News and Trips   Upcoming   Friday   January 22       International Motorcycle Show   Manhattan   2009 Events   Sunday   October 4       BAMS Ride   Bethpage, NY   Sunday   September 13       NYC Race for the Cure   Manhattan   Thursday   July 16       Harley Garage Party   Bellmore, NY   Tuesday   July 7       Introduction to Motorcycling   Dix Hills, NY   Thursday   June 4       Right bike for right now   Americade, Lake George, NY   Wednesday   June 3       Introduction to Motorcycling   Americade, Lake George, NY   Sunday   May 31       BAMS Ride   Bethpage, NY   Thursday   April 23       Improve Your Riding Seminar   Victory of Mineola   Thursday   April 16       Improve Your Riding Seminar   Victory of Mineola   Monday   April 13       Introduction to Motorcycling   Amityville Library   Saturday   March 14     Hicksville Business Expo   Hicksville, NY   Tuesday   February 17       Harley-Davidson Press Launch   California   Friday   January 16       International Motorcycle Show   Manhattan   2008 Events   Saturday   October 4       Femmoto 2008   Las Vegas, NV   Friday   October 3       STT Co-ed Track Day   Las Vegas, NV   Sunday   September 14       NYC Race for the Cure   Manhattan   Summer   July       Riding in the Rain   Safety Matters Newsletter   Friday   June 20       Harley Garage Party   Bellmore, NY   Thursday   June 5       Americade Women's Roundtable   Lake George, NY   Sunday   April 13       Two motorcycle articles   Newsday Wheels Section   Saturday   April 12       Northeast Motorcycle Expo   Brentwood, NY   Sunday   March 30       Suffolk County Half Marathon   Selden, NY   Saturday   March 15       Business Expo   Broadway Mall   Tuesday   March 11       Newsday Jobs Panel   Melville, NY   Friday   February 22       Now accept credit cards   Visa and Mastercard   2007 Events   Friday   December 28       International Motorcycle Show   Manhattan   Tuesday   November 13       Talk at BOCES   Bellport, NY   Sunday   September 18       Chamber of Commerce   Hicksville, NY   Sunday   September 9       NYC Race for the Cure   Manhattan   Thursday   May 17       Prelicensing Course   Bethpage, NY   Saturday   May 5       Long Island Bikefest   Riverhead, NY   Monday   April 30       Introduction to Motorcycling   Amityville Library   2006 Events   Friday   November 17       Harley Garage Party   Kingston, NY Friday, January 22, through Sunday, January 24, 2010 Big Apple Motorcycle School at the International Motorcycle Show The Big Apple Motorcycle School will again have a booth at the International Motorcycle Show in New York City on January 22 through 24, 2010, at the Jacob Javits convention center. We will be available to answer questions and schedule Spring 2010 lessons! See the International Motorcycle Show website for more information and directions to the show. Sunday, October 4, 2009 starting at 8:30 AM BAMS Ride Another reunion ride of Big Apple Motorcycle School students and friends took place on Sunday, October 4. We started at Briarcliffe College, 1055 Stewart Ave, Bethpage and then rode to a lunch destination. Our plans are for a "scenic paced" ride - one that can be enjoyed by riders of all ability levels. This should be a fun event and a great introduction to group riding for those of you who have never done it. Please make sure your motorcycle is registered, inspected and in good running condition. We will do a preride inspection of all bikes before beginning. We also require a helmet, eye protection, long sleeves or motorcycle jacket, long pants and over-the-ankle shoes or boots. Coffee and bagels will be served starting at 8:30 AM. A free, one-hour skills practice will start at 9:00 AM. The ride will begin at 10:15 AM. We will go over safe group riding procedures, and then ride to lunch destination with some stops along the way. We would appreciate it if you would email us at info@bigapplemotorcycleschool.com with your name and type of motorcycle if you'll be joining us! Please arrive with a full tank of gas. We look forward to a fun-filled ride. Sunday, September 13, 2009 Diane Ortiz to lead women riders at NY City Race for the Cure Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz will again lead a group of women riders at the NY City run/walk for the Komen Foundation. It is anticipated that over 35,000 women will participate and all proceeds will go to the Komen Foundation, a leading group in the fight for breast cancer research. If you are a woman rider interested in participating, please contact Diane for more information Thursday, July 16, 2009 Harley-Davidson Garage Party in Bellmore The Big Apple Motorcycle School participated in Harley-Davidson of Nassau County's "Garage Party" at the dealership at 2428 Sunrise Highway in Bellmore on Thursday, July 16. President Diane Ortiz spoke on motorcycle safety and education to this gathering of prospective women motorcyclists. This seminar was geared towards women who always wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle or even just dreamed about it but were afraid of what they didn't know - This is the chance to find out! Please contact Harley-Davidson of Bellmore for more information. To register, please call them at 516-409-9200 or see the Harley-Davidson of Nassau Count (Bellmore) website. Tuesday, July 7, 2009 Introduction to Motorcycling at Half Hollow Hills Library The Big Apple Motorcycle School will be giving an "Introduction to Motorcycling" seminar at the Half Hollow Hills Library on Tuesday, July 7. President Diane Ortiz and her staff of experienced instructors will lead an informative session. Get the "inside information" to make you more comfortable and confident entering the sport. If you've always wanted to ride a motorcycle or even just dreamed about it but were afraid of what you didn't know.. now's the chance to find out! We will walk you through the skills you need to become a safe and proficient rider as well as getting the right gear, the right helmet and other issues facing prospective riders. Come down and get all the information you will need to begin your journey from certified instructors from the Big Apple Motorcycle School! There is a $10 fee for instructional material. Please contact us for more information. To register, please call Half Hollow Hills Library at 631-421-4530 or the Half Hollow Hills Library website. Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 11 AM Right bike for right now The Big Apple Motorcycle School will be giving an "Right bike for right now" seminar at Americade, the world's largest motorcycle touring rally, on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 11 AM. The location of the seminar is in the forum rooms at the Roaring Brook Ranch. President Diane Ortiz and Vice President George Tranos will lead an informative session. How do you know which bike is best for you? Does the bike you're considering fit your physique as well as your lifestyle and experience level? Join seasoned motorcycle mentors George Tranos and Diane Ortiz to learn how to figure out which motorcycle best fits your wants, needs and budget. Americade registration is required to attend. Please see Americade Website for more information. Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 1 PM Introduction to Motorcycling at Americade The Big Apple Motorcycle School will be giving an "Introduction to Motorcycling" seminar at Americade, the world's largest motorcycle touring rally, on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 1 PM. The location of the seminar is in the forum rooms at the Roaring Brook Ranch. President Diane Ortiz and Vice President George Tranos will lead an informative session. Get the "inside information" to make you more comfortable and confident entering the sport. If you've always wanted to ride a motorcycle or even just dreamed about it but were afraid of what you didn't know.. now's the chance to find out! We will walk you through the skills you need to become a safe and proficient rider as well as getting the right gear, the right helmet and other issues facing prospective riders. Come down and get all the information you will need to begin your journey from certified instructors from the Big Apple Motorcycle School! Americade registration is required to attend. Please see Americade Website for more information. Sunday, May 31, 2009 starting at 8:30 AM First Annual BAMS Ride The first annual reunion ride of Big Apple Motorcycle School students and friends has been rescheduled to Sunday, May 31. We'll be starting at 8:30 AM with a group ride to breakfast. We'll then continue the ride to a lunch destination. Our plans are for a "scenic paced" ride - one that can be enjoyed by riders of all ability levels. This should be a fun event and a great introduction to group riding for those of you who have never done it. Please meet at Briarcliffe College back parking lot, 1055 Stewart Ave, Bethpage, NY 11714. Please make sure your motorcycle is registered, inspected and in good running condition. We will do a preride inspection of all bikes before beginning. We also require a helmet, eye protection, long sleeves or motorcycle jacket, long pants and over-the-ankle shoes or boots. The ride will begin at 8:30 AM. We will go over safe group riding procedures, ride to breakfast and then continue the ride to another lunch destination. We would appreciate it if you would email us at info@bigapplemotorcycleschool.com with your name and type of motorcycle if you'll be joining us! We look forward to a fun-filled ride. Thursday, April 23, 2009 Improve Your Riding Seminar at Victory of Mineola Open House The Big Apple Motorcycle School will be giving an "Improve Your Riding" seminar at the Victory of Mineola on Thursday, April 23 starting at 7 PM. President Diane Ortiz and instructor George Tranos will lead an informative session. Get the "inside information" to help you bring your riding to the next level. This session will focus on developing control, precision and smoothness. We will walk you through the skills you need to become more comfortable and confident as a rider. Come down and get all the information from certified instructors from the Big Apple Motorcycle School! No preregistration is required. See the Victory of Mineola website or call 516-248-5555 for more information or directions. Thursday, April 16, 2009 Improve Your Riding Seminar at Victory of Mineola Open House The Big Apple Motorcycle School gave an "Improve Your Riding" seminar at the Victory of Mineola on Thursday, April 16 starting at 7 PM. President Diane Ortiz and instructor George Tranos led an informative session. Get the "inside information" to help you bring your riding to the next level. This session will focus on developing control, precision and smoothness. We will walk you through the skills you need to become more comfortable and confident as a rider. Come down and get all the information from certified instructors from the Big Apple Motorcycle School! No preregistration is required. See the Victory of Mineola website or call 516-248-5555 for more information or directions. Monday, April 13, 2009 Introduction to Motorcycling at the Amityville Library The Big Apple Motorcycle School will be giving