Pacific Safety Center

Classroom instructors: Marcus and Scott
Range instructors: Scott and Travis; Kaz and Evie
I just finished this class last weekend and was really impressed with the staff and the course. The classroom portions were interactive and informative, and the range portions were so much fun! I’d never driven a motorcycle before and had only driven a manual car a handful of times and they gave me the ability and confidence I needed to pass the skills test. They were also very upfront in letting us know the course only covers the driving part of the dmv test and that it’s up to us to prepare for the written portion. I went into the course a little hesitant and nervous, but now I’m really excited to get my license, and get a bike. I’m confident that my skills will continue to grow with practice and experience. Thank you PSC for your excellent instruction and for your encouragement!

This review is for the basic motorcycle training course. The class was great. You take it in four sessions (2 in the class, 2 on the range), and It waives the DMV driving test. The instructors are very friendly and understanding. They teach you a lot and make you feel really ready to ride on the road. It was really fun for a class too. The classroom is clean and the motorcycles are in good condition.
The reason I’m only giving them four stars is because it doesn’t seem to be a class for people with absolutely no riding experience like they say. I have a little bit of experience riding so it wasn’t a problem for me, but I think it was for people who have never rode before. They just don’t spend a lot of time teaching you how to operate a motorcycle. You can still take and pass it with no experience, just be prepared to ask a lot of questions and maybe even do a little research/​studying on your own too. Also, I think that the long, frequent breaks during the range sessions wasted a lot of time.
I thought it was easy to pass as long as you try to be confident, pay attention, and try your best. Like I said though, I have rode before. Though it might be a bit difficult for the completely inexperienced, its an overall great course and I’d recommend it to pretty much anyone.

I came into this course with some riding experience under my belt looking to meet the requirements to get my license in CA. I moved here from the Caribbean where you do not need a special license to ride a motorized bike of any kind.
The instructors were great. Very knowledgable, patient with beginner riders, and not afraid to let you know exactly what you’re doing wrong and how to correct it. The main thing they try to engrave into your brain is looking through turns, which is super important.
All in all it’s just a fun time. Even the classroom part is great because you learn a lot even though they fly through the material most of it being common sense.
Everyone should take this even if you’re just looking to take the riding test at DMV. This provides a solid foundation to build on.
Cheers and safe riding!

Couldn’t have asked for a better first experience in riding a motorcycle. The beginner course for motorcycle training includes the official state driving portion if the test for a motorcycle license, and I passed! Yay. Now all that’s left is to take the written motorcycle test at the DMV, but that’s a cinch — especially since the classroom lectures covered so much of the material already.
I’ve driven manual cars for a long time, but I had never ridden a motorcycle before this course. The instructors are all very competent, patient, strict, but kind. Wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this course to anyone looking to get a motorcycle license. I plan on coming back later for a more advanced rider course and gain some new skills.

