Great Experience with Ike and Joel great instructors, they helped me a lot with passing my road test really recommend this school!!!

10/10 would recommend to anyone who needs help with the road test, The instructor I had Ikanke Essien had patience, amazing pointers, knew exactly what to say before taking the test to calm my nerves. He is an amazing instructor and whoever gets him for lessons listen to what he's telling you and you'll pass. Good luck read more

Trama's Auto School - Passed my road test because of my instructor - Driving Schools Near Me - Woodhaven, New York

Thank you very much for all!!! The classes are pretty professional and you learn smoothly!! The crew at the school are kind and helpful they are ready to answer any questions you may have Today I just passed my motorcycle driving test and I couldn't have done without you Thank you!!! read more

They have good instructors. I recommend it 100% After the lesson it was easy to pass the road test read more

The school is very helpful I have learned more from my instructor outside the road and about safety . They're very supportive when it comes to the road test and classes. Thanks for everything drama's auto school for helping me pass my motorcycle test. M.B. read more

I had the most amazing learning experience at Tramas Auto School. Ikanke, my Motorcycle Instructor was extremely knowledgeable, patient and professional! I pass my test because of his expertise on clutch control. I can only express my appreciation for your training in four words, You Are The Man!!Thank you!Leonard C. read more

Los mejores gracias por toda la ayuda la pasiencia y el buen trato muy profecionales

My experience was very good with Ikanke. He was very patient , intentive , knowledgable and helped me with understanding the dmv's scorecard. I highly recomend their services to any one needing to pass their road test. Thanks to them i was able to pass on my first attempt and now im officialy licensed! read more

Absolutely amazing I was able to get my license within 2 months offered me lessons and the 5hr course and I passed the road test first try.

this Driving School is awesome!!! My driving instructor was very informative and helpful. They have really helped me through the process of finally getting my license! Would recommend to anyone. read more

good attention and very good teachers and employees when it comes to learning everything you need to drive this is the right place

Outstanding school, I went in 2005, and yes after 3,days of school I passed, the first thing I did was go out and buy a 900 pound motorcycle and ride, I've been riding ever since, I would highly recommend Trama to anyone looking for a motorcycle school to learn how to ride. read more

Trama's should rename themselves Trauma's because that is what they do to students without any motorcycle experience who have the nerve to sign up for a course that they *explicitly market to be for absolute beginners.* If you are struggling to master a complex and brand new skill like riding a motorcycle, the main instructor JP will belittle you, yell at you and threaten to kick you out of the class. If you're a woman, count on a good dose of sexist condescension as well. The second star is there because the two coaches at my course were great: calm, patient and had the skill to explain riding technique in a way that helped you to master it. I know the overall curriculum is used nationally but my guess is most schools teaching it are more successful with beginners because they don't have someone like JP running it. read more

Amazing class, although I passed, it would of been well worth it even if I did not. I had the opportunity to take the class with the founder's son, Eric Trama. He really really cares about our safety and learning good habits. He tries to get as much as he can in, within the two day allotted time and I thought that I learned so much that I'm even a better driver now. I highly recommend the school, and try to take your lesson's with Eric if you could. read more

It's been a while since I took my motorcycle course at Tramas, and this review is way long overdue. Here's the deal: The course itself is great. It is comprehensive and will get you comfortable on a bike. Tramas' instructors, however, are the worst of the worst. I had JP and an older man (Mike maybe? Don't remember his name), and given the amount of complaints against them, you probably already know where this is going. The instructors are smug, self-important, and rude (to say the very least). They run the class as if it were some sort of faux-military bootcamp, and will not hesitate to yell and degrade you for the simplest of mistakes. Now, if we were all advanced riders, I might forgive that, but this course is literally designed for COMPLETE BEGINNERS. So, to yell at someone who has never even sat on a bike before only serves to ruin their self-confidence and increase their already high nerves. I have taken this course twice, once for the license, and once to brush up after a long hiatus, which was my impetus for this review: Compare Tramas to the Motorcycle Safety School (who I went to the 2nd time), whose instructors are just as knowledgeable, but much more respectful and will actually treat you like a human being, and it's a no-brainer: stay away from Tramas at all costs. read more

