In addition to the Yamaha Champions Riding School’s on-bike, in-person training classes, which include ChampSchool, ChampStreet, and ChampGrad, the riding school also offers digital curriculums for riders. Online courses include “Champ U: Core Curriculum,” “Champ U: New Rider,” and “ChampBody.” Recently, Yamaha Champions Riding School announced their fourth online course: “Champ U: Traffic Survival,” which includes over 40 videos, quizzes, and drills for street riding. For more information, read the press release below.
Yamaha Champions Riding School Chief Instructor/CEO Nick Ienatsch gives guidance of safe street riding techniques.
Yamaha Champions Riding School, the premier motorcycle riding school in North America, is proud to announce a new Champions University digital curriculum: Traffic Survival. This is the fourth curriculum and arguably the most important Champ U online course to date.
Riding on the street is often considered dangerous and unpredictable. Distracted drivers, traffic, dilapidated roads, and insufficient training have become the norm. In fact, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to lose their lives in a fatal accident than other drivers.
The best way to stay safe on the street is to master motorcycle vehicle dynamics, understand the unique dangers of the road, and learn how the best riders in the world avoid them. As our skills and safety increase, so does the fun – and at the end of the day, that’s why we all love this sport! Traffic Survival is designed to give any rider, on any bike, the skills and strategies needed to enjoy every street ride and have more fun on two wheels for many years to come.
Derived from multi-time World Champion Freddie Spencer’s curriculum, ChampSchool has been in business since 2014 and has trained some of the best riders in the world with multi-day curriculums for street riders, racers, police officers, motorcycle manufactures, and the US Marine Corps. Yamaha Champions Riding School is at the forefront of motorcycle vehicle dynamics training.
We gathered subject matter experts with diverse backgrounds that include police motor officers, veteran street riders, international motojournalists, and national road racing champions with one goal: create a complete curriculum on how to thrive and survive on the street.
Traffic Survival combines over 40 videos, quizzes, and drills to form the definitive guide for street riding techniques and strategies, derived from data driven best practices, not internet-based theory.
Unlike our $2500-plus exclusive multi-day training events, Champ U: Traffic Survival is available to any rider with an internet connection and at a price any motorcyclist can afford. New riders and veteran street riders will learn the best techniques and approaches to handle a wide variety of situations, especially those that account for the majority of street crashes.
Yamaha Champions Riding School Chief Instructor/CEO Nick Ienatsch and Jen Dunstan
Traffic Survival will retail for $99.95 but is available until the end of the year for a very special introductory price of $79.95.
The weather may be getting colder, and your motorcycle might be going into storage for a while. Don’t miss this opportunity to improve your skills on your preferred device. When warmer days arrive, you will be ready!
Learn more about Champ U: Traffic Survival and our other online and in-person courses at the Champ U courses page.
Yamaha Champions Riding School (ChampSchool) is the nation’s premier motorcycle training program. ChampSchool is the evolution of the Freddie Spencer High-Performance Riding School and is led by racer, author, and former right-hand man of Spencer, Nick Ienatsch. ChampSchool uses “Champions Habits” to teach all riders the skills and techniques used by the top riders in the world to go faster safer, while concentrating on the way in which modern motorcycles are designed to be ridden. ChampSchool is dedicated to making all motorcycle riders safer and more in control of their riding, no matter what type of riding they do. For more information visit the ChampSchool website.
The item at the top of associate editor Paul Dail’s resolutions list for 2023 was to get some track experience by attending the two-day ChampSchool offered by Yamaha Champions Riding School. Yamaha was kind enough to loan us an MT-09 SP, and YCRS Chief Instructor and CEO Nick Ienatsch was kind enough to extend Paul an invitation for the Jan. 27-28 ChampSchool at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which featured “Fast” Freddie Spencer as a guest instructor. –Ed.
ChampSchool Lead Instructor and President Chris Peris works with a student at the ChampSchool in Las Vegas.
Not much about me screams either “sportbike” or “trackday.” With a shaved head and beard nearly as long as my face is tall, to look at me, you’d probably guess I ride a Harley. And you wouldn’t be wrong. My main bike currently is a 2004 Heritage Softail Classic. I’m a cruiser guy. But the length of my beard might belie the length of time I’ve been riding – at least this most recent stint. According to a website I found with a glossary of both common and obscure motorcycling terms, I’m a “BAB,” or Born Again Biker, which is “someone who has recently returned to riding after a period of absence…and really ought to get some advanced training.”
Taking a breather between track sessions. Is it obvious that I’m not used to track leathers?
I’ve taken a couple MSF parking-lot classes that were informative, but when the opportunity arose to pick up a Yamaha MT-09 SP test bike in Southern California and take it to the Yamaha Champions Riding School’s two-day ChampSchool in Las Vegas, I jumped at it. I may be a cruiser guy about to turn 50, but I still have a pulse, and the idea of learning from some of the best racers in the country got that pulse, well, racing.