Beginner Bikers! Take this class at your own discretion! It eliminates the need to go to the DMV and take the riding test by incorporating it into the class but the method of instruction is not conducive to a newbie rider becoming comfortable riding a bike quickly. They cram all the riding exercises and tests into two days and our instructors rushed everyone to keep up with the rest of the class (who unfortunately for me were all more experienced than me at riding motorbikes.) The worst part was how the instructors would holler and yell at us for not picking up things fast enough or making mistakes when doing the exercises on the track. I went into the class not knowing a single thing about motorcycles or even gear shifting and it was too challenging to pick up efficiently in just two days especially when you have the instructors breathing down your neck, stressing you out unnecessarily. Coming from a teaching background, I know that pressuring someone is never the right way to teach them a new concept or technique. Especially something that requires such coordination and composure as riding a motorcycle. Maybe it was just the instructors that our group was assigned and the other ones aren’t as aggressive but again take the class at your own discretion.
Despite their behavior, I committed and got through all the exercises with some minor mistakes. Sadly, I wasn’t at all feeling comfortable to be made to take the test in front of the whole class and my nerves got the best of me and I made one too many mistakes on the test to pass. So I decided to find a local teacher on craigslist who lets you ride around in an open lot on one of his many bikes and you can learn and get comfortable at your own pace. He was super calm through the whole process and gave me very constructive advise throughout. I got comfortable in no time and called in to Pacific Safety Center to reschedule my test and got the next time slot available. On the morning of the test it starts pouring and seeing as their website clearly states, «WE RIDE RAIN OR SHINE» I make the 45 min long drive all the way down there and go stand on the track waiting for them to finish the day’s lesson. After a long while I get approached by one of the instructors who informs me that they haven’t been doing any testing due to the rain and I will have to come back! I was so furious! Not only did I have to waste all the time and gas and energy but I never was alerted by their staff that they had postponed testing due to the rain. I called into their office to voice my concern the next day and the receptionist apologized and said someone from management will contact me (which they never did.) She rescheduled my test, I went in, passed with flying colors, and got out glad to never come back again.
So in the end, if you’re a total beginner and feel at ease learning at your own pace or are nervous at all I would instead recommend you find a local instructor and get one-​on-​one coaching. I learned faster and become confident on the bike quicker this way. If you already have experience riding and want to save the trouble of going to the DMV to take your test you may find this class beneficial. Use your own judgement and happy riding!

Just took the classroom and riding portion of the beginner class last weekend, and it was a solid course. Put together very well.
Marcus taught the class, and was upbeat and knowledgeable. Class went by pretty quickly.
Kaz and Evie instructed the two riding days. Super, super nice people, easy to understand, lots of patience for both people who have never ridden before like me, and some people who have been riding for years. With so many new riders, before we began, I was concerned about the safety for myself riding, and the other riding around me. But the riding portion was structured in a way that progressively adds skills at a very appropriate rate. They run a relaxed, but tight schedule, and I couldn’t imagine running the class any other way to focus on the safety of everyone there.
I feel confident with my foundational skills having taken this class. Still lots to practice and get comfortable with, but I highly recommend this course to anyone getting into this.
Sitting for the written DMV test tomorrow, and then it’s hitting the parking lots and side roads for more practicing ;)

Took the beginner safety course. You have 2 in class sessions and 2 on road hands on practice sessions. I’ve never been on a motorcycle/​dirt bike/​scooter before and have zero experience driving stick. But this course was really great and really taught me a great foundation for riding. I’d say this is a pretty good course for people with zero to little experience if you want to get a chance to ride a motorcycle.
Even if I didn’t pass the course I’d still think the experience was worth it. But luckily I did pass and can get my license and keep riding. They really help you pass this course! *They are also really strict about tardiness so BE ON TIME! They emphasize it so much. It’s really your own fault if you show up late and have to be rescheduled. Leave an hour early if you have to!

I just completed the motorcycle safety course this past weekend and can honestly say, it was one of the worst experiences I have ever had. I feel bad that my fiancé spent so much money on something that he thought would be fun for me (and should have been), but instead was terribly unpleasant.
This is a BEGINNERS motorcycle class. Like the instructor said in the first classroom session, this course is designed for someone who has NEVER been on a motorcycle before. Regardless of that, I was grateful to have had some dirt bike riding experience because that meant I wasn’t brand new to the concepts of riding. I am also not a pansy. I say this because I wasn’t under any misapprehensions that this would be easy. I knew that learning to ride a motorcycle would be challenging. But I was also expecting it to be fun.
So I truly believe this could have gone a different way if I had had good instructors. A little encouragement and constructive criticism goes A LONG WAY. And since it is a beginners class, that is what you would hope for right?!
Well not with an instructor named Victor Kazlman who goes by Kaz. Not only was it obvious he did not want to be there, he was terribly discouraging and unfriendly. He would just yell and bark orders at you and even worse, when students didn’t do a skill right (they are learning after all), he would throw his hands up in the air in exasperation. That is SO not okay.
I read some responses to reviews explaining that the instructors had to yell because the class size is large and it is hard to hear over motorcycles. I understand that, but the way Kaz treats students is unacceptable. He wasn’t easy to talk to or ask questions. I pretty much felt like I was on my own and had to just figure things out.
On another note, I think smaller class sizes at the track would be better for learning. Then the instructors wouldn’t have to yell so loud and the riding itself wouldn’t be so congested since there are 12 people using only half of the track. It was not ideal for practicing the skills required for riding.
The other instructor, Greg Widmar was much more pleasant and encouraging. I felt more comfortable asking him questions. He even gave me a fist bump when I did a good job.
But Kaz… he has no place teaching a beginners motorcycle class. He should be teaching advanced classes or a motorcycle boot camp where he could use his wonderfully polished skills as a drill sergeant.
Which instructors you have makes all the difference.