I was very excited to start the basic rider course with this school! I payed the full amount for the course... lemme check my bank account to give y'all accurate info... $350! I gave them $350 before the pandemic hit! I did the computer course, passed the test and got my certificate.... When we went on lockdown, I got one call saying that my riding portion of the course was postponed. And I never heard back from them since like April... They need to fix this issue cause that is unprofessional and basically theft. No type of communication, no type of refund... I would NOT recommend them to anyone because their communication is terrible. read more

This is a great class for anyone looking to get on a motorcycle. It's conducted in a way to lead you in the right direction of performing and operating a motorcycle as easy as possible. I do admit though that it can be intimidating that if you're not up to par with that exercise, the class must move on. Completely understandable and the need to be courteous to the rest of the students that are picking it up right away. I was fortunate enough to have experience operating a motorcycle so I was able to pick up the things pretty quickly but I can imagine and witnessed the struggles of completely new riders trying to pick it up. If you're a quick learner, this course will be no problems at all. If you're a bit on the slow side (no offense), this may not be a pleasant experience as many of the bad reviewers here have stated. The staff are very professional and absolutely emphasize safety. I was a bit relieved that only 5 of the 14 people in my class had the privilege of receiving a passing certificate because we were the only ones that truly deserved it, so if you suck, don't count on luck. I would be scared for my life if any of the others were to be on the road near me if they got their license so kudos to them for only passing the ones that were absolutely ready to be on the road and not being a hazard to everyone around them. Don't expect to pay $xxx and be handed a license, it doesn't work that way and I'm glad it isn't. My one gripe about the class is that you end up with a mass, and you never know who will be in the class. Unfortunately, my class was filled with a lot of slower learners and it took time away for others to actually be practicing more technique. My biggest weakness that I wanted to practice more came to a end quickly with just 1 practice pass of it because of waiting for others. Overall, if you're determined to learn, you will learn a great deal here and be able to apply it to the real world. The instructors were all great and they do joke around a bit which was fun but they were professional every step of the way. read more

This class should be mandatory for every motorcycle rider. Our teacher JP was fantastic, as well as Marty and Marc! Although I have been riding for about 4 months prior to this class, I learned a tremendous amount of riding skills, that will make me a better ride and perhaps save my life. Listen to every thing they say, follow instructions, take it seriously and have fun! I highly recommend this class, with these wonderful instructors!! read more

This is long overdue I took this course back in 16 I had some prior motorcycle experience so clutch control and basic maneuvers weren't problems for me but if you are someone who has zero experience with riding a motorcycle this course is definitely not for you although I don't agree nor appreciate how some of the instructors behave I could understand why because letting someone pass without really believe in them can operate a motorcycle safely on the street it's just not the right thing to do plus with that many people in a session there is just no way they can really spend that much one on one time with just one person. read more

