California pulled something similar when I moved here from New Hampshire. I got home after transferring my license and noticed they forgot the MC endorsement. I called and they said "No problem, just bring in your old NH license and we'll put it back on."
Well, after a brief (NOT) wait in line they told me "Why no, you have to take the written and the skills test all over again... I don't know who told you that." So, that's how I ended up having to take it again.
That makes 6 states that I've had MC licenses in now: California, Nevada, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Hampshire and New Jersey. Only 44 more to go.
On the flip side, when I went back to Oklahoma after an absence of 15 years or so, the old trooper who was entering our licenses into the computer when we moved back into the state said: "Oh, I see you had a motorcycle license here back in the 80s... I'll just put that back on there for ya." Ahh, the differences. (sigh)
-Jeff Khoury
From: "Mike Frey"
To: "List KLR" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 3:53:33 PM
Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR and the MSF
Same here, despite our free MSF courses. You can go about getting your
license in the "traditional" way, riding your own bike around a tiny
parking lot, with cones and "S" turns. But, it's not easy on a sport
bike or big dresser like a Harley.
I have two nephews who are skilled riders. One asked to use my 250 Super
Sherpa, but ended up using his Ninja 600RR instead. In his words "I
passed - barely". The other took the MSF route, where they use 125s and
250s. He passed easily.
Both of my kids went with MSF and passed. They were both in their 20s
and it was quite a surprise to me since they showed no interest in
motorcycles as teens.
My wife, a legal CA resident, somehow got the Motorcycle endorsement
eliminated from her license at some point during her non riding years,
but can't pass the test on my 2nd KLR that is headquartered out there.
It's just too tall for her. She used to ride a Norton 750 and her dad's
Yamaha XS650 with no problem, but dual sports have become much taller in
the past 30 years. DMV says they'll put the MC endorsement back on her
license if she can produce an old one that shows it - but she can't find
one.
Mike
On 3/24/2011 4:52 PM, Jeff Khoury wrote:
>
> Here in California, if you take the MSF course you don't have to take
> the skills test.
>
> The skills test here is of questionable value, and is physically
> impossible to pass on some motorcycles.
>
> -Jeff Khoury
>
> From: "revmaaatin" < mjearl@...
> >
> To: "DSN KLR650" <
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
> >
> Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 1:47:25 PM
> Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR and the MSF
>
> --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
> , "revmaaatin" wrote:
> >
> > Take a look at your calender and give some thought to 'waking-up' or
> refreshing your skill sets as well.
> >
> Answering my own mail--
> I failed to make the point of why to look at your state's schedule now:
> Most of these classes are first come, first serve.
> Sign up early.
> When I first took the 2004 ERC, it was full up all summer and I had to
> take it in SEPT. Still useful, but it would have been more useful in May.
>
> revmaaatin.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
-Jeff Khoury
From: "eddie"
To: "KLR650 list" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 7:21:30 PM
Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] Re: KLR and the MSF
I took a neighbor for a ride several years ago on my CB6750 and at a stop
she asked if I needed a special license to ride a bike?
I told her yes and she showed my GA license and it's Class CM endorsement.
Then she suprised me by showing me her GA license with a CM endorsement,
also.
For unknown reasons we'll never know, she somehow moved from Boston to
Birmingham and then to Columbus Georgia and along the way she got a
motorcycle license without ever having been on a bike in her life.
Weird.
eddie
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]