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Jerry Godell
 Senior Member
441 Posts
Kansas City, kansas
USA
Harley-Davidson
FXD SuperGlide
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 Posted - 08/12/2006 : 4:15 PM
 
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Poll Question:
Do you have a Motorcycle Endorsement on your Drivers License?
(Required in all 50 States.- USA)
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| Results: |
| Yes |
[87%] |
52 votes |
| No |
[3%] |
2 votes |
| I plan on getting one |
[13%] |
8 votes |
| I don't plan on getting one |
[0%] |
0 votes |
| = Guests |
(14
ballots) |
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Poll Status:
Closed »» |
Total Ballots: 60 »» |
Last Vote:
08/25/2006 8:44 PM |
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Jerry Godell
Senior Member
441 Posts
Kansas City, kansas
USA
Harley-Davidson
FXD SuperGlide
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Posted - 08/14/2006 : 10:20 PM
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I'm seeing the results I expected on this site. A motorcycle safety forum.
Unfortunately the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 'NHTSA' states that 32 percent of motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes were unlicensed or improperly licensed.
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gadgetgeek
Standard Member
149 Posts
Tracy, CA
USA
Suzuki
Bergman 650 Executiv
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Posted - 08/14/2006 : 10:38 PM
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| Would "endorsement" include a learner's permit? Or only those who have completed the requirements? |
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Mikeydude
Advanced Member
748 Posts
[Mentor]
Ft. Worth, Texas
USA
Harley-Davidson
03 FXD Super Glide
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Posted - 08/14/2006 : 10:50 PM
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| In Texas a permit is different than an endorsement... And technically I don't have an endorsement on mine. I have a class CM, but there are no endorsements listed on the back. |
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mark700
Junior Member
65 Posts
Highlands Ranch, CO
USA
Kawasaki
Concours,KX250
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Posted - 08/15/2006 : 4:54 PM
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I recently asked some friends who were fairly new to motorcycling and found that a large percentage did not bother to get their motorcycle endorsement. Not surprisingly, these are the same individuals that were not interested in taking any safety courses or wearing helmets.
Most people would not consider driving a car without a driver's license, but figure the motorcycle endorsement is not big deal. I wonder if law enforcement views it the same way.
What about insurance? Can you insure a bike without proving that you can legally ride it?
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Mikeydude
Advanced Member
748 Posts
[Mentor]
Ft. Worth, Texas
USA
Harley-Davidson
03 FXD Super Glide
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Posted - 08/15/2006 : 5:01 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by mark700
What about insurance? Can you insure a bike without proving that you can legally ride it?
In Texas you can. I bought my scoot, and had it insured well before I got my license. The question then became would the insurance cover me if I crashed. |
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gadgetgeek
Standard Member
149 Posts
Tracy, CA
USA
Suzuki
Bergman 650 Executiv
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Posted - 08/15/2006 : 5:14 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by mark700
Most people would not consider driving a car without a driver's license, but figure the motorcycle endorsement is not big deal. I wonder if law enforcement views it the same way.
What about insurance? Can you insure a bike without proving that you can legally ride it?
Well, governor Arnold Schwarzenegger here in California recently was in an accident, and it turns out that he never bothered to get his license. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...V0GLJ2L1.DTL I wonder if he's not riding anymore because of it or has some community service work to encourage people to get their endorsement.
The article says that the officer has the discretion whether to ticket you or not. Probably the discretion if you happen to be the governor, otherwise you get a ticket. 
I was able to get my insurance and still do not have my endorsement. I have a learner's permit, but had 30 days to get my insurance to ride on the street from what I understand.
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WarHawk
Advanced Member
1796 Posts
Baytown, Texas
USA
Yamaha
'07 V-Star Custom
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Posted - 08/15/2006 : 7:06 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mikeydude
quote:
Originally posted by mark700
What about insurance? Can you insure a bike without proving that you can legally ride it?
In Texas you can. I bought my scoot, and had it insured well before I got my license. The question then became would the insurance cover me if I crashed.
That would be a good reason for them NOT to try to...
