[Anonymous]

I’m a returning rider, never been licensed in California and need to take the driving test. I took an MSF class when I was first licensed (years ago and in another state). Given the wait lists for local classes, I would really prefer not to take another MSF and instead proceed straight to the test and then possibly add an advanced rider course in the next few months.

But I’m wondering about the wisdom of taking the riding test with my current bike. I ride a Concours 1000. I’m comfortable riding around town, highways, etc…, but the bike is notoriously top heavy and isn’t exactly made for low-speed manuevers.

I remember when I took my first license test (it was done en mass with about 10 test takers), everyone who passed was on small bikes (125cc-ish) that we rented from the local scooter/motorcycle rental shop. It was the best known secret in town that if you wanted to pass, you did not show up on your own big bike. Every person who did test on their own bike that day failed, typically because they put their foot down or couldn’t hold it between some cones on low speed parking lot turns.

Can anyone tell me what the California test will involve so I can at least try a few manuevers and gauge my chances? Or should I go the route of renting a cheater bike? Thoughts?

[megaspaz]

If you’ve taken and passed the MSF before, you can see if the MSF cert you got will work here in California. Either way, taking the MSF is way easier than doing the DMV rider test. And I would not take the bike you ride for doing the DMV rider test. If you’re intent on taking the DMV rider test, rent a 250cc bike.

—
If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…

[SantaCruzRider]

Turns out they wouldn’t take an MSF course from that far back. So I ended up borrowing a buddy’s 400cc dual-sport for the test. I practiced on the course about 10 times Sunday, then showed up for the test on Tuesday.

The DMV folks were very cool and let me test even though there were some issues with the bike’s insurance.

I was still fairly cold, as I only knew about 1 of the 3 skills tests (lane crawl and circle) and the borrowed bike was unconfortably tall — I had to hop onto it from the kickstand and was on one toe at a stop. (It was just like when I was 5 and borrowed my big brother’s 10-speed.)

But I came thru the test just fine. In fact, I was a bit surprised at how minimal the skills tests were. When I first got my license in Hawaii, the inspector made you go through a much more extensive test (at least that’s my recollection ).

Some weekend I’m going to take my Concours over and roll thru the course for fun and see how I do. But I’m pretty sure that it would have been dicy trying to make it all the way thru the test on my 1000cc.

I’ve since found a number of vids online that walk through all the steps in the test. Might have put my mind at ease to see them first, but either way, it was no problem.

Happy New Year,
Dan

[briderdt]

I was surprised after having taken (and passed) the MSF course. My wife just barely didn’t make it, so I looked at the back of the WSDOT booklet, and they show the test maneuvers… They weren’t nearly as technical as the MSF class ones. The real advantage of the MSF class, though, is being able to test on little 250’s and such.

[SantaCruzRider]

There are plenty of advantages to the MSF, and I certainly don’t want to undercut that.

These include:
1) Right-sized bikes (as you mentioned)
2) Bikes with proper insurance (which avoids the no-insured-bike-to-test-on dilemma)
3) Lots of practice time and chances to learn from fellow students (some of us learn well by seeing others — both from their successes and mistakes)
4) Coaching that is individualized to your own skills. When I was practicing for the test, I was coaching myself with reminders to “get your eyes off the front wheel”, “look down the turn idiot”… “keep your head level” … “clutch.., not brake!” I recall my MSF coach was much kinder

[BouncingRadical]

When I took mine it was in the parking lot of the DMV and rode around the lot then had to go to a corner and do 2 figure eights, it was really small and I had to go extremely slow, I’m really glad my bike is small. I’m sure there is no way its harder than the MSF stuff. I haven’t taken the class yet, I just went and winged it to get my endorsement so I could get insurance on my bike, and the dumbass state has not posted their 2009 dates for the class!

[megaspaz]

Must be a louisiana thing. In cali, the dmv test doesn’t do figure eights. There’s a circle thing whose diameter is smaller than the figure 8 box width on the msf. Plus, unlike the MSF, if you put a foot down at anytime, touch the line or go over it, you auto-fail. And the dmv test procters here make sure you everything you do is done at a slower speed than the msf. So in cali-land, the DMV practicle is indeed much harder than the MSF rider portion test.

edit: i’m assuming you took the dmv practical in the state you said you’re from.

[BouncingRadical]

Yeah I took it in Louisiana, the funny/sad thing is this DMV had the harder riding tests. Most places make you do a circle of the lot and thats it. Is it any wonder this state is #1 in motorcycle deaths?

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