Adventure Motorcycle Training
Stop Surviving The Terrain. Own It.
Expert-led adventure motorcycle training across six US locations. Built for riders who understand that skill is the difference between white-knuckle survival and the kind of riding you’ve been dreaming about.
30yrs
TEACHING SINCE 1996
11
YEARS TRAINING US SPECIAL FORCES
6
TRAINING LOCATIONS
0
GENERIC ONE-SIZE COURSES
THE DIFFERENCE ———
You've spent real money on the wrong things.
Think about it. You probably have a $20,000 motorcycle. Have spent thousands in gear. Plus, farkles you researched for months. And you still white-knuckle through technical terrain, wondering if today’s the day you drop it.
The one thing missing isn’t better tires or a lighter exhaust. It’s a professional watching you ride and telling you exactly what to fix… and how your body and the motorcycle work together.
That’s what Bret provides. He doesn’t offer canned tips. There isn’t a memorized syllabus to follow. What you get is individualized feedback built around how your specific body, on your specific bike, reads specific terrain.
1
BRET LEADS EVERY CLASS
Not an associate or a substitute. Bret leads every training course. If circumstances change, you’re told personally.
20
YEARS TEACHING ADV RIDERS
Bret founded his first motorcycle training school in 1996. He began teaching ADV riding in 2006, now the oldest ADV-specific training program in the USA.
49
COUNTRIES RIDDEN
This isn’t a weekend instructor who took a teaching course. Bret has been where your bike dreams of going, from windy twisties in Sardinia, Italy to being chased through a sandy minefield between Mauritania and Senegal.
ADVENTURE TRAINING
Georgia
ADV Training
♦ YOUNG HARRIS, GEORGIA
“I was able to take on many challenges I wouldn’t have dreamt of previously (sometimes working through failures to finally reach success). They have a cerebral and astute approach to training that provides the ‘why’ behind what they are teaching rather than just directing to do it a certain way without explanation.”
NATHAN, ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING
At this location, you will train on 560 private acres of off-road terrain with miles of single and doubletrack, a big-bike-friendly obstacle course, a trials area, and open training fields. Georgia’s red clay changes character with the weather (especially during spring rainstorms) which means you’ll develop real traction management skills that translate directly to trail and backcountry riding. You’ll encounter wooded single and doubletrack, ruts, steep hills, logs, uneven natural features, and open grass fields. Terrain and challenges range from beginner to expert.
April 2 - 4, 2026
WAITLIST ONLY
ADVENTURE TRAINING
Virginia
ADV Training
♦ GREENVILLE, VIRGINIA
“…One of the most educational and fun experiences of my adult life. From group demonstrations and drills to one-on-one instruction, you are never left with an unanswered question or hands-on explanation. I left the experience as a better rider, with a larger friend group and memories that I hope to add to with my next class. Worth every penny I invested!”
KIRK, ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING
This is more than just training — it’s an experience. Penmerryl Farm is a 135-acre horse farm full of purpose-built ADV training areas, with a fully-stocked bike shop, BYOB tavern, onsite lodging and pool (extra fee), and a private lake. Whether you tent, RV camp, or book a cabin or fully stocked lodge, this is one of the most comfortable ADV training environments you’ll find anywhere. On the training side, you’ll work tight winding trails where line selection is everything, open grass fields, logs, roots, uneven hills, and mixed-traction surfaces.
April 9 - 11, 2026
4 SPOTS LEFT
ADVENTURE & CHALLENGE TRAINING
Georgia ADV &
Challenge Training
♦ YOUNG HARRIS, GEORGIA
“The amount of preparation, energy, and effort that Bret puts into his instruction is unmatched. Students aren’t just taught what to do in various situations and environments, they are given an in depth understanding of why.”
STEVE, CHALLENGE TRAINING
At this location, you will train on 560 private acres of off-road terrain, but a different gear entirely. Challenge Training starts with the same foundational skills as the ADV course, then accelerates quickly onto more technical terrain with less margin for error. Expect long days of continuous movement on sustained high-consequence terrain. Georgia’s red clay, wooded trails, ruts, steep hills, and uneven natural features don’t get easier; you just get better at reading them. This course is for riders who’ve built a foundation and are ready to find out where their actual ceiling is.
The Adventure and Challenge Training courses will both be held concurrently.
