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Old September 6th 07, 10:02 PM posted to ba.motorcycles,rec.motorcycles,ca.driving,rec.photo.digital,rec.autos.tech
pinbob
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Default California Motorcycle & Automobile Riding & Driving & Written Tests

On Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:57:15 GMT, pinbob wrote:
TEXT of the AFOREMENTIONED ARTICLE ...

California Motorcycle License Skills Test
by Stephen Green
2006
The purpose of this document is to explain the California motorcycle
license skills test that is administered to those
individuals applying for a motorcycle license who are over 18 and already
have a Class C license. I am providing this
information because I could not find a decent description of the test or
the dimensions of the test pattern anywhere on the
web. I felt that it was important to post this information for all to use
in chalking out your own pattern to practice on.
In all my worldly wisdom, I assumed that when I read the below text on the
DMV's website that I would be given a route to
ride my bike on city streets and the evaluator would follow me in a car and
observe my turning, signaling and adherence to
all of the items in the driver's handbook; much the same that the driving
test for a Class C license is. I was sadly mistaken.
When the evaluator led me over to the test pattern on my '06 Harley
Sportster, I just about had a heart attack. I have a
pretty good sized bike and this test pattern looked like it was designed
for bi cycles and scooters. LOL. For all of you who
plan to take this test, please read this document so that you will be
prepared.
For those of you over the age of 18, there are two ways that you may obtain
a motorcycle license. Both of the below
methods require that you also take the written test.
1. Take the MSF course and present the certificate to the DMV counter. If
you present this certificate, you will not be
required to take the on-cycle test.
2. If you don't want to take the MSF course, you can elect to have the DMV
administer an on-cycle skills test.
Before I get describe the on-cycle skills test and the test pattern, here
is some information copied directly from the DMV's
website on 4/15/06: There are two classes of motorcycle licenses, Class M1
and Class M2.
? With a Class M1, you can operate any 2- wheel motorcycle and any
motorized vehicle in Class M2.
? With a Class M2, you can only operate any motorized bicycle or moped or
any bicycle with an attached motor.
Effective January 1, 2006, you may operate a motorized scooter with a Class
M1 or M2 driver license. Prior to
January 1, 2006, you must have a Class C or higher driver license to
operate a motorized scooter.
Effective January 1, 2006, you may operate a motorized scooter with a Class
M1 or M2 driver license. Prior to January 1,
2006, you must have a Class C or higher driver license to operate a
motorized scooter.
A motorized scooter is defined as: A two-wheeled "device" powered by a
motor with a floorboard that is designed to stand
on when riding. The scooter may also have a driver 's seat.
Refer to the Motorcycle Driver Handbook for more information.
To apply for a motorcycle Class M1 or M2 permit, you will need to:
? Visit a DMV office (make an appointment for faster service)
? Complete application form DL 44 (An original DL 44 form must be
submitted. Copies will not be accepted.)
? Give a thumb print
? Have your picture taken
? Pay the application fee
? Pass a vision exam
? Pass a traffic laws and signs test. You have three chances to pass the
test.
Note: To allow you sufficient time for testing DMV will not be
administering written or audio exams after 4:30 p.m.
After studying both the California Driver and the Motorcycle Handbooks,
call your local DMV to schedule your appointment
for the traffic laws and sign test.
After completing the requirements, you will be issued an instruction permit
to allow you to practice driving a motorcycle.
You may not drive at night, on the freeway, or have any passengers with
you.
To apply for your motorcycle Class M1 or M2 license, you must do one of the
following:
If you are under 21, you must complete a motorcycle rider training course
given by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and
provide a certificate of Completion of Motorcycle Training (DL 389) to DMV
to be issued your license. You will not
be required to take the motorcycle driving test at DMV if you currently
have a
California Drivers License.
If you are over 21, you may either choose to complete the course by CHP and
provide the certificate OR schedule an
appointment at DMV to take the driving test. You have three chances to pass
the test.
For information about the CHP training course, please call 1-877-743-3411
or visit www.ca-msp.org.
After you have submitted your CHP certificate or passed your driving test,
you will be issued an interim license valid for 60
days until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Double check
your address before you leave DMV and tell the
DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is incorrect. If
you have not received your license after 60 days,
call 1-800-777-0133 to check on the status. Have your interim license with
you to provide information when requested."
On to the good stuff:
The two things that the evaluator told me that he was looking for while I
rode the test pattern in the prescribed manner
we
1. Keep your front wheel between the lanes, which are exactly 2'3" apart,
throughout the exercise. He said that he wasn't
as concerned about the back wheel as he was the front.
2. DO NOT PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN! If you put your foot down, you will be
automatically failed.
Here is the order that you will ride the test pattern, and then what
follows is a diagram of the pattern, complete with
dimensions.
1. Enter the test pattern in lane 1 and when lane 1 meets with the circle,
follow it in a counter-clockwise direction and go
around the circle twice and exit in lane 2. Remember to keep your front
tire between the 2'3" lane lines.
2. For the second pass, you will begin by going around the first small
circle between the two lanes on the right-hand side
and weave through the remaining circles. This will lead you to going around
the last small circle between the two lanes that
is nearest the large circle on the right. After rounding that last small
circle, you will enter the large circle traveling to the left
and go around the circle in a clockwise manner, completing the circle twice
and exiting in lane 1.
That's it. This sounds much easier than it really is, even if you've been
riding bikes for over ten years as I have. Some tips
to remember a
1. If you have access to a bike that is light and small, use it for the
test instead of your big ol' Harley like I did.
2. DO NOT PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN!
3. Keep your head up and your eyes focused at least halfway around the
circle from where you currently are. Remember
that you go where you look when you ride a bike.
4. Do not look at the painted lane lines. In keeping with item #3 above, if
you look at the lines, you will drive on them, not
between them.
5. Use your clutch to control your speed and very little throttle. You can
drag the rear brake to also help you keep balance
and control speed, but this should be a fluid and smooth ride to help keep
you balanced.
6. Lean the bike while you stay mostly vertical. When making tight turns at
slow speeds, it's usually easier to keep your
balance by leaning the bike and not your body.
7. If you think that you can do this without practice, I say good luck to
you. It would be a good idea to use the following
dimensions to chalk yourself out a practice area and give it a go before
having an evaluator and a bunch of spectators
watch you fumble through it for the first time.
The test pattern and dimensions are on the next page. Good luck and keep
your knees in the breeze and the shiny side up!
August 2007 update from Weston:
There was one minor surprise on my test day and that was that the test
format has changed slightly. The new DMV test
involves a first run in which the rider performs the cone weave, leading to
two circles clockwise, and then exiting out to the
right of the first cone and doing another cone weave. The second part of
the test is to start in lane 1, complete two
counterclockwise circles, and then exit in lane 2.
It wasn't a total surprise to me being I had studied what you have posted
in the pdf, but I figured you might be interested
to know that the DMV has made that slight modification to their test
method.
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