Starting Monday, in order to get a learner’s permit for a motorcycle in Pennsylvania, where The Kneeslider is from, you actually have to know something about motorcycles. As soon as you return the application, you’ll be required to take a knowledge test. The permit will only be issued when you pass the written test. The Kneeslider strongly supports that.
Motorcycles get a bad reputation as being some type of super dangerous conveyance when what they really are is a vehicle that requires a bit more from the operator. Drop anyone in a car and they may be able to navigate from point A to B if it’s a short distance, they’ll be a danger to others but they may survive. Put them on a motorcycle and there’s little chance they’ll make it very far out of the driveway. Ride on a busy street? Yeah, right.
We’ve discussed motorcycle licensing before and we simply feel the more training and experience up front, the better. This “test before permit” policy may at least keep the most ignorant off the bike and force them to put in some basic effort to learn something before hopping on and riding off. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses are even better.
Bucho says
Where I live in Maryland you have to pass a knowledge test to get a learner’s permit for bikes. However, in New Hampshire where I got my motorcyle license you didn’t have to, they just issued you a permit to go kill yourself! (the NH state motto is “Live free or die”)
But in all seriousness its a good idea to have some knowledge before riding. I’m not sure how it works exactly but in the UK I think they make learners ride nothing bigger than a 125. That sounds like a good idea in theory at least. It seems like the “cool” bikes to have are either race repli sport bikes or huge heavy Harleys, niether a good beginner bike. But if they are just posing and not riding I guess they aren’t much of a threat to anybody’s safety.
Johnny Huh? says
I’d like to see some questions about motorcycles incorporated into a standard driving test as well. Because it seems like cagers have not the first clue about what a bike can do or how to drive more safely for everyone.
But this is a good start, for sure!
sigint says
Bucho:
Actually it might not halt the poser rate. If you look at the bikes that are sold in europe, they have sweet looking 125 (like Aprilia’s). There theories are that either the tiered system will destroy the motorcycle industry or it’ll be a huge boom because people will be buying more motorcycles (I’m in the later).
Bucho says
You may be right.
Sigrunen says
In the UK learners are permitted a motorcycle up to 125cc on successful completion of a knowledge test, each learners permit lasts for 1 year at which point the licensee takes the road test for a full license, or the license is suspended until the written test is re-taken. The engine size used to be 250cc for learners ( my starter was a Honda CB250N – Super Dream – a lovely bike).