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This is my first post on this site, so here goes. I live in upstate NY, have had my permit for a year. I still need more time to make sure I"M ready. I have't rode in aloooog time. What do they make you do on your road test and how long is it?
Thanks

Best ask someone who has taken the test locally. Most vary by state, here the test may be different from one county to another. (larger cities have courses permanently set up, smaller cities set up in a parking lot and may only test for MC once a month, when I took they had me ride 2 figure 8s in lot then ride around block-28 yrs ago) But here you can avoid testing by having your MSF cert.

The MSF instructors here in NYC said that they have you do a lot of slow speed maneuvering as well as riding in traffic (though that may be just NYC).

you understand that if you take and pass the MSF course the road test is waived and you save 10% on liability insurance, in addition to getting some great instruction?

It also gave me a taste for the bike itself (they used suzuki GS250's). I realized the FZ6 I had my eye on was too much bike for me at this time. Ended up with a ninja 250, which was a good choice for first bike.
p.

Septimus wrote:The MSF instructors here in NYC said that they have you do a lot of slow speed maneuvering as well as riding in traffic (though that may be just NYC).

When I took my road test I had to do figure 8s but it had to be done by going one way and then reversing it all without putting my foot down, then the slow speed circle then some more in traffic riding.

The only problem I had, according to the instructor, was that I was too stiff... my only guess was that it was raining heavily esp. during the slow speed maneuvers.

If you're over 5' 6" and your test bike is a Honda Rebel take care when turning because the handle bars will trip you up in a heartbeat if you're not careful.

citybiker wrote:This is my first post on this site, so here goes. I live in upstate NY, have had my permit for a year. I still need more time to make sure I"M ready. I have't rode in aloooog time. What do they make you do on your road test and how long is it?
Thanks

What 'slimcolo' said.
Tests vary by state, location and time. When I took the test it was a full road test with stopping and starting, figure 8s etc. all on a skinny back street.
When my buddy took the test 10 years later, he had to do a figure 8 in a huge parking lot and that was it.
So, find someone who has taken the test where you will be taking it. Should be pretty close to what you'll go through.
Good luck.

Septimus wrote:The MSF instructors here in NYC said that they have you do a lot of slow speed maneuvering as well as riding in traffic (though that may be just NYC).

Ride through traffic in NYC? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Want a good test? Ride through the Cross Bronx expressway. If you can do that, you can ride anywhere.

I took the DMV road test in NYC (before taking the MSF course), but did it on my 150cc Vespa instead of the C50 because it's MUCH easier. Test was in two parts: first, on a side street in Brooklyn, three clockwise circles, three counterclock circles, then three figure eights. If you stall, touch the curb, let your foot touch the ground, or drop, you automatically fail. Second part - drive through traffic with instructor following in a car, telling you when to turn.

Easy pass on a scoot, but I watched two guys on rather large crotch rockets drop their bikes (thus failing) while trying the slow circles. Their friend asked to borrow my scoot instead of taking it on his bike, but I had to leave for the traffic driving portion of my own test.

Much better to take it through the MSF BRC course. They'll totally prep you for the test portion of the course and make sure you know how to do the important stuff - like fast stops, swerves, etc. in a controlled way. Who the hell does figure 8's on side streets?

Depends on the dealer, like some have already stated, some simply do not allow test rides, keeps that noob from trying that GSX-R out for a quick spin (and dump...)

However, I have a friend who owns and opeates a Ducati and a BMW dealership. He'll let his long term customers take anything out as he knows them.

Ducati just released the Hypermotard and Ducati gave him one as a demo machine. That one he lets anyone take it out since it's a demo provided by Ducati. It's already been dumped, and one of the mirrors was broken off.....the rider did not have to pay for damages.

So I guess the short answer is it depends on the dealer, but either way, I'd get something in writing spelling out the liability before taking it out for a ride.