• There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.

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

In 2009, on a 2007 Suzuki V-Strom 650 that I soon after traded for my first Spyder, a 2008 GS.
 
Never took a test for permission to ride on government roads. When I got my license at 16 (1972) in Georgia, they didn't do endorsements. I was riding a Honda 350 at the time that my dad brought back from Japan. Then the Air Force allowed you to bring stuff back home with you if the plane had room after the official cargo was loaded. Any way, some time between when I got my license and about four years later when I lost my wallet and had to get a new license, GA started requiring them. I don't know if they had a grandfather clause or not, but the license clerk added it to mine when I asked. In '12, after a break in riding, even though I kept my endorsement active I took a MSF course to knock the rust off. They used some small Hondas, but my brain like a steel sieve doesn't remember which models.
 
This post reminds me that I need to schedule my road test, as it is coming up on 6 months since my written test. I should not be concerned, but I always want to know what adjustments they make for 3 wheel bikes for the test and sure want to know what to expect.

Is there anyone in the Midwest, ideally in Missouri who can relate what to expect for the driving test? I could not find anything specific on Youtube.
 
1973 Yamaha RD350. The 350's were pretty common size engines back then, the 500's were just becoming "the thing". My classmate had the 500 Kawasaki, three cylinder with two pipes on the right and one for the left side. He would smoke my Yamaha without breaking a sweat.

I honestly don't remember my motorcycle test so it must've been uneventful. The funny thing is, almost 45 years passed between my Yamaha and my Spyder. I didn't ride or own anything in between but the DMV kept my motorcycle license current every year and every renewal.
 
Learned to ride on a Honda 200 and took and passed the MC Safety Course in 1977. Later traded the 200 for a Honda CM400T. After 14 years or so of no riding, purchased a Yamaha Virago 750 and later a Yamaha VStar 1100 Silverado. Saw my first Spyder at an Americade Rally! Later purchased a 2012 Spyder and now have a 2019 RT.
Ride Safe,
Gina J
 
I took my road test in 1968 on a 250cc Beemer single. It belonged to my sophomore-year college roommate. I had to take a supplementary written test before dazzling the examiner with my super-fluid scooter performance. This was in Ithaca, NY. I kept the license through moves to California, Colorado, Arizona, and finally Washington State. When my friend John and I decided to buy Spyders, we had to take the three-wheeler course which was a good review and fun. So I'm good to go on two, three, and four wheels. Fifty five years on bikes. Yikes, where did the time go??
 
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.

You had a ZIP ZAP ? one of my friends had one in the late 50's about 1958 I think ... a very strange bike...
 
1982 Honda nighthawk, dumped it on the quick stop on a turn, grabbed WAY too much front brake... failed as I dumped a brand new bike, wasn't pretty but passed a couple weeks later. Fast forward a "few" years, failed attempting to requalify on a early Venture Royal, dindn't dump it but it was close. Passed shortly there after riding a friends KTM 490 . Then had to do three wheeler thang on a Riker.
 
The first time in 1976 I rode a Honda CB500T.
The second time in 2021 I rode a Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Suzuki TU250X.
 
1985 florida. Did not need to take road test. Just paid $ 2 to have M/C endorsement added. This ahead of my first bike. 1985 Honda VF500F Interceptor complete with Freddie Spencer Arai helmet and that wicked V4 engine, ridiculously fast....fast forward to last year Georgia took MSF 3 wheeler course to get m/c endorsement added $150 plus license cost plus it was 50 miles away. They supplied the Ryker 600...
 
Here in IL this is a real issue for older riders like myself. Two years ago I had to renew my driver's license, and because I was over 75, I had to take the road test as well as the eye test. I was informed that if I wanted to renew my motorcycle endorsement I would have to take the motorcycle riding test as well. The test is performed on a tiny marked course behind the DMV office. The only bike I had at the time was my Honda Goldwing. Some of the test was okay on that 900 pound bike, but I could not manage the u-turn in the small space required and dropped my bike. The inspector told me that she had rarely seen anyone pass the test on that large a bike, but they were obligated to use the marked course. Right around then I traded in my Goldwing on a new Sypder, and returned to take the test on the Spyder which was so easy it was a joke (u-turns are not too challenging!). But now I only had an endoresement valid for 3 wheelers. I ended up luckily getting into a Basic Riders Class where passing the class constituted passing the State requirement. Using the class provided Honda Rebel 250 I easily passed the class and thereby now again have a full motorycle endorsement. I guess this doesn't matter too much anymore since I am likely not going back to 2 wheels again, and in two more years from now I will again face renewal of my license, and again face the prospect of taking the State driving test. Most likely I'll end up having only the 3 wheeled endorsement from that point on. But I will be 82 at that time and wonder how much longer will be "from that point on" that I still will be riding. Growing old is a bitch.

My original license was down in Texas in the early 1980's where I took the MSF course and used the Honda 125 cc training bikes that were made just for those classes.
 
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This was me on my Harley in 1956. Got a ticket in 1958, turned 16 in '59 and then took my test on it.

Remember riding to the test site, meeting guys on BSA's (which I also had at that time) and other classic bikes. Police kind of let us do the stoppies and cone weaves the way we wanted to. Think we all passed except maybe for someone failing the dumb questions they asked.
 
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