What bike did you ride to get your motorcycle license ??

[Isopedella]

675 Triumph Daytona! Goes like a cut cat on steroids and corners like Haunted Snot.

Nah not really.

BSA Bantam. Mid 70's


Something like this.


My first bike was a BSA Bantam 2 stroke. It was a barn find in an Orchard I used to work at in the weekend on the 70,s.

The owner bloke and an Engineer from next door allowed me to bring it into the workshop and tutored me on how to get it sorted and running. They made me do the work but supervised. I had no idea but learnt fast. This was mostly after school and on Sundays.

Then once running I found out all about having to get a Licence and stuff from a local cop who said hello (and gave me a growling ) at every opportunity. One day I was able to say . Yes Sir here is my Licence and the bikes Registration. No growling and he gave me a Minty Lolly. Then gave me a lecture about my speed in town. haha.

I guess he was an ok guy looking back.

 

[Valkrocket]

1964 Honda S90. The S stood for sport. Never heard of a street 90. This was the first year of production and was part of the "you meet the nicest people on a Honda" campaign. It was incredibly easy to work on. single cylinder, air cooled. kick or push start in 2nd gear. draw back was you couldn't go long distances in hot weather. she would overheat and stall until it cooled down. I remember many a walk with my baby waiting for her to cool down enough to ride again. pulled my first wheelie on her. Great memories............... thanks for asking.

 

[troop]

1973 at age 16, one week after I got my DL. The bike was my 1972 Honda XL250.

 

[Saluda]

Never had an issue with our '13 Spyder.
Took the test on a 175 Honda, at that time also had to bring a car with driver so the officer could follow me.

 

[tntnj]

If remember a 1968 Honda 305 ? It has been a long time ago

 

[K80Shooter]

I was a late bloomer myself. I had ridden bikes and 4 wheelers but without a license. (No license needed for 4 wheelers as they are not street legal in Ga.)
I didn't get a bike or a license until I got my 2020 RTL.

I took the BRB class so I didn't have to take a riding test in Ga. I showed them my certificate gave them my money and that was about it.

 

[PJveetwin]

A 1970 HT1 Yamaha Enduro, in 1970. I was 14. Have not taken another riding test since. Had to re-do the written portion some 10 years ago, for what ever reason, missed like 15 out of 25...... all were stupid, crash read their book on the spot, managed to pass it then.

 

[RayBJ]

1964 Ducati 50cc street bike. NJ test involves a written test, zig-zag thru cones, accelerate and emergency stop without passing the last 'stop line'.
Currently, if you take the test on less than a 250cc, you get a limited license for up to 500(?)cc.

 

[teninospyder]

Old Honda CT90. Good for 4 Honda bikes (CT90 & 3 big Goldwings), then along came the Spyder and had to test all over again (after a "fun filled day" of classroom and riding instructions that really wasn't designed for the Spyders' "computer controls brain", but we got thru it by showing the instructors that the Spyder wouldn't shift into higher gears at low speeds (for a braking test).

 

[OldAge]

Like several others here, took test on a 72 CB350. Towed it to test site on a trailer, took test and then towed it home. That was in 1977 and they won't let you do that now. At least not in Maryland.

 

[Paddy4810]

Kawasaki Big Horn 350 in 1969

 

[rjinaz86323]

When I started riding back in the 60's you didn't need an MC endorsement. Later in life I let my MC expire so I did an MSF course to bypass all the BS of taking the test at the DMV. After taking the course (and passing it) you simply took your certificate to DMV and they added the MC endorsement to my license. In the course I had to ride a Honda 250 Rebel, which is a real pain if you are a fairly big person:joke: Especially since I was used to riding my Harley bagger.

 

[Quickdraw]

My first bike was a 1982 Yamaha Seca 550. Took my test on that after a month of riding. Really glad I had that bike because it was easier to handle than the cruisers I bought later on.

https://youtu.be/kbtakozNLHI

 

[Motorcycledave]

OH GOD, I must be OLD....
My first 2 wheeled license test was on a Cushman Motor Scooter in 1956 it even said
motor scooter only on it, my dad didn't want me to drive a car until I was at least 14.
When we moved to California from Utah I took my M1 test on my Norton Commando 850
right after getting out of the Navy in 1961, I did have a car license at the time I just needed the
motorcycle endorsement. AND by the way I had to renew my drivers license day before yesterday
I had to take the tests for cars and motorcycles. The guy at the counter asked me if I still want to
renew my motorcycle license now that I am going to be 81 in May.. I told him I still have motorcycles to ride
not just the Spyder, In California you are NOT required to have a special license to ride any 3 wheeled vehicle.
I did not have to do a riding test this time just the written test...
RIDE ON EVERYONE....

 

[PaladinLV]

Back in my day a MC endorsement was not a requirement if you had a Valid car license!
When I went into the service, that License remained Valid in all 50 states and overseas while I was a member of the Military.
By the time I finally needed to get an Endorsement, I was in Las Vegas and took the HD course, so no "test" was required by DMV.
Oh, the bike HD used. Sorry at my age I'm lucky to remember MY name, but it was a subsidiary of HD, small little fellow.

AJ

 

[Haze]

First bike was a 200CC Zundapp. Back in the mid 60s (ya I'm that old)
no MC lic required. Just paid for an MC endorsement on my drivers lic.
Took a MC driving test in CA in 1980 riding a Honda 350.

 

[canamjhb]

This thread has started me thinking, which is a hard and unusual thing to do! Back in the 80s when I got my endorsement from Washington State there was a tiered endorsement system based on engine cc size. The breakdown was something like 50cc to 250cc got you an M-1, 251cc to 650cc got you an M-2, and 651cc+ got you an M-3. And you had to test on the size bike you wanted the license for. Looks like the tier system is now gone. But now there are lots of places REQUIRING special 3 wheel endorsements for trikes. Here in Arizona a motorcycle endorsement is valid for any 2 or 3 wheel vehicle. So, I assume, my endorsement is valid for any place that REQUIRES a special 3 wheel endorsement on a reciprocal basis when I'm on my trike......?

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Really glad I had that bike because it was easier to handle than the cruisers I bought later on.

I had a Kawasaki 440 LTD in the late 80's. Took it to England for a year and moved to an 1100 Goldwing after we came back. Interestingly, the larger GW was a lot more stable on gravel roads than was the 440!

 

[Baron14y]

An RTL.:thumbup:

 

[gr8Frank]

My new 1964 Yamaha 55cc.