Legit!

daddy469 · 09-14-2008, 11:59 AM

I took my WA state riding portion for the motorcycle endorsement yesterday and passed with 100%! Pretty dang easy on a 200CC Lifan 8)

Jim · 09-14-2008, 01:29 PM

Congratulations

SpeedSouth · 09-14-2008, 02:25 PM

Congrats!

I got mine only a few weeks ago after nearly 8000 miles on my permit.

The test was pretty easy on my EX250 as well, but then the test has changed here since I took it last, and it seems like it would be pretty easy on almost anything.

I tested w/ a guy on a (very) large cruiser...and I almost felt sorry for the guy until I saw how easy the test would be. We both passed.

It sure feels good to have the full license!

DDG1976 · 09-14-2008, 02:39 PM

In Georgia they make you go through a pretty big course, stopping when a light comes on, swerving left or right when a light comes on. Turning right angles without touching lines, all while traveling at 12-18mph. The guy in front of me said he had failed 3 times on his Virago 1100, so he had brought a 150cc vespa style scooter, he didn't even get to complete before they made him park it. That made me nervous, I passed though. When they finish printing my new liscense I went outside to watch the guy drive his scooter up a ramp on the back of his truck and slam into the back of the bed so hard he shattered his back window out of the truck.(LMAO). I geuss some people maybe shouldn't have a liscense.

chinaguy · 09-14-2008, 02:47 PM

Hey man! Congrats!

chinaguy · 09-14-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDG1976

In Georgia they make you go through a pretty big course, stopping when a light comes on, swerving left or right when a light comes on. Turning right angles without touching lines, all while traveling at 12-18mph. The guy in front of me said he had failed 3 times on his Virago 1100, so he had brought a 150cc vespa style scooter, he didn't even get to complete before they made him park it. That made me nervous, I passed though. When they finish printing my new liscense I went outside to watch the guy drive his scooter up a ramp on the back of his truck and slam into the back of the bed so hard he shattered his back window out of the truck.(LMAO). I geuss some people maybe shouldn't have a liscense.

Oh man, I wish I could have seen that!!

TeamCheap · 09-14-2008, 03:22 PM

Congrats.

I hear a lot of people will ride one bike while practising and then go take the test with someone else's bike and fail.

I could never figure that out, why would someone buy and ride and practice on a bike only to "borrow" a different bike to test with................just doesnt make since to me.

I have had my cycle endorsment for about 26-27 years, I got it shortly after I got my drivers license.

My wife still needs to get her endorsment but she is afraid she'll fail it, I told so what its no big deal just take it again.

IronFist · 09-14-2008, 05:19 PM

We have the swerve tests and stopping in the curve test and the emergency stop test, but that only gets you a second grade licence. Then you gotta wait 3 to 5 years and then do a road test with a highway portion. Probably the hardest licence to get in North America. 8O

Still, there is NOTHING like riding legal. Congrats!

DDG1976 · 09-14-2008, 07:26 PM

Well, in Georgia you can take just the written part and get a 6-month permit, but there are restrictions. The road test wasn't hard if you could control the bike at low speed. The guy in front of me just didn't listen to directions, which is hilarious, because if it was my 4th time I could give the test.

Jim · 09-14-2008, 09:07 PM

In BC, the hardest license to get is your initial license to drive a car... Once you have a car license, any other license is pretty easy to get (assuming you can drive), motorcycle, commercial vehicle, etc.

IronFist · 09-14-2008, 09:38 PM

I didn't know that Jim, but I got a 365 pretty easy in Alberta. In B.C. I hitch-hiked I didn't drive.

daddy469, Have a great ride!

SpeedSouth · 09-15-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDG1976

In Georgia they make you go through a pretty big course, stopping when a light comes on, swerving left or right when a light comes on. Turning right angles without touching lines, all while traveling at 12-18mph. The guy in front of me said he had failed 3 times on his Virago 1100, so he had brought a 150cc vespa style scooter, he didn't even get to complete before they made him park it. That made me nervous, I passed though. When they finish printing my new liscense I went outside to watch the guy drive his scooter up a ramp on the back of his truck and slam into the back of the bed so hard he shattered his back window out of the truck.(LMAO). I geuss some people maybe shouldn't have a liscense.

