Long, long ago when I was getting my motorcycle endorsements in Ohio the process was pretty straight forward. You passed the knowledge test which earned you a temp. license that was good for six months and let you ride during daylight hours and without a passenger. That made sense because you could go out and practice, get familiar with the bike before the skills test.
Now down here in the state of stupidity...er..I mean TN I'm trying to get my license. They do not issue learning permits to anyone over the age of 18. That means unless you have access our own private lot or road you cannot legally practice riding
I asked if I can't get a learners permit how am I supposed to get the bike to the testing station for my skills test. They said tow it or ask friend to ride it.
I don't have access to a trailer or a vehicle that will tow it. I don't feel comfortable asking anyone I know with license to take off work and ride the bike to the testing station.
I think the reason they have it set up this way is because they want you to take an MSF course. With the MSF certificate you get to skip the knowledge and skills test. Walk in with the cert. walk out with the endorsement.
The freaking problem is the cost of the MSF class is prohibitive right now. The earliest I will be able to do it is in late Sept. and I'm gonna pretty much miss out on this riding season. The plan was to just go tomorrow and take the Knowledge test but then I looked into scheduling the skills test and they don't have any appointments until mid Sept. anyway. And the skills test is a joke anyway it's not like Georgia's where you actually have to have some skill or competency. In TN you basically have to ride out of the the test station parking lot get out of site and if you make it back alive you pass.
If they would just offer a freaking learning permit like any normal state would I could at least ride it down to the parking lots and practice my low speed stuff until I can afford the MSF course. Now I know why 6 out of the 8 people I know who ride don't have their license.
How does your state do it? I have never heard of not having a learners permit until I moved to this stupid state.
Florida used to be the same way. You got a learners permit for 180 days and then you go do the riding test.
Not anymore, you now have to take one of those courses, and like you found out, they are quite expensive and take up two days to complete.
TN is also one of the easiest to get a motorcycle endorsement, at least it was where I got mine. Had motorcycle license in CA where I grew up and moving around in the military like I did, renewals was done by mail. One renewal they wanted like $25 but I could get a license in the state I was in at the time, Alaska for $5 but lost the motorcycle endorsement. Later when I was stationed in TN and I got a motorcycle again I had to get a TN license and take the motorcycle test. Standard written plus a riding test. The tester watched as I pulled out of the parking lot and down the street to the next parking lot to turn around and come back. Did it without falling and got my endorsement. A woman I worked with passed the same test but when she took the required safety course to ride on military installations, she was told to go find a beginner course and get more experience off-post.
If you can ride well enough to pass the test then get experience by self-regulated. Although the MSF course is a good idea at sometime.
I'm not advocating this in any way, but: ride dirty. I rode without an M license for 7 months. Dumb? Oh yeah, but I learned enough to pass the test. Our MSF is cheap (or free, I forget) in Illinois but if you aren't signed up by the end of January, you're screwed for the year.
I'm a little confused, you can't transfer your motorcycle licence from Ohio to Tenn?
that's what I was going to ask ... did you let your Ohio M endorsement expire ?
How much are you getting charged for MSF? It's $25 in Michigan.
alternate route is your local HD shop for $300.
You get a Learner's Permit in New York, you ride the bike along with a licensed rider. Separate bikes).
When you have the skills you schedule a Road Test where you ride, the NYS Inspector follows in a car and driver that you provide.
Two day MSF course gets you a license on the second day, I believe that flies in any State.
Dan
I rode a motorcycle for about 10 years before I bothered to get the endorsement. I have never, in 25 years of riding got a motorcycle inspected. No cops care about bikes unless you are a squid doing wheelies down the highway. Just go ride.
$225 here. Never got my endorsements in Ohio, the little Honda 450 I bought to learn on blew up on my third ride and I never got another one.
I've put almost 200 miles on it riding out through an industrial park then out a little country road that comes off the backside of it. I've got a pretty good little loop down that has very low traffic on it.
But given my history, if I even try to do something I not supposed to be doing, I will get caught and made an example of.
nicksta43 wrote:
But given my history, if I even try to do something I not supposed to be doing, I will get caught and made an example of.
I resemble this remark. I have found that trying to save the $250 will cost me $1,000. Car repairs, house repairs, computer repairs. Sometimes it is best to just eat it and not have to worry.
Most often these things will bit you in manners completely out of your control. The little old lady who knocks you bike over in a parking lot and does the right thing and calls the cops to file a claim and make it right. Bam - you got a ticket for riding without a license.
nicksta43 wrote:
But given my history, if I even try to do something I not supposed to be doing, I will get caught and made an example of.
Ain't that the truth!!!
For SC, learners permit for 180 days via knowledge test then skills test via DMV or MSF.
I took the knowledge test then MSF. Yea it cost $250, but it has saved me at least double that in my first year on insurance.
ransom
UltraDork
7/5/13 9:55 a.m.
914Driver wrote:
You get a Learner's Permit in New York, you ride the bike along with a licensed rider. Separate bikes).
Same in Oregon (or at least it was in the early '90s last time I dealt with it). Similarly useless if you don't know anybody who rides. I just crossed my fingers that if I ever got pulled over the officer would see I was kinda trying to stay legit. Never happened.
When I went in for the actual test, they asked me how I got the bike there and I said my uncle rode it in but had to leave.
At least at that point in Oregon, the MSF course only waived the written part.
For those of you doing the MSF, make sure to read the fine print. In SC they can make you return to DMV within 2 years of the date your endorsement is granted to take a riding test. So if there is a problem with an instructor not following protocol or a complaint against the program you could be inconvenienced.
Our riding test is on a very tight course in a parking lot. I used a nighthawk 250 (which is perfect for that test) and didn't use my MSF paperwork. I knew that I wouldn't have access to that bike later if I used the MSF paperwork & got called back.
I feel your pain. Had to schedule my MSF course 6 weeks out, it was $225, then $60 at the DMV.
Can they put you on a waiting list for the skills test if someone bails or cancels? Then you have to figure out getting the bike there...
MSF course saves you money too. It will give you a pretty hefty discount on your insurance rates. I've heard lots of places will give you discounts on gear and membership dues, and such if you show them your MSF completion card. I believe HOG is one of them. I've heard Harley likes giving discounts for MSF completion. If you're planning to buy some gear from a HD dealer, you can probably get a discount of at least what you paid for the MSF course. Of course, HD branded gear already carries a premium cost.
Unless its State Farm. I asked what discounts I'd get for taking the MSF course. None. They don't give a rat's ass.
As well USAA, and several others.
One does not inherently get a discount for completing an MSF course. One may get a discount. And by no means is it guaranteed to be hefty. 10-15% seems to be the norm.
The various MSF courses, and others, are generally worth taking to simply enhance ones riding skills. But don't turn off your brain and mindlessly drink the kool-aid. The latest babble on braking and how to stand still are just, well, bad.
TN has a state law that if you get through the MSF course you get 10% break on insurance. They even had a brochure at the dmv about it and how to report a company that was refusing. And USAA subs bike insurance out to Progressive. that's who mine is through.
I have allstate. Got a large discount for the MSF. $240/year full coverage is all I pay on my bike.
Prrogressive through USAA. Big discount.
