experience since the beginning. My classroom night was a little awkward and my instructor for that was really terse unless you already looked like a biker or were older. She was pretty rude, but when you have a room full of people who are excited to get started it can be kinda hard to control the crowd so I am totally understanding. My Practical days were AWESOME! Uncle Mullet totally rocks and was very kind. He had super kind words about scooters, which is what I came there to get the certificate for. I was expecting a little more elitism, but he only had nice things to say and told antidotes about New York City bikers fighting over who got to ride the little Vespa instead of the big hogs. I appreciated it because everyone else was on the "real" bikes and me on the tiny scooter (50cc what! what!). I learned a lot and wasn't as scared as I thought I would be. He really made it a comfortable situation and was really funny. Hope his knee is doing better, because he messed it up the night before my second class. I feel like he also had a great way of imparting the knowledge without being demeaning when people messed up. The Office: These guys SUCK! I have literally been trying for a year to get a hold of someone to get a copy of my class certificate saying I passed. I have been able to talk to 2 people on the phone and one literally laughed in my face, because I waited 6 months to try and get a Texas License (my company moves me a lot and my FL license was good until 2014). I had contacted them a few times previous to no avail. Emails unanswered. Calls unanswered. FINALLY on 4/16/2013 they replied about to an email I sent in February...FEBRUARY. I am absolutely disgusted, because 18 minutes after I received a reply (telling me I had to pay $10 to get a replacement) NO ONE ANSWERED. This was about an hour ago...no one has called back yet either. I finally got a hold of Liz that evening. She sounded like she had no idea what I was talking about and just got my money because I needed something from her. She was supposed to send out my endorsement on April 17th (as this is the day the the money cleared my account). I have waited a MONTH after they took my money and it cleared from my account. There is still nothing. This business is a sham. I have emailed them AGAIN today. So we will see what happens, but seriously not holding my breath. These guys are a bunch of idiots It drives me nuts that after they have messed up in office for a YEAR no one will pick up or call back to get this taken care of. It is terrible customer service. I wish that I could give them 4 stars for Uncle Mullet being awesome and rocking my practical training, but the chuckle heads in the office have ruined this review. read more

Perhaps I'm crazy for attending a BRC motorcycle training course in the freezing rain in January, but it was certainly an experience. My daughter and I took the course because I insisted she take it before she started riding her new bike, she forced me to take the course because I have been riding for over 30 years without a license. Turn around is fair play. One of the reasons we chose Total Rider was the course schedule. Friday night 5:30 to late for coursework and Saturday and Sunday mornings for on bike sessions. The schedule was perfect for busy people who cant easily take a full day off. Total Rider is the only company offering this schedule (that I could find) and I recommend it. Jeff, the trainer. ex marine, entrepreneur, disney movie fan and all round nice guy. We had a class of 8 "hard core enthusiasts", with a mix of riding experience from nil to many years, and yes, 2 scooter riders to add to the "cool" factor. The coursework session was well structured, engaging and informative. The content made no assumptions and took the students from an introduction of the different types of motorcycle, controls and road-craft as well as the legal aspects of motorcycling. Each topic was ended with a exercise conducted in groups and a general discussion. The discussion sessions were extremely helpful as it provided a time for those who were a little nervous to ask any questions they needed to. The evening ended with a test that covered all the content we had gone through during the evening. Saturday morning, 7:30AM, raining, 32 degrees.....ouch. The bikes (Kawasaki Eliminator 125 beasts) were rolled out, warmed up and assigned. We started with mounting, finding controls, finding neutral, engaging gears and clutch control and walking around with the bike. A great intro for the uninitiated. Unfortunately I think the weather was too much for one of the students who chose to pull out after the first hour. Hopefully she will come back and take the course when the weather warms up. We then started basic straight line exercises, brake control, gear changes and basic cornering. It was fantastic to see the students who had never been on a bike pick it up and start to gain confidence. The morning session ended around 1:30PM. Sunday, fun day. The rain had stopped but it was still sitting around freezing. Emergency braking, cornering techniques (outside, inside, outside) lane positioning , emergency maneuvers and low speed control exercises. Tons of fun, even for folks who have been riding for some time. Let's face it, how often do you get to practice front wheel lockups without fear of damaging your bike, yourself and your pocketbook! The owners felt pity for the "hard core" group and brought us Starbucks coffee, thanks guys. Much appreciated. Sunday ended just after noon with a test that thankfully everyone passed with flying colours, a testament to the quality of Jeff's instruction. In all, a great time, and great instruction. No matter what your experience level, I would recommend anyone and everyone take this course. read more