an "Introduction to Motorcycling" seminar at the Amityville Library on Monday, April 13. President Diane Ortiz and her staff of experienced instructors will lead an informative session. Get the "inside information" to make you more comfortable and confident entering the sport. If you've always wanted to ride a motorcycle or even just dreamed about it but were afraid of what you didn't know.. now's the chance to find out! We will walk you through the skills you need to become a safe and proficient rider as well as getting the right gear, the right helmet and other issues facing prospective riders. Come down and get all the information you will need to begin your journey from certified instructors from the Big Apple Motorcycle School! There is a $10 fee for instructional material. Please contact us for more information. To register, please call Amityville Library at 631-264-0567 or the Amityville Library website. Saturday, March 14, 2009 Display at the Hicksville Business Expo The Big Apple Motorcycle School participated in the Business Expo at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville on Saturday, March 14. Instructors Diane, George and Dave were available to answer questions and schedule Spring 2009 lessons! See our Rates and Specials for more information about our training packages. Tuesday, February 17, 2009 George participates in Harley-Davidson Press Launch Big Apple Motorcycle School instructor George Tranos took part in a February 2009 press launch for Harley-Davidson touring motorcycles in California. Look for his story of the trip and reviews of the motorcycles in an upcoming story. See George's published articles for more information. Friday, January 16, through Sunday, January 18,2009 Big Apple Motorcycle School at the International Motorcycle Show The Big Apple Motorcycle School again had a booth (#875) at the International Motorcycle Show in New York City on January 16 through 18, 2009, at the Jacob Javits convention center. We were available to answer questions and schedule Spring 2009 lessons! See the International Motorcycle Show website for more information and directions to the show. President Diane Ortiz also gave three seminars at the "Hub" on "Motorcycling 101" Saturday, October 4 and Sunday,October 5, 2008 Diane Ortiz participates in Femmoto 2008 in Las Vegas Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz participated in the annual women's motorcycle demo event and track day at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Along with approximately 400 other women riders, Diane sampled the offerings of the many motorcycle manufacturers who provided bikes for the women to ride both on the track and on the street. See the Femmoto website for more information. Friday, October 3, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle School officers participate in Sportbike Track Time co-ed track day in Las Vegas Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz and Vice President George Tranos participated in the Sportbike Tracktime track day at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This co-ed track day was run prior to Femmoto 2008. Male riders could participate only with a registered Femmoto 2008 woman. Approximately 100 riders rode the race track to help sharpen their skills and for a day of fun and excitement. See the Sportbike Tracktime website for more information. Sunday, September 14, 2008 Diane Ortiz lead women riders at NY City Race for the Cure Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz again lead a group of women riders at the NY City run/walk for the Komen Foundation. It is anticipated that over 10,000 women will participate and all proceeds will go to the Komen Foundation, a leading group in the fight for breast cancer research. If you are a woman rider interested in participating, please contact Diane for more information July 2008 New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee pubishes "Safety Matters" a eight page newsletter on traffic safety with an article on page 7 on Riding in the Rain by Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz. See the newsletter at Governors Traffic Safety Matters Summer 2008 Friday, June 20, 2008 Harley-Davidson of Nassau County in Bellmore, NY hosted a free Garage Party with Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz as a featured speaker Diane is shown in the photo in the center, kneeling in the denim shirt. A Garage Party is a social gathering to give poentential female riders exposure to the Harley-Davidson motorcycling experience and connect them with other women riders. Fundamentals of motorcycling such as how the controls work, differences in models, safety education and motorcycle jargon are discussed. The event provides a fun way to obtain basic information for non-riders who have little or no prior knowledge of motorcycles. The event will cover motorcycle orientation, apparel, learning to ride and customization. Complimentatry food and drinks will be provided as well as surprise gifts and activites! Bring all the questions you ever had about motorcycles. Learn why women ride with motivational speaker, motorcycle journalist and Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz. Wondering what a full dresser is or how to pick up a dropped bike? All these questions will be answered and more! See Harley-Davidson of Nassau County for more information. Thursday, June 5, 2008 Big Apple President Diane Ortiz participated as part of the Americade Women's Roundtable at the Roaring Brook Ranch in Lake George This forum was one of Americade's "Featured Evening