Chris - BMW Off Road, Lot, Road Instructor
Founder & Chief Instructor
Chris started riding when he was 16 years old. His father rode, so it seemed only natural that Chris would want to follow suit. The first thing he was taught was that if he wanted to ride a motorcycle, he had to learn to put it together.
Chris started teaching in 1996, and after his wife got frustrated where she was taking a local learn-to-ride course, Chris decided that since this was a sport he lived, he could also help people attain the freedom that trained motorcyclists feel, and thus he founded TNT Motorcycling in 1999.
He designed the course curriculum based on his extensive motorcycling experiences and his studies as a Rehabilitation Practitioner Diploma holder.
In 2007, Chris started to concentrate on training the trainer, and that led him to take motorcycle-training courses from all over the world to improve on his riding skills and acquire more knowledge.
He is the only Canadian to obtain his On Street Instructor Certification from Stayin’ Safe. In 2010, Chris became licensed Instructor for Total Control’s Advanced Rider Certification & passed his Motor Officer Training Course taken in Southern California. He holds an Advanced Motorcycle Instruction Diploma as well as the RoSPA Advanced Riders Top Certification, Gold Grade in the UK.
After a 2009 road trip across Argentina and Chile, Chris got hooked on off road riding. His new found interest saw him learning from Simon Pavey at the BMW Off Road Skills School in Wales, where he obtained his level 1 and 2 Off Road certification.
In 2015, BMW Motorrad Canada sponsored Chris to Germany to become a certified BMW Off Road Instructor.
For Chris, riding also provides special moments with family to cherish, just like riding with his brother and buddy to the USA for the first time on his Honda CB750F, riding with his wife immediately after she got her license on her KLR650, and riding with his son, Eric on numerous Three Flag Classics (Eric has received the youngest rider award two times in a row). In 2015 Chris and Eric rode from USA to Argentina through Mexico, Central America, Chile and Ushuaia.
In 2017, Chris & his wife Marion rode the 3 Flags with their daughter Julianna, who won the youngest rider award. Chris has ridden the 3 Flags Classic 8 times.
In 2019, Chris and his daughter, Katrina, completed the SCMA Triple Crown. Katrina is the youngest rider to complete this major ride that consists of 3 different events in 1 year.
For anyone who wants to ride, Chris says, "Never stop learning" and borrowing BMW’s slogan, he adds, “Make Life A Ride"
Qualifications
Lots
Interests
Camping
Eric started off on a Honda Z-50. Born into the family business he has been around motorcycles all of his life. Eric attained his class 6 license on his 16th birthday and his motorcycle instructor license when he was 21. Eric has ridden from Yellowknife to Ushuaia, Argentina before he was 19! He has taken all of the courses TNT Offers and enjoys learning new skills. Eric was awarded the youngest male rider three times for the Southern California Motorcycle Association's Premiere Event Three Flags.
When he is not teaching new rider training he is working towards taking over the family insurance brokerage, Bulger Insurance.Eric's advice to his students; Have Fun and travel on 2 wheels!
Qualifications
Beginner, Advanced and Road Instructor
Like many riders the passion started with someone else’s bike. A buddy showed up one day on a ’82 Honda CB400. I promptly got on and took it for a “short” spin. That’s all it took. I’m not really sure how I ended up with my friend’s bike so often that summer but I managed to get some fun times in even though I didn’t own a bike. The next summer I had a copy of my friend’s bike.
Having taken courses before becoming an instructor it was always apparent to me that there was always more to learn about riding.
That may be where my late night (or early morning) city riding comes from. Its great to have the streets to myself at 2 in the morning in a city. On a bike it’s a totally different feeling.
A Triumph Sprint ST is my current ride for road trips, night rides, a quick 1300km day trip to the mountains and those late night city rides.
There are so many different ways to have fun on my bike, from track riding to adventure touring.
I find it enjoyable to learn more about riding and that translates into more fun on the road no matter where I travel to next.Qualifications
Beginner, Advanced and Road
My first ride was at 11 years old on a 1975 Yamaha jt1 60cc.
I start riding because of my friend who was passionate about motorcycle. I did the Calabogy racing school in 2010 in Ontario and enjoy working on my riding skills.
I am retired from the Canadian Military. I keep myself busy as a professional saxophone player. On many occasions I play with the Edmonton Symphony as a jazz player and enjoy my role as musical director for 2 jazz orchestras in Edmonton. (THE GATEWAY BIG BAND AND CAPITAL CITY BIG BAND).
I have been an instructor since 2007. I taught with the Alberta Safety Council, Ottawa Safety Council and CTEC. I joined TNT in 2017.
I am very excited this year to ride my brand new BMW RT1250
My most memorable riding experiences are around touring with my friends, I have ridden through a lot of twisty roads throughout Quebec with my riding buddies. A few years ago my buddy rode his V Max west and we toured for 10 days. Loved the scenery in the Rocky Mountains. Our 4000 km trip involved Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Nelson and the Okanagan Valley. We had a total blast. We endured a couple days of heavy rain, but the rest was just the perfect weather.
I want my students to learn the good basic skills to become safe on the road. I want to be able to share my knowledge and experience with them so they have the proper skills to enjoy themselves with the proper attitudes on the roads and especially respect the rules of the road. My main tip that I would say is practice is the key of success.
Interests
Buying and selling motorcycles
Joe enjoys the sport bike riding style his Honda provides! Joe worked for another training helping out on the lot. In 2017 he joined our team and became a certified class 6 motorcycle instructor. Joe enjoys the fellowship that riding provides and especially loves riding the perfect demonstrations for the students! In his off time Joe enjoys the outdoors, camping, fishing and in the winter downhill skiing.
Interests
Skiing
Stephen became a motorcycling instructor in 2010 simply because, “I have a passion for riding and everybody that gets into this fun past time should have as much knowledge as we can offer and be as ready as possible to keep themselves safe on the road.”
He started riding when he was 18 years old, after his father brought home a 1976 CB750 Super Sport. “We both learned to ride it in a parking lot, with a few mishaps of course. We didn’t really know about rider training courses at that time, but we both got our motorcycle licence on the same day with the same bike.”
License in hand, Stephen offered to buy the 750 from his father. His father used the money to purchase a 1979 Goldwing. Father and son then took a trip across Canada to Halifax. It was their first trip together. “I put about 85,000km on that bike.”
After he got married in 1990, Stephen took a long break from motorcycling. He missed it a lot, so in 2001, he purchased a 2001 Honda 1100 Shadow Aero, on which he raked up 40,000km. He also spent weekends going on motorcycling trips with his daughter. His wife decided to cash in on the fun and got her licence. In 2005, She bought a 750 Shadow so the they could have family motorcycle rides.
After upgrading their bikes to 2007 Hondas - a VTX 1800 for Stephen, and a VTX 1300 for his wife, the couple has done four trips to Sturgis, South Dakota and a trip to Southern Ontario amongst countless weekend trips.
After putting in 120,000km on the VTX 1800, Stephen moved on to a 2014 Honda Goldwing in 2015. He’s got 32,000km on it and counting.
For Stephen, “What keeps you safe is you. Don’t ever over step your ability and keep riding.”
Interests
Riding and Golf