When it comes to personal experiences, I feel the instructors here provide valuable insight into the world of motorcycling. However, the in class presentations are both: very long & boring, & the tests offered are not quite the same as those you need to take at the DMV. The DMV will use situations that are never really covered in class; well, at least they weren’t in my class, so you will feel a little underprepared in that regard.
If you have yet to take the permit test, I highly recommend you study up beforehand; & try to ask as many questions as you can during class time because its one of those rare opportunities to ask older, more experienced motorcyclist how to be safe. Just remember, at the end of the day, it is your responsibility to read the situation that is developing on the road, & act accordingly; it is your life, not theirs, that is on the line. So, try to do some research on the subject, & I can’t stress it enough, practice constantly what you have learned, in a safe environment (like an empty parking lot that is isolated from traffic). Crucial motorcycle skills, such as: emergency breaking, are perishable.
As I mentioned earlier, the in-​class portion mostly consisted of a lecture with a power point presentation; which is not the most «enjoyable» of experiences for many individuals, who I’m sure would rather be doing something else with their time. Something, a little more productive (or hands on). But, it is one of those necessary evils I suppose; especially if you have yet to do any research regarding Motorcycle safety. Unfortunately, the safety information that is provided to students is very broad/​general; & it is conveyed in a very quick manner, that some individuals (particularly those that are older) it will be incredibly difficult to follow. But, if you are manage to not put the presentation on «mute,» & actively listen through out, then I believe you will be fine. There is a written test that is handed out at the end of the second in-​class session, which is supposed to test the knowledge that was provided by the instructors; however, I feel it is not enough, in order to be truly safe. Then again, I don’t think there is such a thing to begin with.
With a quick search on google, you can find most, if not all of the information provided during the classroom portion of the course; so I am not entirely convinced that the cost of $ 250+ is worth it in that regard. Don’t get me wrong, its better to have some knowledge, than none at all. On the other hand, the part I really enjoyed was that I was surrounded by other like minded individuals, who wished to learn how to be safe; & were looking to develop a new found passion for motorcycling. I also really liked it when the instructors stepped away from the presentation, & shared some of their own personal stories. That, to me, was both interesting, & insightful. Potential motorcyclist are constantly told of the dangers that surround motorcycling, mostly by non-​motorcyclist, but there is nothing like hearing a first hand account by the very individual who experienced it.
Now, as far as the riding portion is concerned, it was certainly an experience I will not soon forget… Getting to the range is a little difficult, so I suggest you try to «find it» a few days before your schedualed class time. Do not trust that your GPS will accurately take you to their Chula Vista location, since it will only get you so far. Also, this mostly applies to the range portion of the class (but is sometimes enforced during the in-​class portion as well), do not be late! Whatever you do, do not be late; you want to be dressed up, ready to go by the allotted time. Otherwise, they will not let you ride, and have you come back/​«schedule» another day (which you are required to pay for– I believe the fee was an additional $ 65, but don’t quote me on that). At the range, you will find: water (which I was skeptical about trying), porte-​potties, helmets (which they will let you borrow, if you do not have one), a resting area (which is just a canopy and some chairs, nothing to fancy), and of course the motorcycles– which are not in the best condition. I know they look like motorcycles that have helped a lot of people learn, but mechanically they are not sound. Mine was switched three times (which is not supposed to happen); so I had a huge learning curve, and still managed to pass the riding test, but just barely. also, the last one would randomly rev up, by itself– even though my hand was not on the throttle (which was not being twisted).
Scott, Jay Jay, and Evee were great; they were very helpful & approachable. But, Chris was very condescending, rude, and not very professional. He actually hit my hand really hard, and yelled, «Move your f*_king hand away from the throttle, you f*_cking newbie!» I am not ok with that. He may be very knowledgable, but I was there to learn; not to be «assaulted».
So is it worth it? Yes & no; but you can decided if it is…

