15 Feb 2026 Learning to fly

Photos and Article By Mike Kemp

When it comes to the world of motorcycling, take a lesson from me ­— education and training are the fastest route to success.

I watched from the sidelines for a while, I’ll admit. My riding career started much later than others. While friends around me were terrorizing the neighborhood on minibikes and small motorcycles in their teens, I didn’t get a chance to take to two wheels until my 30s.

And when I did, I did it largely on my own. With the help of David Hough’s “Proficient Motorcycling,” I made it through those early stages. Continuous study and practice got me through today, but there was definitely an easier route.

And that route is through education.

If you’ve ever daydreamed about getting out on the open road on two wheels, there is a chance to try it out with no previous experience. And, by completing it, you can even make the motorcycle licensing process easier.

The best part? You don’t even have to own a motorcycle or hold a motorcycle license to do it.

The Harley-Davidson Riders Academy offers potential riders the opportunity to learn how to ride without any previous experience or even motorcycle ownership. The two-and-a-half-day course is offered locally through Rock City Harley-Davidson in Little Rock. It consists of classroom time along with practical application in a controlled environment at the dealership.

For Rider Academy manager Frank Caridi, it’s more than just teaching people to ride; it’s a passion project.

“We want you riding something that you absolutely love to the point where we can’t get you off the thing,” he said. “And then other people are going to see you riding something and see you having your mechanical love affair out there. They’re going to be inspired to follow their dream and get their own bike, and have their own two-wheel love affair, too. The more of us that are out there, the more bikers we can create, the more people we can enable and empower to ride a motorcycle, the safer we’re all going to be out there, because people start seeing us.”

He and his wife, Tatiana Somoza, coach new riders through not only Rock City Harley-Davidson, but also through their Hot Springs Moto Camp, located about an hour away from Little Rock at Hot Springs airport.

“Our mission is to get you on a bike that you love, because if you love it, you’re gonna ride it,” he said.

“Tatiana and I moved out here from Los Angeles, specifically with the intention of building more motorcycle and/or motorsports facilities here in Arkansas. So, step one is: Teach people how to ride, teach them how to do it safely, and build a community. Step two, buy some land, build a small circuit track, and then have more advanced classes there.”

Curriculum for both the Riders Academy and Hot Springs Moto Camp is based on what the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has developed. The classes start with an e-course that is finished by students prior to the start of class. Two days on a closed range allow riders to learn everything from how to start the motorcycle and how the controls work all the way up to emergency braking and swerving.

Upon successful completion of either course, certification is presented that allows graduates to skip the skills portion of the Arkansas motorcycle licensing exam.

“Take your written test after taking our class, because then you will have had two and a half days plus a five-hour e-course full of knowledge that will arm you for that test,” Caridi said. “Then you only have to go to the state police once. You go there once, present your completion card, do your written test after we’ve taught you all the things you need to know, they will give you a stamped piece of paper.”

With that paper, along with your current driver’s license, a trip to the DMV is all that’s needed to get a motorcycle endorsement added to your license.

Best of all, participants don’t even have to provide their own motorcycles. Harley-Davidson provides Riding Academy participants with two types of motorcycles, both of which are set up with crash protection in case of accidental drops. Additionally, the motorcycles are detuned so that power delivery isn’t too aggressive for someone learning the ropes. The Hot Springs Moto Camp also has its own fleet. 

“Hot Springs Moto Camp provides a fleet of dual sport, cafe-racer style, and stripped-down Suzukis for participants to sample,” Caridi said.

The atmosphere of the classes is welcoming as well. Rock City events coordinator and marketing director Brannen Tipton makes sure of that, including providing a grilled lunch for participants.

“We’ve always got something cool going on, and we’ve always got food,” he said.

Along with food, amenities such as phone chargers, sunscreen and helmet cleaning stations are provided at the Riders Academy.

Although Harleys aren’t used for the Hot Springs Moto Camp, the course also provides its own motorcycles. “And you have the option to ride your own bike, within the limitations (of the class standards),” Somoza added.

Classes will start in March, and Caridi said he hopes to add courses in Conway and Searcy during the year. He is also planning a course to train those interested in becoming rider coaches, which will be the first time it will be offered in Arkansas. Learn more at rockcityhd.com and click on the “Learn To Ride” option.