Modern Vespa

Hi, wondering from the experienced riders what I might expect to be quizzed on as I take my written test tomorrow, then riding test sometime after that...thanks for your input.

All the questions are from the DMV driving manual and the motorcycle one. Which can be downloaded for free here:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/pubs.htm

All the questions come straight from there. Remember even if you already have your drivers liscence you still have to take the car written as well as the motorcycle one. Try to memorize the motorcycle manual as much as you can.

The written test was electronic and multiple choice. Most of the questions were road scenarios and you need to choose the correct "what do you do" answer...so, read the DMV cycle handbook several times and you'll do fine.

Good luck. keep us posted.

If you fail the written, you can re-take it immediately. (They'll give you a different test when you return.)

The riding test is a pain. There are demos of the course on YouTube. Depending on where you take it and who you get, it can be very difficult to pass. Also, most local DMVs have fenced in their parking lots over the past year, preventing people from practicing the course on weekends! I've heard the Pasadena DMV (Rosemead & Colorado) and Simi Valley are still accessible.

Best thing to do is take the MSF class (you get a riding test waiver when you complete it) but I know that's not possible for everyone due to cost and peak-season waiting times.

Have you read the book yet? The test isn't totally easy.

My husband just did the written test (and a car test) and passed after a couple of tries. When he took it a year ago, he passed first time. He let his permit lapse then had to redo it.

He would have done better if he'd slowed down and checked his answers.

He just took the MSF course, which cost $250.00. He can take his passing certificate to the DMV and they'll waive the riding test, which is difficult. I failed the riding test four years ago and took the MSF course.

The MSF course is well worth the time and expense.

Since I didn't have a car license, I had to ride around the block on my scooter at the DMV just to prove I could handle it on the real road. Piece of cake.

Jerzy,

Some of this answer depends on how old YOU are. If you are under 21, you are required to take the MSF Basic Rider class. No bike required. You pay your money and dent up their bike. Some locations do scooter classes but if you take the class on a m/c, you will also learn how to ride a geared bike in case you need to ride one later. You then take your certificate to the DMV and get a full M1 license.

If you are over 21, you can go the permit, ride your own and take the state's lollipop test route... or take the class, get a piece of paper, and skip the circus at the DMV riding test.

You can nearly double that number to get my age...!

I've got the MC manual, reading it thoroughly...I'm planning on taking the DMV riding test without taking that course...I'll def reconsider it if I fail however!

Thanks for your input, I'll let you know how it turns out.

I know what you mean, I have more the twenty-one years experience of being over 21 myself.

I understand the classes are quite interesting and they will teach even the oldest dog a new trick or two. Good luck on your test.

Long story short PASSED. Whew.

Took me THREE tries though! And if you didn't already know, DMV may very well be hell on Earth.

After failing the first written test at my local DMV office (um, it was hard), I asked to take it again, only to be told that they were only allowing one test per day at that location - if I wanted to take it again the same day, I'd have to go to the Downtown location, or come back another day.

Since I already took time off from work to get this done, I hoofed it downtown, where I kid you not, lines stretched AROUND the block.

After failing AGAIN, I had to wait nearly another hour to take the test again (thank you longest line ever) - - which at least I used to cram hard - -and another half to get graded...but huzzah! I finally passed on third try, with only two wrong. 'Twould have been awful to come away empty-handed only to repeat the process all over again.

FYI, if you are taking the motorcycle written test, they also make you take a written test for general auto license - - this I was not aware of, but luckily passed.

Word of advice if you have to go to the DMW: make an appt. They did honor the appt. I had at 8:30.

My whole saga took me right up 12 noon...Now onto the Road test later this month.

Congrats. The rode test will go like nuttin. The hard part is over.

The CA DMV motorcycle is HARD on a CVT scooter, mostly because can't do the lollipop in a single gear like on a geared bike. Learn how to drag your brakes and you should do ok... or take an MSF course.

If you have the opportunity, go practice on the course when the DMV is closed. Simi Valley is not gated like some others...

IIRC, you need to take your Auto written test during your M1 m/c test if you are in the last year or so of your Class C (auto) license. Your C class is renewed at the same time that way.

Best of luck on the riding test.

Update: Just passed the Road Test!

After finding the Culver City DMV open after-hours I got to practice there a lot this weekend - - and it was so worth it. Without practicing on the actual "lollipop" I don't think I would have passed.

I highly recommend SERIOUS practice to anyone about to take the test.

Now get out there and do the MSF! (I gotta do it, too... "Hi Kettle. I'm Pot. You're black.")

Now that I have my motorcycle license, think I'll use the $250 saved and treat my wife to a night out (she had to put up with me taking off to practice alot). Can't help but think the MSF is in cahoots w/DMV.

Just good old fashioned practice and reading does the trick.

They are. Some states (Pennsylvania, for example) offer the MSF Basic Rider Course for free for residents. California, on the other hand, can't afford to keep the DMV open five days a week.

From what I've had burned into my mind from reading MV is they do teach a lot of stuff that you may not think of on a regular basis (like evasive moves). But I, like you, am mostly self-taught. I'm doing it for the break on my insurance.

Which insurance do you have? I have AAA and they do NOT offer a discount if you take the course (I checked). I'm pretty happy with AAA otherwise so it'd have to be a pretty good discount to reconsider....

FWIW, I took the MSF long after I had my license and 10K miles under my belt. I kind of regretted not taking it earlier. As you know by now, the DMV test is a pretty crappy measure of someone's readiness to ride on the streets. MSF teaches much more practical riding skills that I use every day. Not saying you can't learn it outside the class but it really helps. Worth $250 in my opinion.

I also thought that the M1 written test was challenging. I read and studied all of the materials including the online practice tests, which were not like the questions on the actual test. Almost all of the questions were based on applied knowledge rather than verbatim text from the booklets or practice tests. I ended up missing only one question based on a little drawing that I had originally answered correctly, but I in no way found the test easy. The DMV was a mess, as usual, even though I had made an appointment in advance, but I wasn't asked to retake the regular auto written test, which I had also studied for. I'm not sure why, but perhaps it's because I had fairly recently updated my license.

I'm still undecided about taking the MSF to get my license since my neighbor is a MSF instructor and has all of the materials and skills to teach me himself. He's really cool. He goes riding with me on his fancy Kawasaki sport bike and gives me pointers as I adjust the feel of my new scoot. I'm still getting used to going down hill without the ability to downshift. I had an old Honda cb360 in the 90's that was my main mode of transportation but I rode it illegally (it was registered but I didn't have a permit or license). I did however wear a helmet before the helmet law was in place since I promised my mom I would