I just wanted to hop on here and give a review that is definitely long overdue. Evan at Monkey Moto School is an incredibly skilled and patient motorcycle instructor. I was councelled out of my MSF course for repeatedly stalling the bike early this year around january. Then I booked private lessons with Evan and learned so much from him. He is a natural at teaching things to people and really has a way of establishing a solid foundation for you. Unfortunately he was on his way to thailand after our last session so i couldn't continue taking lessons but just with the three lessons i had with him, I feel a level of confidence and control over a motorcycle that I previously just did not have. After Evan left for thailand my life kinda got busy and my motorcycle dream went on a pause for like most of this year until about a few weeks ago when diesel hit $9 and i decided to bite the bullet and got a motorcycle( a vulcan 900). I passed my behind the wheel test yesterday and got my license. Thank you Evan for teaching me how to ride!! read more

Evan and Monkey Moto School provide incredibly high quality, detail oriented and personalized training for your riding no matter what stage you are at. I am an early stage rider with my M1, my own bike, and about a month of experience riding around the city but I lacked the confidence to feel really in control of my bike. Evan reshaped by fundamentals and taught me in much more detail about my throttle and brakes than what I learned at my CMSP course. Also being able to ride as a passenger while he demonstrated the drills was incredibly eye opening. Being able to feel the smoothness and minute control that an experienced rider has really helped me learn what I could aim for myself. To top it off, literally the SAME afternoon I finished my lesson I had a driver pull put in front of me from their parking spot while I was making a turn, and with the skills that Evan taught me I was able to avoid collision and ride away safely. Most importantly, I handled the situation calmly and smoothly because of the outward focus that my Monkey Moto lesson taught me. I can't recommend Monkey Moto School enough, don't hesitate to book a lesson no matter your skill level! read more

I am giving 5 stars in advance purely on the initial phone consultation, which was outstanding. I will update this review later as education will progress. After trying to contact several places in the San Francisco vicinity, this was the only conversation that went smoothly. The gentleman I spoke with was super accommodating and incredibly patient. He spent a good 15 minutes on the call with me, thoroughly explaining their different programs, what the standard course entails, and how their program can be uniquely useful. He gave me many useful tips, all before I had even set foot in the place. Bear in mind, I was calling on behalf of a friend, and I say this as someone with over a decade of powerful motorcycle experience myself - felt that giving my friend into save hand. I can't (yet) speak to the actual quality of the on-bike education, but at least the theoretical part and the customer service were absolutely great. read more

Fantastic scooter lesson with Brian. He was patient, thorough, and his instruction was clear. I had never driven a scooter and left my lesson feeling empowered and happy. Brian's knowledge about scooters is deep. Not only does he know how they operate and how to teach safely, he also knows what gear is helpful. Highly recommend Monkey Moto School, excellent learning experience. read more

Evan is a fabulous instructor. He totally reduced my anxiety of not knowing how to manage a motorcycle and worked on getting skilled in a very structured and safe way, layering new skills each lesson. Highly recommend! read more

I took a scooter lesson here with Brian and he was just the best instructor. He arrived early with the Vespa and went over all the necessary information before starting. He was very thorough with instructions and made sure that I was confident before allowing me to ride around the lot on my own. After the lesson, I was more than prepared to ride a scooter! read more

Coolest dude I've ever met. I only took two lessons and I already know more than I would have through a DMV course. It's one on one and extremely hands on. I was on the motorcycle within the first 30 minutes of my first lesson. Evan does a really good job when it comes to explaining everything and being honest about riding a motorcycle, the rules of the road, traffic, etc. Highly recommend getting a lesson from these guys. read more

I don't like writing reviews which can demonstrate how great this curriculum is. I was counseled out the first time I took the MSF course and my confidence was quite low. I decided to book 2 lessons with Evan and Arlette and I really appreciate their patience and holistic approach. At first my main priorities were to cram all the information I could before I retook my MSF course, but Evan and Arlette turned my experience into something light-hearted and fun. They taught me optimal technique appropriate for my stature, gave advice that was very practical, and didn't get mad at me when I dropped the bike twice XD. I just completed the MSF course today and I couldn't have done it without the help of these 2 instructors. Their guidance boosted up my confidence which made some of the MSF drills/exercises a no sweat for me. read more

