How Long Does It Take To Get A Motorcycle License?

Last Updated on January 3, 2023 by Leepu Da Maxim

Well, it could take up to 3 – 4 months to get your motorcycle license. However, the exact time can vary depending on the state where you live. Moreover, you might have to pass a writing test and a road test before you can get your motorcycle license.

Key Takeaways

• You have to meet the minimum age requirement of your state before you can apply for a motorcycle license
• In order to get the learner’s permit, you have to pass the writing and the vision test
• You can contact the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or another licensing agency to get more information on how you can get the motorcycle license

Motorcycle Commuting – Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
1. Excellent fuel economy 2. Fewer pollutant emissions into the environment 3. Excellent time-saving in different types of traffic 4. Riding a motorcycle means physical exercise 5. Motorcycle travel improves the driver’s mental health	1. It is a vehicle that is incompatible with some weather conditions such as snow or rain 2. A motorcycle offers a lower level of protection and safety than a car

How To Ride A Motorcycle To Prevent Accidents?

There are some efficient ways to ride and reduce the number of accidents and crashes with a motorcycle. It is necessary to mention that motorcyclists suffer fatal accidents 27 times more than drivers of other vehicles. So, driving defensively will allow you to take care of your life and physical integrity.

1. Applying Proper Maintenance

One of the most important steps you should take before you start your motorcycle trip is maintenance. In particular, this involves having enough gasoline to get you to your destination. You will need to quickly analyze each of the most important aspects of the vehicle. Here, we can include the correct condition of your tires and the air they have.

Additionally, you should check the condition of the fluids, such as oil, lights, suspension, engine belt or chain, and brakes. This is a set of aspects that are very important and you want to avoid any kind of inconvenience related to the mechanics of the vehicle. Once these aspects and components of the vehicle are in good condition you can continue.

2. Safety Equipment

In particular, you should not wear any type of clothing or accessories when riding a motorcycle. On the contrary, some gear is specially designed to provide protection and safety while driving. Among the most important items are protective boots, motorcycle gloves, leather jackets, and pants. 

All these accessories and gear must be of high quality if you want excellent protection. Protective boots must have a steel toecap to avoid crushing your feet. Motorcycle gloves keep your fingers warm and ensure good mobility at all times.

Both the leather jacket and pants seek to protect the integrity and good condition of their main organs. Finally, the helmet provides obvious but very useful and essential protection.

In the majority of countries or states, it is mandatory to have more than one of these implements. Beyond that, this safety equipment will save your life on more than one occasion. 

3. Drive With Assertiveness And Confidence

It is important to avoid shyness or aggression when riding a motorcycle. A motorcyclist cannot overpower trucks or cars. Therefore, it is not recommended to drive only on the left side of the lane. You should also avoid passing other vehicles on the right at all times.

In a great number of situations, the drivers of many vehicles try to merge into the right side of a road. Thus, many motorcyclists are hit and run off the road in these situations. So, you should use each of the lanes at the exact time that is most appropriate for you.

In turn, the choice of lanes should be appropriate as well as you should pay attention to all signs. By doing a good job in choosing lanes you will be able to largely avoid fatal accidents again. In short, it’s about driving confidently and assertively to protect your own life.

4. To Be Heard And To Be Seen

In this case, it is a matter of using your motorcycle’s horn correctly as well as your lights. In particular, the horn can only be useful in dangerous situations. Here, the mistake of many motorcyclists is that they use the horn to annoy other drivers or in similar situations. In turn, lights on during the day allow you to increase your visibility to other drivers. 

In this way, you can be detected much more easily by motorists or truck drivers. In different situations, motorcyclists’ visibility is zero. Therefore, it is a very dangerous situation if you do not use your lights and horn properly.

In turn, the high noise level of motorcycles can help other drivers notice you. However, too much noise from many models can be a big problem for other people. It is simply a major annoyance and thwarts the good quality of life for many residents. 

5. Curves And Turns 

Speeding before making a turn is among the main errors of many motorcyclists. This is a large number of traffic accidents that only involve one motorcyclist and not other drivers. So, it is essential to slow down well before entering a curve. Here, the solution is not excessive brake use.

Unnecessary backing can simply be very dangerous and cause the rider to lose balance. So, a fall or a slide of the vehicle is the most common thing that happens in these situations. Therefore, you should pay attention to traffic signs and signals at all times. This is the first step in avoiding any traffic accident that does not involve other drivers.

If you have seen a sign pointing to the next turn, you should slow down. Your speed needs to be the most appropriate to avoid a vehicle skidding. Usually, it also indicates the recommended speed for entering the next curve. Ignoring these signs may be the last thing you do. 

6. Use Other Vehicles As A Shield

To protect yourself on any street crossroad, it is advisable to use the cars in front of you as a shield. In particular, you should avoid accelerating at all times during a crossing or when you are heading toward it. It is even necessary that you do not make eye contact with motorists on the other side of the street.

Here, you can use the car in front of you to move forward right behind it. In this way, the rest of the cars will break to let the driver in front of you pass. You can use this situation to move forward without any inconvenience.

7. Beware Of Free Spaces In Traffic

In a lot of situations where there is a lot of traffic, it is advisable to stay away from most vehicles. Again, it is necessary to consider that the difference between the size of a motorcycle and a car is too much. So, staying in an open area that is away from most vehicles is a good option.

This way, you will be much better protected by being away from most cars. You can easily avoid the mistake many motorcyclists make when driving through heavy traffic. Here, the mistake is driving through the lanes that the motorists are using. In this case, the minimal movement could cause you to lose your vehicle’s balance.

8. Use The Safest Lane

Depending on the road you are using to travel, the safest lane will be either the far right or the far left. However, the goal here is to use the safest lane so that you are better protected. It doesn’t matter how fast your motorcycle can go. In this case, it’s a matter of staying away from the vast majority of vehicles that are usually larger than your motorcycle.

Also, if you are driving on a highway, you should consider exits and entrances. Many drivers and motorists may not see the motorcycle approaching them. So, a minor touch to your vehicle could cause you to lose your balance and result in a serious accident.

It is also recommended never to drive through a blind spot for other drivers. The most dangerous blind spot is right behind any vehicle. If the driver in front breaks sharply you will lose control and be thrown out of your vehicle. Defensive driving will allow you to stay away from other vehicles.

9. No Sharing Lanes With Other Riders

Finally, and very importantly, it’s about not sharing the same lane with another rider. This can be quite tempting since two motorcycles could fit into a common lane. However, this provides less mobility space for the two drivers.

In particular, it is advisable to use another lane or go right behind the other motorcyclist. Of course, if you are riding behind, you should keep the appropriate distance. In this way, you will be as protected as the other rider from any accident or unforeseen incident on the road. 

References:

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-education-and-safety/special-interest-driver-guides/motorcyclists-guide/

https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/getmoto.html