Introduced in 2014, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s online Basic eCourse has been taken by more than 60,000 students in 39 countries, from Australia to Uruguay, who sought a convenient, informative way to learn about safe, responsible motorcycling.
The highly interactive three-hour Basic eCourse serves as an introduction to the basics of motorcycling theory and practice and may also help potential riders determine whether motorcycling is right for them. Although it’s a key component of the full Basic RiderCourse (BRC), which includes five hours of classroom discussion and 10 hours of hands-on riding skill and judgment exercises, the eCourse can be completed as a stand-alone program, without having to enroll in a hands-on course. The eCourse includes audio and captioned narration, and will be available in Spanish later this year.
Until recently, the eCourse was accessible only through desktop computers, but it has been re-configured and re-launched as a device-agnostic program, accessible by a wide variety of platforms, including iPads, iPhones, Android devices, tablets, laptops, and PCs.
The course is available for $19.99 at msf-usa.org, if taken as a stand-alone course. When taken in conjunction with the hands-on MSF BRC, the cost of the eCourse may be included in the tuition of the BRC, depending on the state program. The Basic eCourse incorporates photos, graphics, video and more to provide participants with an overview of proper motorcycling with emphasis on personal decisions and choices, and is available worldwide. MSF strongly encourages eCourse graduates to enroll in a hands-on course, such as the MSF BRC, since that is the only environment in which to develop one’s actual riding skills and risk-management strategies.
The BRC is an 18-hour program, with 3 online hours, 5 classroom hours, and 10 range-riding hours designed to provide the fundamentals of safe and responsible riding for beginning motorcyclists. In its latest incarnation, the MSF incorporated 15% more time on braking exercises, 30% more time on curves and turns, 30% more time on rider perception and 20% more on seeking escape paths while riding. The Basic eCourse gives students a head-start on understanding motorcycling basics and general safety strategies before they come to BRC class, making classroom time more productive. The eCourse is also a great primer for those who can’t or don’t intend to take a hands-on course (a poor choice, but research shows half of all riders have never taken a formal course), and a great supplement for those who will be taking a non-MSF hands-on course.
Upon completion of the eCourse, graduates can print out a certificate for their efforts. The certificate is not a license waiver, but may be required for admission into a hands-on course, depending on the student’s state program.
“With the mobile-friendly MSF Basic eCourse, potential motorcyclists everywhere can get a head start on understanding the basics of motorcycling and be ready to advance to a hands-on course,” said MSF Vice President of Training Systems Dr. Ray Ochs. “As always, MSF’s ultimate goal is to develop motorcyclists with great skill and judgment and reduce the frequency of motorcycle crashes to zero. We believe accessible online training and education is another meaningful way to achieve that.”
The MSF Basic eCourse and information on our hands-on courses are available at msf-usa.org.
