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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This page covers everything you need to know about our lessons.
Select a topic to learn more:
Lessons
ARE LESSONS PRIVATE?
Privacy: 1 student or 1 pair
Lessons are totally private or with a partner of your choosing. 100% of class time is yours and we always move forward at a pace that is manageable for you.
HOW LONG ARE THE LESSONS?
Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
Each inside-the-lot session is approximately 2.5 hours long. Brains and bodies typically fatigue around the 2-hour mark. Advanced outside-the-lot sessions may go longer as we will cover much more mileage. For advanced training you will need your own motorcycle in good repair, a full M1 license and to have taken at least one previous training session with MMS.
HOW MANY LESSONS WILL I NEED?
2 to 4 lessons are needed on average.
Monkey Moto School runs through a protocol of skills that we believe are essential for rider safety on the streets as well as for testing success. Each person comes to us with a different background and a different capacity for learning so it is not possible to provide an exact number of training sessions that a given student will need. The average number of lessons to achieve these goals is 2 – 4. Some folks will need a few more. We are committed to helping you get there as quickly and safely as possible.
Preparing for Class
WHAT DO I NEED FOR CLASS?
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Bicycling ability
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Weather-appropriate clothing
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Over-the-ankle boots
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Motorcycle gloves
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Sunglasses
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Food/drink
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Your brain!
Before you take motorcycle or scooter lessons you must be able to pedal and control a bicycle. You are paying us your hard-earned dollars to teach you how to ride, not how to balance. We reserve the right to terminate your lesson early if after making a solid effort to help you balance (pushing you with motor off) you remain unable to keep the bike/scooter upright. Your class fee will not be refunded but we will likely offer a discounted rate upon returning with the requisite skills. Apparel: It will always be up to you to decide which protective gear to use (other than a helmet which is required by law) and shoes with an enclosed toe box, but for beginner lessons we suggest comfortable weather-appropriate clothing. Check the weather reports for the lesson location (it may be hot where you live and cold where the lesson is). Your best bet is to come prepared for anything. Shoes: Over-the-ankle boots (or motorcycle-specific boots) is preferred but sneakers will be okay. Flat and smooth soles are much better for riding than separated heels or chunky shoe treads. Please double knot and tuck in longer shoe laces. Open-toed shoes will not be allowed. If you wear open-toed shoes to class it most certainly tells us something about your common sense and you will not be allowed to ride. Motorcycle gloves are snug fitting and will protect your hands from cold as well as road rash if you fall, even in a slow speed drop. MMS can provide gloves and a helmet if you do not have your own. Sunglasses: Head-fitting plastic sport frames (the type used for running, biking and sailing) will function best under your helmet. Food/drink: Definitely bring a thirst-quenching beverage along. Feel free to bring a snack. Make sure you are well-fed and well rested prior to your motorcycle lessons so that your concentration can remain high. We have a lot of material to cover! MMS will provide a helmet and gloves for you at your request and at no extra cost. If your head is particularly large you may want to go helmet shopping prior to your lessons. Note on safety equipment: Your brain is your best asset for improving your “safety quotient.” A well-trained rider who makes good decisions is the best protection for your body and your motorcycle. No amount of brightly colored, reflective or armored clothing is superior to a skilled rider when it comes to safety. …Always ride within your comfort zone.
WHAT ABOUT A HELMET AND GLOVES?
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Your own DOT-spec loaner helmet, or
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Our own DOT-spec loaner helmets
Monkey Moto School’s DOT-spec loaner helmets and gloves are included with your fee, although getting your own helmet is encouraged because it will surely fit you better than our loaner. If you have a particularly large head it is possible that our helmets may be too snug. Definitely let us know if you have a big head. *Note on helmets: Please always purchase a helmet that at least has the DOT safety rating. One of the following additional safety ratings is also encouraged: Snell Foundation and the ECE (European) safety rating. Your skull is worth the investment. Note: It is best to purchase your helmet from a local shop where you can try on several brands to make sure that you ride away with the one that is best for you. We recommend that you keep a helmet on your head for about 20 minutes inside the store to really know if this helmet will work for you.
DOES MMS PROVIDE A MOTORCYCLE/SCOOTER FOR CLASS?
A scooter or motorcycle is included with tuition.
Expect this meeting to take just 20-30 minutes and serves two purposes: We want to make sure that you can ride the scooter safely prior to a rental agreement . If we do assess that your skills are not adequate to safely pick up the scooter/return it safely and to have a reasonable shot at passing the test we will not rent it to you and you will not be charged for the meetup. We highly recommend taking a full skills class with Monkey Moto School. We want to provide you with some tips and tricks so that you have the best chance to successfully pass the test. Assuming that you already know how to ride a scooter most of these things will be fairly quick to pick up, thus the 20ish minute session. On the evening prior to your lesson you will be given detailed instructions on where to pick the scooter up and drop it off after your test.
Cancellation and Rain
WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION, RESCHEDULING, AND RAIN POLICY?
Reschedule with due notice; otherwise, payment is forfeited.
If you need to cancel or change your appointment we will make every effort to re-book the spot, and we often can, given enough notice. In that case your payment will carry over to a future date. If we cannot fill your time block MMS will retain the fees paid for the canceled lesson. Case-dependent, we may offer a price break to reschedule. Please understand that operating a small business comes with its challenges and scrambling to find a replacement among other administrative duties can be time consuming and not always fruitful. For best results, when you book lessons kindly make sure that your calendar is clear during that block of time.
WEATHER CONDITIONS:
We will reschedule if conditions become impracticable.
If rain is on the forecast we typically make a same-day decision, factoring in safety and productivity. If poor conditions necessitate postponement we’ll reschedule you for the next available opening. You will not lose any of your payment due to the coach's decision to postpone. Be advised, when you sign up for lessons you agree to default to your coach's expert decision-making regarding safety and productivity. Conditions may not always be as perfectly comfortable as we would like, and you might have concerns regarding the wet and/or temperature but lessons will go as scheduled upon the coach's decision. Additionally, your wish to make alternate plans will not be factored in.
*CANCELLATIONS INVOLVING PRE-PURCHASED GIFT CERTIFICATES:
We will reasonably reschedule if good timing or bad weather prompts it.
Again, the time has been set aside for YOU and thus we are not going to schedule it for anyone else. In the event that you must cancel we will try to fill the spot but otherwise our cancellation policy applies. These policies were developed with much consideration and experience. We appreciate your understanding!