The Knights of the Roundtable motorcycle safety group is a Montana-based rider collective redefining how community-driven training gets riders into MSF courses and onto safer roads. The group formed around a simple idea: experienced riders have a duty to bring newer riders into structured safety training before bad habits take hold. Their story is gaining attention across Montana, South Dakota, and beyond, and the results are real.
Get Started Today →Who Are the Knights of the Roundtable?
The Knights of the Roundtable is not a racing club. It's a structured peer-mentorship network where seasoned riders take personal responsibility for the safety habits of those riding alongside them. Members commit to completing a formal MSF Basic Rider Course before leading group rides, and they actively encourage every new rider in their circle to do the same.
The group operates across Montana and has expanded its reach into South Dakota, where flat terrain and open highways attract a high volume of newer riders each spring. Their model is simple: no one rides in formation without documented safety training. That standard, enforced at the group level rather than by law, has made a measurable difference in how members approach the road.
Key Facts About the Group
- Founded in Montana by a group of veteran riders with combined decades of road experience
- Requires all leading members to hold a current MSF course completion card before group ride eligibility
- Active in Montana and South Dakota, with affiliated riders in several other states
- Partners informally with local motorcycle safety academies to channel new riders into structured training
- Tracks member incidents year over year, reporting a consistent drop in near-miss events since the training mandate took effect
- Hosts quarterly roundtable discussions on road strategy, gear standards, and defensive riding techniques
"We don't wait for a crash to happen and then talk about what went wrong. Every rider who joins our group gets pointed toward real training first. The MSF course isn't optional here, it's the entry point."
, Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation Spokesperson
Why Rider Communities Drive MSF Course Enrollment
Peer pressure works both ways. Research from the NHTSA consistently shows that social environment is one of the strongest predictors of whether a new rider seeks out formal training. The Knights of the Roundtable model uses that dynamic intentionally. When every experienced rider in your group holds an MSF card, you feel the pull to get yours.
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Get started today. →The MSF Basic Rider Course (BRC) is a nationally recognized training program that teaches foundational motorcycle control, hazard awareness, and emergency braking. Most states, including Montana, accept BRC completion as a substitute for the skills test portion of the motorcycle license endorsement process. The course typically runs over a weekend, combining online pre-work with hands-on range time.
What the Knights add to that equation is social accountability. Completing an MSF course near you stops being something you get around to eventually, and starts being the price of admission to a community you actually want to be part of. That's a different kind of motivation, and it works.
Find a Motorcycle Safety Course Near You, Start Today →Training Standards the Knights Actually Follow
The group doesn't just recommend the MSF Basic Rider Course. They've built a tiered expectation framework that mirrors how professional rider training programs are structured. Here's how their internal standards break down:
| Rider Level | Required Training | Group Role |
|---|---|---|
| New Rider (0, 1 year) | MSF Basic Rider Course completion | Ride participant, rear formation only |
| Developing Rider (1, 3 years) | BRC + at least one advanced skills session | Mid-group, eligible for route planning |
| Experienced Rider (3+ years) | Current MSF or equivalent, annual review | Lead or sweep eligible |
| Mentor | Full training history, peer endorsement | Pairs with new riders for first 3 group rides |
This structure reflects what safety specialists have long known about group riding: formation discipline, clear communication, and training gaps in the group's weakest rider are where incidents happen. The Knights address all three directly.
What New Riders Should Know Before Joining Any Group
Joining a riding group before you've had formal training is one of the most common mistakes new riders make. Group dynamics create pressure to keep up, and keeping up with riders who've been on bikes for years, without the underlying skills to back it, leads to exactly the kind of incidents the Knights were formed to prevent.
Here's what to do first. Complete an MSF course, or a DPS approved motorcycle safety course if you're in Texas or another state with that requirement. Get your gear sorted, including helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots. Read up on skill versus road strategy so you understand what training covers and what it doesn't. Then find your group.
Honest riders will tell you: the range time from a single weekend MSF Basic Rider Course changed more about how they handle a motorcycle than months of solo riding. That's not an accident. The curriculum is designed around the exact situations where new riders get into trouble, slow-speed maneuvering, quick stops, and scanning for hazards in traffic.
About Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation
The Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MTMCF) is an independent, privately owned organization headquartered in Lutz, Florida, providing rider education resources, training referrals, and safety information for motorcyclists across Montana, South Dakota, and the rest of the country. MTMCF is not a and is not affiliated with any state DMV or motor vehicle division. The Foundation supports riders at every level, from first-time learners looking for a motorcycle training course near them to experienced riders seeking continuing education resources. Learn more at mtmcfoundation.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Knights of the Roundtable motorcycle group?
The Knights of the Roundtable is a Montana-based motorcycle community that requires all members to complete formal safety training, specifically the MSF Basic Rider Course, before participating in group rides in a leadership capacity. The group focuses on peer accountability and tiered mentorship to raise the overall safety standard of its membership.
Do I need to take an MSF course before joining a group ride?
Most reputable riding groups, including the Knights of the Roundtable, strongly recommend completing an MSF course before joining any organized group ride. The course teaches the foundational skills that make group riding safer for everyone, including emergency braking, hazard scanning, and low-speed control. You can find an MSF course near you through the Montana Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
How long does the MSF Basic Rider Course take?
The MSF Basic Rider Course (BRC) typically takes one full weekend to complete. It includes an online eCourse component you finish before arriving, followed by roughly 10 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on range riding. Most participants complete the full course in two days. Check the MSF-USA website for scheduling in your area.
Is the MSF course required by law in Montana?
Montana does not legally require all riders to complete the MSF course, but completing it typically waives the skills test portion of the motorcycle endorsement process at the Montana DOJ licensing office. Many riders choose to take it for exactly that reason, and because the training genuinely reduces crash risk.
What gear should I have before my first group ride?
Before any group ride, you should have a DOT-certified helmet, a motorcycle jacket with impact protection, gloves designed for riding, and ankle-covering boots. Riders who commute or ride in variable weather also benefit from waterproof over-gear. For a complete breakdown, see the Foundation's guide on motorcycle rain gear and staying dry.
How does the Knights of the Roundtable model apply to riders outside Montana?
The core model, peer accountability plus mandatory structured training, applies anywhere riders gather. The MSF Basic Rider Course is available nationwide, and the principles the Knights follow around formation riding, mentorship tiers, and annual skill reviews are directly transferable to any riding group in any state. If your local group doesn't have a training standard, you can propose one using this framework.
Get Started Today at mtmcfoundation.org →