That was about the extent of the test in Nebraska too. Rode around the block and came back to the parking lot. In Hawaii we had to follow a couple of motor cops out on the streets. They made us stop on a steep hill, kill the engine, start the bike (which as I recall in those days were mostly kick start) and continue on to the top of the hill. One guy had an older kick start, hard starting, foot clutch Harley and he darn near didn't make it.

 

When I came out to Cali they made me re take the motorcycle test. The figure 8 I was instructed to do was impossible to do on my 94 Dyna wide glide so the officer told me to just keep the front wheel in. I passed.

 

The Jersey Joke is... the people showing up on a rental Scooter
to take the driving test, and we all know they are NEVER going to ride that again..

 

When I took my test in the early 70s in Wisconsin it was graduated. If you took the test on a bike under 500cc that is what you were restricted too. If you took it on a 500cc or bigger bike you could ride anything. It was a very simple test. Several years ago, I decided to take the MSF course because I had not been riding for about 20 years. It was all on a 250 Rebel. I passed with a 98 losing 2 pts on a figure 8. The course teaches you the basic fundamentals and skills. It really doesn't matter what size bike you're on, the techniques are the same. That's the idea behind it.

 

No figure 8 on my CO test. Had to do rapid lane change, emergency stop and couple other turning type tests.

 

Back when I got my endorsement here in Georgia (in 1988) it was divided into a 500cc and under, and a 501cc and over, I took my test on a 600cc Honda VTX shadow, I lost a couple of points for one of my stops, I don't remember exactly what it was for.

 

The whole thing with the test, state by state, is so stupid anyway.

Here's what the universal motorcycle test should consist of:

The DMV sends you into a real biker bar with a feather bowa on your head. If you survive you get your endorsement . . .

Anything else important about actually riding a motorcycle you'll learn as you go . . .

 

I don't mind doing all the little slow ridding but what I would like to see is on all driving licenses is taking a test where you have to check the A, B and C post twice before pulling out. Tired of the Bull$hit, "I didn't see them".

 

In Oregon you can take the Basic Rider Training Course (BRT) and if you pass that you are automatically endorsed for Oregon. Coming from someone with now experience on two wheels it was pretty F-ing intimidating once I got my endorsement. I never went over 20mph during the class.

However its ten times better than what some are during. renting a scooter taking the DMV test then getting a motorcycle. having someone teaching me for the three day class and watching me and giving me instructions goes a long way. I have a friend that is going to rent the scooter and take the DMV test. I let him know that he should just take the training. there is a world of difference between the Fat Boy HD he wants and a scooter.

 

I don't know what the riding test is like in Texas today, but when my daughter took it in the early '90s it was a joke. She rode her 250 Rebel around a coulpe of blocks turning right and left, and stopped then started a couple of times, and that was it. She HAD taken and passed the beginners Motorcycle Course and learned the rules of the road, and how to ride all around in a "parking lot" before hand though!