April 30 - May 2, 2026
7 SPOTS LEFT
ADVENTURE TRAINING
Virginia
ADV Training
♦ GREENVILLE, VIRGINIA
“From the start we were greeted with deep professionalism somehow mingled with cousins-you-didn’t-know-you-had friendly, and then we were all in the trenches together. We often felt challenged but never unsafe.”
KARL, ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING
This is more than just training — it’s an experience. Penmerryl Farm is a 135-acre horse farm full of purpose-built ADV training areas, with a fully-stocked bike shop, BYOB tavern, onsite lodging and pool (extra fee), and a private lake. Whether you tent, RV camp, or book a cabin or fully stocked lodge, this is one of the most comfortable ADV training environments you’ll find anywhere. On the training side, you’ll work tight winding trails where line selection is everything, open grass fields, logs, roots, uneven hills, and mixed-traction surfaces.
MAY 7 - 9, 2026
4 SPOTS LEFT
ADVENTURE TRAINING
Idaho
Adventure Training
♦ NAMPA, IDAHO
“Bret and his team’s camps represent my top adventure riding investment. Although the training has specific goals, unplanned learning opportunities arise during the course. The ever-changing terrain and weather in adventure riding demand adaptability; a sound foundation of skills and knowledge is key. Bret and his team absolutely provide you with that sound foundation and exceed expectations.”
CRAIG, ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING
Nothing simulates reality quite like reality itself, and that’s exactly what makes Idaho different from every other location. This is the only course that combines dedicated training areas with on-trail learning, and no two days look the same. Each day you travel to a new location and train on terrain that directly mimics long-distance backcountry riding in the western US. You’ll manage traction on hot desert sand and loose surfaces, navigate long gravel roads and washboard, and climb and descend steep loose hills — terrain similar to sections of the Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route. If you want immersive and real-world, this is it.
May 21 - 23, 2026
WAITLIST ONLY
ADVENTURE TRAINING
Idaho
Adventure Training
♦ NAMPA, IDAHO
“Bret is a superstar when it comes to adventure riding. I have committed to training with Bret each year (4 years so far). I find that I need the refresher as well as learn new skills. I have never been disappointed each year. Bret considers the skills of each rider and tailors training to challenge and train you to go beyond where you are. The concepts are simple, but you must learn to apply them. You won’t learn them anywhere else.”
ALLEN, ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING
Nothing simulates reality quite like reality itself, and that’s exactly what makes Idaho different from every other location. This is the only course that combines dedicated training areas with on-trail learning, and no two days look the same. Each day you travel to a new location and train on terrain that directly mimics long-distance backcountry riding in the western US. You’ll manage traction on hot desert sand and loose surfaces, navigate long gravel roads and washboard, and climb and descend steep loose hills — terrain similar to sections of the Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route. If you want immersive and real-world, this is it.
June 5 - 6, 2026
9 SPOTS LEFT
ADVENTURE TRAINING
Oregon
Adventure Training
♦ UPPER MUSTANG AREA
“As a novice ADV rider on a heavy bike, I was initially intimidated and worried this camp might be way above my skill level. But from the moment the training started, it became clear: if anyone can teach you how to master an adventure bike, it’s Bret and Paul. Their experience, patience, and teaching style make all the difference.”
DEJAN, ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING
Hosted at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center, this location gives you full access to a dedicated overland vehicle training area plus ORV land just minutes from the fairgrounds. Oregon’s landscape shifts from open high desert to forested routes and maintained trail systems, which means real variety in a single course. You’ll work through dirt roads on remote public lands, dry high-desert sections, forest roads with roots and mixed soft surfaces, and occasional rocky sections and dried mud ruts — terrain similar to sections of the Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route. This is a new location for us!
June 18 - 20, 2026
10 SPOTS LEFT
CHALLENGE TRAINING
Idaho
Challenge Training
♦ NAMPA, IDAHO
“The way Bret and his instructors teach/mentor their students – while they kept challenging us they also kept assessing us for all kinds of missed basics. They kept getting back to basics here and there, discussing different techniques and more. And then you could jump back to the challenges and apply what you just learned/fixed and see/feel the result.”
IGOR, CHALLENGE TRAINING
Everything that makes the Idaho ADV training exceptional… and then some. This is the most demanding format Bret offers: fast-paced, with very long days on sustained high-consequence terrain, continuous movement, and minimal margin for error. Like the regular Idaho ADV training course, each day takes you to a new location across real western backcountry. You’ll face the same hot desert sand, long gravel roads, steep loose hills, and washboard, but at a pace and technical level that leaves no room to coast. This course is not ideal for riders still building basics.