Prior to the school, I was sent the online Champ U “Champion’s Habits: Core Curriculum.” I talk more about this in the sidebar below, but in the immediate, it was very helpful to watch the courses before attending the class. Much of the information was repeated within the first couple hours at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but this method of instruction made perfect sense to me. It’s the same reason I usually have my 10-year-old son read through all the instructions before jumping into a project. That way, once you actually get down to business, you understand the big picture – where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. I was pleased that most things the instructors at ChampSchool said in those first hours were lessons I remembered from Champ U.
Nick Ienatsch demonstrates how lean angle affects the 100 points of grip concept, which is one of the ChampSchool Four Core Habits.
That’s not to say that I wasn’t still nervous. After all, even if you’ve read the instructions, sometimes you break the little pieces when you’re building a model. I wasn’t particularly interested in breaking the $12,000 motorcycle that didn’t belong to me…or the little pieces that make up my body.
But my mind was put to ease by one of the first things ChampSchool Chief Instructor and CEO Nick Ienatsch instructed us to do: Turn to the person standing next to us and say, “I don’t care what you think about my riding.” I’m guessing that even after that, most attendees at the class probably actually did care, myself included, but that was just me dealing with my own insecurities, and starting the two days with that directive was a good reminder. More importantly, even though I was one of the slower riders, I was never made to feel that way by the instructors.
Freddie Spencer (left) and Nick Ienatsch (right) instruct students between track sessions.
It also helped that the approximately 25 students were divided into two groups depending on track and general riding experience (and then further divided into an approximate 4:1 student-instructor ratio). The two groups would alternate sessions on the track and sessions in the classroom reviewing the time they had just spent on the track and reinforcing other concepts. The only time all of us were on the track together was toward the end of the second day – at which point it wasn’t so nerve wracking being passed by the more advanced students, and I was able to keep my focus on my riding.
Strength Through Struggles
In between each track session, students were asked to rank themselves from 1-10 on a scorecard of “CHAMPS” categories (Comfort/fun, Have brakes past tip-in/efficiency, Apexes/direction, My plan/eyes, Position/timing of body, Smooth initial/final 5%). My three lowest scores were consistently related to braking, scanning forward, and my body position.
ChampSchool instructor uses hand signals to guide a student behind him.
While “eyes” was obviously tied to “My plan” (scan ahead on the track and make a plan), the benefit of the CHAMPS scorecard during the classroom sessions was that it gave riders another kind of plan: the things they needed to work on when they went back on the track.
Another great feature of the school is the filming and reviewing of student riding, which happened twice, once toward the end of the first day and then again before lunch on the second day, with the review of the footage happening at the meal after the filming.
In order to move the process along, students were either taken out two at a time to watch their riding with an instructor on a laptop or their riding was reviewed on a larger projector screen with the whole group. For the review of my first ride, I was one of the smaller two-at-a-time groups. I’m not sure if this was by design, but I was glad I didn’t have to watch my puttering along in front of the whole group. And after getting almost a blow-by-blow analysis of the entire ride by my instructor, I was pleased to see improvement in the second-day video (thankfully, since this one was viewed in front of the main group). And like with the CHAMPS scorecard, watching the videos gave me a plan for when I returned to the track.
The classroom where student video sessions were reviewed.
ChampSchool ‘Roller Coaster Moments’ and Other Surprises
The cost of attending the two-day school at the Las Vegas Speedway was $2,495 (prices vary depending on the track), not counting travel or rental costs for a bike if you don’t bring your own or the required “standard track gear” – in my case, track leathers and boots. This is a little higher than some fees I’ve seen, but considering the bona fides of the instructors, the quality of instruction, the amount of track time, and the online curriculum sent in advance of the class, I think it’s a solid value.
However, there were a couple experiences where it felt like the organizers and instructors thought, Let’s give them an even bigger bang for their buck. I called these the “Roller Coaster Moments.” There were lessons to be gleaned from each one, but mostly I just walked away glad to be alive.
Clearly not a photo of me.
The first one was shown in the online curriculum…kind of. At several points in the videos, instructors hop in a minivan to illustrate how riding can be similar to driving. Makes sense. And so it also made sense when, after some introductory instruction at the speedway, they said, “Okay, let’s get in the minivans, and we’ll illustrate some of these things we’ve been talking about.” Sure, I thought. I remember seeing them doing this in the videos.
What they didn’t show in the videos is the extreme version of illustrating the points.
Did you know a minivan can take corners at 80-plus mph? I didn’t. Nor did I necessarily think it should. My instructor for the two days (and minivan driver that first day) was Cody Wyman. In addition to all of Cody’s racing accolades, he is also a professional driving instructor. Again, did you know a minivan can take corners at 80-plus mph? Apparently it can, although my death grip on the underside of my seat (you can probably still see my claw marks) was because I was convinced we were going to go ass-over-teakettle.
