WARNING: Becoming familiar with this page may save your life!

4 Steps To Your Unrestricted Motorcycle License

Acquiring a motorcycle license is easy but does it mean you will be safe on the street?

The most important action new riders can take that will impact the chance of mishaps during their first year of riding is the way they work through the different steps during their beginners-time and learners-time. The morbidity and fatality rates of motorcyclists are higher than they were 10 years ago because of the ease of obtaining a license without having to go through a beginners-time or an appropriate learners-time. Ignoring your beginners-time and/or having an in-appropriate learners-time will put your life at risk.

Our school focuses on educating beginner riders and riders who have entered their learners-time to be able to make informed choices during all phases, from deciding to ride through developing their long-term street skills. For your learners-time on the street, our school provides the appropriate skills practice, knowledge, and equipment to reduce risk and increase enjoyment. We know motorcycling is risky, we can reduce that risk and increase the enjoyment, even while learning!

Steps to Acquire a Motorcycle License

Pass the multiple choice written test at the DMV to acquire your learners permit (restricted license). Following the restrictions does not mean you will be safe.
Pass an on-bike test to acquire the unrestricted license (see various options below). Acquiring a motorcycle license is easier than surviving on your motorcycle.

To decrease your risk and increase your enjoyment while becoming a proficient rider, using the steps below will help you make informed choices during your beginners-time and then help you have an appropriate learners-time in which you build confidence and maximize your skills and understanding during this new journey.

Step 1: Make an informed choice about motorcycling
Step 2: Prepare for your Learners-time by enjoying your Beginners-time
Step 3: Enjoy your Learners-time
Step 4: Complete the on-bike test and obtain your unrestricted M1 license

Step 1: Make an informed choice about motorcycling: |Register begin2ride|

Making an informed decision about participating in an activity such as riding a motorcycle on the street requires you to educate yourself about this sport first. You must gather and sort through much information. For beginners we recommend you attend an introductory class that combines both physical skills practice and risk management techniques that will help you gain knowledge to make informed decisions. This class should not have beginner and experienced students mixed together. This introductory class should also give you enough information to decide not to ride, in an enjoyable manner, if this sport is not for you.

National Motorcycle Training offers a Basic Motorcycling Skills class (begin2ride Session 1) which should be attended before considering riding any motorcycle. In just three hours you will gain enough knowledge and physical skill that your perspective on motorcycle riding will change. The information and practice you receive will be a positive force in guiding you to reduce your risk and increase the enjoyment of motorcycling.

After riding Session 1, you will know if, and how much you enjoy riding the motorcycle and will be able to make an informed choice whether or not to pursue this activity. You have the right to choose. Many students decide taking on this risk is not something for them, while others develop an excitement after gaining first hand knowledge of the challenge of being a motorcyclist and developing a willingness to accept the risks. You can't know for yourself until you experience both the physical and mental tasks, first hand. We only encourage you to make the best choice for you!

After gathering this information, then making an informed choice to pursue motorcycling, we want you to prepare for your learners-time. In Session 1, Basic Motorcycling Skills, in addition to physical skills practice, you will receive beginning riding literature, other materials, and we will also give you the DMV booklet to prepare for your permit test. . We have found that reading the DMV booklet after riding Session 1 helps our students better absorb the information while studying for their written test.

Step 2: Prepare for your Learners-time by enjoying your Beginners-time: |Register begin2ride|

In order to legally ride on the street in California, you must obtain a restricted license (learners permit) from the DMV by completing the written test (multiple choice). No appointment is necessary for the written test. Be prepared for taking the car written test again if they ask you to do so. All prospective riders must take the written test at the DMV; there are no other options for completing the written test for your motorcycle license in California.

Upon passing the written test you will receive a restricted license (class M) making it legal for you to drive any motorcycle. While it is easy to gain your restricted license, it is highly important that you enter your street riding learners-time after a sufficient beginners-time. We recommend completing Session 2, "Stability and Leaning" and Session 3, "Combination Skills" before you have your first motorcycle ride on the street.

To recap Step 2 "Preparing for your Learners-time by enjoying your Beginners-time", we recommend obtaining your learners permit in addition to practicing the physical skills to control speed and direction of a motorcycle (practicing in an appropriate educational environment), before you ride on the street for the first time! We know this preparation will reduce your risk and increase the enjoyment of your street riding learners-time. The begin2ride programs three sessions prepare you for your learners-time.

Note that completing the begin2ride program also qualifies you for motorcycle insurance DISCOUNTS. Please ask your insurance provider for the educational discount!

Some links to enjoy! CA DMV Motorcycle Handbook
Example motorcycle test #1 Example motorcycle test #2

Step 3: Enjoy your Learners-time: Register continue2ride

Riding your first motorcycle is a special and exciting time. After obtaining your learners permit, and after you have practiced the skills needed to control speed and direction of a motorcycle (completed Session 3 “Combination Skills"), you are in a position to develop your street skills. The information previously gained in Step 2 will prove invaluable to you while shopping for your first bike. However, before purchasing your first motorcycle, it is very important to put your skills to test in real-life situations… riding on the street. Many new riders buy a first bike which is really not appropriate for a new rider with no experience. Often they simply did not have enough information to make a better choice.