What is not to love?? I gave my boys their birthday present--twins turning 17. under a SF sky they went from zero to riding on a Ninja 400!! Their host was super patient and a skilled teacher. I'm next ;) read more

Monkey Moto School - Driving Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

Evan is the coach and professor you want to have teaching you great foundation for new and experienced riders. Patient, clear, and incredibly focused on getting you the confidence you need to ride the roads and highways. Can't thank Evan enough for the guidance and providing the essentials to be safe AND have fun. Thanks, Evan read more

Evan is a very patient, highly experienced instructor. He helped me get started and gain confidence. I just passed my written exam and about to buy my first motorcycle. I highly recommend Evan at Monkey Moto if you're serious about learning it right from the start! read more

Not sure if Evan is the only instructor here, but he was my teacher for the sessions I paid for. First off, he got disproportionately angry for asking for help on the weaving portion of the motorcycle test that I failed after telling me over the phone that he would be happy to help with this. If you don't follow his exact zen guru methods, he will get somewhat irate. This is extremely uncomfortable and downright weird. Mind you, I didn't stall or drop the bike once and the dude is practically screaming at me that I "don't get it". Like bro, chill. I don't have anything positive to say as he basically made me pay 400 dollars to go in, and I am not exaggerating whatsoever, circles in the parking lot at his WALKING speed for hours. I honestly don't understand where the good reviews are coming from, as I had two beginner sessions previously with 2 different riding schools and found them to be far more useful, friendly, and exciting than anything Evan could muster. I'm sure the guy is a great rider, but he isnt a good instructor, and is clearly one of those people who forgets that YOU are the one paying HIM. TLDR: Time wasting experience from an angry person. read more

My friend and I took a motorcycle lesson with Evan, and he was great at giving us clear, in-depth instructions. Super chill and outgoing guy--I really enjoyed talking with him and was glad to be learning from him. Overall, it was a fun and productive experience. read more

I am quite a novice and have always done better with 1 on 1 teaching rather than group sessions. Evan was quick to assess my fears and weaknesses, and tailored the class sessions to build up my confidence with slow speed maneuvers, the importance of posture, smoothness with the clutch friction point, and developing a light touch with the throttle. The class is not some cookie cutter course, and really helped me to develop a greater perspective of what it takes to ride a motorcycle safely and effectively. Thank you Evan and Monkey Moto School! read more

I did not not pass my skills test at the MTC course, so decided to schedule a 1-to-1 coaching session to really understand the basics better. I met with Brian this past weekend and he helped me out so much. I was a lil shaky at first, but with his guidance/coaching I learned how to balance, control the bike better, smoothly turn, and work on my weak points. It made a world of difference. So if you are thinking about whether it not extra training is worth it, don't think, just schedule a session and find out for yourself! read more

Jason was a great instructor! I just recently took the MSF course and passed. I have not ridden a MC for over 25 years since the mid 90's. After taking the course, I was still rusty and need individual attention that the MSF course couldn't provide. Jason assessed my riding ability and worked on my weaknesses like throttle control, tight turns, and slight inclines. Jason challenged me and I became a better rider at the end. I highly recommend Monkey Moto! I need to save money and do a lesson 2. read more

Monkey Moto School - Driving Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

I would 100% recommend this if you are a first-time rider or if you are simply out of touch. I had a one-on-one with Jason. We probably stayed for full three hours and didn't move on to the next lesson until I was doing it perfectly. Along with practical instructions, he provided me with a wealth of theoretical knowledge and insight. Very knowledgeable and professional. The only CON is that he teaches you so well that you'll be convinced to buy yourself a motorcycle, haha. PS - We also worked on the DMV track. read more

Monkey Moto School - Driving Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

I always strive to be adventurous and learn new things - keeps life fun and interesting . On a whim, I took my first motorcycle lesson back in January and LOVED it - I wish I'd done this 20 years ago!! Huge thank you to Evan for being so patient and explaining everything to me - literally everything - how to put on a helmet, simply sitting on the bike, pushing me through the lot (without the engine turned on) so I could practice breaking. I was so nervous when I arrived at my first lesson and so giddy after that I called half the people in my phone. Now, who wants to start a girls-only motorcycle gang with me?! read more