Changed my 1-​star rating after their very accommodating customer service representatives and the quality of the instructors and their lessons. There had been an error in their online schedule, but they responded and corrected it immediately after being informed. They were able to get me in the next available cycle, and now I am able to make my DMV appointment tomorrow!
Learned a lot. Well worth the price. The instructors were all very informative and experienced. I was nervous about the range sessions, but Chris and Victor were awesome instructors helped boost my confidence in riding. Thanks guys!

I cannot stress enough how vital both Chad and Marcus were in learning the ins and outs of riding a motorcycle safely. The class time is about what you would expect, but with the added entertainment of Marcus’ obvious passion for riding. The time on the bikes was what I had been so nervous about. Chad and Marcus walked us through everything that first hour on the course, just letting us get a feel of the bike, allowing us to build up the confidence we needed to actually take that next step and put it in gear.
Yes, they yell. But only because you have a dozen engines running and they’d prefer to not see you drop your bike and fall on your ass (I did). Chad is especially tuned into the individual needs of each rider. After performing a maneuver, whether you feel you’ve mastered it or not, he asks you how it felt. Was anything off? Do you think you could have done it better? Were you comfortable? He really listens and adjusts his teaching technique accordingly. That, I felt was especially valuable.

Classroom instruction: Marcus & Evie
Riding instruction: Chad & Evie
Stellar and thorough instruction, both in the classroom and on the range.
As a new rider interested in learning to ride safely, I was looking for a course that could provide me with 1) an introduction to controlling the motorcycle, particularly with a focus on safety, and 2) enough range time to become accustomed to the motorcycle itself. This course accomplished both. The course began with a classroom session, which stressed the importance of mental state, protective gear, and some of the largest differences between riding and driving — with a particular focus on safety. A riding portion followed where the class rode up to 20 mph, practicing gear shifting, turning tactics (leaning, aiming, countersteering), braking, and other activities. The entire course can be completed in three days.
Instructors are experienced, thorough, and patient — importantly, they also instilled a love for riding. Chad, Evie, and Marcus really made this course. Would love to return and practice some more, and really build upon the fundamentals that I’ve learned here. Thank you!

Very Fun and informative class. All the instructors were great. Show up on time and bring all your gear and you wont have any issues whatsoever.

Not only was I treated with disrespect from an instructor when I couldn’t find the range. When I called on Monday to reschedule my appointment and complain about this instructor, I was told that I have to pay $ 55 rescheduling fee. Even after the bad experience of unprofessional customer service I’m still charged $ 55 for getting site addresses mixed up. Not a good way to treat a customer… At ALL.

I hate it when companies don’t pick up the phone. Navigated my way to the phone tree and hit option 5 and the voice mail asked me to go online for questions and registration. Sometimes you just need a live person.

Thanks to Marcus, Chris, Chad, and Steve, I now have my M1 endorsement. As a group, they made it nearly impossible for anybody to show up unprepared; they, along with PSC in general, gave fair warning about the requirements for each class session. Of course, there were one or two individuals who managed to leave something at home, and they were sent packing.
I gotta say I respect Chris and Chad for making the call to drop a student who was proving too unsafe to have on the range. She was given plenty of opportunities, but continued to show the course and therefore the road were too much for her.
Thanks, guys. I get to ride into work tonight.

