steps

[weenie25banini]

I am 20 years old and want to start driving/riding a motor cycle but don't know where to begin. Is it like a car where your pass 18 all you have to do is take a test and then the driving test? Do they provide the bike or would i have to buy one in advance? If so how are we suppose to drive it to the dmv wih out a license. Please some one help me and tell me what to do how much will the classes be etc. Sorry if the question is kind of dumb lol.

[The Stig]

no matter how old you are:

- you take a written test
- if you pass you get a permit. Which lets you drive on regular roads, no highways, and only during the day
- it's either 6 or 9 months with that then you take a driving test to get your motorcycle license

[Atlas]

I got my motorcycle permit when I was 16. Drove a Ninja 250. I took the MSF course and was able to get my M1 when I was about 17. I'm 23 now and have had a couple of different bikes since then. I've had zero accidents (knock on wood) besides dropping a couple of those bikes in my driveway My point is, don't just go through the motions and mandates. Take a safety course Not only are they leaps and bound better than putting around and practicing on your own then hitting up the DMV lot, but at the end of the course you take the riding test for your M1 under their supervision.

1. Take the written permit test. Grab a study pamphlet available at your local DMV and study up.

2. Sign up for an MSF course!!

3. Keep the shiny side up

[The Stig]

Oh and understand that if you ride a bike, eventually one day you will have to lay it down. It's an unfortunate reality.

[2001ragtop]

If at this moment, you do not know how to drive a stick-shift car, this may make it take a little bit longer to learn to ride a motorcycle. But perhaps not.

My official advice to you is perhaps get a small bike and just drive around the block, and take the time to get the "feel" of riding. I don't think motorcycles are for everyone. I will not argue that it can be fun and exciting, even to ride a small 250cc ninja type of bike.

You should absolutely take a motorcycle training course. There exist courses where once you pass the class, you can get a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license. My sister did this and used to have a 250cc little ninja. If she can do it and she weighs 110 lbs, then you should probably be able to do it as well.

[2ndgenz28]

First thing to do is buy a $150 mini bike or $500 dirt bike and ride in the dirt, stones, grass, mud, wet grass.

If you want to really learn how to control the beast when it get lose.

everyone should cut their teeth in the dirt.

My Dad really challanged me as I got a street bike to ride in the dirt, a CB350, I learned quick how to stay up on two wheels in any condition with the deck stacked against me.

but if your not that searious, just take a riding course and youll stay upright well when conditions are ideal.

[2ndgenz28]

nothing more motivating then the first time the front end washes out in a turn in the lose and you slam your knee into the bars.

[hotrodsally]

Originally Posted by stieger

Oh and understand that if you ride a bike, eventually one day you will have to lay it down. It's an unfortunate reality.

This is true, but if you are very lucky, hopefully you'll have a long and loving relationship with bikes, like my neighbor Doug, a spry young'un of 85 (yes, 85 in people years) who said goodbye to riding his tricked-out, luxury sofa-on-wheels, Goldwing this past summer.

He said it's kept him young all these years. Of that I have no doubt.

[weenie25banini]

Thank you so much! I was wanting to take one of those motor cycle traning classes but i moved back to bakersfield from laguna and i searched it and i haven't found one here :(. I was thinkijg of getting a kawasaki ninja 250r used (heed its better getting used)

[Moriartii]

Easy as pie, take the course period. I did this when I was stationed in Long Beach in 93 in order to learn to ride. At the time the nice thing about taking the course was in Cali the riding portion of the course test counted for your riding portion of the DMV test.

Also skip the 250, too damn small unless you want to take it to the track and focus on you technical skills. Bump it up to an EX500 (Ninja 500) and ride that for a year. Used is the right path. You also could find maybe a used F2/F3 CBR 600.

After that enjoy. I just recently purchase a 2012 Goldwing and have over 60K miles between 7 bikes put on between 93 ~ 97 and 2005 to present.

Cheers
K

[Moriartii]

I just went to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and did a search on rider courses near Bakersfield Ca. This one appears to be 13 miles from Bakersfield.

NELSON MOTORCYCLE TRAINING CENTER INC. MINTER FIELD AIRPORT DISTRICT Skills1 13 Contact Provider
(800) 593-7909 Contact Provider
(800) 593-7909 SHAFTER CA

Cheers
K

[Sir Nuke]

Originally Posted by Moriartii

I just went to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and did a search on rider courses near Bakersfield Ca. This one appears to be 13 miles from Bakersfield.

NELSON MOTORCYCLE TRAINING CENTER INC. MINTER FIELD AIRPORT DISTRICT Skills1 13 Contact Provider
(800) 593-7909 Contact Provider
(800) 593-7909 SHAFTER CA

Cheers
K

weenie25banini, seems that Moriartii has you all hooked up.

but depending on the state, and the company providing the training. If they are CERTIFIED by the state, they may provide you with a certificate upon completing the training that you can take to you DMA with you when you go to take your test, adn you might not have to take the actual riding portion of the test.

AND you may get a break on your insurance by having taken the Drivers Motorcycle Course as well.

[pcrdude]

Take MSF (they supply the bike).

Buy a starter bike (500 or so cc) USED, since you WILL drop it.

After a year or two, buy what you want.

Just remember these words......

AT ALL TIMES, YOU ARE INVISIBLE TO OTHER DRIVERS!!!!!

[Mrvnmartian]

Originally Posted by weenie25banini

I am 20 years old and want to start driving/riding a motor cycle but don't know where to begin. Is it like a car where your pass 18 all you have to do is take a test and then the driving test? Do they provide the bike or would i have to buy one in advance? If so how are we suppose to drive it to the dmv wih out a license. Please some one help me and tell me what to do how much will the classes be etc. Sorry if the question is kind of dumb lol.

Originally Posted by pcrdude

Take MSF (they supply the bike).

Buy a starter bike (500 or so cc) USED, since you WILL drop it.

After a year or two, buy what you want.

Just remember these words......

AT ALL TIMES, YOU ARE INVISIBLE TO OTHER DRIVERS!!!!!

I was going to tell you the same thing that if you take the MSF Course a lot of them will supply the motorcycle usually a 250 and both cruiser and sport bikes. I've been riding since 1993 and when I started I had no experience, took the course on the AF base I was stationed at, with their bike, then bought a used 500cc Honda Shadow and took the license test. I was told taking the course before you ride is the best since you don't have any bad habits already when riding. Good luck!