Great class, very helpful. Arsenio was a good instructor and led the class perfectly. He even made time to re-test a couple of ladies that failed their rising test at another location. I highly reccommend Total Rider. Read Less

Great class. 3 parts: an e course (very reminiscent to online defensive driving but for motorcycles), a classroom portion that is more group study facilitated by the instructor, and (the one I took, there's a one day) a two part riding portion. There were 3 inexperienced (2 others and myself), another with dirt bike experience, and an experienced rider in my course. Everyone got something out of it, and even us new riders were doing well in the riding portion (so don't worry about not knowing how to operate manual transmission, or not having experience in bikes). Tasha was our instructor and she was great. I'll probably go back for the advanced course after some time on my bike. I recommend for new, returning, and even experienced riders. Read Less

Terrible instruction. First part of the class is 5 hours in classroom. The riding coaches just sat in the corner talking, basically just having us read the book and teach ourselves. When it got to the riding portion, did not receive much instruction. I had never been on a bike before and the rate they were moving the class was too fast for me to really grasp the concept. When I was struggling, instead of being encouraging and providing me tips, the only comments I got from the riding coach was "why are you not getting this", "you need to pick up the pace or I will remove you from the class". I was getting more instruction and encouragement from another student in the class that had already ridden before than the head riding coach. I dropped the bike once because was off-balance, and instead of helping me up and giving me pointers, he stopped the class and made me look like an idiot point out my mistakes. Erik was the head instructor for this basic riding course, and I would not recommend it. Only take this class if you already know how to ride and just need the credit for a license. Read Less

I had not ridden for a long time -- since the early nineties. Total Rider's program helped me get back into the swing of it and gave me many safety tips and tricks I would never have learned on my own. I highly recommend them and Erik Marquez is a great teacher, as well. I then went straight to DPS and got me M endorsement as easy as you please. Read Less

This was a great class.  The instructor (Jeff) was extremely knowledgeable and told just the right amount of anecdotes.  He was also good at wrangling noobs on the course.  My only minor complaint was that the bike was kinda small, mix that with my own inexperience and clumsiness and big feet and it seemed like I should have been a circus act, hitting all the controls simultaneously.  I'm old so I will probably be sore for a week, but I passed, learned some stuff, had a good time and would recommend. Read Less

We had a great time and learned a lot. Maybe we just got lucky, but our class rocked and everyone was very supportive of each other in the learning process. Had Brad as our instructor and he really puts a lot of energy into ensuring everyone is learning and having a good time doing it. Read Less

I recently moved here from NY. So rode on my motorcycle permit in NY last 13yrs lol. Texas is a little bit different so i had to take this coarse to get my license . This class is not only enjoyable but very informative. Chet Roby was my instructor and suggest you schedule you're class with him also. 2 out of 7 people never rode a motorcycle before. By the end of 2 days they had made leaps and bounds on there abilities and we're able to get there license. 5 star review for sure!! Read Less

I took the BRC course in Burleson Tx, with Coach Tom Pugh, I have been riding for more than 75% of my life from street bikes to dirt bikes and cruisers, Our instructor Tom was hands down the best, straight forward and not ashamed to let you know what you need to work on. (For the guys that really needed that extra time), as for myself being a little more advanced he would help me break the bad habits I have formed over the years and inspired me to try different things for my safety. I can honestly say he helped me learn some good stuff that could possibly save my life. I would in fact refer friends and family to this program. Mr. Tom you are a great teacher and hopefully I get the pleasure of staying in touch with you. Read Less

This has been the WORST COURSE EXPERIENCE I have ever had in my life. Completely unprofessional and WRONG TAUGHT. If you still wanna book with Total Rider company, DO NOT book with Jeffrey Alford (instructor)!! He is UNPROFESSIONAL, racist and completely RUDE. The instructor wouldn't stop talking about unrelated material to the course such as silly anecdotes. -- This course could definitely be squished into 6 hours/day instead of 9 if the instructor did not had all those annoying stories to tell. -- He even made fun of a a paraplegic guy who would have to "grab his artificial leg and throw it like boomerang" over the motorcycle in order to get on it while he was laughing about it. I bet the cripple guy wouldn't appreciate that.. Although I payed $235 for this course, the instructor did not let me join the class on Sunday for being 6 minutes late and kicked me out of the riding property in a aggressive way. I wonder why.. Maybe discrimination? The instructor rudely said, "You are late and you can get out of here. I don't want you in my class." And then I asked him if he was being serious and he said with a smile; "You are gonna have to take these all over again." It is ridiculous how unprofessional a company can be. Letting this type of people teach.. Seriously? Read Less