I literally just came home from the two day Basic Rider Course held at Queensborough Community College. WHEW. What a weekend. MOST IMPORTANT: Do NOT be late. Under any circumstances. At all. Forever. You can be ten seconds late and you will be kicked out of the class, NO REFUNDS, no make-ups. This didn't happen in my class, but I know that has happened to other people. Next: Where the hell is the damn place? (Ties into "don't be late" because it was impossible to find without direction). When you are on the corner of 226th Street and 56th avenue facing QCC, turn left. See those two ghetto white little one floor "buildings?" Well, "annexes," whatever. Yeah, it's the further, left one of the two; it's the door next to the "Shadowbox Theater." The good stuff: I had Michael Friedle and Marty as my instructors. They are both old guys who look like Santa. And they both know bikes like you wouldn't believe. Michael is the sweetest grandpa-type ever. All you want to do is give him a hug and eat milk and cookies with him on Christmas. Marty is the tough-love type who strictly enforces the rules but still wants you to have a good, safe, responsible time. Michael does the same, but with a softer touch. Day 1 consisted of almost 3 hours of classroom lesson, going through the book and answering some of the 120 questions in the book. After that, we had a break and walked to the range (aka, little parking lot). Where is the range? When you exit the door of the annex you are in, turn left, then turn left again and enter the running track. Walk down the length of the track and you will see the said parking lot. On the range, you learn where the various controls/parts of the bike are, how to turn it on, how to power walk it, how to ride in first gear, how to work the "friction zone" (or ride the clutch, pretty much), how to brake, change gears, weave in and out of cones, and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember. Every hour, you get a 10-15 minute break to eat/use the bathroom in the nearby building. While one instructor talks to you about the exercise you are about to do, the other instructor sets up the cones for that exercise. The two of them were ridiculously efficient and there was no wasted time. By the time you were done hearing about what you had to do and looking at a diagram of it, the range was already set up! Clearly years of experience on how to effectively have a smooth flow to the class. Day 2 consisted of about the same amount of classroom time, then one written exam. If you paid attention in class (which is really should), you'll pass the 50 question multiple choice, as long as you get 40 of them correct. On the range, we did more fun stuff including swerving, driving over obstacles (which are just 2x4 pieces of wood), coming to a quick stop, figure 8's (which are the bane of my existence), changing lanes/signaling, and smooth turning. Throw in some weaving, because that was fun, too. Once that's all done, you get 20 minutes to practice 3 of the 4 exercises that are on the practical evaluation. This includes a relatively tight figure 8, swerving, and coming to a quick stop. The fourth exercise is doing a 135 degree turn smoothly, but you practiced that earlier on day 2, so you don't really get a second chance to practice before the evaluation. Ultimately, the instructors seriously want you to develop good, safe habits. They know what they're talking about, so listen and don't take anything personally. Also, do NOT have your cellphone on you AT ALL when on the range. Marty will reprimand you and suggest that you leave the class. Leave it in your bag. It's important to remember that you do not pay $350 for a motorcycle license here. You paid for a Basic Rider Course. Don't just assume you have to get through two days and you get a license. You have to learn how to control the bike safely and perform the tasks they ask. My only criticism was that as a student with zero motorcycle experience, the fact we only did each exercise 3-4 times was not enough for me to get a good handle on it. On a positive note, Marty worked this out by saying I could practice during break. On day 1 I had a hard time smoothly changing gears, but the extra practice during break helped a ton. Actually, the other criticism is the fact that to register for the class you either had to go to the office in person or mail in the application. Come on, it's 2013, online registration would be awfully convenient. Or even over the phone registration. Miscellaneous: Bring food. There's nothing within walking distance to eat, but there is a Burger King/general fast food on Northern. There's a vending machine in the building, but that's about it. Riding for hours WILL make you starving. Anyway. Thanks Trama's, for the awesome experience. I would recommend this school for sure. read more

I passed the course and received my license. Some of my issues with the class are that we were told to report to the class at 6:30 am but the instructors arrived at 6:45. They finished setting up the motorcycles around 7:20. Then they blamed us for being late when we were all there. On the first day the class ended at 12:30 pm and the second day it ended at 2 pm. Both of these classes were supposed to end at 12 pm. I missed two important meetings because of these classes running longer then expected. My other issue is that my original class was scheduled for 3/19 & 3/20 before my permit expired. They rescheduled my class for April and my permit expired. They said it would be easy to renew my permit however DMV said I have to retake the test. I would say for anyone that wants to take this class should practice with a motorcycle for a few weeks. The skills course maybe skittle difficult for beginners. Also beware that there is a 5 hour in person class and 3 hour online class before riding a motorcycle. read more

I can't speak to the Auto portion of the business, but I took my Motorcycle Safety course there. (they also have a scooter school for the mods out there) The place is top notch. I hesitated at first for a couple reasons: 1. their website seems dated 2. everything was done through snail mail (sending check for class, waiting for confirmation, etc.) After reading on many forums how great they were, i took the plunge. I'm glad I did. They have many locations where you can take your motorcycle class. I took it in SUNY Farmingdale in LI. The course is 3 days and if you pass, the state waives your road test. The school was easy to deal with, the class was very helpful in my motorcycle development and the instructors were a pleasure. If you are thinking about getting into riding, i would highly recommend reaching out to Tramas. Ride Safe! read more