June 25 - 27, 2026
3 SPOTS LEFT
ADVENTURE TRAINING
Washington
Adventure Training
♦ CASHMERE, WASHINGTON
“[Bret’s] unique approach to adventure riding cuts through the formulas and the programs so often seen and provides you with two simple objectives to make you a better rider. I have never attended a more informative and impactful training event than what Bret provides.”
Allen, ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING
This location is unique because the training happens alongside a full ADV rally. You’ll train during the day on forest service roads with roots, hills, and ruts, and have access to the Touratech Rally’s private off-road challenge course with extensive practice in sand, loose terrain, tight technical turns, and logs. In the mornings and evenings, you’re fully immersed in the Cascade Country Rendezvous and Dual-Sport Rally, with camping onsite. It’s three days of serious instruction surrounded by the full culture of the ADV world.
July 9 - 11, 2026
8 SPOTS LEFT
ADVENTURE TRAINING
Utah
Adventure Training
♦ NAMPA, IDAHO
“I came in feeling anxious and uncertain, but the support and encouragement from the trainers made all the difference. The training was incredibly well-structured, with a strong focus on real-world application. I appreciated how we weren’t just shown techniques—we were given lots of opportunities to practice them in realistic settings. That hands-on experience was exactly what I needed to build confidence and push past my hesitation. The instructors created a supportive and motivating environment, which helped me stay grounded even when I was way outside my comfort zone.”
HENRY, ADVENTURE TRAINING
Hosted by Grit Moto Ranch on their private 50-acre ADV facility in Park City, this location offers custom-built obstacles, a technique-focused course design, and plenty of natural riding terrain. You’ll challenge yourself on rock gardens, sand, mud, and water crossings — the kind of varied surfaces that expose real gaps in traction management and bike control. This is one of only two Bret Tkacs locations limited to 10 riders, making it one of the most individualized training experiences available. Note: Sunday School training is not currently offered at this location.
September 11 -12, 2026
4 SPOTS LEFT
INTERNATIONAL TOUR
Nepal
Adventure Tour
♦ UPPER MUSTANG REGION, NEPAL
“From the crazy traffic in Kathmandu, to the incredible peace, serenity, and sheer spirituality (with occasional craziness thrown in) of riding through the Upper Mustang region, it was an experience like no other. And throughout it all, Bret maintains control, even in the situations beyond all of our control, to provide an experience you’ll just want to repeat for as long as you’re physically able. I can’t recommend any more highly.”
Jon, Nepal Adventure Tour
This expedition goes into the secluded upper Mustang Region, nestled within the rain shadow of the highest mountain range in the world – the Himalaya. Only recently opened to foreigners with a Nepali guide, and protected by a restrictive access permit, this isolated region is the best-preserved remnant of Tibet.
Access to this region is not cheap, not easy and at times, not comfortable. However, the scenery at over 12000′, the undisturbed culture and the feeling of total isolation are completely worth the effort and sacrifice. Visit the last piece of authentic Tibetan life.
November 2 - 14, 2026
4 SPOTS LEFT
PRIVATE TRAINING
Private
Lessons
♦ Anywhere in the world
“It was very clear in every session that Bret really was passionate about adventure riding and growing each student. His way of setting the learning environment to be supportive while pushing us at the same time out of our comfort zones had a great influence on my riding.”
BART, ADVENTURE TRAINING
Private lessons are available at a premium for the 1:1 format, but most riders are surprised to find they progress faster in a group setting.
There’s something that doesn’t happen in private instruction: you watch another rider commit to a section you’ve been hesitant about, hear a peer ask the question you didn’t know to ask, or catch an “aha moment” from watching someone else correct their body position in real time. That collective problem-solving accelerates learning in ways that concentrated individual attention simply can’t replicate.
Private coaching makes sense for specific goals: competition prep, isolating a particular skill deficit, or refining advanced technique. If your aim is to become a more capable trail rider, a group class will serve you better and cost you less. If you have a targeted need that calls for focused one-on-one attention, email Bret to discuss whether private coaching is the right fit.
⸺ WHY TRAIN WITH BRET ⸺
There are a lot of ADV instructors.
Most of them have never left the country.
Bret has ridden in 49 countries, authored the training curriculums used by Washington State, holds a formal degree in adult education, and has been teaching motorcycle safety since 1996. Here’s what that means for you on the training field.
EVERY CLASS IS TAUGHT BY BRET
Not an associate instructor. Not a substitute. Bret leads every single course. If that changes, you get a phone call from him personally.
