Ride Forever programme (subsidised by ACC)

From learning how to keep yourself safe on the daily commute to honing the most advanced riding techniques, there's a Ride Forever course to suit your needs. Ride Forever courses also support NZTA's Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) requirements for licensing. While each course delivers important skills on its own, the full complement is designed to help you progress to a higher level. So, if you start at Bronze, you can advance through Silver to Gold level, taking a maximum of two courses per year along the way, a minimum of three months apart, any course more than once if you wish. Once there, you can continue to take a Gold refresher course each year.

Ride Forever Gold course

The Gold course is a full day aimed at experienced riders holding a Full licence and looking to hone specific technical aspects of riding.

The Gold training course is made up from a flexible programme of content modules. The instructor will select the modules that best suit the riding interests of the trainees and which will support them to develop specific advanced riding skills. Modules include: riding in groups, riding with a pillion, riding with loads, trail braking, advanced cornering, riding on more challenging road surfaces. Courses will generally also include a refresher on slow manoeuvring (especially U-turns) and emergency braking.

If you have not had any prior experience with Motorcycle Roadcraft (as taught in the Ride Forever programme), take a Silver course first to get the most out of the day.

Road environment and distance covered: mix of urban roads and intersections, higher-speed open roads, more challenging country roads, possibly including gravel roads; typically up to around 200km.

Prerequisites: NZ Class 6 Full licence; riders can ride competently and confidently on the road at all posted speed limits; prior experience with Motorcycle Roadcraft (for example, a Ride Forever Silver or Gold course, or IAM RoadSmart or RoSPA or Police riding qualification).

Notes for all courses

The day begins with a briefing (with some theory discussion and videos) and safety check then moves onto an appropriate mix of roads to put theory into practice. Practicing skills may take place off-highway with several stops for feedback and further discussion, including a lunch break. Courses are run in small groups (we have a maximum of 4 students on our courses), which allows for some individual tuition and feedback to help each rider improve.

Ensure you: bring your motorcycle licence with you; wear protective motorcycle clothing top to toe suitable for the weather conditions on the day (minimum: all skin covered); bring water and snacks plus money to buy lunch; bring any personal items you may need for the day, such as glasses, hat, sunblock etc; make sure you are familiar with the NZ road rules and are applying them; check your machine is registered, warranted, roadworthy and appropriate for your licence (LAMS approved if you do not have a Full licence; bearing an L plate if you have a Learner licence); arrive with a full tank of fuel.

Please remove any communication device on your helmet as one will be supplied. If you have a comfortable pair of in-ear headphones with a 3.5mm jack (standard mobile phone size), please bring them along.

Paying the booking fee secures one of the limited places on the course on this date specifically for you. We run courses in all weathers, but will postpone for weather conditions that the instructor deems unsuitable (for example, a MetService Severe Weather Warning is in place). We get paid by ACC only for riders who attend the course, so please ensure that you are prepared and committed to attend on the day.

If you have any questions, contact us before making a booking and we can discuss the most appropriate way for you to progress your riding.

Ride Forever Gold (Tauranga)