Too easy to be behind the bars of a motorcycle? : Yamaha R1 Forum

Flexxx · 11-07-2012, 09:03 AM

Not sure how this varies, but in the state of NC, it seems far to easy to legally drive a motorcycle.

At the age of 16, a person can take the road course given at the DMV to obtain a motorcycle license. But a person can take a 15 minute written exam and obtain a motorcycle permit. That's it. The ONLY restriction on the permit is that the driver may not ride a passenger and they must wear a helmet. They can ride anywhere, with anyone, with any bike, at any given time. At least make it mandatory to take the MSF course or SOMETHING before being able to drive on the roads freely. But no course is necessary, no nothing. That just seems like an accident waiting to happen.

After all, NC DOES have the eight highest motorcycle death rate in the nation for a reason...

rexmitchell · 11-07-2012, 09:04 AM

Yea thats a little ridiculous. MSF should be mandatory for anyone looking to get a license

HardRacing · 11-07-2012, 09:21 AM

That Learner's permit and is only good for a year with (1) 6 month ( extension).

To get an actual license you still have to pass the written and Road test.

http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/driver/motorcycle/

Not Easy Breezy but too hard either. And if you take or have taken the MSF course, you just have to pass the written portion.

.

Flexxx · 11-07-2012, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexmitchell

Yea thats a little ridiculous. MSF should be mandatory for anyone looking to get a license

Now to get a license, you have to take a course at the dmv, but to get a permit and be able to drive a motorcycle with the only restriction of not being able to ride a passenger without taking any course at all, that's not too wise...

rexmitchell · 11-07-2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flexxx

Now to get a license, you have to take a course at the dmv, but to get a permit and be able to drive a motorcycle with the only restriction of not being able to ride a passenger without taking any course at all, that's not too wise...

Yea no shit. That sounds like a terrible idea

Flexxx · 11-07-2012, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardRacing

That Learner's permit and is only good for a year with (1) 6 month ( extension).

To get an actual license you still have to pass the written and Road test.

http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/driver/motorcycle/

Not Easy Breezy but too hard either. And if you take or have taken the MSF course, you just have to pass the written portion.

.

Right, but it just seems like a 16 year old with no needed experience on any course being let free for a year or a year and a half just seems like trouble.

Flexxx · 11-07-2012, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexmitchell

Yea no shit. That sounds like a terrible idea

I figured we were on the same page(just had to reiterate it for the use of others)

rexmitchell · 11-07-2012, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flexxx

Right, but it just seems like a 16 year old with no needed experience on any course being let free for a year or a year and a half just seems like trouble.

Why the hell would you let someone with no riding experience on a bike with the only stipulation being to not take a passenger

Thats just silly

Flexxx · 11-07-2012, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexmitchell

Why the hell would you let someone with no riding experience on a bike with the only stipulation being to not take a passenger

Thats just silly

It's like handing a 21 year old a gun and telling him to try it out for a year and a half then if he likes it, he can get a gun permit to buy it.

Rex1585 · 11-07-2012, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexmitchell

Yea thats a little ridiculous. MSF should be mandatory for anyone looking to get a license

Completely agree here.

rexmitchell · 11-07-2012, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flexxx

It's like handing a 21 year old a gun and telling him to try it out for a year and a half then if he likes it, he can get a gun permit to buy it.

Or a 18 year old really.

Flexxx · 11-07-2012, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexmitchell

Or a 18 year old really.

Very true. Hell I worry enough about my own riding, I worry more about other peoples driving in cars, I shouldnt have to worry about a fellow biker blowing by me at *196* mph like an idiot(or something to that result)

z064life · 11-07-2012, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flexxx

Now to get a license, you have to take a course at the dmv, but to get a permit and be able to drive a motorcycle with the only restriction of not being able to ride a passenger without taking any course at all, that's not too wise...

can't ride at night either (in IN anyway)...and you must wear a helmet, again in IN

Blue Streak · 11-07-2012, 10:09 AM

i think all places should have a CC restriciton for new riders as well. Maybe up to 500cc for the first year so that newbies dont buy a litre bike (or even 750/600 for that matter) and go out and kill or wreck themselves in the 1st month.

stieny · 11-07-2012, 10:13 AM

Not sure of the exact laws in your state but here in PA, you always hear about the same stipulations...cannot ride a passenger and can't ride at night while on a permit.

The problem is that the actual law states that in addition to no passengers and daylight only, you also have to be within eyesight of a licensed rider at all times. That then becomes the biggest problem, people thinking it's really easy to just pick up a permit, jump on a bike, and ride when in reality, they are just misinformed.

I will say this though....I signed up for the MSF classes right after I got my permit so I could get my license and the people that I saw passing that class and getting their license to legally ride was astounding. These people were almost dropping the bikes during the classes and clearly demonstrating a lack of riding skill, and yet when test time came after the three classes we had, they managed to not fail.

So in that respect, I think the MSF class makes it extremely too easy to obtain a license, at least here in PA.

z064life · 11-07-2012, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Streak

i think all places should have a CC restriciton for new riders as well. Maybe up to 500cc for the first year so that newbies dont buy a litre bike (or even 750/600 for that matter) and go out and kill or wreck themselves in the 1st month.

because we need govt to protect us from ourselves

What about the guy that is responsible, or the guy that's been riding dirtbikes since he was 3-4....or the guy that has been racing since the age of 12...

ss55539 · 11-07-2012, 10:14 AM

it dont matter how big the bike is, if your a dumbass thats going to crash yourself/others your going to do it regardless of what you ride

Flexxx · 11-07-2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stieny

Not sure of the exact laws in your state but here in PA, you always hear about the same stipulations...cannot ride a passenger and can't ride at night while on a permit.

The problem is that the actual law states that in addition to no passengers and daylight only, you also have to be within eyesight of a licensed rider at all times. That then becomes the biggest problem, people thinking it's really easy to just pick up a permit, jump on a bike, and ride when in reality, they are just misinformed.

I will say this though....I signed up for the MSF classes right after I got my permit so I could get my license and the people that I saw passing that class and getting their license to legally ride was astounding. These people were almost dropping the bikes during the classes and clearly demonstrating a lack of riding skill, and yet when test time came after the three classes we had, they managed to not fail.

So in that respect, I think the MSF class makes it extremely too easy to obtain a license, at least here in PA.

Oh no, here in NC, the ONLY restriction with a permit is that you can't have a passenger. Everything else is free range.

stieny · 11-07-2012, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flexxx

Oh no, here in NC, the ONLY restriction with a permit is that you can't have a passenger. Everything else is free range.

Wow, that seems idiotic to me.

You know how many retards we have here in PA running around on their permit and yanking on the bars to "get it to come up" or asking "where's a good place to top it out at"?

Scary to think it's just that much easier for these people to ride in NC.

Flexxx · 11-07-2012, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stieny

Wow, that seems idiotic to me.

You know how many retards we have here in PA running around on their permit and yanking on the bars to "get it to come up" or asking "where's a good place to top it out at"?

Scary to think it's just that much easier for these people to ride in NC.

Tell me about it. Wish Something would be done. NC is EIGHTH highest on the NATION for motorcycle death rate.