Looking back on 25 years of the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy

Millions of riders have polished their Harley handling skills through the programme

The Harley-Davidson^™ Riding Academy is the Motor Company’s rider training programme. It offers courses designed for non-riders and experienced riders of all skill levels looking to learn and improve. This year, the academy is celebrating a quarter of a century of turning dreamers into riders, having more than one million riders since the programme began.

Since the early years of the sport, motorcyclists have learned to ride in so many ways: by asking for help from family and friends, toughing it out on their own, or joining organised training. As early as 1953, employees of the Knuth Company provided riding lessons at what was then known as the Curtiss-Wright Airfield in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (now Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport).

Called Rider’s Edge when it started up in 2000, the Harley-Davidson programme offered just three courses: The New Rider’s Course, The Skilled Rider’s Course, and a Guide to Group Riding.

The programme name was changed to Riding Academy in 2013. Now in its 25th year, with 1,700 coaches in the US certified by both their home state and H-D, the programme provides classroom and range instructions on motorcycles equipped for the training environment. Hosted at more than 200 dealers, classes are designed for riders of all skill levels, from beginner to three-wheeled and adventure touring. Encouragement, support, and high-fives are all part of the package.

Ray Petry, operations and training lead at the Harley-Davidson Riding Academy, joined the programme in 2006. “What I have enjoyed most, is helping students get from nervous to smiling during the course,” he reflects. “I hope that it will continue to grow and become available at new sites, making training more accessible for all.”

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