HDForums tackles Tiered Licensing.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
As per the New Jersey DMV.
Basic auto license holders can operate a low-speed motorcycle without any endorsement or separate motorcycle license. Low-speed motorcycles are less than 50cc or have a 1.5 brake horsepower motor or less with a maximum speed no more than 35 miles per hour on a flat surface. Low-speed motorcycles may not be driven on any state toll road, limited-access highway or any public road with a posted speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour.
NOTE: Starting January 1, 2013, anyone who takes a road test at MVC on a bike that is 231CC or less is restricted to riding only a 500CC or less motorcycle (M endorsement or Class E motorcycle-only license with restriction). If the road test is taken on a bike that is over 231CC, there will be no restriction with the M endorsement or motorcycle-only license. Anyone who successfully completes a Motorcycle Safety Education Program (MSEP) course is exempt from this bike size requirement and will not be restricted. Riders who are restricted to a bike that is 500CC or less will have a restriction 5 noted on their license and will be required to carry an MVC-issued restriction card while operating the motorcycle.
While I don't believe in the tier lic thing. I do believe most people buy cars, trucks, bikes that are too big, too fast, or just not suited for their skill. I feel that the skill test for all vehicles need to be changed. That the current test are outdated. Plus most cars, trucks and some bikes with all the advance tech has taken away driver skill for a lot of people. I remember driving cars with no power brakes or steering. Most young drivers couldn't drive a car or truck like that anymore.
Basic auto license holders can operate a low-speed motorcycle without any endorsement or separate motorcycle license. Low-speed motorcycles are less than 50cc or have a 1.5 brake horsepower motor or less with a maximum speed no more than 35 miles per hour on a flat surface. Low-speed motorcycles may not be driven on any state toll road, limited-access highway or any public road with a posted speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour.
NOTE: Starting January 1, 2013, anyone who takes a road test at MVC on a bike that is 231CC or less is restricted to riding only a 500CC or less motorcycle (M endorsement or Class E motorcycle-only license with restriction). If the road test is taken on a bike that is over 231CC, there will be no restriction with the M endorsement or motorcycle-only license. Anyone who successfully completes a Motorcycle Safety Education Program (MSEP) course is exempt from this bike size requirement and will not be restricted. Riders who are restricted to a bike that is 500CC or less will have a restriction 5 noted on their license and will be required to carry an MVC-issued restriction card while operating the motorcycle.
While I don't believe in the tier lic thing. I do believe most people buy cars, trucks, bikes that are too big, too fast, or just not suited for their skill. I feel that the skill test for all vehicles need to be changed. That the current test are outdated. Plus most cars, trucks and some bikes with all the advance tech has taken away driver skill for a lot of people. I remember driving cars with no power brakes or steering. Most young drivers couldn't drive a car or truck like that anymore.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 90
From: People's Republik of Kalifornia
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 175
Likes: 26
From: Wakefield, NH
Let me touch on the comment in the article about NH maybe having a tiered licence, since I earned my first MC license in NH many moons ago.
The skills test for NH DMV involved several different activities, one of which was a hard right hand turn which had 2 limit lines, one for under 550 cc, one for over 550 cc. In addition, one part of the test had the applicant run an "s" pattern around rubber cones, which were placed so close together that it was impossible to negotiate on a full size HD. I watched people scraping footboards while running over the cones, the test was skewed towards using a smaller bike.
The skills test for NH DMV involved several different activities, one of which was a hard right hand turn which had 2 limit lines, one for under 550 cc, one for over 550 cc. In addition, one part of the test had the applicant run an "s" pattern around rubber cones, which were placed so close together that it was impossible to negotiate on a full size HD. I watched people scraping footboards while running over the cones, the test was skewed towards using a smaller bike.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 521
Likes: 3
From: Virginia
None of that chit
makes any sense. Just big brother trying to get into our pockets. Will cost more for all of us as our tax dollars will be used to administer and enforce this crap. ****ing liberals at work!
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Saint Augustine, FL
Why do people on a Harley Davidson forum preach so much about more government in our lives. You must wear this, you have to wear that. You cant ride a big bike, you better not spit while riding. the law says you cant ride with no hands, you must wear boots. We need a law for this and that. Yic yic yic yac yac, yac
What happened to we ride for the freedom of riding? What rules? We just ride. Do we really need somebody to tell us something is dangerous? We know that when we bought it. Most of us are smart enough to know if we buy a motor home with cruise control we cant get up and go fix a sandwich.
freedom to have wind in our face, bugs in our teeth
What happened to we ride for the freedom of riding? What rules? We just ride. Do we really need somebody to tell us something is dangerous? We know that when we bought it. Most of us are smart enough to know if we buy a motor home with cruise control we cant get up and go fix a sandwich.
freedom to have wind in our face, bugs in our teeth
Amen!, best post I've read on this subject.
I was frustrated when entering the Australian system at first, but now think it is a great idea to restrict access to more power in the favour of experience first.
The UK system has an either / or part. Where a mature (over 21) person wishes to gain a motorcycle licence some aspects of the restrictions are waived, that 17 year olds would have to abide by.
The UK system has an either / or part. Where a mature (over 21) person wishes to gain a motorcycle licence some aspects of the restrictions are waived, that 17 year olds would have to abide by.
Stage I
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Leicester, UK
It does save lives and...hampers bike sales
Here in the UK licencing has become tiered and it has saved a lot of deaths of 17 year olds. You have to really want to ride a motorbike to get a licence! It takes time and is expensive. I am 50 now and 2 of my friends died young in motorcycle accidents when they were 17 - we were restricted to 250cc bikes then...however, the Japanese manufacturers found ways to make these things do close to 100 mph...(...or 110 according to us riders!:-) In my experience (lived in US 12 years) American bureaucracy has always been light in comparison with the UK, and always errs on the side of 'Let's make this work/easy' and I enjoyed that aspect. (Anyone who complain about US bureaucracy has never had to deal with a government body in Europe!) However...there is a cost...and it is young lives. I was chuckling to myself recently when I read through my Wide Glide manual that advised that riders are at least 16!!! Here a 16 yr old can legally ride a 50cc!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,843
Likes: 16,583
From: Wisconsin, USA
Good post. Think it is time for everybody to join ABATE (A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments).
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 414
Likes: 26
From: Red Rock, Arizona
No to tiered licensing!!!
Simply put, if an individual completes a motorcycle safety course, regardless of the size, will be infinitely more qualified to transition up to a larger bike with experience. We can nanny up for motorcycle safety course papers along with the licensing application and leave it at that. The real concern should be about the individual who rides a bike just well enough to pass the small bike skewed test, and then goes out and kills him/herself in traffic due to the lack of experience in traffic. The real issue driving this discussion is the cost to Insurance companies paying out profits because of the thousands of deaths/debilitating injuries due to a lack of experience on any level. Training, training, training. There is currently a scholarship fund to cut the $300 cost of the MSF course down to $50 your cost, being advertised on Facebook. Think!! We don't need multiple legislation protecting the INSURANCE COMPANIES from idiots. The legit injuries to bikers due to drivers texting while driving, account for enough, but those laws lack enforcement. We don't need more government control over us.