Big Apple Motorcycle School

Individual Lessons

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:52:53 +0000

Includes use of one of our training motorcycles. There is a minimum of two lessons booked at a time. The lessons can be taken at any time and don’t have to be taken in one block of time. This is NOT the way to start if you’ve never ridden before! Please consider our Novice Rider Package. If you choose to take individual lessons instead, please note that for someone with no riding experience, lesson 1 is one and one-half hours long.

Full Price: $90/hr (minimum 2 hour purchase)
Deposit: $100.00

Package 1 – Novice Rider

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:53:55 +0000

Includes five one-on-one lessons and everything you need for the road test. Your first lesson is one and one-half hours long. All the rest are one hour long. This package includes use of one of our training motorcycles for all training sessions. We will schedule your road test appointment, provide use of a street-legal training motorcycle, and also provide a car and licensed motorcyclist during the road test. Students who purchase this package will also receive extra practice time before the test. This is a savings of $180 over our regular prices. The novice rider package is for new riders without any experience or those with a minimum of experience who want to start out right. We’ll start you with the basics to form a good foundation to learn from.

Full Price: $475.00
Deposit: $100.00

Package 2 – Road Test

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:58:55 +0000

Includes a one-hour one-on-one lesson, a scheduled road test appointment, practice before the road test and use of our training motorcycle for the lesson, practice and road test. We also provide a car and licensed motorcyclist during the road test. The road test package is for riders with a minimum of 6 months of on-street experience. The emphasis here is to get you accustomed to our motorcycle and prepared to take the DMV road test. We assume you already have the basic skills to ride a motorcycle. If you don’t feel comfortable riding on the street or are not able to start, shift, turn and brake, then please consider one of our other training options.

Full Price: $250.00
Deposit: $100.00

Package 3 – Introduction to Motorcycling

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:00:55 +0000

Includes two one-on-one lessons. Your first lesson is one and one-half hours long. The second lesson is one hour long. This package includes use of one of our training motorcycles for all training sessions. We will provide use of a street-legal training motorcycle, a helmet and gloves. This is an alternate to our novice rider package and is for new riders without any experience or those with a minimum of experience who want to see if riding is for them. We’ll start you with the basics to form a good foundation to learn from. Note: If you are a new rider, this two hour package is NOT enough experience for you to be prepared for a road test or to ride safely on the street. We highly recommend more additional lessons or our novice rider package (and its resulting cost savings).

Full Price: $225.00
Deposit: $100.00

Package 4 – Premiere Express

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:26:05 +0000

Our premiere express service gets you riding quickly and teaches you all the skills you need to help you pass your road test and be proficient on the street. Includes five one-on-one lessons performed sequentially in one day and everything you need for the road test. Your first and fifth lesson are one and one-half hours long. All the rest are one hour long. This package includes use of one of our training motorcycles for all training sessions. We will schedule your road test appointment, provide use of a street-legal training motorcycle, and also provide a car and licensed motorcyclist during the road test. Students who purchase this package will also receive extra riding time on the street plus extra practice time before the test. This is a savings of $180 over our regular prices. Our premiere express package is for new riders without any experience or those with a minimum of experience who want to start out right and want to get it done all in one day. We’ll start you with the basics to form a good foundation to learn from.

Full Price: $595.00
Deposit: $100.00

Defensive Driving Class

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:15:18 +0000

The Big Apple Motorcycle School will be offering the “Defensive Driving Class” to help you save money, save your license and save your life. This is a six-hour class run in either one day or over two evenings. You must attend both evenings in order to complete the course.
Successful completion of this class will provide:

Insurance discounts
If you are the principal operator of a motor vehicle, you will receive a minimum 10% reduction in the base rate of your automobile and motorcycle liability and collision insurance premiums each year for three years.
Point reduction
You may be eligible to reduce as many as four (4) points on your driving record. The DMV computer will automatically note your eligibility to receive the reduction.
Driving refresher
It will help refresh your driving knowledge with a review of time-tested safe driving tips and an overview of today’s vehicle and traffic laws.

Try the I Drive Safely on-line Defensive Driving course – The cost is $34.95. Please click on the link below to begin the registration process.