I took the CMSP Motorcyclist Training Course with PSC and it was very fun and educational! My riding instructors were Chad and Joe and they were both friendly, knowledgeable, and excellent instructors!
You take 2 classroom courses at their Mira Mesa location teaching the basics with an easy 50 question test at the end of the second session, which you will do well on as long as you listen and read the handbook.
You take 2 on the range riding courses also where they teach you from the beginning of how to start a bike all the way to techniques to avoid crashes. At the end of the riding course you take the DMV approved exam which gets you the waiver to go to the DMV to take your written test, and if you pass you get your M1 license.
The classroom sessions are around 3 hours each and the range sessions are about 4 and 6 hours each.
Overall, the course costs $ 258 but it’s totally worth the money since it is comprehensive, provides you with the gear (except gloves, and they have limited boots for use at the range), and gets the riding part of the DMV test waived.

I just finished PSC’s basic rider course and I feel like I’m ready for the road now. My classroom instructors were Frank and Marcus. Both were extremely knowledgable and they made the class entertaining. They will teach you ways to stay safe and stay off the pavement. Just pay attention and you will pass the multiple choice test they give you at the end of the second class.
My range instructors were Victor and Joe. Again, both instructors knew what they were talking about and answered any questions we had. Whether you have never ridden or you have some experience, this class is worth it and it waives the dmv riding test as well. I highly recommend this class for beginners because they teach safety tips that will help prevent you from crashing or dropping your bike. This class is fun as hell too so don’t look anywhere else. The class you need is right here.

I usually don’t write reviews unless I had a really good or really bad experience. This class was actually really fun and they teach you a lot. I had no experience on a motorcycle before and I do not drive a manual transmission car, so I was worried going into this class but they have really good instructors, both in the classroom and on the range.
My range instructors were Joe and Vic, they were critical but nice about it and their biggest concern is your safety. Some of the exercises on the course seemed scary at first but the instructors demonstrated the exercises before we did them and after repeating them a few times I didn’t want to get off my bike.
The class took up my whole weekend but it was worth it. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking into getting a motorcycle. All of the instructors I met have been riding for years and have awesome advice to share.

For years I’ve thought about learning how to ride a motorcycle and for years I just remained a passenger. But I finally bit the bullet and signed up for the Basic Rider Course with PSC.
Registration was done online and their system allows you to see which classes are coming up, have open seats, etc. The course consists of one five hour classroom session and two five hour range (riding) sessions. (Although, to be honest, each session actually went about 40 minutes shorter than what is was supposed to.)
I thought the classroom session would have been improved had it been smaller in size (there were about 36 of us crammed into the room) and the videos that accompanied each section were a bit outdated which added to the cheesy factor, but overall this first session was very informative. The instructor, Rick, had decades of riding experience and was sure to share his personal experiences with us in addition to the standard stuff. He also had some personality to him so that kept us awake and paying attention when it was 9:30pm and some of us were starting to fade.
Even though I did great on the test that ended the first session, I still had some nerves about putting it all together and actually riding. That’s why I appreciated that our instructors, Tee and Brent, eased us into it by discussing the location/​purpose of all the controls, telling us how to safely mount and dismount the bike, and finding neutral — all before even turning the ignition! From there we continued easing into things so that by the end of the second exercise (I think there were 14 on that first day?) we were starting to feel more comfortable and the nerves were fading away. You could tell that Tee and Brent cared about our safety first and foremost, but they also really wanted us to learn how to ride, get comfortable on the bike, and have fun.
Finally, we were told that our DL-​389, the certificate of completion that’s necessary to take to the DMV when getting your license, would be mailed to us and could take 7 – 10 business days to arrive. So I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived just two days after my course ended (meaning it was mailed the very next day since my last class was on a Sunday).
My experience went so well that I’m already considering and looking forward to the Basic Riders Course 2 or even the Advanced Riders Course.