In a bold move that speaks to the growing demand for adventure riding across North America, Royal Enfield North America has teamed up with rider education pioneers Be Crash Free and globetrotting tour operator Vintage Rides to launch the Vintage Rides Academy (VRA). This immersive new rider training experience is designed from the ground up to teach riders how to explore the world on two wheels, confidently and skillfully.
VRA isn’t just another skills course. It’s built by real-world, MSF-certified ride coaches. It’s an open invitation to ride like you mean it and enjoy it like you earned it. And it all happens atop the recently released Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, revered for its versatility globally, “Built for All Roads, Built for No Roads.” The entire Vintage Rides Academy fleet contains 20 Himalayan 450 motorcycles for all students to train on.
“Adventure motorcycling is exploding in popularity, but there’s been a gap in how riders actually learn to ride off-road with control and confidence,” said Nathan Kolbe, Head of Marketing, Americas Region, Royal Enfield. “With Vintage Rides Academy, we’re not just filling that gap — we’re sending it into the stratosphere.”
Vintage Rides Academy fuses the brainpower of Be Crash Free — the rider training team that knows the most important upgrade is the one between the ears — with the well-traveled soul of Vintage Rides, whose guides have been navigating Himalayan switchbacks and borderless adventures long before GPS was an option on most bikes.
The Himalayan 450 serves as the official training motorcycle of the Academy. By combining versatility, lightweight handling, and real-world performance, the Himalayan 450 makes it the ideal platform for riders looking to move from and between the pavement to trails. VRA utilizes the skilled coaches to offer hands-on support in both closed-course ADV training and guided trail rides. VRA offers progressive off-road and dual-sport instruction, geared toward both new riders and seasoned road warriors ready to expand their horizons. With the adventure bike motorcycle segment projected to continue growing at a fast pace, this initiative gives riders the confidence, mental edge and technical skills to say yes to the roads less traveled.
Upcoming courses will be hosted across select North American destinations, with small class sizes, real terrain, and a curriculum focused on building both technique and the adventure riding mindset.
“We created VRA for riders who dream of going further, and know enough to know how to start with a great training experience,” said Steve Kirsch, Chief Executive Officer of Be Crash Free. “Our mission is to make them capable, confident, and ready to turn that dream into dust.”
Whether chasing mountain passes or desert trails, Vintage Rides Academy is the new gateway to a new kind of freedom. More information can be found here: https://www.vintagerides.com/us/motorcycle-tour/usa/academy-usa-powered-by-be-crash-free/