View our Class Schedule »

The latest inside information from the Big Apple Motorcycle School

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:00:30 +0000

8/30/10 Third MSF Basic RiderCourse completed!

10 Students successfully complete BRC

On Sunday, August 29th, ten students completed our third successful Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse at Dowling College in Oakdale! Congratulations to them for their commitment on becoming safe and proficient motorcyclists. The course started Friday night, August 27, with all students participating in the classroom segment where they learned about the different aspects of motorcycling in preparation for riding. The riding segment started on Saturday, August 28, where each riding learned how to start, stop, shift and turn. Additional on-motorcycle training continued on Sunday, August 29, and culminated with 9 students successfully completing their skill evalation and receiving their course completion cards. The day was hot but the students were able to overcome the high temperatures by drinking lots of fluids and resting often. Kudos to all for a successful course!

8/23/10 Second MSF Basic RiderCourse completed!

9 Students successfully complete BRC

On Sunday, August 22th, nine students completed our second successful Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse at Dowling College in Oakdale! Congratulations to them for their commitment on becoming safe and proficient motorcyclists. The course started Friday night, August 20, with all students participating in the classroom segment where they learned about the different aspects of motorcycling in preparation for riding. The riding segment started on Saturday, August 21, where each riding learned how to start, stop, shift and turn. Additional on-motorcycle training continued on Sunday, August 22, and culminated with 9 students successfully completing their skill evalation and receiving their course completion cards. The day was wet but the students had the opportunity to experience riding in the rain. Kudos to all for a successful course!

8/16/10 First MSF Basic RiderCourse completed!

9 Students successfully complete BRC

On Sunday, August 15th, nine students completed our first successful Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse at Dowling College in Oakdale! Congratulations to them for their commitment on becoming safe and proficient motorcyclists. The course started Friday night, August 13, with all students participating in the classroom segment where they learned about the different aspects of motorcycling in preparation for riding. The riding segment started on Saturday, August 14, where each riding learned how to start, stop, shift and turn. Additional on-motorcycle training continued on Sunday, August 15, and culminated with all students successfully completing their skill evalation and receiving their course completion cards. Each student used one of our new Kawasaki Eliminator 125cc motorcycles and were also provided helmets and gloves if they didn’t use their own. Kudos to all for a successful course!

7/29/10 Big Apple Motorcycle School to offer MSF Basic RiderCourse

New training option to start August 13

The Big Apple Motorcycle School is now authorized to offer the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic RiderCourse! This group class is a great introduction to motorcycling. The course will be held at Dowling College in Oakdale, NY (on the south shore of Suffolk County, Long Island). The class will be held on Friday evening (from 5 to 10 PM), Saturday (morning or afternoon) and Sunday (morning or afternoon). This intensive course will allow up to 12 students to be taught at one time with two instructors. Successful completion of the course will provide a road test waiver that allows the student to not have to take the DMV road test. A course completion card and a NY State motorcycle learner’s permit will yield at motorcycle license endorsement. We are taking registration now for our first class to be held starting Friday, August 13. See our Classes and Pricing page for more information or to register.

6/28/10 June was a busy month

Lots of things happening at BAMS!

We’ve been busy training and helping students get their motorcycle endorsement on their license so we haven’t had a lot of time to update our blog. June started with our annual trip to Americade, the world’s largest motorcycle touring rally in Lake George, New York. We spent part of the week riding the beautiful Adirondack mountain roads, seeing old friends and enjoying the rally. We gave two seminars this year – one on introduction to motorcycling and one on taking your riding to the next level. It was a fun week that went quickly! Also, new in June we are offering the on-line defensive driving course from I Drive Safely. See our Class Schedule page.

5/23/10 Spring Ride Report

A nice day to ride!

