Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hello!!

I'm a newbie from Denmark - i might come and stay in the US for a year or so, and i'm wondering: are there any restriction regarding a person's age driving different motorcycles, or can you ride any motorcycle when you get your permit??

Sincerly
Theis - Denmark

Permit? or License?

In the USA, and if you are 18 and over, there are no restrictions on the size of the bike, if you have a license.

As far as under 18, most states do not have a size restriction.

I don't know as far as learner's permits in all state, but Missouri and Colorado have no restrictions on the bike, just the hours (daylight) and where (not on the highways/freeways).

Is there a difference between having a license and a permit?

The permit is really only for your to practice riding. When you have a permit for a car in the states it means that you can only drive on the public roads while there is a licensed driver over 25 in the car with you. On a bike it is different, with your permit you can ride alone to practice until you take the riding test at the Department of Motor Vehicles. With the permit, you are not allowed to ride with a passenger. You can not ride after dark and you can not ride on the freeways. If you are under 18, I think, or it could be 21, at least in California you must take the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course before you can get a Motorcycle license.

In indiana a permit means you always wear a helmet, no 2-up riding. and no night riding. You don't need to take an MSF course to get a license.

A learner's permit for regular car driving in Oregon means you have to be 15 years old and pass a written test. You must have a licensed driver 21 or older in the passenger seat at all times, and can't have any passengers that aren't immediate family members. Once you turn 16 you can get a provisional license, which means no passengers for 6 months except immediate family members, no driving between late night and really late night (I think it's 12-5 am) for the first year. The provisional part expires 12 months after licensing. If you're 18 you can skip the learner's and provisional providing you pass the written and driving tests for the license.

Don't know about permits and bikes (so I guess my reply is kind of worthless ), but I know that with a license, provisional or normal, you can ride any size of street legal motorcycle if you pass the written and driving tests for a motorcycle endorsement. By taking a safety class (MSF or Team Oregon), there are no DMV tests. You just bring your certificate and money to them and they'll print you a motorcycle endorsed driver's license.

So as a simpler response to your question, most if not all states have no restrictions on engine size.

In which State will you be living?

Thank you all very much for your replies!!

I'll be living in Boston, MA..

I'm 18, but i'm worried that i can't get a motorcycle license because i'm not a US citizen...

As long as you are here legally you can get a drivers license and a riders license. In fact, if you are here over 30 it is mandatory.