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I am taking the MSF as a gauranteed student on July 23rd. However, I cannot get my license from the class because I am only 16 years old and I need 6 months of "skill buidling". I can get it December 1st as a road test (like for a car license) so untill then I have to keep my permit. Now... the guy at the dmv wasn't totally clear on this, but he stated that I must have a rider with me at all times. If this is true, assuming the rider needs to be 21 years or older and has their motorcycle license, this is quite an inconvienence for me. Seriously, no one in my family rides a motorcycle, and I don't know anyone personally who even knows someone personally who meets that criteria, much less actaully ride along with me for MILES where ever I want to go.

Now, I'm not complaining because I can't have my license yet, but I am only complaining about the restrictions itself. It sounds very impractical to me, and how in the hell am I supposed to practice for my road test if I can't even RIDE MY BIKE? Do they automatically assume I have someone thats willing to spend so much time into me before they give me the permit test?

Even a car permit is more practical. Its because nearly 100% of my family has a car, and all I have to do is swap seats whenever they're taking me somewhere.

So.. whats the deal here? Should I just wait till NEXT year and take my msf course... again... while possibly losing a great Ninja 250 (only a few miles from me) for $1600 on craigs list?


Personally, I hope I can make some sportbike friends at the MSF who already meet the requirments and are much willing to help me along.

Was there a reason you had to take the MSF so soon?

If you had put it off until you were old enough to just go get your license afterward, would that have worked?

And trust me. Craigslist will have more cool bikes waiting when you're able to buy. Ninja 250s are not that rare. CycleTrader.Com also lists a bunch of bikes you can look at.

You have to have a passenger while riding with you? You might want to check your state laws, in Kentucky having your motorcycle permit is the same as your license, with only two restrictions, no passengers and you must wear a helmet. It doesn't even seem practical or safe to me for a person with a learners permit to carry a passenger.

I can't see where you're from. Add your city and/or state to your profile and we can give you some better information.

In Virginia you need to be in the presence of a licensed motorcyclist. He would either be on his own bike or in a car following you.

While inconvenient, there are plenty of good reasons for this rule. However, in Virginia the dmv skills waiver card from the MSF is good for one full year.

That and the DMV test isn't that hard.

Bumper wrote:You have to have a passenger while riding with you? You might want to check your state laws, in Kentucky having your motorcycle permit is the same as your license, with only two restrictions, no passengers and you must wear a helmet. It doesn't even seem practical or safe to me for a person with a learners permit to carry a passenger.

In NY, you must have a licensed motorcycle rider within 1/4 mile of you at all times.

Not as a passenger, obviously.

I dont see what the big rush is for. Do you have a car liscense yet? If not, then you should get that first and spend a year or two learning the rules of the road in a car. Then start thinking about getting a bike.

Ian522 wrote:I dont see what the big rush is for. Do you have a car liscense yet? If not, then you should get that first and spend a year or two learning the rules of the road in a car. Then start thinking about getting a bike.

I was going to say somethign to this effect, but didn't.

Learning to drive in traffic in a car is dangerous and scary enough. Doing it on a *bike* is just foolhardy IMO.