Congratulations to those who didn’t let the fog and drizzle dissuade them from the BAMS spring ride! The hardy group started the day with a “Long Island breakfast” of coffee and bagels with cream cheese and butter served outside under the umbrella tables. After introductions and a rider meeting conducted by BAMS VP George Tranos, we headed east to explore the scenic roadways of Suffolk County. We were an eclectic group with motorcycles from a wide variety of manufacturers including a BMW R1150R, Honda ST1300 and Shadow, Harley-Davidson Fat Boy and Heritage Softail and a Yamaha FJR and FZ6. The weather cleared and the sun came out as we made a brief stop in Riverhead. We continued south through the picturesque villages of Bellport, Patchogue, Sayville and Oakdale. We ended with a group lunch at a restaurant in Plainview. Thank you all for a great day of riding and camaraderie!

5/14/10 Spring Ride Planned

Yes, we really DO ride!

Join with the instructors from the Big Apple Motorcycle School for our Spring Ride. The ride is planned for Sunday, May 23, starting at 8:30 AM. The ride will start from the parking lot in front of the Bagel Factory at the Airport Plaza in Farmingdale. After coffee and bagels, we will start off on a 75 mile “scenic paced” ride suitable for riders of all levels. Riders must be licensed and supply their own registered and insured motorcycles. All riders must wear appropriate gear including (at the minimum) over the ankle boots or shoes, long sleeve shirt (or jacket), long pants, full-fingered gloves, DOT helmet and eye protection. A pre-ride inspection of all motorcycles and a rider briefing will take place before the ride. Please arrive with a full tank of gas and empty bladder. This ride is a good introduction to group riding techniques. A fun, safe ride is planned with lunch afterwards at a restaurant destination. Please email us if you plan to attend

4/27/10 Road Test Jitters

TEST is a four-letter word!

Afraid of the road test? Think it’s easier getting a “road test waiver”? Nobody likes tests. Some of us may not have taken a true examination for quite a while. It’s uncomfortable having someone scrutinize your every move. Why go to all that trouble anyway if you don’t have to?

Well it really depends on your goals – you do want to ride on the street – don’t you? If so, you should feel comfortable riding there before you’re licensed. It does you no good to get a license and then try to tackle the street on your own. You might develop bad habits on your own. There are lots of things a certified instructor can help you with to get you confident riding on the street. Once you’re comfortable on the roads, taking the DMV road test is not difficult. You just need to practice the right things beforehand. The DMV requires certain minimum skills of all new riders. You should be able to start, stop, shift and turn. You must obey the traffic laws and use sound judgment. A good school can prepare you properly so you have more than the minimum. They can lead you towards proficiency on the motorcycle and on the street. Once that happens, the road test is just a small obstacle to overcome and you’ll be so much better prepared for the real world of riding.

4/22/10 Patience is a virtue

Breaking off is not hard to do!

So I had some time the other day to catch up on some maintenance work on my bike. The rear brake had been feeling a little spongy and I thought I should change the brake fluid and bleed it. I had previously purchased a couple of speed bleeders for use on my motorcycles but hadn’t gotten around to installing them. So I set off with wrench in hand to remove the existing bleeder screw on my rear brake caliper. I put the wrench to the screw and turned. It didn’t move. I figured it was stuck and instead of thinking it through and in my impatience to get the job done I just added additional force. Bad mistake – the bleeder screw snapped off right before it enters the caliper. Now what? I broke off the bleeder and part of it was stuck inside the caliper. With my specific bike, the bleeder screw threads into another bolt that then fits in the caliper. I was able to take a 17mm wrench and unscrew this bolt. Of course, the brake fluid then was oozing out and I had to stop it. Once that was done, I needed to find a way to back out the offending bleeder screw so I could replace it. I tried drilling it out but snapped off the drill bit I had. Not wanting to make things any worse, I then made my first good decision – I called a friend who is a mechanical engineer and a great fabricator. He said bring the part and come over. He looked at it and told me that I was basically not patient when I tried to remove it. One of his other hobbies is restoring old cars and he has lots of experience with stuck and rusty parts. He said that I should have used some penetrating oil first and then waited for it to do its job. In my impatience, I broke off the part instead of trying to understand the problem first. My friend searched through his massive inventory of tools to find just the right drill and then used a lathe to drill out the remnants of the old bleeder screw. Since the screw was 6mm outside-diameter, we needed a 6mm tap to fix the theads that got damage before we could install the new speed bleeder. After determining that he didn’t have one, we went on a multi-hour search of the hardware and auto parts stores. Once located and back in the workshop, we tapped out the bolt and set it right for the new bleeder screw in all of 2 minutes! After applying a little lubrication first, we inserted the new bleeder carefully and then tested it to make sure it worked properly by using compressed air. The new bleeder passes brake fluid (and therefore air) in only one direction – allowing easy one person brake bleeding. All now worked properly and I was back on my way home to reinstall the bleeder. My initial impatience wound up costing me over 4 hours of time, some of my friend’s time and energy and a few more bucks. All because of impatience and ignorance? Whoever said we learn by experience is definitely right!