What a great experience! !! Jeff (Jefe ) was totally amazing!!!!!!!! He is THE BEST!!! So if you are looking for the very BEST you got to booked the training class with him!!! He will take his time to make sure you got the exercises RIGHT!!! This was my second time taking the test...the previous trainer was too grumpy and yelling like a rooster the whole time (Erick),  no nice at all to put it this way...he is one of the few persons that totally intimidated me, blocking me completely, don't get me wrong he knows his stuff but as a trainer he lacks of skills!  I passed my test with flying colors today with JEFF!!! Jeff taught me and work on my mistakes ! Please booked with him, you won't be disappointed AT ALL!!! I PROMISE! !! JEFF, THIS GOES FOR YOU: YOU ROCK!!!!!! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE! !! NO ONE CAN TEACH LIKE YOU!!! Read Less

What a great experience! !! Jeff (Jefe ) was totally amazing!!!!!!!! He is THE BEST!!! So if you are looking for the very BEST you got to booked the training class with him!!! He will take his time to make sure you got the exercises RIGHT!!! This was my second time taking the test...the previous trainer was too grumpy and yelling like a rooster the whole time (Erick),  no nice at all to put it this way...he is one of the few persons that totally intimidated me, blocking me completely, don't get me wrong he knows his stuff but as a trainer he lacks of skills!  I passed my test with flying colors today with JEFF!!! Jeff taught me and work on my mistakes ! Please booked with him, you won't be disappointed AT ALL!!! I PROMISE! !! JEFF, THIS GOES FOR YOU: YOU ROCK!!!!!! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE! !! NO ONE CAN TEACH LIKE YOU!!! Read Less

I wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Got really excited, looked for about two months and ended up buying one the Friday before I had class in Buda. My instructors were Arsenio, Cory and Tasha. First off, I HAVE NEVER RIDDEN A MOTORCYCLE BEFORE. Not a manual car, dirt bike, not even a regular bicycle in 15 years... nada. I watched a lot of "How to" videos and tried to at least understand how the bike worked. I knew where the parts of the bike were, that first gear was below neutral and that was about it. Here I go into the classroom at an elementary school. I'm greeted by some friendly faces and sit down. We reviewed the material as a group, talked about the important key factors for about half of the day Saturday and proceeded to head outside.There in the big parking lot were a couple rows of motorcycles. Eliminators. They were small enough where I could get my feet down. (I'm 5'2" with a 5'0" person's inseam, btw.) I was not able to flat foot, but I did my best. First couple of exercises were rough for me. I'm not gonna lie. But with the encouragement and advice of my instructors and some pointers from classmates who already knew how to ride, I completed my first day without dropping the bike. Second day (Sunday) we get out there about 7:30am. For some reason my confidence isn't too high. I panicked, feeling like I had forgotten everything I learned the day before. After all, it was only my second day ever operating a motorcycle. I hop on the bike, make the first turn. BOOM. I'm on the ground. I hop up, the instructors are rushing over to me at this point, and they pull the bike up and walk me to the side. Checked to see if I was okay. Nothing on me. We talked about what I did wrong. (It was foggy, I didn't look far enough into my turn, I might have hit the brakes on a turn...) Yeah, don't do that. Anyway, I felt fine! Just a little shaken up.Arsenio and Cory encourage me to keep going while keeping me focused. I build my confidence up and start riding in 2nd gear again. We go over a lot of new exercises. This class is FAST!! I'm doing well! I ride between cones, weaving, leaning, turning, speeding up in the straights, slowing down. I mean, there's only a certain number of hours to cover everything. For a true rookie, you'll probably end up okay like I did if you watch several YouTube videos. If you go into the class and don't do any research beforehand, I don't think you're preparing yourself enough. But, I'm proud to say I passed the test! Maybe not with flying colors, but I didn't drop the bike, I know how to lean into a turn or counterweight it, how to stop on a quarter (aha not a dime) and know the riding basics. Oh snap! Basic Rider Course! :) They did their job, and now I can do mine.Anyway, I'd recommend really looking over the material available online before going in the classroom if you don't know anything about motorcycles. If you do, you're fine and all will be good. The instructors are awesome. I'm glad I went to this BRC location -- and am really thankful for their patience and encouragement that helped boost my confidence to get my butt back on the bike. Rode my Ninja for the first time around my neighborhood today, no problems as of yet, but if I fall -- I know I have the equipment to keep me safe. Save about a thousand bucks for some safety gear, peeps. It'll save your life, your skin, it's just plain smart. P.S. Bring lots of water when you take the class. Tap water tastes like poo. You're not going to leave a professional rider, but you will understand how to ride. It takes time and practice. Ride your ride. Don't let anyone pressure you into riding too fast. Know where you're going. Stay positive and make sure you only ride with a clear head. What I wore: DOT approved full-faced helmet, motorcycle jacket, motorcycle gloves, jeans, over the ankle boots. Recommended: Sunglasses--Update: It's been about a month since my course. I am comfortable riding. I took my bike from Buda to San Antonio, no problem. Having that "M" on your license is awesome! Be safe out there, y'all! Read Less

