Why Mel Baker Started Ride-Tek Motorcycle Training Academy

Mel’s driving passion for starting Ride-Tek MTA was to establish a Motorcycle Ridetek Motorcycle Trainingtraining business which would become the “One-Stop-Shop” in Training.

Over the 20 years of successful operation, Mel believed his goal has been achieved. Ridetek MTA now offers a very comprehensive, diverse list of courses to suit every level of riding skill.

But ore importantly Mel Baker installed excellence in all aspects of Motorcycle Rider Training.

Unfortunately Mel passed away, the 16th. of April 2020

Ride-Tek Is Proud Of Their Experienced Professional Trainers

Ride-Tek trainers are a team of experienced professional riders and  are dedicated to helping other riders develop their handling and cognitive skills to become the safest road-riders they can possibly be.

As long as we choose to ride motorcycles, we are always developing skills and this, in turn, enhances our riding enjoyment.

We look forward to seeing you at Ride-Tek and remember “Your Safety Is Our Business”

Alistair Roberts – Al

Our Trainers 1

I have ridden motorcycles for approx. 30 years and started out of necessity. My wife and I had just had a baby and we needed a second mode of transport. We couldn’t afford the expense of purchasing and running a car so looked for a cheaper option. Something cheap to run, service and maintain.

Petrol cost 12 cents a litre, registration for a motorcycle was $170.00 and I could maintain a bike myself. So a motorbike it was. It was love at first sight.

Since then I have owned numerous motorcycles and ride predominately in busy conjested traffic. I have been a postie for 13 years and only worked part time, with another provider, on weekends, as a motorcycle instructor.

I Find Instructing Incredibly Rewarding And Fun

I found that helping other like minded people learn to ride motorcycles safely and ultimately achieve their Licence was extremely rewarding.

I have met people throughout my time as an instructor that have changed the way i live my life. I have now worked with Ridetek for 9 years and seen many changes in motorcycle safety and training. I hope to be able to help others with their riding for many years to come or until I can’t throw my leg over a motorcycle any more.

My Bikes- Maggie And Doris

I currently have A Yamaha MT09 called Maggie and a Suzuki DR650 called Doris. The riding I most enjoy is adventure riding. I have had some amazing experiences in the outback and my dream is to ride the Simpson Desert before I get to old. My favourite bike will be my next one….

We Care

People always ask me why we get such good feed back and what sets Ridetek apart from other providers. Its because we care, we really care about our riders. We not only have a duty of care to all the riders, but also their families and friends. We simply don’t want to put anybody on the road who would be a risk to themselves or anyone else.

 


Tayne

Our Trainers 2

I was lucky to be born with the motorcycle bug flowing through my veins. My Dad has always had bikes and raced for many years, going to the track to watch him really did ignite the flame.
I  started riding at a young age got my first road bike before turning 18. Much of my adult life has been spent with a motorbike being my main form of transport. If you ask me it’s the best way to get around.

I spent some time racing classic motorcycles with some success and even tried my hand at scooter racing, the best fun you can have on two wheels. Road riding has always been my main passion though and I feel privileged to be able to work in an industry I love and pass on the skills and knowledge that I have gained over the years.

Do I like my Job?

I have now been an instructor for 7 years and look forward to getting up for work every day, can hardly call it work though.

Helping riders to develop confident bike control as well as being able to identify risks is very rewarding.

My current road bike is a Yamaha MT10SP (Best bike in the world), current track bike is a Yamaha R6 (Horribly uncomfortable on the road but magic on the track.) My dream bike would have to be all of them, you can’t have too many.

Look forward to seeing you on the road!
Tayne

Steve Jones – Motorcycle Instructor

Melbourne's most experienced motorcycle instructors

My 1st bike was a new Yamaha YZ80C back in 1975. I have never been without a bike since. I was licenced at 18 and straight onto road bikes. I have owned and ridden various bikes over almost 40 years of being licenced, from sports, sports tourers, Harley Davidsons to scooters! I have been a motorcycle instructor for 3 years.

Q. What Bike Do You Currently Ride?
BMW S1000R 2018

Q. What’s Your Dream Bike And Why?
BMW C400 GT ION

As a daily commute I prefer a scooter, light easy to ride great storage space comfortable and big savings on fuel.
Dream Bike would have to be a Ducati Panigale V4s.

Q. Favourite Riding Experience or Most Favourite Ride?

I have ridden in large groups which is always a buzz. I have been lucky to ride in some exotic locations around the world. Being very patriotic to our great land I would say my most memorable ride was from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland travelling with 20 mates hugging the east Australian coastal roads all the way up. I always enjoy being on a bike, whether a group or solo riding.

