I got my "M" today !

[pontiacstogo]

After too many years of getting my learners permit each season, I finally booked for, and took the PA beginners safety course. The class consisted of two evening classroom sessions and two half-day parking lot sessions.

On the final day session, one of the instructors was demonstrating the 'stand the bike up in a corner to brake' excercise when he grabbed too much front brake and went down hard. I think his pride was hurt more than anything else .

Congrats on getting the full M license!

 

[GMSKEE]

M Licence

M Licence

Congrats pontiacstogo,

I passed my M1 Exit to my M2 but because the MTO is on strike I cant do anything until they come back. I bet its a good feeling to have the Graduated licencing all done. I cant wait.

 

[Skateguy50]

Grats,

Here is Mass I did next to nothing to get mine... just showed up in the rain, found out my tail light burnt out on way in... replaced that while they tested the cars, then did a figure 8 in both directions, up the hill and back. All this in the RMV back entrance road.

If I hadn't shelled out a few hundred for my wife's course I think that is really the way to go.

Got about 8k miles on the road so far but still learning as I go.

 

[woodsietx]

+1 on the Congrats.

I haven't had to test for a bike license in 30 years. OMG that makes me feel old all of a sudden. I barely remember the test. I took it on what I think was a 1966 Honda 65cc something. I wish knew exactly what that bike was now. I'd love to have it back.

The bike had one safety issue that we had to take care of. The horn didn't work. Literally all we had to do was buy one of those little bicycle squeaker horns and affix it to the handlebar to get it to pass. Seems so silly looking back.

I passed with no trouble but I proved the next day I wasn't ready to ride on the road. I went to a friend's house on a 1974 CB350 twin. Dad had 2. My friend had an orange RD350 Yamaha that was a screamer. We took off for the town we went to school together in. Just outside of it were a couple of long high speed turns. You could go through them at the speed limit (55 mph) easily in a car. First one went left, second back right.

I went into the lefty too fast, for my ability not the turn, and dropped off the edge of the road. I got pitched off the bike. I was wearing a helmet fortunately. The gouges in it showed I probably wouldn't have survived, certainly not without long term issues. The crash broke off the clutch lever and dented the tank. My buddy had to drive it into town because I didn't have the skill to speed shift it. Dad came and got me. Wasn't happy about the crash but glad I wasn't hurt.

My point is that most of these motorcycle tests do not really test your skills. I'm impressed that Maine requires a road test.

It's in my plans to take the MSF course or it's local equivalent soon.

BTW, that same motorcycle pitched me off again 2 years later when it developed a high speed wobble going down the highway. I should have stuck to my 750 that day.

Woodsie

 

[DanTheMan]

After too many years of getting my learners permit each season, I finally booked for, and took the PA beginners safety course. The class consisted of two evening classroom sessions and two half-day parking lot sessions.

On the final day session, one of the instructors was demonstrating the 'stand the bike up in a corner to brake' excercise when he grabbed too much front brake and went down hard. I think his pride was hurt more than anything else .

Congrats on getting the full M license!

Everybody has a bad day, and it really sux when you happen to be the demo guy and it's your day for it. A friend of mine was doing the demo for that same maneuver and I was doing the yakking. He went down, but it wasn't the front brake, he's a real heavy guy, the suspension on the bike was maxxed, the tires were complaining, and our parking lot that we teach in at that tech college has always been on the marginal side. That day it was a little damp, and that combined with cold tires, his weight and a little gravel led to his downfall. He picked himself up, said "that's not the way to do it", and demo'd again, perfectly, made an oops into a teaching moment, we talked over contributing factors leading to dropping a bike.

 

[Steve]

Jerry the Motorman shows his 110 lb lady friend slamming a full dresser through the cones, and I'd hate to think that anyone on here would have to surrender to being less than a lady and cheating by using a smaller motorcycle.

Interesting that you should mention that. Our Goldwing chapter likes to book an entire class for the ERC every year. It is quite a sight to see a dozen Wings weaving through the cones, doing the figure 8s and all that. One year, the two instructors both rode Harleys. First thing they had us do was check the oil level to make sure we would not have any problems. We all kind of looked at each other and asked, "Why?" They did not accept our explainations that Goldwings do NOT use oil to the point of having to check the dipstick between oil changes. It may have been for the amusement factor, though, because they got to sit there and watch 12 Wingers peel off TWO pieces of Tupperware just to get to the dipstick. :-\\\

.

 

[Ohioan]

I took the Ohio Basic Riders Course this past spring, never having been on a motorcycle before. I can't imagine someone getting a permit, getting a bike and learning to ride on their own. SCARY.

I came away from that course with A LOT of knowledge.

I had the best score of the day. I missed 5 points on the 130degree curve because I was going to slow in the curve. The instructors complemented me on my riding, and were surprised I'd never been on a bike before.

I'm going to take the course again in the spring. and then the advanced in the fall.

I rode a nighthawk 250.

 

[bwringer]

I missed 5 points on the 130degree curve because I was going to slow in the curve.

The instructors told me I set a new land speed record on that particular test... :twistedevil:

They looked like this during the test, though:

We had Suzuki 125s, which have a LOT of ground clearance. Plus, it was nearly 100 degrees out, so the tires stuck like bubblegum.

