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What bike did you ride to get your motorcycle license ??
- Thread starter Peacekeeper6
- Start date
mecsw500
Member
First time, back in England, a Honda CB250RS single. Mostly riding round the block a few times then answering 3 silly questions.
When I came to take my car test a few years later (I lived inLondon and didn't need a car) that was a much more extensive (and expensive) affair. 4 months of expensive lessons and quite an extensive road test.
Back then in England you could take an advanced motorcycling test which involved half a day of lecture then riding a road course very closely chased by a police motorcycle, followed by a debrief. It was weird riding to "make good progress" rather than strictly observing speed limits with a police motorcycle about 50 feet behind you. That was a tough one.
Nowadays I'm led to believe in England a bike license requires many capacity and horsepower tiers and quite a few years of riding to get a full unlimited license.
Moving to the states I had to retake my car test. That involved riding around for a bit, chatting about how it was like driving in England. After 15 minutes he got bored so he just passed me as I didn't hit anything.
For my bike license (I didn't even know I needed one in UT for 10 years) it was a 1999 Triumph Thunderbird Sport. The reality was the steering lock of the Triumph made it impossible to make all the turns on the course. As I was obviously a seasoned rider and turned up all kitted out on a clean bike, the examiner took pity on me and told me which turns I could fail to negotiate and still pass. He was a nice guy and very helpful.
Although I didn't need a 3 wheel trike license in UT I took the BRP course anyway and they just added the redundant endorsement to my license. That was a fun and educational course at the local community college. Recommend that one for $99 as I had to unlearn nearly 50 years of two wheeling.
When I came to take my car test a few years later (I lived inLondon and didn't need a car) that was a much more extensive (and expensive) affair. 4 months of expensive lessons and quite an extensive road test.
Back then in England you could take an advanced motorcycling test which involved half a day of lecture then riding a road course very closely chased by a police motorcycle, followed by a debrief. It was weird riding to "make good progress" rather than strictly observing speed limits with a police motorcycle about 50 feet behind you. That was a tough one.
Nowadays I'm led to believe in England a bike license requires many capacity and horsepower tiers and quite a few years of riding to get a full unlimited license.
Moving to the states I had to retake my car test. That involved riding around for a bit, chatting about how it was like driving in England. After 15 minutes he got bored so he just passed me as I didn't hit anything.
For my bike license (I didn't even know I needed one in UT for 10 years) it was a 1999 Triumph Thunderbird Sport. The reality was the steering lock of the Triumph made it impossible to make all the turns on the course. As I was obviously a seasoned rider and turned up all kitted out on a clean bike, the examiner took pity on me and told me which turns I could fail to negotiate and still pass. He was a nice guy and very helpful.
Although I didn't need a 3 wheel trike license in UT I took the BRP course anyway and they just added the redundant endorsement to my license. That was a fun and educational course at the local community college. Recommend that one for $99 as I had to unlearn nearly 50 years of two wheeling.
BionicChewbacca
Member
Floriduh, 1984, 1976 Suzuki GT 750 with 550 badges.....what a rush that thing was, traded it for KZ 750 :banghead:wish I still had that thing. Then traded the KZ for a 72 Kawasaki H2 with a burnt piston....easy fix. Holy sheet that thing was fast :shocked: and yes I know I revived an 
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Dasmoetorhead
Active member
Took my test in 1972 on a 1972 Suzuki 250 Hustler.
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f110tech
New member
I took my test later in my years when I got out of the Navy. But I figured go big or go home, so I took the Legendary 1985 ZL900 to the Registry. I had to do a figure eight, then a circle in each direction, come out of the circle and head to the examiner, then come to a full stop. Coming out of my last circle I was leaning so hard that I was scraping my pegs on the ground, before I went WOT, stood it straight, and headed right for the instructor. Right before they started to wave their hands, I did a complete stop right in front of them. They just said "umm, wow, I guess you are good".
Several months later I threw a connecting rod, and I studied the engine case designs Kawasaki was still using on the Concourse and ZRX. Turns out a ZRX1200 would fit into the frame, but I had a few snags. The ZL900 had a 6 speed, was shaft driven, and also had coil ignition. So I split the ZRX case and replaced it with the 6-speed. I then assembled the halves and drilled and tapped a missing hole where the front bevel would mount. Now the ZRX1200 engine was shaft driven and had a 6-speed. Then I wired the coil ignition into the bike.
If you know anything about the ZL900, they were fast in their day; but with the ZRX1200 in the frame, it screamed!
And yeah, it barely fit, with only about 1/4 inch clearance under the tank.