Craig  – Motorcycle Instructor

Our Trainers 3

Craig has been riding for decades. He is also an experienced trainer.

Craig continues to enjoying sharing his experience and his passion for motorcycles with students.


 

Joe Chapman – Motorcycle Instructor     

Experienced motorcycle instructorHow long have you been riding?

I’ve been riding on public roads (on my learner permit) since 1999. I studied Mechanical Engineering for three years and in 2003 I began my 20 year career as a motorcycle courier.

10 years as an Owner Driver Subcontractor for Central Express and Z Couriers, then ten years I was employed as a Motorcycle Medical Courier for Melbourne Pathology.

My Current ride

I currently have a 2009 CBR1000RR Fireblade which I ride to Ride-Tek but my passion is Moto Trials so my dream bike is a GasGas TXE.

Favourite Riding Experience

My favourite riding experience was a ride on my CBR1000RR with my wife (in her Mustang) from Mt Buffalo to Hotham, Falls Creek, Mitta Mitta and back down to Bairnsdale.

I’m looking forward to seeing you on the practice range
Joe
Our Trainers 4

 

 

 

Mark “Princess” Lavale – Motorcycle Instructor

I have been riding motorcycles for over 50 years
Starting off on homemade mini bikes and progressing through various bikes until I got my first legal road bike in the late 70’s.
From there I have ridden pretty much everything and in the late 90’s I fell in love with Harley Davidsons. I have had various Harleys but my current one is the best bike I have ever ridden, it is a Harley Davidson Road King Classic.

Our Trainers 5
I am a founding member of Krew social motorcycle group and love the social side of riding motorcycles, the friendships and the comradery that comes along with it. We raise a lot of money for various charities and are like a big family.

My wife also rides a Harley Davidson and there is nothing better than getting out on rides, going camping and getting away with her and our family and friends.

How did I become a Motorcycle Instructor?

I manifested my job as a trainer at Ridetek. After 15 years of not working, it was time to go back to work and I didn’t just want to go back to work doing any old job. I wanted to do something that I loved and that I would look forward to getting up and going to in the mornings.
So, I found out what was required to become a Motorcycle riding instructor and went about gaining those qualifications and today I have the perfect job (if you can call it a job) doing something I love and am passionate about with fantastic people in a real team environment.

Our Trainers 6

I love taking novice riders through the course,sharing my knowledge with them and watching them progress their skills to the point that they are out riding on the road with me.
My dream bike? – is the bike I ride now (Harley Davidson Road King Classic)

My favourite ride? is – my last ride (love the Twisties)

My dream job – I’m doing it

Brendan Motorcycle Mechanic

Our Trainers 7

Brendan has years of experince works on all sorts of vehicles. It is his job to keep the RideTek Motorcycle Fleet in prime condition.

 

Mark Smith – Website Manager

Our Trainers 8

Background & How Long Have You Been Riding?

I started my affair with motorcycles at the age of 12. My first bike was a Honda Mini Trail. After that I rode various models of dirt bikes, mainly Hondas and a Bultaco Alpina till I could get my licence. As soon as I had my licence my preference was travelling long distance. Till this day nothing beats just heading off, particularly when I don’t know where I am going to end up at the end of the day. I have explored a lot of Australia on 2 wheels.

All my road bikes have been twin cylinder machines except for my most recent foray, a Triumph Rocket Roadster. My first road bike was an XS650 followed by a Ducati Darmah. Then another Yamaha, then a long termer, a Guzzi Lemans, followed by a Harley XR1200 and a Harley Davidson Road King. Recently I purchased a Triumph Rocket Roadster.

I manage the Ride-Tek website and assist in marketing of RideTek services.

Q. What Bike Do You Currently Ride?

A. Triumph Rocket Roadster

Q. What’s Your Dream Bike And Why?

A. Preferably one for every day of the week. A track bike, a Dual sport, a café racer, another Moto Guzzi & just a few others.

Q. Favourite Riding Experience or Most Favourite Ride?

A. My favourite roads are in anywhere in the Victorian High Country. I also enjoy attending the Classic Motorcycle Races at Philip Island.

SUNSHINE

74 Boundary Road

Sunshine West, Victoria

OFFICE & TRAINING CENTRE

HALLAM

HEAD OFFICE

4/161 Princes Hwy, Hallam, Victoria

TDT Training

SANDOWN

OFFICE & TRAINING CENTRE

Sandown Raceway, Princes Hwy

Springvale, Victoria


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