How To Get a Motorcycle License in New York Without a Motorcycle
This is the way to learn to ride a motorcycle and get your license, even if you don't have a bike.
Summer is almost here, and that means it's time to get out and ride your motorcycle. Even now, in the spring, riders are already out if the weather is somewhat decent. Warmer, nicer weather doesn't last long in New York State, so riders want to take every single moment they can riding their bikes.
If you've ever been interested in riding a motorcycle, it can be a little intimidating at first. Beyond buying a bike, how do you learn to ride? How do you get a license? How do you calm down the people around you who WILL tell you you're going to die riding a motorcycle, even though they really have never ridden one themselves?
Good news: there's a way to learn to ride, learn how to be safe, get your license, and do it all without owning a motorcycle in one weekend in New York. Will it calm those people around you? Maybe.
I took a course and will show you what it's like, but first, let's talk about where you get a license and training.
How to Get a Motorcycle License in New York State
There are 2 ways: take a road course through the DMV, or take an approved MSF Course. Let's start with getting a license through a DMV road course.
First, you have to get a motorcycle permit. This is done online or at a DMV location. You must take a test similar to the one you took to get a learner's permit for a car, which requires studying. Review the NYS Motorcycle Manual HERE. Taking the test in person is perhaps easier because it's 14 - 20 questions, whereas the online test is 50.
You don't need a learner's permit to take the MSF course (more on this later), but having one allows you to start legally riding on the road if you own or have access to a motorcycle. To legally ride a motorcycle with a permit, you must have a licensed rider within a quarter mile of you observing your actions. The DMV recommends 30 hours of riding before you take the road test.
Once you're ready, you sign up and schedule a roadtest throughtn he DMV. This is tricky, as you usually have to have a friend or family member with a motorcycle license come wit you to 1. allow you to ride your bike to the test and 2. let the person evaluating you ride with them.
If you pass, you get a license.
I was lucky enough to already have a motorcycle when I got my permit, as well as having a friend help teach me some basics.
I did not, however, get my license this way. I took a course approved by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and have to say this is the best way to get your license.
MSF - Motorcycle Safety Foundation
Around the United States, MSF provides tools and training to help new and even experienced riders learn and grow. The goal is to help you be as safe as possible on the road. For over 50 years, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation has been teaching riders how to be the best they can be. It's a course any experienced rider will tell a newbie to take, and they are available in New York through MSS.
MSS - Motorcycle Safety School
In New York State, the Motorcycle Safety School, or MSS, provides MSF-approved training to all riders. They offer classes for beginners to experts across the state. New riders can take the MSF Basic RiderCourse, which is 10 hours over 2 days. At the end of the course, you can take your road test and get a motorcycle license waiver. The course costs a little over $300, but is absolutely worth it and, in my opinion as well as the opinion of most of the riders I have spoken with, the best way to get your license. For this course, you do not need a motorcycle, as they will provide one. You can use your own, but it must be inspected by the instructor before you begin. You must have a helmet, gloves, long pants, and sleeves to ride. The program will let you borrow a helmet if you don't have one. Before you take the in-person course, you must also take an online safety training course. This is provided free of charge when you pay for the Basic Rider Course. It's five hours long and can be done on your own time, but it must be completed within 30 days of taking the in-person course. There is a test, but you can retake it if you fail. You have to bring your certificate of completion to the in-person course to take it, and that can be brought on your phone if you don't have a printer.
What's the MSS Course Like?
I attended one of the two-day MSF Basic Rider Courses at SUNY Niagara. The class can hold 12 students at a time, and there are two classes each day on Saturday and Sunday. You can sign up for the morning or afternoon sessions. I did the morning session and arrived on bikes, ready to go.
The Bikes are decent beginner models that are low power: 300CCs or less. I had a Yamaha V-Star which is 250CCs. If you don't know what that is, don't worry, they'll cover it.
Ken was my instructor. He is a retired teacher and veteran motorcycle instructor. He is extremely knowledgeable and a great guy. He made the class engaging, fun, and 100% worthwhile.