Dealing with this school has been one of the worst customer experiences in my life. Ever. Period. I took a class that was run by a rushed instructor at Queens Community College, named JP, in the month of September. He split his time between instructing us (yelling really) and his instructors-in-training (again yelling.) The class ended up running very late due to a delayed start by the instructor (he was spending his time arguing with a student) and another class was waiting to begin toward the middle of our instruction. I, being the slowest learner in the group, ended up being cut around the time that the new class showed up. I didn't have an issue with this in itself, but it's ridiculous for a first-time motorcycle user (what this class is supposed to be geared toward) to lose out on a lesson he paid for due to a class running late. I was even asked by JP whether I had ever ridden a motorcycle or used a manual transmission during my training (not something I was required to do.) After that I spoke to the manager about my issue and he assured me that I wouldn't have to worry given my experience and that I had a year to re-take another class. The manager was very nice and understanding about my situation, but I haven't heard from him again since that call. Instead, I've been dealing with the absolutely awful office staff. Why do I say awful? For the following: I've been calling them since September about re-taking a class and they told me not to worry because they'd get back to me when an opening came up. I trusted them on that and they never took time to reach out to me. I was worried on whether they had forgotten about me so I would try to call once a month and would be reassured on whether they had an opening. Come January I called again and had to go through the whole process of reminding them of who I am and my interest in retaking the course. The speaker, who seemed confused in her explanations, immediately recited their policy about how I should've taken another class within the 2015 timeframe ( three months) and that I would not be getting another chance or my money back (I just wanted another chance.) The office made no attempt to understand my issue, but was really quick to point out that was done is done and I'm the loser in this situation. This just makes no sense to me. A policy in which you can only re-take a class within a calendar year would mean anyone taking a class in December has no chance of getting their money back if they fail while someone in January has a huge amount of days. How can you even justify paying the same amount for a class in those two time periods if there are such different benefits connected? In addition, my calls would always be answered with a "we'll get back to you at such and such date" and then I'd rarely receive said call. This leads me to believe that there just wasn't an attempt by Trama's to ever get me another class; especially since the original class I took wasn't even full. Overall, I HATE HATE HATE dealing with this place. It has the WORST customer service I've ever dealt with in my LIFE. I'm just about give up and eat what I paid just so I don't have to get the run-around from them again. The office is slow to call you back, but quick to make you know they aren't paying you back. If you want to actually learn how to ride a motorcycle; save yourself some time and avoid Trama. ****** After talking to them some more to fix my situation; they started lying by saying I was given multiple chances to retake and refused. I get this is a huge review and all, but I can't emphasize enough how bad this experience has been for me. read more

I would give no stars if I could. I paid $350 for my course and I was aware of their no refund policy. But there was nothing mentioned for if there was emergency arises. On the week of the course, I had a family emergency and I was the only one in town. I had to be there for my mother and she was in the hospital. I was so occupied with work and this matter that I couldn't and didn't have the time to notify the school. I called and called, trying to reschedule my course because i really wanted to do it. I wasn't even asking for full refund. I spoke to Wanda or Rhonda about my situation and she said to have a doctor's note ready(which I have) and she'll speak to the boss. I don't even have the "boss" full name. Their customer service was bad. I had to wait for days and nobody called me regarding this matter. In the end I called and "Bea" the boss, apparently, answered the phone. I told her about my situation and she started raising her voice on the phone. That's not how you speak to your customer who spent $350 and asking to reschedule. I understand their position but at the same time she didn't compromise as well. Their policy is incredibly flawed. If there is a chance at all, that emergencies would come up in your life before or on the day of the course,there will be no refund or reschedule. So stay FAR away from this particular school. I'm going to file a complaint at Better Business Bureau. This school is flawed, go somewhere further to take the course. read more

