During a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently, the reopening of the Honda Rider Education Center in Irving, Texas was celebrated by local powersports enthusiasts, politicians and media, as well as Honda associates and Geo-Center Motorcycle Training owner Curt Liles, who operates the facility under a lease agreement with American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
The Honda Rider Education Center offers both classroom training and rider training, using the Motorcycle Safety Foundation curriculum for on-road and dirt bike classes and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America curriculum for ATV classes. Side-by-side training will be offered soon, using the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association curriculum. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles waives the written- and riding-test requirements for motorcycle-license applicants over 18 who have completed the two-day Basic RiderCourse course, and Honda reimburses $75 of the class tuition. In addition, Honda reimburses the full cost of the ATV RiderCourse for customers who purchase a new Honda ATV.
In addition to classrooms and training ranges, the Irving facility has an Environmental Learning Center, which is a unique community resource that promotes a responsible land-use ethic through a greater understanding of Texas’s varied ecology.
“Honda has owned this facility since the early ’90s, and after nearly a year of working on the reopening, we’re pleased to once again open its doors to the public,” said Gary Martini, Manager, Rider Education at American Honda. “The Irving location is one of four Honda Rider Education Centers, with the other campuses located in Troy, Ohio; Alpharetta, Georgia and Colton, California. We’re proud that Honda is the only manufacturer to offer these facilities to its customers, and we’re pleased to be working with Curt Liles and Geo-Center to educate riders in Texas.”
“This is a great opportunity,” said Liles, who has owned and operated Geo-Center since 2010. “With this facility, as well as a fleet of nearly 50 Honda vehicles—including street bikes, dirt bikes and dual-purpose bikes, ATVs and side-by-sides—we can provide top-notch training to riders of every type. Response to the course schedule has been very positive, and I’m excited about what we can do with Honda’s support.”
Those interested in taking motorcycle courses at the Irving Honda Rider Education Center may sign up at gcmctraining.com. Enrollment in ATV classes is handled through the ATV Safety Institute at atvsafety.org.