Monkey moto was easy on my wallet, they where very professional and I felt safe in the hands of my instructor Brian as well as better educated at the end of the lesson than I've ever felt experiencing motorcycle training from friends and family I highly recommend monkey moto I found them to be very honest and you can't beat the service they provide read more

Just spent two days with Evan back on the saddle after several years hiatus. He's passionate about his teaching and patient yet empathetic to the struggles of being a true student to motorcycling properly. Often in life it's not necessarily all about learning but just as much about unlearning improper techniques that result in lesser enjoyment as well as compromising the safety of yourself or others. Highly recommend! read more

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I started riding again a little over a month ago after a 5 year break. I really wanted to ride but I didn't feel comfortable on the bike so I decided to register for a two day lesson with Evan. After just the first lesson, I was feeling so much more comfortable with slow and faster speed turns, emergency breaking, etc. Evan gave me small tips that made a huge difference in my riding and helped me achieve much more control over the bike. Today I had my second lesson and we went for a nice ride pass Stinson Beach and up to Mount Tam. He gave me great advice on how to handle the twisters and by the end of the day I could tell I was riding so much more relaxed, so much better. Evan is a great instructor and I highly recommend him to anyone new on a bike or looking to improve their skills. read more

Monkey Moto School - Mount Tam - Driving Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My fiancé and I had a partner lesson with the scooter coach, Brian. We are going to Italy for our honeymoon and he wore a Roman Holiday t shirt which was a great touch. He was a very good teacher who structured the lesson in a really good way, and gave good feedback and advice throughout. When we realized that my fiancé mostly wants to just be a passenger and learn how to be good on the back, they pro rated the lesson which was also really good. We had some inclement weather today and they were good about communicating whether we'd wait or reschedule, and I am glad we were able to have the lesson today. Evan handled most of the scheduling and payment and he was very thorough and friendly which helped. Strong recommendation! read more

Evan is a patient teacher who will drill good motorcycle riding habits into you. He is committed in making sure that you practice safe riding habits and know why they're important, but is reassuring for when you make mistakes. For a first-time rider like me, his instruction was a must. High recommend! read more

I've been riding for 43 years but fell of during the pandemic and had a couple of injuries and I wasn't as confident as I used to be. Acted 2.5 hours with Evan I feel so much better. He is an amazing teacher and really keeps up the motivation. I'm 61 now and plan to ride as long as I can and plan to do at least one more session with Evan. If not more read more

I'm an old fart returning to motorcycling after 4-5 decades? Found out I don't know $h!t. (well... Turns out I'm not quite THAT bad) Evan watched me ride, suggested corrections and demonstrated technique(s) I could use to improve my riding. During the course of our instruction, a CHP Motor Officer dropped in and offered some tips and demonstrated what one can do with an 800# Harley, pretty impressive. I rode away feeling a lot more confident and... WIth a bit more practice It'll all feel like second nature. Evan was patient, informative and knowledgeable. He also managed to scare the crap outta me when he had me on the back of my bike and rode me around! I'm know that wasn't his intention and it turned out to be NOT SUCH A BAD THING! Made me humble and lets me know just what it's like to be ridin on the back. I hadn't been on the back of a moto in a LONG time. Overall? Great experience, Top Notch Instructor read more

Monkey Moto School - R to L CHP Motor Officer Newcomer, Evan, ME! - Driving Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

Took my first lesson with Evan today. Very little prior experience. Super patient, knowledge, easy going guy. Really appreciate how he will push you / challenge you but also respect your limits. I will definitely be taking another lesson. Highly recommend especially if you're new to riding! read more

Monkey Moto School - Driving Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

Evan was super helpful for my first scooter lesson. We covered vehicle basics before getting on the bike. From there I did turns, throttles, braking, and we even covered pot holes. 10/10 would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to learn how to ride a scooter or motorcycle. read more

