Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Kal wrote:I am curious...

Stateside: on the MSF and the DV test do you actually ride in a live traffic enviroment with instructors and examiners?

No sir. We actually do the whole thing on the range for the MSF. I'm not sure for the non-MSF DMV testing though. If you take the MSF course, the first time you might drive on the road is after you pass.

In the back of my mind I was curious about that as well...I mean, for a road test (cage) in the states, there is a "road test" area...but one does encounter light traffic.

It's kind of wacky to be "qualified" to ride in a parking lot and just get thrown to the wolves so to speak...

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school-S ... htm#yesmsf hope this works... it's a great layout of how to start out riding.

SuperRookie wrote: It's kind of wacky to be "qualified" to ride in a parking lot and just get thrown to the wolves so to speak...

In most states you can get a learners permit and go out onto the road on any kind of motorcycle you so desire, without any experience at all.

The typical restrictions on a learners permit are No riding after dark, No riding with a passenger, and some states require that you stay off the Highway. That's about it.

With that in mind, some parking lot experience is great compared to Joe Squidley with no experience, hopping on a gsxr1000 and heading out into traffic straight from the dealership.

In WV the learners are No after dark, no passengers and are good for 90 days. To get the actual liscense they want you to go out into traffic for the road test, after a short parking lot course.

We're actually like 50 separate countries all with their own laws, although there is a lot of commonality.

The state where I live, California, requires an M1 endorsement to ride a motorcycle on the public roads. To get one, you take a 40 question multiple choice written test (passing grade is 90%) and a riding skills test. The riding skills test is conducted in a parking lot by a DMV examiner, not out on the roads. If you pass a MSF basic rider course, you get a certificate that the DMV will accept in lieu of the skills test. The MSF classes are conducted in parking lots, not on the roads.

If you pass the written test, but aren't ready for the skills test, you get a learner's permit that's good for one year (and is renewable). The only restrictions are no riding at night, with a passenger, or on the freeway. There are no equipment restrictions--a 16-year-old with absolutely no experience can ride a Hayabusa if they so choose.

I tend to get a lot of British bike mags (What Bike is particularly good when shopping around). I like the system you have in the UK, from what I understand of it.

When I took the MSF, a guy in my class who had never been on a bike before was able to buy a VTX1800! Turned out he rode really well on a 250 Nighthawk... but 1800cc does not leave much room for rookie error.

You think it is weird how easy it is to get a bike license, though... you should see how easy it is to get a car license!

--Dave