I though the M on a licence was the endorcement...
If you take the MSF course you waive the riding portion of the test...I got 14/14 questions right on the push the screen test..it was simple after all I learned from the MSF
If you HAVENT taken a MSF course I STRONGLY recommend you pony up a bit of dough for it..because it was the best $180 bucks I have ever spent!!!! |
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Mikeydude
Advanced Member
748 Posts
[Mentor]
Ft. Worth, Texas
USA
Harley-Davidson
03 FXD Super Glide
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Posted - 08/15/2006 : 9:11 PM
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I thought the M was an endorsement too, but on the back of the license there's a place for endorsements and mine says none...
*shrugs* |
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howard.v
Senior Member
406 Posts
North Bend, OR
USA
Honda
2004 VT750 Aero
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Posted - 08/15/2006 : 10:32 PM
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| My license is a class A cdl. I can drive any vehicle or combination of vehicles with the proper endorsements. I have m, t, and x endorsements. M = motorcycle, t = doubles/triples, and x = hazmat/tanker. On the front it states for endorsememnts MTX. On the back it lists what MTX is. Your endorsement may not be listed on the back. Each state differs in their licensing setup. |
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marsam
Advanced Member
510 Posts
[Mentor]
Birkirkara
Malta
Yamaha
Dragstar & Vmax
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Posted - 08/17/2006 : 1:52 AM
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I was wondering.... Do you have different classes of motorcycle licenses as well?
Over here, if you intend to ride just a scooter, there is a specific test (and riding permit) for that particular vehicle and with that you cannot ride any other bike.
Also, motorcycle licenses are divided further in 2 categories. Those for up to 250cc and those for 250cc and up.
Is it the same over there? |
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Sigil
Senior Member
432 Posts
[Mentor]
Nijmegen, Gelderland
Netherlands
Yamaha
FZS600
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Posted - 08/17/2006 : 3:00 AM
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I think we have about the same system as Marsam.
You're driver's license here is divided into several different categories. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc etc. Motorcycles are also divided into light and heavy (power) which have certain age restrictions. If you want to drive a certain category, you will have to pass several tests. And we don't do permits. The only way you're driving something without a real license is by having an instructor next to you while doing so....
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don_hud
Advanced Member
1077 Posts
[Mentor]
Houston, Texas
USA
Yamaha
1997 Virago XV1100
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Posted - 08/17/2006 : 8:19 AM
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In Texas you are required by law to carry liability insurance. So, in an accident, the person determined to be at fault, pays for all damages. So, to make sure that everyone carries insurance that will pay for damages they cause to someone else’s property, it is required by law. And they verify your insurance coverage when you get your license, renew your license, get your vehicle inspected, register your vehicle or purchase a new registration sticker, to make sure everyone has insurance. So, that makes getting insurance the first step in owning and driving any vehicle in Texas. You can’t do anything else until you have your proof of insurance card.
When you purchase insurance, the insurance company wants to know about the vehicle and has access to your state driving record. They probably lookup and verify everything about your license and your driving record. Whether they check to determine if you have the correct license class or endorsement for the vehicle you are insuring, I don’t know. But I think it is something that they could do.
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Sox Fan
Senior Member
419 Posts
[Mentor]
Kerhonkson, NY
USA
Suzuki
DL 650
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Posted - 08/17/2006 : 12:15 PM
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Got my motorcycle license before ever getting on a bike. (Well, excepting that mini-bike I rode when I was a kid.)
NY's insurance requirements are different for cages and motorcycles. For cars, the insurance is required for your registration. If your insurance expires, the insurance company notifies the DMV and they will revoke your registration. Not so for bikes. Apparently, there was at least one smart legislator in this state's history, who recognized that motorcycles quite commonly are not ridden in winter, so you can keep your bike registered but uninsured if you want. I don't believe the law specifies that this applies only in the winter, but that's what I've been told it is for.
