Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I'm not talking about the one you take at the basic rider's course, but the one you take from the state. When I took my driving road test I saw a guy with his motorcycle there and the thing that confused me the most was how in the world was the proctor, who was inside a car going to instruct the cyclist on where to go? Is it basic hand signals? Also, what does a motorcyclist have to do? On a driver's road test it's basically, 4 left turns, 4 right turns, a K or U turn, and parallel parking. What does a motorcyclist have to do? Wheelies and stoppies??? (sacasm)

hi there...
i havn't taken the test but they taught us how it was during msf course......i'm in cali...at the dmv, they have they have this thing called "the key".....i tried to draw you a sketch...you can see it here:



you start at the start point, circle twice and come to the end point on the other line....and the entire time you have to be in the middle of the lines......pretty hard at first for beginers like myself....unless you're really good at leaning, but you'll get it after 9 or 10 tries

i hoped you liked my little sketch lol
also, at the straightaways you have the option to go around the cones....its up to you..........altho i havn't taken the test yet, i'd prefer the straightaway because it's easier to control the bike when you're about to enter the circle.....but go with whatever works for you.

That's pretty cool, but it seems kinda odd since out here in NYC they had that motorcycle guy basically do the same road course as the cars. Maybe there was a section he had to go to where all the cones were. Who knows?

In Virginia, the "skills" test is done in a parking lot. You start off at a marked T, go to the end of course, make a left turn staying within the lines (6 ft apart) to the other side of the course, left turn again, no marks this time, up to the other end and stop with your front wheel inside a box that is about 4'x2' or so. Inside, not on the line. That has been the trick for me in practice. I want to stop on the first line.

The next part consists of starting at a T, then weaving through a series of small cones (5) that are 12' apart with a 2' offset. Right, left, right, left, right. (The cones are about the size of a crushed soda can.) When you clear the cones you go to the other side, back up, and make a U turn. I beleive the U turn is inside 20 feet for under 500 cc, and inside 22 for over 500.

Then there is a how fast can you stop test. Start at a T, acclerate to a line in the parking lot, then stop as quickly as you can without locking the brakes.

The last part is an obstacal avoidance test. An object is put in the your path and you have to swerve around it.

You can lose 10 points and still pass. One point for putting your foot down, etc, 5 for other violations. If you drop the bike you're out of the game for the day.

I took my road tet in 1972 in NY so it might of changed.

I lived in Bklyn, nut an earlier appointment was available in Manhattan, so I took that. Was Upper east side, around 144 th street. Don't quite reme,ber as it was 33 years ago.

Met the DMV in a Park Parking Lot. Had to do figure eight, circle, ride up the road then back. Then the fun. you had to have a car and driver with you. The DMV inspector road with my father. We road in normal traffic. He beeped the horn to signal me what he wanted, 1 beep left, 2 beeps right, 3 beeps stop. Drove about a mile, making lefts and rights and circled back to the park.

The road was a 4 laner, lots of cars double parked. Instead of weaving back and forth between right lane and left to keep away from double parkers, I stayed in the left lane. I was dinged for failure to keep right but passed.

I assume today it is still similar.

Did your pops have his motorcycle license???

In Ontario, it is high tech. The tester gives you a disposable ear piece. He/she follows along behind in a cage, giving you instructions as where to turn etc. That is the final hurdle to getting your full licence. I have not reached that stage as yet. Next year. Since the licence I have at present allows me to drive anywhere, anytime, I tend to think this last hoop is a means for the gov't to extract more money. But that is just me! I may be unjust in my critisism. The test requires driving in a variety of locations. Residential, business, rural and highway. I guess that insures that you can drive reasonably well in all areas and will not be too much of a hazard to yourself and others.

Interesting...every place has their own way of doing things.