4/19/10 Not feeling comfortable riding on the street?

Try our NEW street rider package!

Our most frequently asked question when speaking with experienced riders is “how do I corner better?” Many people without formal training have only a vague idea of how a motorcycle really turns. As a result, these very same riders may not feel really comfortable on the street. We’ve often thought of adding a riding package that addresses this and have finally combined these two needs together into our street rider package. Take a look at the details and contact us if you think this package is for you!

4/16/10 The eyes have it

Why do you need eye protection?

We met a former student the other day and it’s always nice to say hello. He rode up to us, parked his bike and got off. I noticed he was wearing a half-helmet but didn’t have on any goggles or eye protection. When I asked him why, he said his sunglasses blew off when he was riding over! Wow, was I surprised! He said he’d be going to the dealer to get another pair on the way home. While I applaud his realizing the need for protection, I was surprised that what he used was not so durable. Why is it so important that we use eye protection anyway? Your vision is the most important (although not the only) sense that you use to determine if any hazards exist. Scanning far ahead and being aware of all that is around you is an important part of having a strategy to manage risk. Without adequate eye protection, you lose part of that sense. Just wind or dust blowing into the eye can blind you temporarily. Any larger object can cause more permanent damage. Please protect yourself! A pair of goggles or a face shield is a much more durable method than sun glasses that may fall off. Protect your eyes – you need them every day for safe riding!

4/10/10 Wind Chill

Colder than you think

The sun was out early this morning when I took one of our motorcycles out for a short ride. With my full-face helmet, thermal-lined textile motorcycle jacket and pants, together with my mid-weight, lined leather gloves I felt ready for the colder temps. On our local streets in stop and go traffic I was comfortable, then things suddenly changed as I turned onto South Oyster Bay Road and started accelerating. Out in the open I got hit with a blast of the cold, blustery wind that was hiding behind the buildings in town. Wow! All of a sudden I was cold, uncomfortable and fighting to stay in the lane against the wind. The cold found its way through the helmet cheek vents that I had left open and which were, unfortunately, not adjustable while riding. I regretted not putting on an additional layer and was happy to get to my final destination and warm up. My return trip later in the day much more pleasant and enjoyable as the temps had risen fifteen degrees and the winds had diminished. I was happy I didn’t have a longer ride earlier. It was a reminder of how fickle the weather can be on Long Island this time of year. Don’t be fooled by bright sun and blue skies – it can still be in the low forties with a wind chill 5-10 degrees less. Dress accordingly!

4/9/10 Why should I wear all this gear?

Are shorts appropriate for riding?

I was speaking with a long-time friend today who is also a motorcyclist. He rides a cruiser and I’ve never actually ridden with him but know him from another hobby we have in common. I asked if he was out riding in the beautiful weather and he mentioned that he was. Somehow our conversion moved to what he was wearing and he told me he wore shorts and a T-shirt and no gloves. Wow, was I surprised! As an advocate of All-the-gear-all-the-time (ATGATT), I am a big proponent of wearing motorcycle appropriate riding gear every time you are on your motorcycle. I was surprised at his “it won’t happen to me” attitude. Why should we wear all that cumbersome clothing anyway? Isn’t it hot? Proper gear doesn’t have to be “hot” – there are many choices that are good for all conditions. Mesh or flow-through garments work best in hot weather, have protective qualities and some even have armor incorporated into them. They are also cooler than wearing shorts and a T-shirt! I know I’ve kept cool by wetting my short sleeve shirt and then wearing that under a mesh jacket. When the water evaporates, I just stop again and rewet the shirt. This has kept me cool in very hot weather. Of course, drinking lots of water and taking many breaks is also needed in HOT weather. In regular warm weather though, how hot can you get to ride without gear? I’ll tell you this – road rash is the most painful thing you will ever feel! And riding without gloves is the biggest mistake you can make. Your hands have so many nerves in them, that if they were to hit the ground in a crash without protection, you will feel immense pain. It is such an easily preventable thing just by wearing the right gear. I asked my friend to please give it some thought before riding like that again and I hope he does. No one thinks it will happen to them but managing risk is important. Good gear, proper training, a motorcycle in good running and working condition and the right attitude are all important components in a riding strategy.