This was an impressive course. I've been riding cross country for 8000 miles and my mom asked if I take a riders course in the middle of my trip just to make her feel better about my safety. I am actually very glad I took it, Erik was the instructor, he is about as experienced with motorcycle riding, crashes, causes of crashes, and skill expertise as it gets. He nailed into us the very most essential, but basic skills to know and practice to make your riding as safe and under our control. He inspired me to get the right gear and makes me if these skills deeply ingrained habits, some of which I will strongly argue can be counterintuitive and not obvious. He has a personal connection to driving and has had personal crashes and he actually puts his heart into his teachings. Very valuable course Read Less

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 Less

Erik Marquez was a great instructor. We took the basic motorcycle course. Erik made it fun - especially during the class time. He was patient & gave good instructions. I highly recommend this class! We really enjoyed learning to ride with him. Looking forward to taking future classes with him!! Read Less

Absolutely above outstanding course in every respect. I had not ridden a motorcycle in 32 years and wanted to get my license and get back to riding...the Total Rider instruction was exactly what I needed. I credit our instructor, Anita Thomas, with the high quality of the experience. A seasoned motorcycle racer and passionate aficionado, her knowledge of all motorcycles, from make, model, year, handling characteristics and maintenance was peerless. Her riding ability was natural and her ability to individualize the instruction to fix specific weaknesses and shortcomings while meeting the State standards for group instruction was also outstanding. Within the three day period, Total Rider ensures you understand the rules of the road as well as gain the confidence to ride safely -- and the motivation to keep practicing! My 30-plus year old bad habits were fixed, my confidence was restored and we all departed the course "license-ready." Could not have been more convenient or less stressful, thanks to Total Rider and Anita. Read Less

I have been riding mountain bikes since I was 9 or 10 and continued to until about 3 months ago when I bought a moped/scooter (which are fun to ride and great to learn how to lean on). But the little Honda was too slow so I upgraded to a EX250-F but didn't know how to ride...so I took the course and now I'm riding the streets just fine! Anita is a very sweet and patient instructor and definitely helped me get over the whole clutch situation I was having difficulty with. (Sorry again for getting irritable!) But all in all take this class! I learned so much! Read Less

I have wanted to ride a motorcycle since I was a little girl... So for my 40th birthday was recommended to Total Rider by a friend and could not have been more pleased with the caliber of instruction and quality of experience. I took the safety course having only ever been a passenger on a motorcycle. Jeff's spot-on tips, patience, sense of humor (his personality is PERFECT for learning newbies), and vested interest in each student's smart and safe relationship with motorcycle and surroundings made this the ideal learning environment for me.Just got my new bike and can't wait to go back to Total Rider for the Bike Bonding course.  Thank you, Total Rider, so grateful!!! Read Less

I took this course with Annita and Jeff both were great teachers and very informative. They took the time out for me when I was having a hard time learning in the begining and by the end of the course I wasn't having a problem on the bike at all. Thank you all for your help and I will definitley recommend people to this class. Read Less