To start, I read some of the bad reviews of Trama's Auto School's Basic Rider Course with amusement. These reviewers actually believe that 2 days of instruction is enough training to get a license to ride a 300+lb. machine among multi-ton cars and SUVs on public roads! The Basic Rider Course is a 2-day course that will allow you to bypass the DMV's road test upon completion and passing of the final test in the course. You are an absolute imbecile if you are expecting to have a motorcycle license with just 2 days of experience having never ridden before - so manage your expectations. Hell, one reviewer even commented that he was looking for a quick way to get a motorcycle license. I definitely would not want that guy on the same road as me if he thinks that a few hours of riding instruction is sufficient for a license. And, to continue, he complained about the neighborhood where the classroom instruction took place. Well Genius - you have the ability to look into neighborhoods before signing up but to bitch and moan about a location after you went ahead and signed up for the class is your fault. IMO the location wasn't bad as Mr. Delicate made it out to be. My class was held over a weekend, beginning at the super-early hour of 6:30AM on Saturday (wrapped up at dusk), and continued at 6:30AM on Sunday, wrapping up around 4PM. Our instructor was an engaging fellow named Ikankie. On the first day we spent roughly 5 hours over classroom instruction, going over rules, facts, and tips, etc. A written test was administered at the end. We then traveled to the course at QCC where we would practice on the school's motorcycles. Now, being a training school I wasn't expecting high-end motorcycles and I wasn't surprised, but then I wasn't disappointed either. The bikes were Suzuki 300cc uprights and a mix of Yamaha and Honda cruisers. The latter had lower seat heights which suited the shorter people in our class just fine. My bike, a Suzuki, was a bit banged up from being dropped, and the clutch seemed to need replacement in the near future, but overall they were fine for our purpose. The helmets did need help - perhaps bring a dew rag or head covering if you don't want to smell like someone else's sweat for the afternoon on your drive back home. All of the equipment and bikes are kept in a storage container onsite and my helmets reeked of gas so heed that. A few riders in my group brought their own so they didn't have to deal with that. BTW, instruction is rain or shine, so have rain gear ready unless the weather is too rough. We were lucky that the rain held off during the 2 days we were on the course. We went through 14 different practice runs meant to hone your riding skills and to simulate daily occurrences a rider might encounter on the street, all within a large, set-to-the-rear, empty parking lot. The various courses/skills tests were outlined on the pavement and with cones that Ikankie moved around in between each session (which comprised our breaks). Ikankie is a very patient instructor and will take the time to address any issues or concerns you may have. Overall he was a great instructor to have guide us through the course. Upon completion of the 1.5 days of riding practice JP, another Trama instructor, came by to help administer the final test. As mentioned earlier, passing it meant that we would be able to get our M designation on our license without taking the DMV road test, which itself is a major hassle (For the DMV test you have to have a licensed rider bring the bike to the test, and you are to arrive in a car. You take the test on the bike while your friend drives the car behind you, the test administrator riding behind as he calls out instructions for you as you are riding. Crazy right?) Well, getting back to JP, he does seem to be a bit intense though this was the substitute road test so I didn't expect him to be joking around to begin with. We did chat together as a group after the test and he was perfectly fine and amicable. The majority of my class passed. We received our card to present at the DMV to waive the road test, and my new license is now in my wallet. If you fail the course final road test you are allowed another try at it. If you do fail practice clutch and balance control - then you will be fine. Overall I had no complaints at all with Trama, other than the fact that I had to be at the site so early on a weekend. That's my issue though, I knew of the hours going into it. Ikankie was a great instructor, he guided us through all 14 exercises expeditiously, and I passed. What more could I ask for from this course and the school? read more

I just recently passed the beginner rider course given by Trama's at QCC... It is everything you could expect and more. I had JP and Marty. They both give expert advice and are extremely attentive to what the rider is doing. They both are able to dwell out their advice in ways that everyone can understand and make gel in their mind. JP is more of the "fun cop" but cracks the whip when safety is involved. Marty, who calls himself "Bad Santa", plays both good cop and bad cop. At the end of the course, I felt like I learned a ton about riding and now have to pay attention to the other idiots on the road. Also... no braking on turns, ever! Also... don't cover the brakes as when that moment arises when you go "oh snap!" you will grab the front brake out of fear and then drop the bike on yourself. Be forewarned that you will need snacks, and lunch. Bring plenty of water to the course. Most importantly, have fun and pay attention as this will teach you how to ride in a parking lot under adult supervision and it's up to you to transfer it to the streets. read more

