The 7 Best ADV Training Courses In the USA

There are multiple great ADV training programs here in the US, but the skills, terrain, and methods can vary greatly from school to school. 

We're big evangelists of rider training programs, and we're not just saying that because we happen to offer one. Truth be told, professional training is probably the most effective investment any rider can make, whether they're new to the sport or not.

New riders need to build the right core skills, and experienced riders need to forget bad habits. That's particularly true of off-road riding, where traction is relative and the learning curve is as steep as the next hill. 

To that end, we've put together recommendations for a few of our favorite ADV training programs in the country. These are all classes we've either taken ourselves or heard an overwhelming amount of positive feedback on. 

(Note: because we offer ADV training ourselves, the following have been listed in alphabetical order rather than order or quality to keep it objective.)

1. BMW Adventure Rider Academy

BMW's US Rider Academy programs run the gamut from beginner safety courses to police-style low-speed technical training, but it's their Adventure Off-Road programs that you'll be most interested in. 

"BMW's off-road classes are designed with GS owners in mind." photo: BMW

There are three of these programs to choose from here in the US. One is at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, SC, while the other two are partnerships through RawHyde Adventures, offering certified training in both California and Colorado. 

BMW offers a popular one day program that focuses on fundamentals, but if you're gonna make the trip and spend the money, you should pony up for their two-day version, which covers more technical pursuits like mud and riding steep declines. 

2. Bret Tkacs Adventure Training

Most folks know Bret Tkacs from his adventure-centric YouTube channel, but the seasoned ADV rider also runs his own "traveling" ADV training school that gets a ton of great feedback.

The classes bounce around the country throughout the year with stops in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Virginia, and Georgia. That's a cool feature, because both the terrain and the challenges change with each location. 

"Small class sizes are always a bonus."

Bret's schools use a no-BS, physics-based approach to balance and bike control. Graduates of Bret's class can also add a third day to the itinerary (affectionately referred to as "Sunday School") where they go on a real adventure ride alongside instructors. 

3. Jimmy Lewis Off-Road Training

If you're not familiar with the name Jimmy Lewis, you should be. The man is a veteran of off-road racing who's taken honors at the Baja 1000, Dakar Rally, and International Six Day Enduro championship, just to name a few. 

"Nevada offers a wide array of challenging terrain."

His ADV training school isn't just for advanced riders though: the Pahrump, Nevada facility famously employs the same core drills for beginners as it does veterans, scaling each drill to grow in difficulty as riders progress. 

This two-day program runs in the cooler months (Nevada heat is no joke), and includes the option for bike rentals on location. The rentals are more dual-sport than ADV, but the skills you'll learn directly translate to riding big bikes.  

4. MSF Adventure Bike RiderCourse

Most folks know the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for its new rider courses, but there's actually a lot more to learn in the MSF catalog. If you're looking for a basic introduction to ADV riding, the Adventure Bike class is an extremely cost-effective way to do it. 

"MSF classes often include smaller dual sports for rentals."

Long story short, this one-day course covers 12 fundamental skills, and is aimed at folks who own an ADV or dual sport bike, but have little or no dirt experience. Body position, braking, clearing obstacles, and counterweighting are all part of the program. 

This certainly isn't the most immersive class out there, but for a few hundred bucks and a little of your time, it's a perfect primer to give confidence to new off-roaders. MSF courses are cheap, effective, and available coast to coast.

5. RIDE Adventures ADV Training

When we started our training program here at RIDE Adventures, our goal was simple: we wanted to create a class that was accessible yet comprehensive, giving new and "less experienced" adventure riders everything they needed to succeed off-road. 

"A RideADV graduate practices lofting the front wheel over an obstacle."

Our class sizes are small, our instructors are friendly, and our methods are proven. These classes teach all the fundamentals any rider needs to get out and explore on their own with confidence, and cover a wide variety of terrain from gravel to deep sand. 

Our classes are also unique in that they're composed of two very different elements. The first day is all instruction, drills, and practice to build core skills, then on day two, we dive right in with an instructor-led adventure ride on real-world terrain. 

"We keep our classes small to ensure everyone gets more than enough instruction and feedback."

It's a two-day experience that truly feels like an adventure, whether you hit our Bend, OR facility or our Parumph, NV location. At well under $1,000, it's also substantially more affordable than just about any two-day program we've seen.  

We'll also note that we ofter an additional Friday class, in which we teach riders how to properly prepare for an ADV ride. There we cover what tools to pack, how to fix flats, gear recommendations, and everything else that doesn't include the core skills. 

6. Say No To Slow - Chris Birch

Multi-time national enduro champion Chris Birch likely needs no introduction. While you probably won't learn to ride "like Chris" over the course of his two-day programs, you're all but certain to learn everything you need to outride your mates. 

"KTM actually enlisted Birch to develop the latest 890 Adventure."

The Say No To Slow school comes in two flavors: intermediate and advanced. Neither is ideal for "brand new" off-roaders, which means you should be comfortable on gravel before you even show up. 

We've had a friend take both courses, and he ensures us riders of any skill level will be absolutely exhausted by the end of it, but better riders for it. It ain't cheap, but Chris' bonafides as an instructor are second to none.  

7. Touratech Training Experience

Most of us in the ADV community are familiar with the name Touratech. The adventure gear giant is a common staple at adventure rallies across the country, but they also put their stamp of approval on an excellent ADV training school. 

"Touratech is known for its rallies, but they also offer excellent training programs."

The Touratech program offers one-day classes or two-day camps, both of which leverage Gary Strode's legendary "Learn to Ride" curriculum. It sells out quickly, but is fairly priced and highly regarded. 

Learn to Ride pulls from every major discipline including trials, motocross, flat track, and hill climb racing, then puts it all together and applies it to modern ADV bikes. If you can score a seat, Touratech's training is money well spent. 

Conclusion: Is Our ADV Training For You?

So which school offers the best ADV training out there? As you can probably tell, that all depends how far along you are already on your off-road journey.  

If you're fairly new (or brand new) to off-road, value safety, and want to learn the fundamental skills of riding a motorcycle in the dirt, our class is tailor-made with you in mind.

"A father and son duo enjoying our ADV training at our Nevada training center this year."

If you want to learn to ride stand-up wheelies, climb boulders, or do down hills on your front wheel, consider saving your money and giving Chris Birch a call. 

We believe we've got the best product out there for new riders in terms of quality and value. Our affordable rentals simplify things further, and our capstone adventure ride gives you a chance to use skills in the wild while they're still fresh on your mind. 

We'll also note that we plan to start offering week-long "camp and ride" classes this year. These will be "learn and ride" events led by instructors, so you can learn as you go while making lifelong memories in the process!

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