M/C License Road Test on a Can-Am Spyder?

[Justin]

So they have been running this TV commercial lately for the Can-Am Spyder here where they tell people they can now take their M/C license road test on one. I'm not a motorcycle elitist, but I laughed out loud when I heard that. A 3 wheel vehicle is not the same as a traditional motorcycle, and just because you can ride one well enough to pass the road test does not mean you could ride a two wheel M/C well enough to pass (and more importantly be a safe rider). They are a completely different animal, they do not lean like a bike and they do not counter steer; and when stopped they will not fall over. So what say you?

[JReazor]

Yep, it's ridiculous but no more so then lumping traditional (one in front, 2 in back) trikes, side car rigs, 50cc scooters and Goldwings in the same category. For that matter, passing a test in a in Fiesta doesn't mean your ready to pilot a full size Suburban.

[kevin_stevens]

You'll have a hard time fitting the front tires inside the lines of the little test circle here in CA.  

KeS

[BamaBiker]

Alabama doesn't even require a road test. If you pass the written test they don't care if you can keep a bike up or not.

[MrMoto]

Worst idea ever. Test rode one at Laconia last year and they couldn't be a more different vehicle from a bike if they were from another dimension with different laws of physics.

But I might consider one when I'm too old to ride a 2 wheeler. They have a great motor (and sound) and I suppose once you got used to the different dynamics you could get along just fine. You'd still be out riding in the open air.

[Baz]

I am not in any way dissing Motorcycle Safety courses, (a fine idea) but here you can pay 600 dollars, take the course, and get awarded a motorcycle endorsement without ever leaving the school parking lot.

My wife received her endorsement this way, and I can say she would have not made it far on the main streets.

So I will say it is no worse than getting a motorcycle endorsement in a parking lot. However neither will prepare you well enough to survive on the street.

[Cablebandit]

I believe in PA you get a class M license but it has a restriction on it that you are only allowed to operate a 3 wheeled bike.  You need to test on a 2 wheeled bike to get the #9 (3 wheel) restriction removed.

[squeezer]

I believe in PA you get a class M license but it has a restriction on it that you are only allowed to operate a 3 wheeled bike.  You need to test on a 2 wheeled bike to get the #9 (3 wheel) restriction removed.

You are correct, sir. And this year, for the first time, three counties are offering three-wheel specific courses (Butler, Lehigh, & York).


Semi-hijack: I liked my test ride on a Spyder. I think they're cool, fun machines. It's a lot like riding a snowmobile. No, I wouldn't prefer one to a motorcycle -- not by a long shot. But if for some reason I couldn't ride on two wheels, I'd have no qualms about jumping on one of those and I would enjoy it.

[vfrrider]

The state calls it a MC for licensing and insurance requirements, than its good to me.

Larry
VFRrider

[MKorn]

In Michigan it is a seperate level of M/C license ... a regular M/C will let you ride a spyder, the spider license wont let you ride a 2-whl.

[county]

They should just require a driver's license for them things...maybe require you to drive around in your car with one of them little doughnut spares on it to demonstrate competence

[Flying W]

From what I was told at a demo event only a regular car license is needed here in California but this is the only state that is like this... Stupid. but then again about a third of our population(illegals) dont have a license or insurance for that matter.

[Chuck 500]

Bikes and trikes have different skill sets required.  Maybe it could be done like they do CHL in TX, qualify with and auto, you can carry either auto or revolver, qualify with revolver, you can only carry revolver.

[Squareman357]

In Michigan it is a seperate level of M/C license ... a regular M/C will let you ride a spyder, the spider license wont let you ride a 2-whl.

I like this idea.  When I saw those commercials I thought the same thing Justin did, "No way!?!  That's not a damn motorcycle!  How does taking the skill test on one of those qualify you for a two wheeler??"  If they have a multi-tiered license structure, with a 3 wheel class and a 2 wheel class, that would be better.  I also demoed one and found it a hoot to ride.  If I ever get to the point where I can't ride a standard motorcycle anymore, I could see myself owning one of those.