As a way to transition into the purchase of your desired bike, we recommend the continue2ride program which incorporates a combined practice session and rental program using appropriate sized motorcycles.

If you already know how to control speed and direction of a motorcycle, you are not required to attend the begin2ride sessions. You may challenge the continue2ride program directly, just complete the continue2ride orientation before registering. Riders who have graduated from the 15 hour licensing course enjoy this practice in the continue2ride course on the 250 cc motorcycles, especially the part of practicing on the street.

If you have recent riding experience, graduated from other rider training programs, or have extensive dirt bike experience, you do not have to complete the begin2ride program. You may challenge the continue2ride program directly after you complete the continue2ride Orientation Page. See continue2ride Orientation Page

National Motorcycle Training does not promote motorcycling, we promote making informed choices. First use your knowledge gained in the begin2ride program to make an informed choice whether or not to continue onto the street. If you choose to enter the street, use the continue2ride program to reduce risk and increase enjoyment of this transition.

We also recommend that your first bike be "one you can outgrow." If you want to develop your skills faster in this step, and you want to eliminate unnecessary risk during your learners-time, be sure to pick a motorcycle that you can outgrow. Of course, what is a good starter bike varies for all individuals. We recommend lighter weight, lower seat height, and low power bikes as first bikes.

Riders who have their unrestricted license (M1) but have never ridden a motorcycle on the street (15 hour license course graduates) find the continue2ride program an excellent way to enjoy their first ride on the street. Note that you may attend the continue2ride program with a permit M or license M1, whereas the begin2ride program has no license requirement of any kind.

Step 4: Complete the on-bike test and obtain your unrestricted M1 license:

Since 1994 there have been two different on-bike tests available for the unrestricted M1 motorcycle license. |Some Data|

1. The original on-bike test was developed by the DMV and is administered at the DMV by DMV employees (civil servants).

(Watch DMV on-bike test) or (Watch "Common Errors")

The DMV on-bike test is the "harder" of the two different tests. The is because the DMV requires the successful demonstration of an intermediate skill (circle test), or you do not pass. Also, since there is no conflict of interest whether you are passed or failed by the DMV employee, you receive an impartial and objective measurement of your skill for that day.

Using the begin2ride and continue2ride programs will lead you to develop your intermediate skills. An excellent measure of knowing when you are nearing completion of the continue2ride practice and your learners-time is to self assess your intermediate skills. Typically, motorcyclists that practice the DMV "circle test" can pass, and those that don't practice it fail. If you take the on-bike test at the DMV, you may use your bike, a friend's bike, the continue2ride practice bike, or there are others who, for a fee, will assist you with the on-bike test at the DMV, see following links.

2. The alternate way to complete the on-bike test was developed by the Motorcycle Industry Council's (MIC) subordinate organization called the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), and is administered by private riding schools under contract with the MSF.

(Locations for the easy on-bike test) The test administered at the end of the 15 hour licensing course, includes an intermediate skill evaluation, but does not require participants to successfully demonstrate this portion of the test to pass. Also the testers are the very instructors who have been encouraging you to ride throughout the 15 hours of their program and have an interest in you passing. If you have failed the on-bike test at the DMV, you already have the skill to pass this 15 hour course on-bike test. There is a near 100% pass rate for 15 hour course on-bike test. 15 hour license course locations

Note that we encourage you to develop your skill and knowledge to a very high level. This attitude will help you reduce risk and increase enjoyment during your motorcycling journey. Use these testing choices to challenge yourself. We know skillful motorcyclists can perform all the skills required in these tests.

Some More Data

Under 21 years old? What is the DL389?

The DL389 is the drivers education certificate for motorcycles for individuals who are under 21 years old. Riders under 21 years old are required to include the DL389 certificate with their application for obtaining their M1 motorcycle license. The DL389 certificate is received from a private contractor who provides the 15 hour course controlled by the Motorcycle Industry Council. The DL389 certificate currently can only be obtained at the end of the 15 hour course that includes the easier on-bike test.

In 1994, the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) was successful in lobbying to have their easy 15 hour course on-bike test qualify for the M1 on-bike test requirement for all ages. The DL389 certificate, in addition to being required for M1 license applicants under 21, is now being used by people over 21 to avoid having to take the "harder" on-bike test at the DMV. If you have failed the on-bike test at the DMV, you already have the skill to pass the 15 hour course on-bike test. |Some Data|

Many people who have their unrestricted license, M1, but who have never ridden a motorcycle on the street find the continue2ride program an excellent way to enjoy their first ride on the street. Parents and Guardians should note that their children graduate from the 15 hour class and receive their unrestricted license, often never having a learners permit, and no street riding experience.

page edited 01.16.10