Maschine Adventure Academy NSW

This is the most comprehensive rider training course an adventure rider can throw themselves into. Most rider training courses run for one or two days. This academy runs for four days and is designed to cover more than just riding skills; you will also learn some of the “soft skills” of trailside repairs, GPS & navigation skills etc.
 
This is a “live in” style training camp where all riders and instructors are in an immersive environment with the education continuing into the night once the riding is done for the day.  Basically you get to eat, breath and sleep adventure riding for four days!

Rider Skills Curriculum

During the first two days the Core riding skills we cover include:

• Body position
• Footpeg weighting
• Vision and line selection
• Momentum
• Cornering
• Braking
• Clutch
• Throttle control
• Electronic rider aids – ABS, TCS etc.

Progression into Intermediate and Advanced riding techniques will include:

• Sand
• Rocks
• Ruts
• Lofting front wheel over obstacles
• Water crossings
• Hill ascents and descents
• Advanced cornering – sliding and drifting

Day 3 of the program includes a full day trail ride examining and practicing real world scenarios; line selection, cornering, hills, ruts, water crossings.

We set aside the fourth and final day in our Academy program as a “flex” day to either revisit Core skills as required or to continue learning with Advanced skills such as sand or hills depending on the groups wants and needs.

At every step, riders will be given plenty of one-to-one feedback including photo and video review. Each rider has the opportunity to progress their skills at a pace that suits them individually. 

Presentations Curriculum

Our Adventure Academy is an immersive environment where the training doesn’t stop once you get off the bike.  Presentations each day will cover many other topics that are key to being a competent adventure rider:
 

Bike

• Bike set up and preparation
• Suspension setting
• What accessories are useful and what accessories are just “farkles”
• What tools to pack and how to use them – trailside maintenance & repairs
• Everyday Carry for adventure – what gear you should have with you all the time
• How to pack for adventure riding
• Camping from an adventure bike
• How to dewater a bike after drowning it
• Tyre changing  (you will get your hands dirty in our workshop!)

Tech

• GPS navigation
• GPS route planning
• Map reading skills
• Apps 
• Emergency communications

Body 

• Accident scene management
• Basic first aid for motorcyclists
• Basic wilderness survival skills
• Riding gear – tips to be prepared for all riding conditions
• Air bag safety apparel for riders
• Fitness and nutrition for riders
• Fatigue management
• Planning and packing for expedition length or overseas trips

These sessions will typically take place each afternoon or in the mornings. 
Each participant will receive presentation notes after the course.  

Our lead coach for this course will be maschine’s own Nick Selleck.  He is a Motorcycling Australia Level 1 accredited coach and has been riding off-road for over 45 years.  He takes pride in being a smooth, safe and consistent rider.  Nick has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share when it comes to off-road riding. Nick grew up riding off-road and after several years competing in Motocross, Enduro and Supermotard he has spent the last 13 years planning and organising motorcycle adventure tours & training events.

His experience in adventure riding since 2011 includes exploring many iconic regions of Australia; Victorian High Country, Tasmania, Flinders Ranges, Corner Country, Birdsville, researching and retracing the Burke & Wills expedition route – Melbourne to Karumba, Tanami Track, Kimberley region including Gibb River Road, Arnhem Land, Cape York, Savannah Way and Gulf Country and exploring the length of the Great Diving Range amongst others.

Aside from domestic tours Nick has also amassed tremendous experience riding and organising tours overseas through many European countries which helps to put things in perspective on a global scale.

Throughout most of these trips he has shared them with groups of riders so has not only learnt from his own experience but noted the challenges other riders have faced.

It would be fair to say few riders in Australia could claim to have such a broad knowledge of riding and managing motorcycle tours in as many regions as Nick Selleck. Others may have an intimate knowledge of specific regions but few could match Nick’s spread of knowledge.  This all adds to Nick’s ability to relate to riders challenges and help create a path for them to improve their riding skill.

Evidence of our ability is the trust instilled with us since 2011 working with many motorcycle brands as commercial partners including BMW, KTM, Husqvarna and Ducati.

Where additional coaches are required for courses we choose to work with the best of the best.  Coaches are chosen not only for their riding skill but also their personality to ensure they can explain often complex riding techniques which can add valuable input to the training courses.

When asked where the motivation came from for this course maschine’s Nick Selleck had this to say “Some 25 odd years ago I attended a 5 day Academy of Off-Road run by Stephen Gall for motocross racing.  The lessons that I learnt during that school have stuck with me for all this time because it was such an immersive training environment.  My goal is replicate that immersive environment for adventure riders with our four day Maschine Adventure Academy.  There is so much adventure riders have to become proficient with in order to successfully complete the big ambitious expeditions that many of us aspire to do.”