Certainly nobody gets excited at the prospect of sitting through hours in a classroom watching safety videos and taking quizzes. Tack on the price tag and the fact that it's essentially mandatory training for anyone wanting to be a legit and legal rider in the state of Texas, and you might understandably drag your feet and grumble about it a bit. Five minutes in Uncle Mullet's class, and everyone from the most timid and inexperienced rider to the cockiest seasoned vet is engaged, learning, and feeling like part of a family. Scott Hardy (Uncle Mullet) can make five hours go by in no time. His experience as both a rider and stand-up comic qualify him for this job like no other. Whether you're laughing with or at him is no matter. You're listening and learning and laughing in a situation you were just moments ago not very excited about at all. I had a unique experience in that I suffered an iPhone death in the wee hours before my second riding course at 7am on a Wednesday. I woke up at 10:30, cussed thoroughly, and waited till noon to call Uncle Mullet. Ten minutes later I was rescheduled for my second riding course on Friday with Total Rider's other coach, the lovely and beautiful Allee. I arrived once again at 6:45am at the VFW location to meet Allee and my new classmates. Very sweet and welcoming, she even got me the bike I used for the first riding class. Trixie and I were reunited. Once again a stressful situation was quickly extinguished and everyone was on equal footing as the sun rose and the figure eights and supportive honking commenced. While Allee lacked the overt comical stylings of Uncle Mullet, she certainly held her own and was great at uniting the class, helping with questions and issues, and amazed everyone with her cornering examples, the foot pegs slightly grinding the pavement at each pass. So all in all, a potentially-mundane and tiresome experience was transformed into a fun and exciting three days of riding and learning. If you're nervous, Uncle Mullet will put you at ease in no time. If you're going for a more straight-ahead no-nonsense experience, Allee can have you up and running in no time. However, if you get nervous around good-looking confident women who can ride circles around you, this could pose a problem.. Just saying. Having a bike land on you because you were trying to wheelie your way into her heart could be devastating. Thanks Total Rider, for everything. You and your staff went above and beyond on all counts. I look forward to taking the advanced rider course in the near future. read more

I really enjoyed this course. I haven't ridden in almost 30 years. The instructor Gene Prentice made the whole class comfortable and was an amazing teacher. If you are looking for a great instructor, you should ask for Gene. He is very knowledgeable and cares that you learn properly. Kudos read more

2 words: UNCLE MULLET. What could have potentially been three boring as &$#@ days of sitting through class and learning basic, rote motorcycle skills was transformed by Uncle Mullet, the instructor, into three days of pretty dang enjoyable entertainment... oh, and I came out with my very own bright shiny basic motorcycle training cert., too, which means I can go down to the DMV and get a nifty designation on my license to make me street legal. It's a 3-day course, 5 hours each day. Friday night was class time with a written exam. Saturday and Sunday are 5 hours each day of learning basic motorcycle safety and riding skills on a closed course outside the Veterans of Foreign Wars rec center (which provided oodles of entertainment in and of itself). And Uncle Mullet, a comedian by trade & skilled motorcycle enthusiast, was there to give us guidance, tips we may not have gotten otherwise, and encouragement. Yes, encouragement. A few people wiped out in spectacular ways on the closed course and he did a great job of using the mistakes as a learning experience for everyone. If you are thinking about getting your moto cert, definitely check out this school - they've got a variety of class & riding times, as well as three locations, including Austin, Hutto and Killeen. Look out, Austin! Me & Hardcore Betty (my new Stella scoot) is rill trill whuuuut!? read more

From day one excellent coach very informative and always patients Ron was great to work with well worth the money I seen people I never would think ride listen in his class and became great riders examples every step never skipped over the obvious. Truly a great asset to Saftey and learning to ride . Ron was always there before anyone and ready with a great attitude to coach. Thanks for the great opportunity read more

I've been riding motorcycles on and off road for years, but needed to get my M class endorsement. I learned a lot of new techniques that I wouldn't have otherwise while taking the course. Jeff is a great instructor and has the perfect sense of humor balanced with plenty of patience. It was a long, but fun 2 days and I'd recommend this to anyone needing it in the future. Friendly Tip* DON'T be late to the class or course work. They're willing to work with you on nearly everything aside from this, understandably. read more

The $195 was a total waste of money. Just Finished the Intermediate Riding Clinic at dicks sporting arena in commerce city co. One of the instructors just been riding for two years and doesn't own a motorcycle. He seemed unsure of himself and has no business teaching a class. I learned more on Y tube then this class. read more