1. (1) Basic rider course requirements. A basic rider course shall adhere to the curriculum established for a basic rider course by the curriculum provider and approved for use by the department, and shall meet all of the following criteria:

   1. (a) The course shall consist of at least 15 hours of instruction which includes pre-class assignments, if any, and both classroom and range instruction. Sufficient time as directed by the curriculum provider shall be dedicated to range instruction for students to develop skills in accordance with curriculum requirements. Classroom instruction shall be provided in accordance with sub. (4).
   2. (b) All instruction shall be completed within a 60-day time period.
   3. (c) There shall be no more than 8 hours of instruction in a single day.

   4. (d) At a minimum, range instruction shall be provided in 6 maneuvers, including the following:

      1. 1. Straight line riding.
      2. 2. Turning.
      3. 3. Shifting, unless instructional vehicles are equipped with automatic transmissions.
      4. 4. Straight line braking.
      5. 5. Braking in a curve.
      6. 6. Evasive maneuvers.

2. (2) Basic course for experienced riders course requirements. A basic course for experienced riders shall adhere to the curriculum established for a course designated by the curriculum provider as a license waiver course for riders with sufficient riding skill and approved for use by the department, and shall meet all of the following criteria:

   1. (a) The course shall consist of both classroom instruction and discussion, and range training. Sufficient time as directed by the curriculum provider shall be dedicated to range instruction for students to develop skills in accordance with curriculum requirements. Classroom instruction shall be provided in accordance with sub. (4).
   2. (b) All instruction shall be completed within a 60-day time period.
   3. (c) There shall be no more than 9 hours of instruction in a single day.

   4. (d) At a minimum, instruction shall be provided in all of the following maneuvers:

      1. 1. Straight line braking.
      2. 2. Braking on a curve.
      3. 3. Cornering.
      4. 4. Swerving techniques.
   5. (e) A skills evaluation shall be conducted at the beginning of range training to assess an enrolled student’s ability to handle a motorcycle at the level required for the range portion of the experienced rider course.
   6. (g) A knowledge test and a skills test approved by the department shall be conducted prior to the end of the course.
3. (3) Class size. Class size may not exceed 24 students in the classroom or 12 students on the range for the basic rider course or the experienced rider course.
4. (4) Classroom instruction. Classroom instructors for the basic rider course and basic course for experienced riders shall teach material developed by the curriculum provider and Wisconsin-specific material approved by the department. Classroom instruction may be provided in full or in part by online programs that teach the department-approved curriculum. Classroom instruction shall be supplemented by discussion of relevant topics during the range portion of the class. Training provided in the classroom or online shall include a testing mechanism that evaluates student comprehension of the curriculum. Testing may accommodate learning disabilities, limited English proficiency, or medical conditions.

5. (5) Range Instruction. A rider coach may exclude students who, in a rider coach’s opinion, demonstrate a lack of the skill, attention, or cooperation needed to safely complete the range portion of a course from further participation in range exercises in that course. This shall not preclude the student from participating in range exercises in a rider course at another time or location. Actions taken under this subsection must be consistent with standards set by the curriculum provider.

   Note: Learning to ride a motorcycle is a physical skill. A person’s learning abilities and physical coordination may affect the person’s ability to master the skills involved. Because the skills used in earlier training exercises are fundamental and needed to complete later exercises, in the interest of safety, a rider coach may counsel a person to self-evaluate and possibly withdraw from range instruction. For example, a person who cannot master manipulation of the clutch and shifting a standard transmission in the class time allotted for learning that skill might prove a danger to other participants. The rider coach has authority, under this rule, to exclude a person from the remaining range exercises. Actions taken under this authority must be consistent with the standards set forth in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Standards. The Wisconsin attorney general approved incorporation of these standards by reference on February 19, 2024, as required by s. 227.21 (2), Stats. Copies of these standards are available through the Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program State Administrator or the Legislative Reference Bureau.

6. (6) Skills and knowledge testing. All students shall be afforded an opportunity to participate in department-approved classroom knowledge and end-of-course range skills testing.

   1. (a) Students shall successfully complete classroom knowledge testing to qualify for a demerit point reduction.
   2. (b) Students shall successfully complete both classroom knowledge testing and end-of-course range skills testing to qualify for a skills test waiver.

History

History: Cr. Register, January, 1998, No. 505, eff. 2-1-98; CR 04-132: am. (1) (b) and (2) (a) Register April 2005 No. 592, eff. 5-1-05; CR 07-084: am. (1) (f) and (2) (e), r. (3) Register February 2008 No. 626, eff. 3-1-08; CR 24-043: am. (title), (1) (intro.), (a), (b), (d) (intro.), 3., r. (1) (e), renum. (1) (f) to (3) and am., r. (1) (g), r. and recr. (2) (intro.), (a), am. (2) (b), r. and recr. (2) (e), r. (2) (f), cr. (2) (g), (4) to (6) Register November 2024 No. 827, eff. 12-1-24; title created in (3) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 2., Stats., and correction in (5) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register November 2024 No. 827.