Jeff went out of his way to make sure that my wife, a non-native speaker, could understand his instructions and tips.  He was patient with her, and even did some 1-on-1 with her to make sure that she mastered the particular skill she was having difficulty with.The classroom portion is still more or less as others here have described it:  it is predominantly taught by the students.  Jeff does take over at various different points throughout the class, though.The only comment/feedback/suggestion that I can give to Jeff & Total Rider is maybe it would be a better idea to break out the class into 1 5-hour classroom session in the evening, and then 4 days of 2.5 hours each during the summer months.  5 hours straight in the heat of August can be a bit much.  But to anybody else who is considering taking the class during the summer months:  bring a *lot* of water (we brought 4 gallons with us, and consumed about 2 gallons) and also some Powerade (not Gatorade) or Pedialyte to replenish your electrolytes. Read Less

The classroom part could use some work as the first half they had the sudents reading and than teaching the class.  For a first time rider the brief touch up points by the instructor was not working.  The riding part would get a five.  David did a good job working with the new rider in the group and those of us that have rode before.  He was fun to work with and all left learning something from him. Read Less

[Updated 12/14/15] - My first class did not go well due to heat and my inexperience, and the woman in charge of customer service really needed to not work with people, but the owner of the company contacted me to apologize and ask me to give them another try at no cost. Updating to four stars, and looking forward to updating to five after I take the class.  Thanks to them for making this right, and making me excited about trying to ride again. :) Read Less

This was an excellent course. The instructor, Jeff, was so helpful and knowledgeable. I was extremely nervous since I have never ridden before but Jeff created a relaxed and fun environment. I was able to pass and feel comfortable riding. I am so thankful to have had Jeff as my instructor because he pushed me to keep trying and not to give up. I would definitely recommend Total Rider and specifically Jeff as a riding coach. Read Less

Scott Hardy (AKA the mullet) is awesome . thanks again this week for the excellent training you have provided, i will try to attend the advanced riders course once i have become a efficient rider. thanks again Scott! Read Less

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 Less

The overall course structure is mandated by state law so it would be unfair to discuss that.  Our instructor (David) did a nice job of bringing some humor into the class work and keeping us engaged during the fairly painful classroom portion of the exercise.  We all appreciated his approach.  When we moved to the riding portion of the class, David really came through.  He mixed the required course material with a great deal of practical experience.  David did a marvelous job of creating an "it's ok to make a mistake" environment which enabled all of us to very rapidly gain confidence and proficiency.  He was patient and thoughtful.  Our weather was pretty miserable (near freezing and raining) both days but David did a good job of monitoring our riding and pulling us off the bikes to warm up.  Top notch instructor and highly recommended. Read Less

My son and I took the class together at the Hutto Location 11/7-9.  Though we have both ridden before, we learned alot and enjoyed the light hearted presentation style.  Scott (the instructor/coach) was not only very knowledgable, but he helped make the whole process a fun experience that my son and I enjoyed together.  Will recommend to friends! Read Less

My husband and I shared an amazing weekend in the Total Rider Training Course.  My husband has been riding all of his life but neglected to ensure that his endorsement transferred over when moving to TX.  I have never been on a motorcycle before and was Very intimidated.  The class was great for both of us.  Dave, the instructor, was patient, knowledgable, and fun to spend time with. At the end the course, my husband was polished and happy and I was comfortable and confident with riding.   A bonus was the 40+ years of riding experiences he freely shared.  After a weekend of listening to Dave's stories and entertaining escapades, both my husband and I passed our written exam at the DMV this morning on the first attempt.  The weekend was so much fun we didn't realize we were learning.  Thank you Total Rider! Read Less

I thought that both the classroom instructor, Tray and our range instructor David Carter were great!  They both took the time to really make sure that you understood that riding should be fun - but SAFE!  They reiterated over and over again to "have fun", "relax" and to "ride your own ride" but "be safe!".I was the only female in a class of five other men.  Not once did I feel intimidated or not accepted.  We had a great class and a wonderful experience.  I would recommend this company and course to anyone. Read Less

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 Less

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 idiotsIt 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 Less

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 Less