Legal Quandry in Tennessee

[jrd4849]

Newbie post here so bear with me. This is just a heads up for fellow Tennessee riders in the same position. I'm 60 and just bought a 2009 Xciting500Ri. Not having ridden a bike for 35 years I went down to the local driver's license office today to get a temporary permit so I could practice riding prior to taking the test for the motorcycle endorsement. I was told that they don't give temporary permits for motorcycle endorsements. When I asked how I could get riding experience in order to pass the test they said it was "up to you" but if you get stopped you will get a ticket. They suggested that I trailer the scooter to a parking lot and practice there. Is this the norm in other states? Luckily I'm due to take the MSF course in a few weeks. So I guess I sit and stare at the scooter in the garage until then. How depressing!

[OldGuy]

Catch 22!  Your tax dollars at work. Now, how do you get it to the MSF course?

[jrd4849]

It's the basic rider course and they supply the cycles. Maybe it's a good idea to wait anyway so I don't redevelop any of those old driving habits   

[Belkwinith]

In chicago they have, "Scooter School" which you can register on line and take for about $250.00.
http://www.motorcyclelearning.com/ss.asp
Expensive, but they also set up for you to take the test for a class M license through the school. This is an extra fee of $50.00. The school is only 1 afternoon and it is really relaxed and easy after taking the DOT Motorcycle course through the state. (That was a bit like washing out of the Marines!)

However in Illinois, if you go down to the DMV, and tell them you are interested in getting a permit for riding a motorcycle, they should give you a small 40 page booklet for you to study. This is a great booklet and full of all the info you will need for both the permit test and the actual driving test as well.

After reading and studying the booklet, you go back to the DMV and take a 15 question permit test and upon passing you receive a permit for you to ride your scooter in the company of a Class M license holder.

Well this is not always going to happen so I suggest practicing on side streets and school or church parking lots. Practice the simple courses as drawn in the booklet you received from the DMV and you should be able to go down and take the riders test after you have put over 100 miles on your scooter.

You may think 100 miles is a lot, but if you are practicing every night after work in a parking lot, you can get over 100 miles in at least 2 weeks. Work on your right and left turns and quick stops. FOCUS! Remember your scooter will go where ever you are looking!

By the time I went in for my riding test, I had over 125 miles on my scooter. I had to have a friend with an M class license ride the scooter over to the DMV for me. (I go by the rules and that is the way I do it). Anyway, I passed the riding test super easy after all that practice. It was a snap and I got my license and rode my scooter home! It was totally awesome and one of the best days of my life!

Now I have returned the favor for others. I have ridden with permit holders and taken my scooter to the DMV for my friends to ride and get their class M/s. It has worked out pretty good and most of them are now out looking for scooters of their own, but they are able to actual ride some models because they have the class M.

So go through the process and within a month or two you will have your license and you will have learned and acquired it the right way. That is not to say that once you have a license you know it all. Take your time when you go out and don't push your luck. You have to learn how to ride in traffic all over again! But it will be the best time.

Have fun and be safe!
-Belkwinith

[OldGuy]

Belkwinith, you have brought up some interesting memories from when I lived in Illinois.

If you showed up to take your test without a licensed rider they'd write you a ticket for not having the proper endorsement. People started getting around that by stopping about a block from the examining station and pushing the bike in, so they than started feeling the engine to see if it was hot. If it was they'd still write the ticket. Catch 22.

[Belkwinith]

Geez that is crazy!
But you are right, my examiner was all over me about who rode my scoot over and he even made my friend ride it across the parking lot to the test area! But once I was on the scoot and went through the test, his attitude changed. He was really easy going when he could see how militant I was about the rules. I guess it made him happy.

When I went through the same deal with a male friend, using my scooter, the examiner was didn't seem to care at all about his helmet, gloves, who rode the scooter in, where was my class m. He even told him to just drive the scooter across the parking lot for the test.

Go figure!
Bel