TLDR: If you are an absolute beginner, do not EVER sign up for Trama's Basic Rider Course. The locale, teacher's behaviors, teaching methods and many other things are subpar at best. My experience with this organization has been nothing but awful. At first, Trama seemed like a good choice to quickly obtain a motorcycle license, it's nearby to where I live (Queens Community College) and had a VERY open schedule compared to other motorcycle classes offered by other organizations (in hindsight, Trama's mediocrity is largely the reason for it's open schedule...) Anyway, upon signing up for the class, I was required to take a 3 hour e-course (no biggie, If all I had to learn about basic motorcycling was crammed into a 3 day training program, I wouldn't mind getting all the information I need). After tediously chugging through the e-course, the 5 hour classroom portion of the course was up next. Trama's classroom was located all the way in Woodhaven, one of the worse areas of Queens I had the pleasure of experiencing. To not get too off-track, traveling there was nothing but a safety concern, first time goers beware. The time for the classes were no picnic either, from 5:30 in the evening all the way till 10:30 at night (what do they think they are? a college?), it was pitch black and I felt that my safety was so compromised that I called to be picked up by a family member instead of taking public transport home. Getting back on track, the 5 hour class largely was a reiteration of what you learned on the e-course. We had to take 2 tests (which were a complete copy of the ones we took on the e-course) and had to listen to the instructor drone on for hours. However, I believed the classroom portion of the program was the most valuable/least insufferable part of this entire thing. Now, onto the main shit show, the on-hands training portion of the course. If you are person with ABSOLUTE zero experience on a motorcycle, but is however able to ride a bicycle, I would STRONGLY advise against taking this course (despite the website listing it was tailored towards beginners like this). The instructor (which everyone else on Yelp seemed to complain about as well) JP, is not adequate enough to teach beginners at all. A couple of things to nitpick before I reveal the real issue at hand. I regretted not bringing my own personal helmet, the helmets they provide reeks of odor (largely thanks to them not ever washing the inner fabric and storing it in a dusty cargo container). Secondly, they had a very limited selection of bikes (by limited, I mean only 1 type of bike) to practice on. From what I've heard, other motorcycle training organizations who charge you the same amount or less for the course has a variety of motorcycle for you to choose from, Trama only has these big gaudy Suzukis, which I had a difficult time to operate on due to my small stature. I couldn't complain to anyone about it because like I said, they had no other bikes to offer me and the rest of my class were mainly large bodied individuals. Now onto the main issue... I absolutely hate how they teach you how to ride motorcycles. What I mean by this is that JP here, doesn't care whether you learned a specific portion of the lesson. For example, I was having trouble weaving around cones, but instead of being given time to practice until I was able to finish the activity, I was told to move onto the next activity. It wasn't helpful that things they might make you skip, due to the "sake of the class", will be on the final evaluation. JP's constant yelling and condescension negatively impacted me during my learning experience, just like the other Yelpers have complained about. In the end, the slow learners are the ones to suffer, JP follows the tempo of the experienced riders, the ones who rode motorcycles years prior and only took the "Basic Rider Course" as a refresher or as an easier alternative to getting their motorcycle licenses again, compared to taking the DMV road test. I wish I was able to get my money back and invest it into a motorcycle to have someone with patience, motorcycle experience and proper teaching skills to educate me the ways to ride a motorcycle properly. On behalf of all the people that gave Trama a bad and justified review: do not give this piss poor organization a cent of your hard-earned money. P.S.: You can take this review lightly, just like I did with the other negative reviews before I ignorantly paid Trama for the "privilege" of taking the course. But after wasting precious time and money, I will never take Yelp reviews lightly anymore. Heed my words stranger. read more

I enrolled in the basic rider course with trama's auto school, and I had a terrible experience. First of all, I would not recommend beginner (with no motorcycle experience) to take the class as you might end up wasting $350. The instructors I had, Marty and Johnpaul, jumped right into the lessons and expected us to know the controls of the bike as if we knew what we were doing. One guy in my class didn't know where the clutch lever was and the instructors were very rude and impatient with their response: "it's the big chrome thing" rather than just showing him. Personally, I'm not mad at the fact that I was counseled out nor is it the reason for giving them a low review. The real reason is the instructors provides an intimidating atmosphere rather than a nurturing one (that's more suited for beginners). I can understand the whole tough love teaching style, but John Paul's personality and tone of voice makes you really nervous, as if he's gonna kick you out of the class if you can't follow his every instruction. Keep in mind you're in a relatively loud environment and often times you can't hear what the instructors are telling you; when you don't understand their hand gesture, they yell at you as if you're an idiot for not understanding them. The BRC is a really fast paced course since they need to follow the teaching lesson laid out by MSF, so it becomes really difficult for beginners to keep up. I recommend looking into other options for getting into motorcycles and build up your confidence with handling a 250+ lbs machinery (you will only lose confidence and be deterred from riding ever again when you go to Trama's). read more

I was fortunate enough to take the Basic Rider Course motorcycle class with Marty and JP this weekend. I had planned to simply start riding a scooter to work, but figured I should take this class first. Wow, this class is so extremely helpful -- even for me as one who cycles most places in NYC now. You will learn so much from these guys and you will feel far more confident and safer on the road for the rest of your life. This course is a life-saver as I learned so many strategies that will help me mitigate risk going forward. Also, FYI, to properly prepare yourself for this course: 1. Arrive on time. 2. Be prepared with boots, long sleeves, pants, and full-fingered gloves. read more

