Do I need to get a license before I buy a bike? Should I take a course first? Should I get my license before the course or do you achieve the license during a course?

 

Most motorcycle dealerships can get you enrolled in the Safe Riders course. You will get a completion certificate (I think they give you a card for that now), that you take to the DMV to get your endorsement on your license. Yes you really should take a course before jumping on a motorcycle. It also makes a difference on your insurance if you never have had motorcycle insurance before.

I don't know of any dealership that will let you test ride a bike without an endorsement, and you really want to test ride a bike before buying it. There is a reason HD makes all those different models, it's just not looks, you need a bike that fits you as well.

Sure a dealership will all sell you a bike without a test ride or checking your endorsement, just like any car dealership will sell you a car whether or not you have a license. But you aren't going to get something under their insurance off the lot without the proper license.

 

Gakkalodi said it well. Get your feet wet with a riders course either thru MSF (motorcycle safety foundation) or others. Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? I'm not being mean here, I just simply wouldn't recommend someone who has never ridden to buy a bike without knowing if they are able to ride.

 

Take the course. You will probably be riding Honda or Suzuki 250cc's, which are easier to manipulate than Harleys. Here in Oregon, if you take the Team Oregon class and pass, your completion certificate will get you your endorsement with the DMV without the written or test ride. Your insurance will be less expensive as well. The motorcycle safety course in any state is worth taking, no matter what your experience, you will learn a lot and be safer out there.

 

My wife didn't have a license when we got her bike, but we'd been together for 18 years and know each other enough that I was able to test ride a couple bikes and tell whether it'd suit her or not. (and then I rode it home)

But before we did the paperwork, she was already getting signed up for the next available Riders Edge course.

So, do you HAVE to have one? No.

SHOULD you? If you don't have someone you trust enough to be 100% certain on "Yea, this bike will fit you perfectly" or "No, I don't think you'll like the way this one feels" then you should take the course and get the endorsement so you can test ride them yourself.

You definitely want to be certain of what bike you want before buying it.

 

In IL, the written part is the test to get the learner's permit...then you have to take the road test.

I knew how to ride, but since I couldn't afford a bike I never got the license, but when my friends would come by on their bikes, I'd take them for rides. When I decided to buy my Deluxe, I had them throw in the Rider's Edge class as part of the deal. I took the course, which was very good and I would HIGHLY recommend it, then the state tester came to the dealer and we tested there.

 

Every state may be different. In Michigan, the class costs $25 thru a community college (subsidised by the state) and succesful completion gets you a waiver for the road test, which is now all third party, by appointment, etc-a major PITA. I would think that an insurer could deny a claim for a motorycle if the insured isn't liscensed. The original poster didn't say anything about previous experience or what kind of riding she will do, who she will ride with, etc. From a practical standpoint, getting a licsense may indicate to someone whether or not they like motorcycles and therefore how much money to invest in the sport.

 

You should take the course before buying the bike. This way you don't spend your money and then figure out that riding isn't for you.

 

That happened to my friends wife. He bought all the gear, including the bike and it turned out she was too freaked out to ride, after taking the course. Go figure.

 

+1 on taking the course. Before you take the course, go get your learner's permit. Don't know if it's the same in every state, but here in SC, you only get the waiver on the road test if you have your learner's permit first. Had two people in my class learn that the hard way. Didn't have the learner's couldn't get the waiver.