Being a driving instructor myself, I definitely wanted to seek professional help before getting into riding. I'd been driving for 14 years, but never been on a motorcycle before - not even as a passenger before I started my first lesson with Tuula at Monkey Moto!! I'd always wanted to try motorcycling but me being only about 5'4 and 120 lbs, I wasn't sure if I could ride. Thankfully Tuula was very accommodating and had a Honda Rebel and Ninja 250 for me to try... She'd told me height wouldn't matter after I learned the fundamentals and that I'll be able to ride other bikes down the road once I was comfortable. Tuula was very patient, knowledgeable and just an overall excellent instructor. You can tell she is very passionate about riding and teaching. Never did I feel pressured into doing anything that I didn't feel ready to do. She made me do many various drills and maneuvers on the bike. I learned so much valuable information and skills from her that I just wouldn't be able to learn as quickly on my own or through videos online. I had such a positive experience that I was excited to get my permit and go buy my first used bike. Initially I wanted a ninja 300 or 400, but I couldn't pass up a great deal that I found on a 2016 ninja 650 ABS. The bike is slightly heavier and faster than what I'd been working with but through Tuula's training it really prepared me well and gave me the confidence I needed to start out on a 649cc bike as my very first!! If you're brand new to riding, not very big or tall, but you have a slight interest in learning just like I was... I'd say just take the plunge and book your first training session with Tuula!! So happy and glad I met her, thank you Tuula for teaching me a lifelong skill that'll live with me forever. She's amazing, you won't regret it!! read more

So great. Had an amazing 2 days of 1:1 instruction. Evan is so kind and helpful. He watched me ride and worked with me on the the things I really needed help with. Very skillful instructor with many suggestions and safety tips. read more

I'd like to thank Evan for the awesome coaching session today with my son. Everyone my son is 14 years old. Evan took the time to teach him the basics and within the session I've seen my sons skills improve! I would recommend anyone who is trying to learn or improve their riding skills to take this course! Thanks again Evan!!! BTW, Payton says you are an awesome teacher! Best, Ian, Hazel and Payton read more

Monkey Moto School - Driving Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I took four courses at Monkey Moto (one with Steph and three with Evan), and this was easily some of the best money I've ever spent. I'd been riding scooters and motorcycles for about a dozen years, but a few years ago, I crashed on the freeway because of a mechanical issue, so I took a long break from motorcycles. At one point I decided I couldn't tolerate taking public transportation anymore and decided I had to get back on two wheels. So I bought a bike, but I was still traumatized from the accident and incredibly anxious. It took an entire year to get past the trauma and feel confident again on a motorcycle, and without Evan and Steph to point out all the little things I was doing wrong, I would never have gotten here. I recommend anyone getting on two wheels to take a few courses with Monkey Moto (or at least with another private instructor). The basic Motorcycle Safety Course that people take to get an M1 is extremely superficial, and that lack of knowledge probably contributes to the large number of motorcycle fatalities on the road. Save that few hundred bucks you would normally blow on a new smartphone or designer jacket and put it toward your own survival. read more

All I have to say Aven is a great teacher. I had no experience about how to ride a motorcycle. After I took two lessons with Aven I know how to ride bike and it feels awesome. I highly recommend taking lesson with Aven. He knows what is talking about what is he doing. Thank you Aven. read more

Monkey Moto School - Driving Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Amazing detailed instruction that makes you feel comfortable and confident. I had the best two hours learning to ride a vespa for my trip to Italy. I am so glad I went for instruction as I now feel comfortable to learn more on my own. I was a little nervous at first. The instructor was kind and patient with an amazing ability to explain things in detail. These explanations will stay with me and really helped me feel comfortable on the bike. The thoughtful progression to the lesson helped me ease into each step. I thank you so much for the fun lesson and advise anyone wanting to learn to ride to choose this wonderful school! read more

Evan is a technical, patient and easy going teacher. I enjoyed the lessons and small talk. I feel 100% comfortable learning from Evan or anyone else from the Monkey Moto team. Highly recommend if you have any curiosity about riding. read more

Steph was an amazing teacher! She made sure to take as much time as I needed to get the skills down and master all the drills we did but at the same time was always tough on me and constantly pushed me to apply myself and take it to the next level. Steph was also really knowledgeable about bikes and riding in general. She was always willing to answer any questions I had about things like buying proper riding gear and what to look for when buying your first bike clearly and in great detail. Before the lessons I took with Steph I had never ridden a motorcycle before and had only very limited experience with manual transmissions. By the end, the fundamentals and even most of the technical slow-speed control stuff we did that I at first found veeeeery difficult were almost second nature. I took the CMSP course shortly after to get my M1 endorsement. Thanks to Steph's coaching, the riding test they made us do seemed like a walk (ride?) in the park and I passed with a perfect score! If that's not the highest endorsement for the quality of the instruction you'll get here I don't know what is! read more