4/7/10 Great Weather!

Is this April?

We were out today at the road test site and the weather was amazing! Is this really April 7? The calendar says so but the weather feels like June! What a great day for a ride!

We had 7 students today take road tests and everyone passed! There were quite a few happy, smiling faces and many were planning on going home and riding their own motorcycles to celebrate. Hopefully this beautiful weather will continue. It may cool off some but winter is really over now! Can summer be far away?

4/5/10 Port Jeff motorcycle policy

Main Street and Motorcycles

The Port Jefferson Business Improvement District is meeting tomorrow night to discuss banning parking on Main Street, according to a recent newsletter. “No motorcycles; No unsightly motorcyclists” are bullet-points in support of a no-parking rule. In this economy businesses should be looking for ways to make it easier, not more difficult, for their customers to shop at their establishments. The ban will probably not come to pass, but the newsletter item does send the message that motorcyclists are not welcome there. If I have a choice, I’ll shop and dine where my dollars and presence are appreciated, whether I’m wearing a business suit or my motorcycle leathers.

4/2/10 The New Addition

Thoughts on the Kawasaki Eliminator

We added a new bike to the fleet, a Kawasaki Eliminator, and today new students and experienced riders alike got the chance to put it through its paces. I call the bike ”small, but mighty” as the Eliminator is 125cc and a bit over 300 pounds wet. It makes up in maneuverability what it lacks in size. That, in a way, is part of its charm. Simple, classic styling, it is a no-frills standard that allows most riders to get both feet flat on the ground and instills confidence with its stability even at low speeds. We welcome the new addition and we look forward to our students putting many miles on it in the coming months!

4/1/10 Road Test Success!

Congratulations to all the students that took their road tests today!

It's easy to back out of the driveway on a Spyder - it has reverse!

It was a long awaited event, especially for one student who wasn’t able to take the test on his originally scheduled date in December because of snow. Today was a far cry from that as sunny skies and soft breezes accompanied temps in the low to mid 60s at the road test site. He made the trip from Brooklyn just to take the test, accompanied by his friend who took the road test package with us last year. Another student came from the Hamptons and was looking forward to using his sportbike for the daily commute. The group of five included one student who took the test on a custom painted, black powder-coated Can-Am Spyder, a very interesting and fun vehicle. I can tell you from personal experience, they are a blast to ride. Everyone passed with 100% (0 points) and are looking forward to riding this season.

Is this April?

We were out today at the road test site and the weather was amazing! Is this really April 7? The calendar says so but the weather feels like June! What a great day for a ride!

4/5/10 Port Jeff motorcycle policy

Main Street and Motorcycles

4/2/10 The New Addition

Thoughts on the Kawasaki Eliminator

4/1/10 Road Test Success!

Congratulations to all the students that took their road tests today!

It's easy to back out of the driveway on a Spyder - it has reverse!

4/7/10 Great Weather!

Is this April?

We were out today at the road test site and the weather was amazing! Is this really April 7? The calendar says so but the weather feels like June! What a great day for a ride!

4/5/10 Port Jeff motorcycle policy

Main Street and Motorcycles

4/2/10 The New Addition

Thoughts on the Kawasaki Eliminator

4/1/10 Road Test Success!

Congratulations to all the students that took their road tests today!

It's easy to back out of the driveway on a Spyder - it has reverse!

Is this April?

We were out today at the road test site and the weather was amazing! Is this really April 7? The calendar says so but the weather feels like June! What a great day for a ride!