PHYSICS-BASED INSTRUCTION
You don’t just learn what to do. You learn why it works. That means when conditions change and the formula breaks down, you can still make the right decisions.
INDIVIDUALIZED - NOT FORMULAIC
Nobody gets lined up and pushed through the same obstacle line. Terrain is matched to your actual skill level, not a standardized expectation.
DEGREE IN ADULT EDUCATION
This is the credential most instructors don’t think they need. Bret understands how skills are taught, retained, and applied months later when you’re alone on a trail.
REAL WORLD TERRAIN
No cones. No parking lots. Uncontrolled natural terrain in all weather conditions — because that’s what you’ll be riding when you leave.
INDUSTRY-CHANGING CURRICULUM
Most instructors teach from someone else’s playbook. Bret wrote the playbook — including the Learn to Ride and Street Strategies curricula adopted by Washington State, and the US Army Military Mentor Training Program curriculum.
⸺ WHICH COURSE IS RIGHT FOR YOU
Start Where You Are.
Go Further Than You Think.
New to Dirt
Never left pavement, or pavement-only for years? The ADV Training courses meet you exactly where you are and builds from there. The only prerequisites are a willingness to learn and proper protective gear.
ADV TRAINING COURSES →
Confident Beginner or Intermediate
You’ve ridden dirt but want to push further and faster. Challenge Training starts with the same foundational skills but on more technical terrain, at an accelerated pace, with longer days.
CHALLENGE TRAINING →
Immersive Real-World Learner
You want to learn on the go: a different location every day and training in real-time as conditions change. The Idaho and international tours are for riders who prefer the road over the training field.
IDAHO + INTERNATIONAL →
THE CURRICULUM ⸺
What you actually take home
Bret’s courses are adapted to rider experience and available terrain, but built around one principle: you need to understand why something works, not just copy the movement. That’s what makes it stick when you’re out riding alone in three months.
♦ Motorcycle balance and low-speed control
♦ Body position and weight transfer on ADV-style motorcycles
♦ Traction management on gravel, dirt, and uneven surfaces
♦ Braking techniques on mixed terrain
♦ Hill climbs, descents, and obstacle negotiation
♦ Line selection and terrain reading
♦ Fatigue management and riding efficiency
♦ Risk assessment and decision-making in remote environments
♦ Rider psychology — the mental game of fear and control
COMMON QUESTIONS ⸺
Before You Register
Do I need prior off-road experience?
No. Riders should be comfortable operating a motorcycle on pavement, but no off-road experience is required. Courses are structured so each rider works on terrain matched to their own skill level. Riders of all abilities attend the same course and all leave having genuinely progressed.
WHAT KIND OF MOTORCYCLE SHOULD I BRING?
Anything you want to ride in the dirt. Training is tailored to larger ADV bikes, which means smaller bikes are typically easier to handle. Bring crash protection if borrowing someone else’s motorcycle.
AM I TOO OLD FOR THIS?
It’s not a question of age — it’s a question of physical conditioning and mental attitude. Riders in their 70s have attended and done well while riders half their age struggled. We adapt to physical abilities and limitations. You can’t change your age, but you can change your preparation.
IS TRAINING PHYSICALLY DEMANDING?
Courses are challenging but designed around efficiency and technique rather than physical strength. You’ll be on your feet and riding for full days. Arriving in reasonable physical condition makes a meaningful difference in how much you get out of it. All courses (except Idaho) give you the opportunity to sit back and watch.
HOW MANY RIDERS ARE IN EACH CLASS?
Class size is intentionally limited to ensure meaningful, individualized feedback. Most locations cap well below what other programs consider normal.
Courses can fill up quickly
Don't wait on the one you want.
Most locations sell out before the date appears on most riders’ radar. If a location is on your list, the time to move is now.
“There are countless adventure motorcycle trainers out there, but Bret Tkacs and Paul Solomonson truly stand apart from the crowd. These two are genuine masters of their craft and riding techniques, but what makes them exceptional is their ability to teach – something that doesn’t always come naturally to even the most skilled riders. They are rightfully considered “gurus” in the adventure riding community.
The progression from nervous beginner to confident rider happens faster than you’d expect, thanks to their expert coaching, patient corrections, and constant encouragement. This isn’t just another riding course – it’s a comprehensive program that builds both skills and confidence in a way that sticks.”
EDWIN, ADVENTURE TRAINING
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