Several months later I threw a connecting rod, and I studied the engine case designs Kawasaki was still using on the Concourse and ZRX. Turns out a ZRX1200 would fit into the frame, but I had a few snags. The ZL900 had a 6 speed, was shaft driven, and also had coil ignition. So I split the ZRX case and replaced it with the 6-speed. I then assembled the halves and drilled and tapped a missing hole where the front bevel would mount. Now the ZRX1200 engine was shaft driven and had a 6-speed. Then I wired the coil ignition into the bike.
If you know anything about the ZL900, they were fast in their day; but with the ZRX1200 in the frame, it screamed!
And yeah, it barely fit, with only about 1/4 inch clearance under the tank.
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Albec
Active member
I rode for many years back in my younger days (1975ish but that was in Floridia, and I had let my motorcycle license, from Florida, expire).
Fast forward to Illinois and 2009. It was time to get back on two wheels, and with my wife's blessing, I started shopping.
I wanted something big, sporty, fast, comfortable (mostly for the pillion), and that handles well.
I set my sights on a brand-new Kawasaki ZG1400abs. Found a great price on a 2008 with zero miles on it at the local dealer.
I had taken the written MC test, so I have my 'learner's' permit in hand and with a little practice I thought that I'd be ready for the road test at the DMV.
Ok, the ZG1400 is a BIG sport touring bike, and it is by NO MEANS a bike to learn on. That said, it's exactly what I did. Relearn is more accurate.
I did a lot of riding and even took the bike over to the DMV parking lot a few times where they have the MC course setup and I practiced. I thought that I was ready for the test, I wasn't.
No matter how much I tried I just couldn't get through the course without knocking over cones, one too many to pass the course. Crap!!! I took the riding test three times and three times I failed. Damn cones!!!
Then I found out about the MSF training courses in my area. They held them at the local university, where I worked! If I took the course, using their motorcycles, and passed, then I would automatically get my MC designation on my license. Perfect! That's what I did.
It was really fun taking the course using their Honda 250's. I nailed it and got my M classification. The instructor nicknamed me Sparky because I kept leaning way over in turns and dragging the 'drop bars' on the Honda. I ended up taking two more MSF courses there, the final one was on my Kawasaki, a defensive riding course. By this time, I was getting good at handling the beast and I easily made it through the cones and the courses. I had the largest bike of anyone who took the course at that time and, I don't mean to brag, but several of the guys complemented me on how well I handled the large bike, even though I'm 5'5" and the bike is nearly 700lbs.
Still have that bike and I still love it. We got the Spyder because my wife was worried that I wouldn't be able to hold up the big Kaw, at stops, with her on the back. She has a point...
Fast forward to Illinois and 2009. It was time to get back on two wheels, and with my wife's blessing, I started shopping.
I wanted something big, sporty, fast, comfortable (mostly for the pillion), and that handles well.
I set my sights on a brand-new Kawasaki ZG1400abs. Found a great price on a 2008 with zero miles on it at the local dealer.
I had taken the written MC test, so I have my 'learner's' permit in hand and with a little practice I thought that I'd be ready for the road test at the DMV.
Ok, the ZG1400 is a BIG sport touring bike, and it is by NO MEANS a bike to learn on. That said, it's exactly what I did. Relearn is more accurate.
I did a lot of riding and even took the bike over to the DMV parking lot a few times where they have the MC course setup and I practiced. I thought that I was ready for the test, I wasn't.
No matter how much I tried I just couldn't get through the course without knocking over cones, one too many to pass the course. Crap!!! I took the riding test three times and three times I failed. Damn cones!!!
Then I found out about the MSF training courses in my area. They held them at the local university, where I worked! If I took the course, using their motorcycles, and passed, then I would automatically get my MC designation on my license. Perfect! That's what I did.
It was really fun taking the course using their Honda 250's. I nailed it and got my M classification. The instructor nicknamed me Sparky because I kept leaning way over in turns and dragging the 'drop bars' on the Honda. I ended up taking two more MSF courses there, the final one was on my Kawasaki, a defensive riding course. By this time, I was getting good at handling the beast and I easily made it through the cones and the courses. I had the largest bike of anyone who took the course at that time and, I don't mean to brag, but several of the guys complemented me on how well I handled the large bike, even though I'm 5'5" and the bike is nearly 700lbs.
Still have that bike and I still love it. We got the Spyder because my wife was worried that I wouldn't be able to hold up the big Kaw, at stops, with her on the back. She has a point...
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Albec
Active member
Thumbs up on the Kawasaki Concours! No e. lol
I still have my 2008 Neutron Silver! She's a fast beast!
I think I got my license in 1984 on a 1978 Yamaha DT 400. 2 stroke with oil injection. I had to take a skills test to ride in the state I was stationed and a skills test to ride on the Air Force base. It was a breeze on the 400. Folks were dropping Harleys and Goldwings left and right. 
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