I went to the same course that William K did and I also had a similarly unpleasant experience. I agree with some of the other reviewers that JP is a very knowledgeable, albeit strict instructor, but I think I could have learned much more and faster from a better teacher. He was pedantic, didn't explain drills well, and quickly got agitated when you misunderstood what he wanted. I don't feel that he respected anyone in the class, including his assistant instructor and he was incredibly tardy several times. Once he sat in his car for an extra 20 minutes during the break while the rest of the class waited. I came with an attitude ready to learn, I wish my instructor would have come with a similar attitude to teach. Overall, this is a solid program that gives a good foundation on motorcycle riding that places a heavy emphasis on safety. I was part of the 50% of the class that passed, and am happy that I have my skills in riding, license, and accredited MSF knowledge. I just wonder if that 50% pass rate could have been a bit higher. read more

I thought to myself... oh I rode a motorcycle upstate I don't need this... but I want to pass my road test fer sure... so I'll take this class... Honestly I don't like riding motorcycles... they are dangerous and much less comfortable then riding a car. No air conditiioning, bugs be biting you... and one mistake can = death. But this class really surpassed my expectations. I also had JP and Marty, and JP does play the tough cop, but honestly if you want to survive on your bike you need a reality check and JP makes sure that you leave the class a competent driver. He's got a sense of humor, but there's nothing funny when it comes to making sure you got the skills down. And that's the way it should be. Marty really wowed me. He's the type of teacher that is amiable and teaches in a way that both shows true mastery of the material, and a real concern for students welfare. He is a obvious master of how to manage risk, and it shows. One time our class had done the drill and allotted time but was struggling with the drill. Rather than ending the drill and TAKING A REST, Marty got us on the bikes and we got to try it again. That to me is a sign of greatness... when someone puts their own comfort and convenience aside for the greater good. I enjoyed every part of the Tramas experience even though I didn't go into it with a real positive attitude or expectation, and that says a lot. Every part of the class and administration was handled professionally and just about as well as you could expect... 5 stars all around. Great job Tramas! read more

I just returned from my basic rider course. It was an amazing experience. I read the reviews below and the two negative reviews (at the time of writing) made me worried. I had no previous experience on a motorcycle. I would like to make clear that I my experience with Trama's has been awesome and I was pleasantly surprised to find that my experience was nothing like theirs. Firstly, I would like to clear John Paul's name. He was great, certainly more on the sterner side but he struck me as well seasoned pro who without a doubt rides to the standards that he teaches. His partnered instructor was Marty. Marty's approach is slightly more playful, however; in the end it is clear that both Marty and JP accept to watch you jerk and wobble (possibly fall) but dedicate themselves fully to making sure you are as prepared as you can be as a novice rider. Marty was also our classroom instructor and he is gifted at mentally preparing you for the responsibility and sheer joy we accept and expect when riding a motorcycle. Put simply, the classroom portion was fun and I learned more than I expected. To be as unbiased as possible, I will speak to the cons. Yes their site is dated (I noticed they were making updates to the site as I was preparing to sign up for the course) and the sign up process may also be dated but it still works. Communication was made and received on both ends when needed so in the end, trust the folks at Trama's and if you need something from them, make a phone call. Also, I can see how someone, who is sensitive to having a stern instructor take it personally and feel hurt or offended if they feel they are a target. If this happens, remember this: you're considering taking up a hobby where you sit and travel at high velocity on top of a small missile where everything in the world around you can potentially harm and or kill you, especially yourself. Of course that is an extreme thing to say so in other words, toughen up, be confident, admit fault, look to your instructors for help and guidance and you will see this entire experience as fun, enriching, exciting and rewarding. read more

Very happy with Trama. Had a weekend basic rider course with JP and Gerry who were both excellent teachers, patient and calm. The classroom work was entertaining and interesting if not a bit laborious, and the practical work was pretty exhausting for a novice (think I fell asleep at 8pm after that first day) but by day 2 I felt a lot more comfortable and confident. And kinda pumped because I learned how to drive in a loop without stalling or falling over! Joking aside, for a 3 day course, they throw a lot of info at you, but if you can push through, it is well worth the money to be guided by pros. And you get to skip the visit to the dmv for the rider exam - that alone is priceless!! I do wish they had given us a little more time here and there on practicing the things that we really needed extra help on (tight turns, swerving) and I still don't feel 100% comfortable driving on an open road NYC after just 3 days of learning but that's just how the course is built I suppose. They don't address things like stopping/starting on hills, upshifting past 3rd gear, or troubleshooting common bike problems, but I do believe they offer other courses that might address more advanced topics. But definitely make it worth your money by asking for tips, advice, suggestions on bikes, anything! The teachers know so much and are very professional and respectful, and take safety very seriously, so take advantage. And don't sit on JP's motorcycle without asking him. Definite no-no. read more

