What did your motorcycle test consist of and did you pass your first time?

Question

I live in Illinois, was curious if other states tests are similar. Our test all takes place in a parking lot. You start out weaving through a series of cones that are very close together, probably 5-6 of them, you then make a right turn and come down tot he end of the course and have to make a u-turn in 24 feet. You then have to ride down the course and make a sharp left turn and then come back and stop with your tire in a box. the final step is driving through a timing shoot at about 20 and having to weave around an obstacle when you pass through but before a certain point. I failed my first time and passed my second time. How about you.

Answer 1

I live in Northern Ireland. Basically we are allowed to drive a 125 cc bike without having to do any test.

When I sat my test, I had to go out with an examiner onto the roads and follow the instructions he gave me via radio. The test lasted about 40 minutes and consisted of driving around a town where he marked my lane positioning, indicating, traffic awareness, and basically ensuring I was a safe driver.

Then the maneourvers. He sent me around the block on my own and when I came back he tested my emergency stop by stepping out in front of me (if you skid, you fail)

Then we did the U-turn where he tried to trick me into stopping in an entranceway (if the bike touches the kerb or you block and entranceway you are failed).

He also tested me on things like being able to pull in and stop safely and make sure I can move off again safely.

when we got back to the test centre, he then asked me questions on motorcycle maintence and how to carry a pillion safely.

I managed to get it first time.

It was a while since I done it so I may have left something out. I'm curious though. Those tests you did in America in a parking lot. Were they for your full licence? I assume that they must be for a provisional licence because they seem so easy. Here they test everything.

Answer 2

In CA, it is in a parking lot too. There are 2 lanes with cones in the middle that go to a tight circle. You weave through the cones until you get to the circle. You do 2 laps around the circle and come bach through the cones. Turn around and drive down one lane (narrow) do 2 circles in the opposite direction and come back up the other lane. Your front tire has to stay in the lanes at all times.

I thougt it was an easy test. I took it on a 2007 Harley davidson Rode Glide dresser. The lady at the DMV swore there was no way I would pass on a big bike......she was wrong.

Answer 3

I took mine through a basic rider course, in Ohio.  Like many other states, here you can go directly to the motor vehicle department and take your on-the-bike test, or you can bypass that test and take the basic rider course.

At the end of the course they give you a skill evaluation and it is basically the same as what you have to do in the test you took - it's a series of manuevers in a parking lot - but the advantage is that each manuever is done seperately so you don't just go all the way though without stopping.  They also give you their bikes to ride which are small, only about 250 cc's but that helps during the test I think.

I passed easily but in my class of twelve, nobody got a perfect score and nobody failed.  Upon completion of the class you are given a card that lets you skip the state's test.  Many insurance companies also give you a break on your rates if you pass the course too.  It's a worthwhile class even if you've been riding awhile.

Answer 4

Very Similar,except that you had to pull a figure eight within two lines smaller than an average road width, in first, without putting your feet on the ground.  THAT was really the only challenge to it.  

Answer 5

MSF safety course over rode the state test

full tests and requirements here http://www.msf-usa.org/index_new.cfm?spl...

Answer 6

passed first time, both times...

similar test here in ohio

first time on a 1977 CB750 tourer (few years ago)

second time on my 2001 CBR1100XX

edit:

"I thougt it was an easy test. I took it on a 2007 Harley davidson Rode Glide dresser."

funny how you can't even spell the name of your own bike, now edit your post and spell it right...

Answer 7

I think the test is pretty much common to all states.  If you take an MSF basic rider course they teach you how to do all those maneuvers, but then if you take the class you don't have to take the test at the DMV.

The reason I answered this was to point how times have changed.  I took the MC driving exam for the first time in 1977.  Basically what happened was the examiner came down to where my bike was.  Looked at it to be sure is was street legal, then had me drive it around the block.  I figured that if you came back alive you passed?  He couldn't see me after I took the first right, so what was to examine.