4/5/10 Port Jeff motorcycle policy

Main Street and Motorcycles

4/2/10 The New Addition

Thoughts on the Kawasaki Eliminator

4/1/10 Road Test Success!

Congratulations to all the students that took their road tests today!

It's easy to back out of the driveway on a Spyder - it has reverse!

4/7/10 Great Weather!

Is this April?

We were out today at the road test site and the weather was amazing! Is this really April 7? The calendar says so but the weather feels like June! What a great day for a ride!

4/5/10 Port Jeff motorcycle policy

Main Street and Motorcycles

4/2/10 The New Addition

Thoughts on the Kawasaki Eliminator

4/1/10 Road Test Success!

Congratulations to all the students that took their road tests today!

It's easy to back out of the driveway on a Spyder - it has reverse!

Is this April?

We were out today at the road test site and the weather was amazing! Is this really April 7? The calendar says so but the weather feels like June! What a great day for a ride!

4/5/10 Port Jeff motorcycle policy

Main Street and Motorcycles

4/2/10 The New Addition

Thoughts on the Kawasaki Eliminator

4/1/10 Road Test Success!

Congratulations to all the students that took their road tests today!

It's easy to back out of the driveway on a Spyder - it has reverse!

4/7/10 Great Weather!

Is this April?

We were out today at the road test site and the weather was amazing! Is this really April 7? The calendar says so but the weather feels like June! What a great day for a ride!

4/5/10 Port Jeff motorcycle policy

Main Street and Motorcycles

4/2/10 The New Addition

Thoughts on the Kawasaki Eliminator

4/1/10 Road Test Success!

Congratulations to all the students that took their road tests today!

It's easy to back out of the driveway on a Spyder - it has reverse!

Is this April?

We were out today at the road test site and the weather was amazing! Is this really April 7? The calendar says so but the weather feels like June! What a great day for a ride!

4/5/10 Port Jeff motorcycle policy

Main Street and Motorcycles

4/2/10 The New Addition

Thoughts on the Kawasaki Eliminator

4/1/10 Road Test Success!

Congratulations to all the students that took their road tests today!

It's easy to back out of the driveway on a Spyder - it has reverse!

MSF Basic RiderCourse

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:57:57 +0000

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic RiderCourse (BRC) is a nationally recognized rider training program. This extensive course is held over a three-day period and includes 5-hours of classroom instruction and 10-hours of on-motorcycle training. All training for the MSF BRC will be held at Dowling College on the south shore of Suffolk County in Oakdale, NY. The BRC is a group class with up to 12 students and 2 instructors. Successful completion of the course results in a New York State road test waiver that combined with a NY State Motorcycle Learner’s permit will yield your motorcycle license endorsement. This course includes use of helmet, gloves and one of our training motorcycles. Course requirements are a NY State Motorcycle Learner’s permit, proper attire and punctual attendance for all sessions. Full payment is required in advance to register for our next available class – which is Friday, September 17, starting at 5 PM, Saturday, September 18, and Sunday, September 19 (must attend all three days). After payment is received, we will contact you to complete the registration process and confirm your spot in the class. Register below for the next available class or view our class schedule to register for a specific date. By registering, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of our refund policy.

Register for next available class: (or view our class schedule to register for a specific date)
Payment in full: $350.00

Package 5 – Street Rider

admin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:13:00 +0000

Our Street Rider package emphasizes improving cornering ability, crash avoidance techniques, street skills and on-road riding. Includes two one-on-one lessons that are each one hour long. Your first lesson will consist of cornering exercises and crash avoidance techniques. Your second lesson will consist of street skills practice and actual on-road riding. This package includes use of one of our training motorcycles for all training sessions. Our street rider package is for riders who already know how to start, stop, shift and turn but feel they would benefit from additional cornering practice and on-street riding.

Full Price: $180.00
Deposit: $100.00

$180 Gift Certificate (Sampler Package)

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:29:43 +0000

Two 60 minute one-on-one lessons (motorcycle/helmet/gloves provided). Any level of experience from beginner to advanced. We will tailor the lessons to the student, whether you want to “sample” motorcycling to see if it is for you or are an experienced rider who wants to sharpen their skills.