From there, we went over some basics, talked about safety, and eventually got on the bikes. You'll spend the vast majority of this course on a motorcycle, which is awesome, seeing that the only way you get better is by doing it. It starts slow. You go over what does what on the motorcycle. How to start it, stop it, park it safely, and do pre-safety checks. They go over a ton of important safety items.
From there, you'll start moving the bike, with basic friction zone exercises with the clutch, stopping and going, and simple acceleration. The class goes at your pace, so you'll never be forced to do more than you can. There's no pressure, either: everyone is there to learn and everyone has strengths and weaknesses. For example, I was good with the friction zone and basic stopping and going, but my low-speed turns need a lot of work. Others struggled with the stopping and going but were much better than I was at turning. It's all dependent on the rider. You end up working with cones a lot quicker than you might think. From turns, to stops, to weaves.
The progress is slow, but steady, and suddenly everyone picks things up more quickly. By day 2, you're riding around a course that's painted don't he pavement.
At the end of day 2, you take the New York State road course. I was stressed about it because you must pass it to get your motorcycle license waiver. I think everyone was a little nervous. There are 5 exercises you need to pass. The thing is: they aren't too hard, and you don't need to be perfect to pass. As instructor Ken told us, just don't let one mistake turn into several, and you'll be fine.
He was right! There were eight riders in my class, and we all passed the road test and course.
What To Do Once You Pass the MSF Course
When you pass, you'll get a card from the instructor. This is a Motorcycle License Test waiver. Take this to any DMV, fill out the paperwork they give you, and pay a small fee. They will give you a temporary license until your new one comes in the mail (it takes a couple of weeks at least).
I HIGHLY recommend making an online appointment for the DMV as the offices are swamped with people trying to get a Real ID as of late. I booked an appointment the day after my course to make sure I could get my license as fast as possible.
The course was really worth the time and money. I learned so much about myself as a rider and built skills I'm using daily. I highly recommend taking the course, even if you're just curious about it and want to give it a try. It's the perfect way to break into riding motorcycles.
For the record, MSS gave me nothing to write this. I did not get a discount or free services. I did not receive special treatment. I was not asked to write this.
MSS offers intermediate, advanced, private, and other lessons as well. Learn more about MSS, CLICK HERE.
Why Ride a Motorcycle?
For me, it may seem cliche, but it allows me to focus on a singular activity and just enjoy being in the world rather than being buried in a cell phone. It's freeing to ride rather than drive. The way my brain works, the attention needed to ride a motorcycle is extremely calming and therapeutic.
Is it dangerous? You may disagree with this, but I was taught that 99% of the bad things that happen on a motorcycle, and to you in life, are ultimately on you. If you drive like an idiot, if you don't pay attention, if you don't S.E.E., then bad things can happen to you. So from my point of view, riding a motorcycle is as dangerous as I, or the rider, makes it. Are there examples of bad things that happen where, truly, the person could have done absolutely nothing? Sure, but those things are rare. We make the choices we make, and have to own them. Riding a motorcycle is only as dangerous as the rider makes it.
Plus, statistics show riding a motorcycle has a terrible stigma and is not nearly as dangerous as people paint it out to be. More about that, CLICK HERE.
Another bonus: It's not terribly expensive compared to other motorsport hobbies. However, that can depend on what bike you buy and the equipment you wear. Gas is very cheap, and most are very good on gas as well. Insurance is about $100 a year. If you get a well-made bike, maintenance isn't expensive either, and you can do most of it yourself if you'd like.
I own a Honda Rebel 500 from Hamburg Honda, for which I am a spokesperson. They are very affordable and, honestly, cheaper than your cell phone bill per month. It's a great starter bike, too: not too underpowered but powerful enough to last. It's light, agile, and easy to use. I highly recommend a Honda Rebel 500 from Hamburg Honda.
What bike do you ride? Share it with me: Pat@WBUF.com
New York Garage Find - NEW 1982 Honda Motorcycle
Gallery Credit: Karolyi
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