I suppose this is a good place to post this

Sorry if I seem stupid, but I really don't know what that is? Is that some different extra course from regular license stuff? How do these things work in the states or UK (as most of you seem to be from these places)?

In Estonia, things with bike license are as follows. You have to be over 16 to get an A1 category, which enables you to ride anything under 125cc, when your over 18 (but don't have nay riding/driving experience) you get A2 which gives you rights for <250cc. You get full A when at least 18 years old and with at least 2 years of driving/riding experience on either car or motorcycle.

I did my A on top of B (regular car license), which meant that I had to have 10 theoretical lessons and at least 20 riding lessons before allowed to take the exams.

I started out on a practice field with all sorts of exercises - starting off on a slope, the circle, the 8, the slalom, walking speed, sudden stop. When I had those mastered, we would head off to the streets (4th lesson in my case 10th or 20th in some cases...however fast anyone learns - I'm so proud ). Me on the bike, speaker in my ear and a gay yello vest on me, instructor behind me in a car. The field was in a small town near Tallinn, so not a lot of traffic to start with. Did a few turns. Guess I was doing pretty well cause at some point he asked if I want to try out highway as well hell yeah dang, it was scary at first to go over 80 km/h, but such a thrill! Next time we headed out for city already.

Anyway, I did all my compulsory lessons i about a month, cause I'm a junky and put my heart in it to get through to the exam as fast as possible. The lines for exams are pretty long here. In summer you'd have to wait maybe 2 months for theoretical in Tallinn and an extra 2 months for riding test. Well since I have more brains, I just went to another town to take the theoretical test (Estonia is only like 300x300 km so anywhere is OK) and my instructor had connections in that small towns office where our practice field was) and had a few exam times ready every week so I got that done in a week after that. And voilla! Did it all in one go!

There was one iffy point at the exam on the highway I wasn't sure about till the examinator shook my hand and said I'd passed. When we were heading for another town, I wither missed the speed limit sign or whatever, but was going 90 till I came to one specific gas station at the edge of that town. I mentally scratched my head, 'cause memory told me it should theoretically be 70 here..ah well.. When we came back that same rout, town limits ended, good, bridge with 50 on it, right...50 ends, OK...but no 70 or 90 sight after the gas station...F*** , signs tell me 90, memory tells me 70...what the hell am I supposed to go here with...so I went on a questionable 70..something. After a km or so a few cars had managed to sneak between me and the examinators car so I couldn't really see what he was doing...so..on the same stretch of road I went 90 one way and 70 another way, so had to hold my breath till the end

I've heard that in some countries on top of that, they have to perform tasks on the practice field including pushing the bike next to you through some exercises and also while carrying a passenger. I will most likely never-ever take a passenger as anyone is bound to be much bigger and heavier than me and it would just be a lot of trouble, but I would have liked to do some exercises with pushing the bike. Might have saved my left side mirror How about the states? UK?

 

here in the US, well, Michigan at least. All you are required to do is pass a written test, then a road test. Once your written test is passed, takes about 20 minutes, then you are legal to ride your motorcyle as long as you are accompanied by another person who has a valid motorcycle license. You are issued a permit. You are required to take your road test at a later date, usually within 6 months. This gives you enough road time to pass the road test. The road test isnt exactly as it sounds. Its basically a parking lot with an instructor. The instructor has you do a few manevours such as stopping, going around cones and making tight radius turns. Once that is complete, you are issued your license. There is no restriction on cc's or anything of that nature.

The MSF is an additional training course you can take. Its not mandatory do to so. It is usually a weekend course and they provide the bikes. They will have classroom instruction as well. A lot people suggest taking this course as it provides the basics to a beginner that is not offered through the state.

 

MSF is Motorcycle Safety Foundation. They sponsor training courses in the US. Successfully completing their 2-day beginners course can be used to waive the requirement for passing the state`s road test. They also offer a 5-hour experienced rider course. These course both take place in parking lots, and you never exceed 40 kph during the drills they put you through.

There is no training requirement to get a motorcycle license in the US. You just have to pass a written exam to get your learner's permit, then a road test. And you can take your road test on any bike, even a scooter. The only exception I know of is if you're in the military service, you have to take safety course to ride on a military base.

There is also no graduated licensing. Basically, a 16-year-old who has never ridden can walk into a dealership and ride out on a 300-kph Hayabusa. At least in New York, you can buy, register, and insure any bike you want without even having a license.

Personally I would support mandatory safety classes and graduated licensing. You hear about too many people who kill themselves in their first weeks or months of riding.

 

Wow, I actually got a pretty good training then. I mean, the 10 hours of theory and 20 hours of actual riding (and it's an hour or 1,5 hours at a time) is the minimum at all. I didn't mention that there's also school test you must pass to even get to the state exams, the riding exam including both practice field exercises and road exam that you have to do on a bike of your category: a 125cc for A1, up to 250cc on A2 and I did mine on a 600 Yamaha FZR . It is very unusual for anyone to pass on the minimum. I did cause I got my good balance from riding horses and good traffic sense since I'm a driving junkie (most of the cars here are actually manual) :P Same goes for getting license for driving a car, only the requirements are double.

 

Indiana is the same. Get your permit, obey the restrictions, (no riding at night, no riding with a passenger, must wear a helmet) and take the road test within six months, as that is as long as the permit is good for. I got my permit and did the MSF course. At the end of the course I was given two forms, one to take to the license branch where I was given my endorsement without a road test, and the other was for my insurance, so I can get a discount.

 

http://www.msf-usa.org/

Lots of good info in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's website.

I go there regularly. Hoping to take the ERC soon, and then either the Sportbike specific course, or become a Rider's Coach.