Speakers" and was moderated by the Women's Motorcyclist Foundation's Sue Slate. It took place on Thursday evening starting at 8 PM. Diane also gave forums on How to Find the Right Bike Fit for You - Good Input/Good Output on Tuesday at 10 AM, and How to Kick Those Stumbling Blocks Out of Your Way! on Thursday at 11 AM. Sunday, April 13, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle school authors two motorcycle articles published in Newsday Wheels section President Diane Ortiz wrote one story on the Piaggio MP3 400 and George Tranos wrote another story on the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob. See our Published Articles for these articles Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle School particpated as a vendor at the Northeast Motorcycle Expo at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood Our booth at the Northeast Motorcycle Expo Sunday, March 30, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle School motorcycle leads Suffolk County Half Marathon in Selden Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz led the runners in the Suffolk County Half Marathon and 5K that started and ended at Suffolk Community College in Selden. Her motorcycle was tracked with Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) equipment to indicate to the race director where the lead runner was. This combined two of Diane's passions - motorcycling and Amateur Radio. For more on Amateur Radio and the APRS system see ARRL - the national association for Amateur Radio Saturday, March 15, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle School booth at the business expo at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz was available from 10 AM to 4 PM to answer your questions and schedule lessons. Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Big Apple Motorcycle School President participates in Newsday Jobs Panel Former Newsday staffer and current Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz spoke with current Newsday employees about future job and career opportunities in a forum called "Yes, there is life after Newsday." Other participants included Carolyn Coldwell, former business and court reporter and now a clinical social worker; Ron Roel, former Act II and real estate editor and now president of Roel Resources, LLC; and Pat Calabria, former sports reporter and now Vice President, Institutional Advancement, of Farmingdale State College. The panel was moderated by Newsday report Patricia Kitchen (at right in photo above with Diane Ortiz) Friday, February 22, 2008 We now accept Visa and Mastercard For your convenience, you may now pay by cash, check, money order, Paypal or credit card. Friday, December 28, through Sunday, December 30, 2007 Big Apple Motorcycle School booth at the New York Motorcycle Show Come and visit us at our booth at the International Motorcycle Show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City on December 28-30. Tuesday, November 13, 2007 Big Apple Motorcycle School to speak at BOCES training classes Diane Ortiz, President of the Big Apple Motorcycle School, will be speaking at both sessions of the Suffolk County BOCES motorcycle technician training class on Tuesday, November 13, 2007. Sunday,September 18, 2007 Big Apple Motorcycle School recognized by Hicksville Chamber of Commerce James E. Pavone, President, Hicksville Chamber of Commerce presented Diane Ortiz, President of the Big Apple Motorcycle School in Hicksville, a plaque recognizing the school's membership in the chamber at the annual Installation and Awards Dinner at the Fox Hollow Inn. Sunday,September 9, 2007 Diane Ortiz leads women riders at NY City Race for the Cure Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz led a group of women riders at the NY City run/walk for the Komen Foundation. Over 10,000 women participated and all proceeds went to the Komen Foundation, a leading group in the fight for breast cancer research. The 14 women riders led the way for the walkers up Central Park West. Diane was riding a Harley Sportster 1200 loaned to her by Harley-Davidson of Nassau County in Bellmore, NY Thursday, May 17, 2007 NY State Prelicensing course will be offered weekly The Big Apple Motorcycle School will offer a weekly NY State Prelicensing course starting on May 17. Saturday and Sunday, May 5 & 6 Booth at Long Island Bikefest Show The Big Apple Motorcycle School will have a booth at the Long Island Bikefest at Splish-Splash in Riverhead. Please visit us there! Monday, April 30, 2007 Introduction to Motorcycling course to be offered at Amityville Library Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz will offer an "Introduction to Motorcycling" seminar at the Amityville Library from 7 to 9 pm. This 2-hour session is geared towards the prospective new motorcyclist and will cover the basics of learning to ride. Diane will discuss motorcycle training and riding safety. Each participant will also be given information about riding gear, maintenance and motorcycle models available. Preregistration is required - please contact us to register! Friday, November 17, 2006 Diane Ortiz speaks on motorcycle training Big Apple Motorcycle School President Diane Ortiz participated in Woodstock Harley-Davidson's Fall Garage Party. The Garage Party was an introduction to motorcycling for 55 women from throughout the area held in Kingston, NY, on Friday, November 17. Diane discussed motorcycle training and riding safety with each of the seven groups of ladies. The women were also given information about riding gear, maintenance and motorcycle models available.