The California Motorcyclist Safety Program Motorcyclist Training Course (CMSP MTC) is designed to help you become a safer rider and successful completion will earn you the DL389, which may waive the riding skills test at the California DMV. The course is based on the most current research in rider safety and utilizes modern training methods.
The CMSP MTC costs $425 if you are age 21 or older, and $395 if you are age 20 or younger for whom the course is a requirement to get the motorcycle permit.
It will help you determine whether motorcycle riding is right for you, address some of the hazards of riding, develop your riding skills, and refine them into accident-avoidance skills. Though designed for new riders, any rider that has not taken a motorcycle course will benefit from this course.
Successful completion will earn you a DMV waiver for your on-motorcycle test, which is challenging and not accompanied by any teaching or coaching. (Note that you will still be responsible for paying the DMV’s standard licensing fees). Your graduation card may also provide discounts with your insurance company. Be sure to call around and check for best rates.
NOTE: Neither passing nor getting a license is guaranteed simply by enrolling in this course.
We partner with Simi Institute for Careers and Education (SICE) to deliver this course. They are located at 1880 Blackstock Avenue in Simi Valley. We are currently running a hybrid schedule, so our first classroom session will be done on Zoom. The second classroom segment is in-person in room 702B. The State is very serious about our use of Zoom, so please note these requirements:
Your Saturday riding will gather at the Land-Sea containers on the east end of the South parking lot to begin our "range" session for riding. Google Maps has the MRE Corp. pin right in the middle of our range. Hop in your car and just ask Google/Siri to navigate you to MRE Corp. in Simi Valley. Then use the PDF map of the campus that is attached to your Confirmation email to see where to park. Please park west of the two large chain-link gates, under the solar panels, in Parking Lot B. Please park west of the two large chain-link gates, under the solar panels, in Parking Lot B. Grab your gear, and your Driver License ID, and walk the last bit.
Again, please open the PDF map attached to your registration confirmation email so that you can easily navigate the SICE campus.
In Addition to Simi Valley and Moorpark, our students join us from Santa Barbara, and Ventura County, as well as Los Angeles cities of Chatsworth, Thousand Oaks, Northridge, Malibu, Canoga Park, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Newbury Park, and Winnetka.
The course consists of 4 uneven segments that alternate between classroom and riding. In the summer we offer two groups per weekend and they begin in the same Thursday evening Zoom classroom at 5:30pm that will run about 3.5 hours. This saves you a trip out to the site.
The morning riding group will ride Saturday and Sunday mornings with their second classroom in-person on Saturday afternoon, making Saturday a full day. The afternoon riding group will ride Saturday and Sunday afternoons with their second classroom in-person on Sunday morning, making Sunday a full day.
Please make appropriate lunch plans for the break during your full day. If you are a “grazer” we encourage snacks in a sealed container as the parking lot is exposed to wildlife including ants and birds.
DO NOT BE LATE to your riding sessions. Plan to be there at least 15 minutes before your scheduled range riding session so that we can complete the necessary paperwork and do a gear check. We jump directly into the material and there is no opportunity to get you "caught up." If you are late, you will be sent home with a Space Available certificate, a process which will be explained by the paperwork provided.
By the numbers, here is the sequences:
Morning Riding Group:
Thursday 5:30-9pm - Zoom Classroom 1;
Saturday 7-11:30am - Range 1; then 1-4pm In-Person Classroom 2 – Rm. 702B;
Sunday 7-Noon - Range 2;
Afternoon Riding Group:
Thursday 5:30-9pm - Zoom Classroom 1;
Saturday 1-5:30pm - Range 1;
Sunday 8:30am-Noon In-Person Classroom 2 – Rm. 702B; then 1-Noon - Range 2;
BRING WATER!!! Even if it’s cold outside, the dryness and your focus will likely cause you to lose a lot of fluids. There is a water fountain on site, but please bring a large vessel and plan to push fluids; 10% down on hydration is roughly 40% down on focus. You will need your focus!
***MINORS*** For any/all individuals under 18 years of age on the date of the start of your course, you will need a parent or legal guardian to sign your waiver on Saturday before you are allowed on the motorcycle. We apologize for the inconvenience; this is a State requirement.
After your course, we take your scores back to our facilities and process a lot of paperwork. We have 7 days to get your DL-389 form into the mail, and the Postal Service can take between a week to two to deliver. Please expect to receive your DL-389 in approximately 3-weeks following the class. It is only valid for one year from the date of completion of your course. So please make plans to get to the DMV. We've been informed by our State contacts that you should not make an appointment at the DMV. Just plan to be there a while, and to be masked and socially distant. (read: sunscreen may be a good idea)
We are committed to providing you with a safe and productive riding experience. The current COVID pandemic has forced a number of changes. Please know that our Staff are diligently sanitizing and wiping all communal surfaces. During these times, personal gear is even more valuable, but we also recognize the challenges with getting properly fit and supply chain delays. So, we provide a helmet if you don’t have one, but we do expect all students to wear specific clothing in order to be allowed to ride. This includes a mask when not in a helmet, long sleeves, pants, sturdy over-the-ankle footwear, and street motorcycle-specific gloves.
No gear/wrong gear? No riding.
This is your responsibility. Aside from helmets and gloves/masks as backup, we do not carry extra gear on site. Failure to arrive prepared will result in your dismissal and receipt of a Space-Available form. If you have questions, please ask your Instructor during your Thursday evening Zoom class session.
We provide helmets in size ranges from XS to XXXL. They are all new for 2020, full-face Bell Qualifier helmets. If you prefer to bring your own helmet, it must be DOT-approved three-quarter or full-face without any drops or scuffs. No half helmets, or near-half helmets. You will need your own eyewear or face shield if you bring your own helmet.
Helmets are sanitized after each use to reduce the possibility of transmission. Thankfully they aren't used for at least 5 days between weekends.
We provide gloves as backup, but HIGHLY SUGGEST that you purchase your own pair of street motorcycle-specific riding gloves. Especially now, with health and safety concerns, please provide your own gloves.
Dirt bike gloves ARE NOT ALLOWED. Nor are batting, golfing, ski/snowboard, or goalie gloves. Gloves are built for specific purposes. Street bike gloves are designed to resist abrasion.
Good gloves are the second most important piece of gear you will wear after a helmet. Please avoid the Amazon special. Visit your local dealership or gear shop, who will have a great assortment and employees to help you navigate the choice.
For the riding segments, you will need to arrive in your sturdy, over-the-ankle footwear. Hiking boots are acceptable, and although high-tops are allowed, they provide minimal protection. Leather work boots or cowboy boots are great. Actual riding boots are even better.
Features to consider in a riding boot are a thin but durable toe, minimal rise in the heel, and protection on/around the ankle bone.
Uggs, Toms, and Converse are NOT acceptable. Nor are the new-style of Chelsea boots - the elastic on the sides provides no considerable abrasion resistance.
Although Simi Valley can be warm, this is still a safety class. We recommend wearing a jacket any time you ride. For this class, at minimum, you will need a long sleeve shirt and pants. This isn’t a rock concert, so holes are not stylish: they are a problem.
Please wear concealing apparel that may provide some level of protection in a low-speed incident.