Cody was sure to check in on all his passengers as we careened around the track, and I think I mumbled something like “I’m good,” and I think he said some other things we were supposed to be learning, but it wasn’t until they repeated the exercise the next day that I was able to breathe and pick up some of the finer nuances of braking and finding the straightest lines to the next apex.
Cody Wyman prepares a student for the braking drill.
The second “Roller Coaster Moment” was riding two-up with an instructor. I’m not sure what else to say besides it was like being on the back of a rocket. I don’t remember much beyond trying not to collapse Cody’s lungs or fracture his ribs with my arms as I clutched the grab bar that had been affixed to the Yamaha MT-10 tank in front of him while he took corners at speeds that I’m pretty sure were faster than the minivan. At least the van had seatbelts.
While I joke about this being a “Roller Coaster Moment,” the lesson was indeed solid, and it segues into my biggest surprise – or perhaps realization – of exactly how amazing motorcycles are when it comes to moving through space and time, especially sportbikes – even with my 200-lb butt on the pillion.
Several times over the course of the two days, we were told to trust the bike. We all hear about “lean angle” and “rider triangle” and “geometry,” but it was fascinating (and reassuring) to hear from professionals exactly how much these machines have been designed to take your physical inputs and convert them using math and science into results that allow the bike to cling to the earth in seeming defiance of natural laws. But I learned that they’re actually pushing those very laws.
ChampSchool instructor demonstrates the 100 points of grip.
Common ChampSchool expressions like “Load the tire before you work the tire” revolve around math and science. Adding 5% of brakes starts to compress the fork, which changes the geometry of the bike and widens the tire’s contact patch, and suddenly (well, similar to his dislike of words like “flick” or “grab,” Nick would probably scold me for such an “abrupt” word choice as “suddenly”) you can add more brakes or lean angle to make a tight corner. It’s more than “man and machine”; it’s an amazing symbiosis. We are riding the motorcycles, and they are listening to what our bodies are saying.
It’s also worth noting I was a little surprised about the caliber of the instructors, not only in their accomplishments but also – and maybe more importantly – their behavior. Nick may have started the class by saying that they would be hard on us, but what I found from all the instructors was positive correction and consistent support and encouragement. And Cody was about the nicest guy you could imagine. Someone could say, “Well, sure, because you were paying them,” but a few weeks after ChampSchool at the AIMExpo show, with hundreds of attendees, I was wandering around trying to take it all in when I heard, “Hey Paul!” It was Cody. I hadn’t even noticed him, and he could’ve just let me pass, but instead he stopped me and took a minute to talk. He didn’t have to do that, but the fact that he did spoke volumes to me.
Cody Wyman offered consistent support and encouragement, even to this old cruiser guy.
ChampSchool Final Takeaways
I attended ChampSchool for two reasons: to become a better at my job with Rider, especially when I need to attend a bike launch at a track, and to become a better rider. I’m sure you want to feel like I’m a competent associate editor, but you’re probably reading this to know whether you will become a better rider if you attend ChampSchool. For me, it was mission(s) accomplished.
Students are instructed on an upcoming drill called “Pointy End of the Cone,” which helps riders learn how to deal with obstacles in corners. This was my favorite drill.
Between Las Vegas and my hometown in southern Utah, there’s a great 12-mile stretch of interstate (yes, interstate) through the Virgin River Gorge, with tall canyon walls and lots of curves. Riding home after ChampSchool, I trusted my bike and I trusted myself. I centered myself and repeated my mantra as I rode toward the slice in the mountains where the interstate cut into the towering walls, and I opened it up a little more through the gorge, as traffic was relatively thin that day.
Still cautious but more confident, I pushed myself. The catchphrases that were repeated in both the online curriculum and at the class echoed in my head – load the tire before you work the tire, brake until you’re happy with speed and direction, and a host of others – and a stretch of road that had been a little more intimidating than enjoyable just a few days earlier was now more fun and exciting.
So thank you to Nick, Cody, and everyone else involved with ChampSchool for taking this cruiser guy and making me a better rider…and making the ride more enjoyable.
With the sun setting on day 2, ChampSchool Chief Instructor and CEO Nick Ienatsch was kind enough to stand for a picture.
For more information, including upcoming ChampSchool classes, as well as other course offerings, such as the one-day ChampStreet program, which is geared more toward street riding, visit the Yamaha Champions Riding School website.
SIDERBAR: Champ U
While the Champ U online Core Curriculum is available for free as part of ChampSchool, for those who are unable to attend one of the ChampSchool events, purchasing the Core Curriculum independently is an excellent alternative, especially considering it’s on sale for only $49.95 as of publication.