Back in the mid-90's it included everything it does today, in addition to some other stuff weaving in and out of cones. When I took it back then, the very first step in the test was a motorcycle inspection. All lights and signals were tested, mirrors verified, horn tested...all that stuff. When I tested this year, none of that happened. I could have had "dummy" lights and passed, I think.

Now the test is only 3 parts -
Straight line and stop.
Negotiate a curve as fast as comfortable, staying within the lines, both directions, and the right angle turns after the curve in each direction
And finally, the "accident avoidence", "situation awareness" part...with the lights telling the rider to either swerve left or right and then stop...or just stop.

Georgia has also done away with the 'stepped' licensing. Back in the 90's when I tested, I was on a 250 and had I passed, I could only ride up to a 500CC bike. In order to be licensed on a larger bike, I'd have had to test on a larger bike....something 501cc or larger. Now it's just one license for any sized cycle.

I'm glad the test is easier and the license now applies to any size machine...but I am a bit concerned over the "skills" that some other riders might (not) have. I imagine someone just barely passing the test, then thinking they are Matt Maladin or Nicky Hayden...riding well beyond their own limits.

And to carry that one step further, it may shed a bit of light on an article I was reading (wish I could find the link) a few weeks ago. The article talked about the increase in cycle sales this summer, and an increase in accidents involving bikes. Unlike one might expect, however, the rise in cycle sales did NOT relate directly to the number of accidents. I don't remember the exact numbers, but an example would be - say cycle sales are up 20% over last year all across the board. The rate of accidents involving cycles went up 50%.

Again, those are just numbers I pulled out of the air, but the relationship is similar to the numbers in the article. While the number of cycles sold went up, the rate of accidents with cycles went up more.

Does this indicate the newer cycle riders have less skill? Or maybe it indicates that more cycles on the road give the "cagers" more opportunity to not see someone on a cycle.

Just something to think about...and possibly related (IMO) to the easier testing procedures.

Ride safe!

DDG1976 · 09-15-2008, 03:07 PM

I would assume if the number of motorcycle sales increases, the number of motorcycle tests would increase also. Although all of my friends, and I really mean all, refuse to go get thier MC liscense. They all ride with just normal drivers liscense. Then they give me crap for getting mine. A couple have even been pulled over and let go with just a warning to get thier MC liscense. I would rather have my ins. pay off in case something does happen, which is inevitable, not many MC riders will go a lifetime without some type of incident. I can't count over the years how many near misses I've had with vehicles. I also can't count the # of flat spots on my rear tires from people pulling out, and turning left in front of me. Being visible and safe following distances are the RULE for anybody on a bike no matter thier skill level or how long they have been riding, unless you can land a over the bars double tuck with a twist at 50 mph. I skimmed through a post on here a week or so ago talking about a website called ride2die.com, I looked through it and didn't want to get back on my bike. I think everyone should look at this site though. Sorry for the rant, everyone be safe.[/b]

elroyjetsn · 09-15-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronFist

We have the swerve tests and stopping in the curve test and the emergency stop test, but that only gets you a second grade licence. Then you gotta wait 3 to 5 years and then do a road test with a highway portion. Probably the hardest licence to get in North America. 8O

Still, there is NOTHING like riding legal. Congrats!

Makes sense, the freeway is a different ballgame that's fer sher! :wink:

elroyjetsn · 09-15-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDG1976

Being visible and safe following distances are the RULE for anybody on a bike no matter thier skill level or how long they have been riding, unless you can land a over the bars double tuck with a twist at 50 mph. I skimmed through a post on here a week or so ago talking about a website called ride2die.com, I looked through it and didn't want to get back on my bike. I think everyone should look at this site though. Sorry for the rant, everyone be safe.[/b]

Keeping safe distance...........can't be stressed enough!!!