Some students may complaint that one or two instructors may be too "mean" at times. My advice to them is not to take anything personal. I've heard my name called once or twice for not following directions. My attitude is to learn your mistake and move rather than being angry. You'll lose your focus by being upset. You'll also realize that almost everyone in the group be verbally "corrected" as well. read more

I took the Basic Motorcycle Course at Queensboro Community College on July 20-21, 2013. It was GRUELING because we were in the height of the heatwave (90+ temps, midday, in long pants, long-sleeve shirts, gloves and helmets.) The instructors, Bill & Peter, were super nice. Yes, tough, but nice. I really felt nervous about this class and was so thrilled I was able to get on the bike and ride very quickly. I was not so thrilled that I was not picking up the nuances of braking and clutching as fast as I wanted to. My nerves kept getting in the way. The heat did not help! But the instructors were very patient and understanding. I learned enough in two days that I feel confident to buy a small bike now and go out and practice with someone more experienced. Two comments: 1) I felt the class was too large and caused us to go over the expected end time by a couple hours (this was also due to another class not being done on the range in time for us to start); 2) I wished we could have had a LOT more time practicing the tight U-turns, or maybe an exercise where we started with a loose u-turn and gradually got tighter and tighter. But there is only so much time in two days and the finer techniques will simply take more practice time on my own. I passed the class so I can get my license now without taking the DMV road test, and I'm a happy girl. I definitely recommend this class. If you are thinking about it, schedule it for the fall when it's a little cooler. read more

coming from a person that is completely new to riding, this most definitely was a difficult course to complete. Took me two attempts to pass the test, but I learned much along the way and am thankful for the lessons learned with this course. The teachers do try their best to provide a positive learning experience with safety as their priority. Although they may come off as tough at times, they genuinely do mean well and have the safety of the rider as their main concern. Special mention must go out to Gerri for being the absolute apex of my positive experience with the school. Thank you for being so great rockstar! read more

Tramas had a good class schedule compared to mss so I decided to risk the bad reviews and take the class after taking a 2 hour private lesson at MSS. This was a huge mistake, the coach at MSS was very encouraging and supportive which made me learn faster and felt more comfortable and confident on the bike, then came JP, who is exactly like what all the bad reviews said he was. Condescending and impatient, the entire time he makes you dwell on mistakes, seemed annoyed he had to be there and just reminded me verbally that I will fail. He doesn't seem to have any passion for teaching and just reads out of his booklet. During skills practice before the test he just sat around and let people do what they wanted without any coaching. Although, I was much more confident and comfortable without him yelling and being annoyed at everything I did. read more

I took a couple of classes with a school that wasn't MSF and let me tell you I walked away with a lot more skill to be on the road with a motorcycle with this course..I'm a lot more confident but more importantly safer on the road..I see a lot of negative reviews specifically toward the instructor "J.P." Let me say this..regardless of the instructor you get he or she is not supposed caress you or nurture you so you're safe on the road because it just wouldn't work..you need the drill sergeant experience so safety and all the other skills you need are well um drilled into your head..I can't thank J.P enough for his efforts and patience..I highly recommend him and trama read more

I took the basic rider course in July 2010 and I recommend it to everyone. I had been riding for three decades with no license and shaking in my boots every time I saw a cop car. But when I called to arrange a road test there was something like a 4-month waiting period. Then my brother discovered Trama and took the course and had his license in a week. I was shocked. In sum, it was the best money I ever spent because at the end of the training I finally had my motorcycle license. And probably even more important, I really learned a lot there and I am a much better rider now. Lastly, it was really a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. Ride safe, Steve read more

Great class, great instructors. The course is mainly about safety, and the reality of the risks you face while riding a motorcycle. A lot of low speed maneuvers also. The coaches were JP and Michael, both outstanding. At the beginning I though JP was kind of grumpy but then I learned he really takes the course seriously, and he is trying his best to make sure you excel. In my case I already knew how to ride, but I still think it was a great investment. I would recommend this course to any new or experienced rider. read more