From the DMV website: "Motorcycles are exempt from the requirement to surrender the vehicle plate when the liability insurance lapses, but liability coverage is required when the motorcycle is operated." |
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Gs82Seca650
Advanced Member
1990 Posts
[Mentor]
Southern, PA
USA
Yamaha
1982 XJ 650 R Seca
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Posted - 08/17/2006 : 12:58 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mikeydude
In Texas a permit is different than an endorsement... And technically I don't have an endorsement on mine. I have a class CM, but there are no endorsements listed on the back.
MikeyDude,
If Texas is anything like PA, then you have your endorsement.
My license says C,M as well. C is car/light truck up to 26000lbs, the M is motorcycle endorsement.
You probably have the M endorsement and there is a screw-up on the back. You did take and pass the MSF right? Did you get a new driver's license after that? If so, you most likley have the endorsement.
my humble .02.
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scottrnelson
Advanced Member
6949 Posts
[Mentor]
Meridian, ID
USA
Honda
XR650L, 790 Adv R
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Posted - 08/17/2006 : 1:00 PM
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I don't know what the law is now, but way back when I used to live in Utah, you didn't have to insure motorcycles. You could just state "not insured" when you registered the bike. I had a few dual-sports that I didn't bother insuring. My reasoning was that I wasn't likely to be at fault in an accident, even if I was I wasn't likely to do much damage, and if I wrecked my own bike I would just eat the cost. (I'm not claiming this was correct reasoning.)
And I had my motorcycle license a year or two before I bought my first motorcycle. I needed it to take test rides on friends' bikes. I passed the written test 100% without studying and passed the riding test with a total of about 20 minutes of practice. Hopefully the tests are harder now. |
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Jerry Godell
Senior Member
441 Posts
Kansas City, kansas
USA
Harley-Davidson
FXD SuperGlide
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Posted - 08/17/2006 : 1:08 PM
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quote:
If Texas is anything like PA, then you have your endorsement.
My license says C,M as well. C is car/light truck up to 26000lbs, the M is motorcycle endorsement.
Kansas is the same. Mine is CM. Car, motorcycle.
MikeyDude, I think you have an endorsement. |
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don_hud
Advanced Member
1077 Posts
[Mentor]
Houston, Texas
USA
Yamaha
1997 Virago XV1100
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Posted - 08/17/2006 : 1:50 PM
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Well, I had to pull out my Texas license to look at it to see what was on mine.
On the front it says "Class: CM"
On the Back it says "Endorsements" Under that it says "None"
As far as I know, that is all there is to having a Texas motorcycle license. It is considered a license class and not an endorsement. |
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langner91
Standard Member
213 Posts
Sterling, IL
USA
Harley-Davidson
XL1200C
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Posted - 08/17/2006 : 2:24 PM
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My thinking is the same as yours, Don.
Class could be "C" for commercial. While there is an Air-Brake endorsement.
Many people have a class C but cannot drive a big-rig with air-brakes unless they pass another test. |
Edited by - langner91 on 08/17/2006 2:25 PM |
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Mikeydude
Advanced Member
748 Posts
[Mentor]
Ft. Worth, Texas
USA
Harley-Davidson
03 FXD Super Glide
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Posted - 08/17/2006 : 9:33 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Gs82Seca650
MikeyDude,
If Texas is anything like PA, then you have your endorsement.
My license says C,M as well. C is car/light truck up to 26000lbs, the M is motorcycle endorsement.
You probably have the M endorsement and there is a screw-up on the back. You did take and pass the MSF right? Did you get a new driver's license after that? If so, you most likley have the endorsement.
my humble .02.
Yes I did pass the MSF and got a new license. When I had my permit for that very short time (like 4 weeks) it was a hard copy like the license, and was class C. It had a motorcycle endorsement on the back, and it also had some instructions under restrictions. I believe that Don is correct... Motorcycle is a class and not an endorsement in Texas. |
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batman
Standard Member
139 Posts
Royston, Cambs
United Kingdom
Kawasaki
ZX-6R
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Posted - 08/19/2006 : 10:48 AM
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| It's not called that in the UK but its effectively the same, except that without the "full license" you can only ride a 125 with learner plates, so everyone normally takes the test. |
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Discussion Topic |
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Motorcycle Endorsement