09-14-2008, 11:59 AM	#1
daddy469 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 293	Legit! I took my WA state riding portion for the motorcycle endorsement yesterday and passed with 100%! Pretty dang easy on a 200CC Lifan 8)
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09-14-2008, 01:29 PM	#2
Jim Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada Posts: 4,880	Congratulations __________________ "Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!"
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09-14-2008, 02:25 PM	#3
SpeedSouth Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 710	Congrats! I got mine only a few weeks ago after nearly 8000 miles on my permit. The test was pretty easy on my EX250 as well, but then the test has changed here since I took it last, and it seems like it would be pretty easy on almost anything. I tested w/ a guy on a (very) large cruiser...and I almost felt sorry for the guy until I saw how easy the test would be. We both passed. It sure feels good to have the full license! __________________ 2008 American Lifan LF200 GY-5 (930 km) - Sold 2007 Kawasaki EX250 - Sold 2006 Kawasaki EX650R - My new ride! 2005 Kawasaki EX250 - A new project
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09-14-2008, 02:39 PM	#4
DDG1976 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ringgold, Ga. Posts: 410	In Georgia they make you go through a pretty big course, stopping when a light comes on, swerving left or right when a light comes on. Turning right angles without touching lines, all while traveling at 12-18mph. The guy in front of me said he had failed 3 times on his Virago 1100, so he had brought a 150cc vespa style scooter, he didn't even get to complete before they made him park it. That made me nervous, I passed though. When they finish printing my new liscense I went outside to watch the guy drive his scooter up a ramp on the back of his truck and slam into the back of the bed so hard he shattered his back window out of the truck.(LMAO). I geuss some people maybe shouldn't have a liscense. __________________ I have all of soberday to satur up!!
	0

09-14-2008, 05:19 PM	#8
IronFist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 2,585	We have the swerve tests and stopping in the curve test and the emergency stop test, but that only gets you a second grade licence. Then you gotta wait 3 to 5 years and then do a road test with a highway portion. Probably the hardest licence to get in North America. 8O Still, there is NOTHING like riding legal. Congrats! __________________ IronFist ___________________________________ The "chain" of command is used for beating spammers. ___________________________________
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09-14-2008, 02:47 PM	#5
chinaguy Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 125	Hey man! Congrats!
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09-14-2008, 03:22 PM	#7
TeamCheap Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: directly under the earths sun............NOW Posts: 2,302	Congrats. I hear a lot of people will ride one bike while practising and then go take the test with someone else's bike and fail. I could never figure that out, why would someone buy and ride and practice on a bike only to "borrow" a different bike to test with................just doesnt make since to me. I have had my cycle endorsment for about 26-27 years, I got it shortly after I got my drivers license. My wife still needs to get her endorsment but she is afraid she'll fail it, I told so what its no big deal just take it again.
	0

09-14-2008, 07:26 PM	#9
DDG1976 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ringgold, Ga. Posts: 410	Well, in Georgia you can take just the written part and get a 6-month permit, but there are restrictions. The road test wasn't hard if you could control the bike at low speed. The guy in front of me just didn't listen to directions, which is hilarious, because if it was my 4th time I could give the test. __________________ I have all of soberday to satur up!!
	0

09-14-2008, 09:07 PM	#10
Jim Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada Posts: 4,880	In BC, the hardest license to get is your initial license to drive a car... Once you have a car license, any other license is pretty easy to get (assuming you can drive), motorcycle, commercial vehicle, etc. __________________ "Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!"
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09-14-2008, 09:38 PM	#11
IronFist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 2,585	I didn't know that Jim, but I got a 365 pretty easy in Alberta. In B.C. I hitch-hiked I didn't drive. daddy469, Have a great ride! __________________ IronFist ___________________________________ The "chain" of command is used for beating spammers. ___________________________________
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09-15-2008, 03:07 PM	#13
DDG1976 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ringgold, Ga. Posts: 410	I would assume if the number of motorcycle sales increases, the number of motorcycle tests would increase also. Although all of my friends, and I really mean all, refuse to go get thier MC liscense. They all ride with just normal drivers liscense. Then they give me crap for getting mine. A couple have even been pulled over and let go with just a warning to get thier MC liscense. I would rather have my ins. pay off in case something does happen, which is inevitable, not many MC riders will go a lifetime without some type of incident. I can't count over the years how many near misses I've had with vehicles. I also can't count the # of flat spots on my rear tires from people pulling out, and turning left in front of me. Being visible and safe following distances are the RULE for anybody on a bike no matter thier skill level or how long they have been riding, unless you can land a over the bars double tuck with a twist at 50 mph. I skimmed through a post on here a week or so ago talking about a website called ride2die.com, I looked through it and didn't want to get back on my bike. I think everyone should look at this site though. Sorry for the rant, everyone be safe.[/b] __________________ I have all of soberday to satur up!!
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