Evan provides patient and highly practical guidance to operating a motorcycle through SF streets and beyond. I passed the MSF basic rider course a few months ago but hadn't bought a bike yet, so wanted to refresh my skills before risking the streets. Evan built my skills back from the ground up, providing thoughtful corrections to MSF practices that may be suitable for a group class, but may not be the best choice for real-world riding (such as MSF's note to never cover the front brake with your fingers while riding). The best aspects were the convenient location and the personal touch. Will return for more sessions once I practice the skills I've learned! read more

I had a fantastic lesson with Evan after a long time off my motorcycle. His targeted instruction was exactly what I needed to get back my confidence. Thanks, Monkey Moto! read more

Just had my first class with Evan, and am so excited for the next one! I had a really horrifying experience at BAMT that left me so freaked that even touching a bike made me shake uncontrollably, and I've always been comfortable around bikes and have been a passenger for years. Cut to my first Monkeymoto class, where in standing next to my 450 lb. bike holding it to get a feel for the weight it tips away from me, slo-mo "ohhhh sh**" style, and goodbye right mirror and footpeg. Class over due to idiot student, right? Wrong! Evan suggested I just use the back passenger peg instead and focus more on the front brake so we can move forward. He was unbelievably patient and positive and seems to take a holistic approach to teaching, working with how your fitness level and health affect your riding. I was able to learn at my own (admittedly snail-slow) pace and get comfortable, and basically had the best time ever. I can't wait to learn more and get out on the streets safely to grab even a little bit more of that great feeling.... pretty big change from having a near-heart attack every time I got near a bike. I should also mention that I've never operated any motor vehicle in my life, not even a golf cart, and I have an 865cc bike that is realistically way too much bike for me. That's quite a learning curve and speaks volumes for Evan's skill as a teacher. Do yourself a favor and call him, even if you're taking the MSF class. The individual attention makes all the difference. **UPDATE** On my 4th class with Evan, I was making a tight turn to pull into parking at Baker Beach, and the bike tips over, snapping off the clutch lever and ending my riding for the day. Evan not only sat with me and cancelled his evening plans so he could be there till the tow truck came and to make sure I wasn't beating myself up too much, he was so worried about making sure that I was mentally okay and still positive about riding, and talking me through my mistakes, that he totally forgot to charge me for the class, I had to remind him later! read more

Monkey Moto School - Driving Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

I took private lessons with Evan at Monkey Moto School and I'm so glad I did. Everything about my experience was everything I hoped it would be from start to finish: - When I first reached out over email, he was very prompt to respond and answered all my questions. There is tons of helpful information on the website (including a video on what to expect to your driving skills test at the DMV) and I felt like I knew exactly what I was getting into before my first lesson. - I did not have a bike, and so I met Evan at the Alemany parking lot and he had a bike that I could practice on. - One of the things that was most important to me is this is not a canned or templated "this is how you ride a motorcycle" class. It's catered to you, based on what you know, and goes at your pace. I was lucky because I had experience driving stick shift (cars) and I was able to get a hang of the clutch pretty fast. I also ride a road bicycle, so the handling was a little more intuitive for me as well. I was able to keep up with everything Evan was throwing at me, and by the end of the lesson, not only did I have a good grasp of how to ride, but Evan taught me a LOT about safety. I felt in control of the bike and learned everything I had hoped to. When it finally came time to take my skills test, I was so glad I had taken the lessons with Evan because it was such a breeze. I highly recommend Monkey Moto - not just because you'll learn what you're looking to learn, but because they make it fun, and easy ;) read more

Steph was my instructor and she was incredible. She's super knowledgeable, patient, non-judgmental, empathetic, and -- best of all -- enthusiastic about teaching. She provided great instruction, she came up with great drills, and explained what and why she was teaching me all the techniques that she used in my 1:1 lesson. She's focused on safety and really developing the key skills that will help you be a good, safe, defensive rider. Both she and Evan (who I initially corresponded with) are super responsive and ready and able to answer all questions. I *highly* recommend this local gem of an instruction school. Take a look at the other 5-star reviews; they all reflect an experience that was similar to mine. I hope you all check out this great school. read more