[Prubert]

That Can-Am commercial sure has been effective in creating a buzz.....

States all regulate motorcycle endorsements differently, but most will put a restriction on your 'M' endorsement if you don't take their testing on a 2-wheeled vehicle.

For example, if you take the WI moto riding test on a trike you will get a 3-wheel only restriction on your license.

The Can-Am ad was very misleading in my view.  Wow, marketing that is misleading...amazing!  

[Justin]

The Can-Am ad was very misleading in my view.  Wow, marketing that is misleading...amazing!  

That is very surprising. What's next? We'll find out cigarettes are bad for you?

[medswife]

As I understand it, in VA you can take the road test on a trike, a scooter,or a motorcycle, and get your class M endorsement.  I've heard discussion about changing it so that taking the test on a motorcycle would be good for trike and scooter, but taking it on a trike or scooter would good for just that vehicle.  Too bad the discussion wasn't in official circles.

[jsanford]

Three-wheeled endorsements are separate here in the land of no-liability-insurance-required, so I haven't seen the ad...

[Smoker]

You are correct, sir. And this year, for the first time, three counties are offering three-wheel specific courses (Butler, Lehigh, & York).

There is also a restriction if you take your test on a scooter that is less than 50cc's.

I actually had an opportunity to teach that course in York, but I had already committed to another. Hopefully I'll get another shot. They provide the Can-am for the ridercoach.

[cbsnbiker]

In New York, if a rider takes the DMV test on a Spyder, the endorsement will be for a 3-wheeler only.

These things vary from state to state.

I am not in any way dissing Motorcycle Safety courses, (a fine idea) but here you can pay 600 dollars, take the course, and get awarded a motorcycle endorsement without ever leaving the school parking lot.

My wife received her endorsement this way, and I can say she would have not made it far on the main streets.

So I will say it is no worse than getting a motorcycle endorsement in a parking lot. However neither will prepare you well enough to survive on the street.

There are a bunch of arguments in favor of what bothers you, but that's the topic for another thread.

I will observe that the MSF has created a three-wheel version of the BRC. One can go to the MSF website:

 http://www.msf-usa.org

for more info.

[medswife]

We had the "pleasure" of listening to someone complain about the VA test.  They wanted her to go fast and stop, to her it was just stupid.  And the class at the community college was a joke, only 35mph.  She had been riding for years.    Thankfully she said she hadn't ridden in a while.  It's one thing to not do well and be frustrated, but another to think maneuvers that could save your life are stupid.  She must have tuned out the classroom part of class.

[NoGear]

Semi-hijack: I liked my test ride on a Spyder. I think they're cool, fun machines. It's a lot like riding a snowmobile. No, I wouldn't prefer one to a motorcycle -- not by a long shot. But if for some reason I couldn't ride on two wheels, I'd have no qualms about jumping on one of those and I would enjoy it.

On my recent trip I saw a Goldwing with an interesting rig on it.  When the bike was moving it was on two wheels but as it was slowing to a stop a set of training wheels (I don't know what else to call them) would come down so that when it was stopped they were holding the bike upright.  As the bike started again the wheels came up and it was again only 2 wheels......   I think that would be the way to go instead of a trike.

[Cablebandit]

http://trikealternatives.com/

[Hunter]

We had the "pleasure" of listening to someone complain about the VA test.  

It's nice to hear that VA now has a real test. When I took my road test in Virginia Beach I simply road around the parking lot (square) twice while using my left turn signal at each corner then coming to a stop at the examiner. It was a joke.

SC actually has a real test but unfortunately all you have to do is pass the written to get a permit and you can keep the permit forever, just pay the renewal fee. There are supposed to be restrictions on the permit but they are not enforced. That in conjunction to this being a helmet optional state IMO leads to a lot of dead riders. It seems every gas station I go to has a "tip" jar and a sign for a benefit ride for a fallen rider here in pirate land.