Training is the best way to make your riding safer and more enjoyable. It’ s well worth the cost.
how to position your body on the bike. It also touches on things like when to change your body position, how to connect with the motorcycle, how to avoid common mistakes, how to correct when you run wide in a corner, and more. As a word of advice to anyone taking a CSS course, I recommend asking questions. Every coach is extremely knowledgeable, not just about how to ride well but also the science behind each technique, and they’ re more than happy to get into the details and cover a topic further if you’ re curious to learn more.
Another benefit of these courses is the other students themselves. Every student who comes to CSS is there to learn and improve their riding, and even though we come from all corners of the country, we all share a common love for motorcycling. During the CSS courses I’ ve taken, I’ ve found that learning with other students has improved my own riding. None have ever offered specific riding advice, and I would default to the coaches’ advice anyway if they did, but they still improved my understanding of the topics by asking questions I hadn’ t thought of, explaining how they interpret an exercise, or sharing an experience they’ ve had while riding. Additionally, I’ ve never experienced a competitive atmosphere at a CSS course: Everyone is there to learn and grow and have fun while doing it.
With Level III in the books, I can say that the value of California Superbike School compounds with each level taken. While the first course is well worth it and gives riders plenty to practice and work on, the following courses continue to build on that foundation and offer even more. At the end of each session, students are given a handbook overviewing techniques from the course, making it easy to go home and practice by yourself after your time at the school has ended. Luckily for me, CSS doesn’ t end at Level III, although it does change. Level IV is a fully personalized course without a set curriculum. Students are paired up with a coach who watches you ride, discusses what you’ d like to get out of the course, and develops a personal plan to help you get there. During my day at Barber Motorsports Park, I chatted with a Level IV student who said he had taken the course upwards of 20 times and still found it worthwhile to keep returning and learning more.
Since joining Rider, I’ ve had the opportunity to ride all kinds of motorcycles in some gorgeous destinations, I’ ve tested lots of gear and accessories, and I’ ve met some of the most influential people within the industry. And for all that, nothing has made me a better or safer rider or has made me enjoy motorcycling more than continued training. Even if everything else went away tomorrow, what I’ ve learned over these three years of taking CSS courses is something I’ ll always have. So if you’ re looking for ways to ride smarter, safer, and more enjoyably, start here.
RIDERMAGAZINE. COM / NOVEMBER 2026 / 35