Sort of theoretical. I have been looking at motorcycles online.
I used to have a CDL, gave it up for a Class C. I have ridden motorcycles outside the US, I could use some training, but I am not a complete newbie. Do US dealers have some sort of course?
Then I go to the DMV and do what exactly?
Varies with the state, of course. The training requirements are laughable compared with most of Europe. In some states (VA, PA) there are no explicit training requirements; you just have to pass a test, written and practical (ride around some traffic cones).
I strongly recommend the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) or similar training. Some states waive tests if you pass this.
Yep. What bikebloke said. And you’ll need to go down to the DMV and get a learner’s permit.
In NH, I took a weekend class. They provided the bike & helmet. It was about 1/2 in class, 1/2 on the bikes. When I passed their test at the end of the weekend, I was handed a certificate, which allowed me to go to the DMV and upgrade my license with no additional testing requirements.
As I understand it, many other states do the same thing. I’d check your “home state” DMV for their requirements. If they have such a program, it’d be listed there. The classes do fill up quickly, so you need to be on top of things schedule wise.
Yep, take the MSF course for sure. When I took the beginner course a few months ago, there were people who couldn’t work a clutch to people who had been riding dirt bikes since they were kids. It’s pretty comprehensive, and by the end, we all passed the test handily. Although I strongly recommend the course, you can get a license in most states by taking a ridiculously easy computer test and a quick field test. Depending on the size of your bike, you’ll have do demonstrate you can do a Uturn without a foot touch within 24 feet for a 500cc bike or above, IIRC. Then there’s the cone weave. *Practice * this before you go, I know several people who have failed it. It’s pretty easy to run over the cones if you look at em, so keep your chin up.
Are you coming back to Maryland? If so then you take a written test, which isn’t as easy as the car test, mot people I know failed it the first time around, including me. This will get you your learners permit which you have to keep for I think two weeks. After that you can go to the MVA and take the riding test. I failed this the first time as well.
Other then that you can take a riding course offered by the state. I don’t know how much it costs, and I’m guessing that they are still hard to get into. However, once you pass the course they give you a certificate and you take that to the MVA and you get your license.
I think the road test went something like this, and still does as far as I know:
12 second slow ride in a box 60’x5’, this one is pretty easy
U-Turn in 21’ box
90 degree right turn, where I failed, to a stop. There are lines you have to keep the tires in
cone weave, 4-5 cones spaced 10’ apart
shifting
stop in a box
quick stop
I think that’s most of the test. I ended up making my own testing area after I failed so I could pass.
I haven’t kept up with the classes here in Maryland for a long time, but 4-5 years ago it was almost impossible to get in. They had waiting periods and every class was full the first day. You could, if you wanted to, go to the outer parts of the state and I knew people who did that.
Thanks, as I said, a mostly-idle question.
If you don’t “test out” of the DMV’s driving test by taking an MSF or similar course, don’t show up at the DMV in some big full-dress Harley. I’ve known a handful of guys that tried to do the DMV’s course on a big bike and wind up dropping it and failing.
I bought a 150cc Honda scooter (fully automatic twist and go), and took the motorcycle test on that. It’s crazy but any bike 150cc and above gets you the Class M license here in IL. When I got my motorcycle a few weeks ago, I took it out to the parking lot, rode around for a while and was fine. I’m gonna take the MSF course but I need to replace the staotr and jsut bought two new tires so the bike budget is kinda low at the moment.
I’ve been riding bikes since I was small and scooters for several years so it wasn’t as hard a transition as I thought.
Talk to the organization running the test. The one I used here last June supplied the motorcycles for the beginner’s course. You bring your own bike for the advanced course, but if you’re not taking that, you just have to pay for the class and can fix your bike later.
Oh, I’ve had my license for a year now, jsut been on the motorcycle for 6 weeks. I’ll take the course but the bike is my daily commuter and it has to get fixed. I’m sitting here looking at my bank account trying to decide what payments can be put off.