 

[MelodicMetalGod]

The instructors told me I set a new land speed record on that particular test... :twistedevil:

They looked like this during the test, though:

We had Suzuki 125s, which have a LOT of ground clearance. Plus, it was nearly 100 degrees out, so the tires stuck like bubblegum.

I didn't have to take the test, been license since 1987, but when I took th BRCII in 2006 on their Nighthawks and the ERC in 2007 on my GS, I railed the braking test in class...one the highest entry speeds and still the best stopping distances in both classes. When I was in the ERC on the GS, I had the oldest bike by about 20 years and it still hauled down faster than any of the new bikes.

I guess practice makes perfect!

 

[duaneage]

I lent my Hondamatic to someone for the test, no stalling that bike out or shifting required.

 

[sscott]

Hey Larry, big CONGRATS! on your endorsement. Was this before or after you had your "last ride of the year to work on the bike mods"? I can tell by the price of the course you must be an ABATE member. I'm diffinately signing up for that class next year myself, hopefully we can meet up and do some ridding. By the way, yesterday was a great day to ride

 

[Larry D]

Hey Larry, big CONGRATS! on your endorsement. Was this before or after you had your "last ride of the year to work on the bike mods"? I can tell by the price of the course you must be an ABATE member. I'm diffinately signing up for that class next year myself, hopefully we can meet up and do some ridding. By the way, yesterday was a great day to ride

Thanks. I'm not an ABATE member. If you're just taking the riding test it's only $10. The Basic Rder Course is $50, IIRC.
I know I'm missing a few nice riding days, but I have to get this leak fixed, it's irritating as he11.

I'm wondering if you know a young man named Nick Hampton. If you do and you see him......smack him in the head for me. I know....he's a big guy but, we're great friends and I haven't seen him in awhile.

 

[mighty13d]

I could've taken the BRC and got my license that way as well. It's a 3 day course and I've found it difficult to find the time (it's been a busy summer) Not to mention it costs $50 for the course. I DO plan to take a course next spring, but, this only cost $20 total, $10 for the test and $10 to get my license changed and it only took 15 minutes.

WHAT? THAT'S CHEEP!!!

In Maine it's about $70 for the 8 hour permit course, or $300 for the 16 hour BRC course! I chose permit, then a month later sent in for my license and a month later took my test. I think it was 5 or 10 for the license test and another 10 for the endorsement and updated license.

 

[sscott]

LOL, Yeah, I know Nick and his family, brother and mother. Geeezzzzzz. Tell you what I'll do, next time I see Nick I'll say some dude by the name of Larry wants me to smack you in the head, so don't smack me back. I'm sure that will go over really well in my favor. (no way in He!!) He works tomorrow send me a PM and I'll give you his station phone number.

 

[Larry D]

It's a small world after all.........

No need for the station number, I have his cell number in my phone. I'll have to give him a call soon. I usually run into him while I'm out having a few wobbly pops at a local tavern. Just haven't seen him in awhile. Heck, I drive right past his house about twice a day.

Nevermind, I thump him next time I see him. Well, maybe not, he's a freakin' mountain !!!!

 

[sscott]

Well hells bells, sounds like you are on the NE part of town. He lives about 15 miles from me. Let me know when you go for those wobbly topps and we can share a few and tell lies and stuff.

Matter of fact they name mountains after smaller people. But the thing is hes just so darn strong. (not from working out either)

 

[sscott]

Hey Larry,
Just so happened I saw Nick tonight, I asked him about you then I said, this is from Larry and smacked him. Than ran LOL

 

[bwringer]

WHAT? THAT'S CHEEP!!!

In Maine it's about $70 for the 8 hour permit course, or $300 for the 16 hour BRC course! I chose permit, then a month later sent in for my license and a month later took my test. I think it was 5 or 10 for the license test and another 10 for the endorsement and updated license.

In Indiana, the 3 day BRC is subsidized by the state -- an excellent investment in terms of pain and suffering avoided per dollar. So yes, it's very cheap to the end user -- only $75 ($50 for the MSF course + $25 ABATE enrollment). There are simply no excuses for skipping it.

ABATE manages the courses, and in return, every BRC student is automatically enrolled in ABATE for a year. If you don't want to be in ABATE, you can fill out a form and they'll send the $25 ABATE enrollment fee back to you.

All around, it's a shockingly sensible arrangement with huge benefits. I have no idea how some politician hasn't screwed it up yet

 

[juliang]

Did my bike test in England about 25 years ago. There it was a multi part test, cones etc for the first one. Second part on the road including emergency stops, hill starts etc.
I had to do it again here in Tennessee. Well...... first the silly computer/written part, no real problems there. The riding part, he told me I had to change gear at least once. You rode out of the DMV, along a road, U-turn and then back. I have to say it was difficult to fail, this shows up in the riding/driving skills in TN. The car test was no more difficult either.
I would recommend all new riders to do a proper course. I wasn't a new rider so.... I paid my $10 and was happy to get the "M" on my license.

 

[1_v8_merc]

Wow, sounds alot easier than NJ, well sort of.....

In NJ, according to what i've read on the NJ website, you're not even allowed to RIDE with a learners permit, unless there is someone there WITH you, that has a valid motorcycle license!

So i guess you're supposed to just bug the hell out of your buddy to come tag along with you, every time you want to practice....
What if you dont even KNOW anybody with a M license? Now what!?

This doesn't sound right?

Any riders from NJ that got their licenses here?