For that cost, you get 12 modules comprising a total of 43 video lessons (most ranging from 3-7 minutes long) and corresponding quizzes. The 12 subjects run the gamut – from front and rear braking, downshifting, and body position to mental approach, the 100 points of grip, and a concept they call “radius=mph” – and there are more than 30 drills to reinforce these lessons.
If it seems like there is some overlap, you’re right, and as a former teacher, I can tell you that learning comes from repetition, a tactic Champ U employs very effectively when topics intersect one another. In fact, a decent amount of the information was familiar to me already, but much like I still regularly ride the test course at my local DMV, I also think it’s valuable to hear the same information from a different perspective. And along those lines, the Champ U content creators know how to turn a phrase. Nearly two months after the class, many of the pithy catchphrases from the Core Curriculum still roll around my head as I roll around on my bike.
They also effectively use humor, which keeps the content from feeling like you’re back to studying up for your motorcycle endorsement. Video production value is good, and most of the instructors look very comfortable on the other side of the camera.
The information is largely geared toward track riding and sport bikes, but they drew several parallels to street riding. Even where they didn’t, as primarily a street rider, I made several connections between the lessons and my own experiences. And once you buy it, it’s yours to revisit as often as you’d like.
And if you know someone who is considering taking up riding or if you are new or recently returning to riding, Champ U is now offering a “New Rider” class with 35 lessons, 28 quizzes, and drills designed to prepare students for life as a motorcyclist at an introductory price of $19.95.
Yamaha Champions Riding School has added a new offering to their digital curriculum, the Champ U: New Rider class. Previously, ChampSchool only offered the Champion’s Habits Core Curriculum online (in addition to their in-person ChampSchool and ChampStreet programs, of course). Whereas Champion’s Habits, which includes 12 modules and a final set of drills, is focused on improving riding, the New Rider class is geared toward nonriders who may be considering taking up the joys of two wheels, as well as new and returning riders. For more information, read the press release below from Yamaha Champions Riding School.
ChampSchool founder Nick Ienatsch demonstrates how lean angle affects the 100 points of grip concept, which is one of the ChampSchool Four Core Habits.
Yamaha Champions Riding School, the premier motorcycle riding school in North America, is proud to announce a new Champions University digital curriculum: New Rider.
Champ U: New Rider is over three hours of digital content with 35 lessons, 28 quizzes, and drills designed to prepare students for life as a motorcyclist. This interactive course follows the ChampSchool tradition of truly explaining the “why” of everything a new rider must know, from how a clutch engages to proper and safe emergency-braking practice.
“New-rider parking-lot schools are the gateway to our sport and they have done the job of getting hundreds of thousands of riders licensed to ride on the road,” said ChampSchool founder Nick Ienatsch.
Ienatsch said the goal with New Rider is two-fold:
One: Use the reach of the internet to deliver motorcycle riding’s best practices to any person interested in becoming a life-long motorcycle rider, or any current rider intent on improvement.
“These best practices are data driven and focused on drastically reducing risk while greatly increasing riding enjoyment,” Ienatsch said. “Champ U: New Rider students can expect to become excellent riders very quickly.”
Two: Bolster the current license-waiver classes with context and proven foundational truths to not just earn a license but to be truly ready for the road.
“A license doesn’t make you a safe rider! Understanding how a motorcycle works best and what inputs bring those best results is vital; New Rider goes above and beyond to teach how to practice and refine these inputs for a lifetime of riding success.”
Champ U: New Rider is designed for non-riders, new riders, and returning riders. This digital curriculum is accessible from anywhere in the world with connection to the internet and is affordable for almost any budget with an introductory price of $19.95. More information is available at the Champions University Champ U courses webpage.
Champ U: New Rider is part of the growing Champions University ecosystem of digital motorcycle training tools that include Champ U: Core Curriculum with more than 15,000 users and hundreds of five-star reviews. Champ U also has several rider education support tools like a members-only forum and new for 2023, Video Coaching: stay tuned for our Video Coaching program to be announced very soon.
“We know that riders who are properly educated and wear appropriate gear will have more fun, ride longer, and encourage more people to become involved in motorcycling,” Ienatsch said. “Our mission is to make quality motorcycle education available to all riders and grow the sport of motorcycling. Champ U: New Rider will be a powerful tool in reaching our goal.”
About Yamaha Champions Riding School:
Yamaha Champions Riding School (ChampSchool) is the nation’s premier motorcycle training program. ChampSchool is the evolution of the Freddie Spencer High-Performance Riding School and is led by racer, author, and former right-hand man of Spencer, Nick Ienatsch. ChampSchool uses “Champions Habits” to teach all riders the skills and techniques used by the top riders in the world to go faster safer, while concentrating on the way in which modern motorcycles are designed to be ridden. ChampSchool is dedicated to making all motorcycle riders safer and more in control of their riding, no matter what type of riding they do.
