The dealership let me leave on mine w/o having my "trike endorsement" even though the state requires it. I have my motorcycle endorsement but went to the D.O.L. and took the trike/sidecar test and received my permit which only allows me to drive during the day with no passengers. I have to now go back and take a riding test on my Spyder. The state of WA REALLY needs to make an exception for the Spyder being considered a "trike". NONE of the trike/sidecar endorsement test pertains to actually riding a Spyder let alone having to learn the "sidecar" rules/laws. I hate the hoops I have to jump through for this :cus: :cus: state.
Just to clear this up just a little.... Your frustration is very valid. To a point.
For an FYI.... Your local AMA and a few other Washington specific associations... Fought HARD to get the Trike to be it's own, not like an auto, not a motorcycle.
That failed, and succeeded.
What do we call the Harley's or other trikes that have the two wheels in the back? Or the three wheeled and four wheeled sidecars? Way to much room for confusion. Think of the potential tickets and having to prove we have the right license if all three became different.
Because they lost... they WON the main fight which was to make all the money that is generated by the Trike program go right back to the Trikes program. Not for potholes or wallets. Or other garbage like we are used to.
There is a lot of information on this. I am not the know it all of this subject by any means... But I voiced my disliking of the program by calling it yet another way for the state to take money from me.
I was wrong.
This program is one of the few in this state, from any branch, that gets to keep all the money generated.
This money subsidized the training classes that we
all can take. And are fantastic.
The 2.5 day class cost $250... The state pays for $125 of it...
I for one am dang proud our Motorcycle associations are fighting for our right. Even before I knew we needed them.
Personally, I think these Spyders are cars with a Handlebar and no paneling. :sour:. But then if that was the case.... Insurance is mandatory.
SO think of it like this...
Be happy they won and we have to get a Trike license...
Or be one that would have to pass the 6' track Motorcycle test (Vs. 8' for the Trike) and know that MANY folks would not pass that these bikes attracted. Then there is less of a market and maybe no life in the product past a few years (Think
DeLorean).
Or they could have won it not being a motorcycle, but lost the fight to not call it a car. Then we are forced to pay for Car insurance and licensing fees for the new Liter tax. Then the fun would begin! Not many Insurance companies in Washington state recognizes anything with no steering wheel or less than four tires on the ground as a car.
For me... They kicked butt for us and we need to do a little research on our own to decide if that is correct or not. I am not here trying to bend anyone's thinking. I am just trying to inform you and others that the picture was almost
FAR worse and thousands of fellow two wheeled ryders saved us from Bureaucratic hell.