OT – Scooters zipping off lots

[Eugene]

There are two motorcycle license classes in California, M1 and M2. M1 is a wider license that allows you to drive anything with two wheels. M2 is for mopeds and scooters only. Getting M1 is non-trivial, the hardest part is the skill test where you have to perform a number of tight low-speed turns. I’ve never heard of anyone doing that test with a scooter. It may be illegal. (Motorcycles are manually shifted, scooters are automatic, you may need to demonstrate your ability to operate a real motorcycle to get the license) One way around is to enroll in a Motorcycle Safety Foundation training course, it’s like $200 for two days of classes (evenings) and two days of practice (9 to 1 on a weekend), motorcycles are provided, and finishing the course waives the skill test requirement. And when you’re done, you can go and buy yourself a sport bike that goes from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds.

Since you only want to ride a scooter, you may shoot for M2 license. Some kind of skill test will still be required but it should be easier.

When you pass the written test, they give you a permit that you can use to buy a bike or a scooter and practice on public roads. The permit does not allow you to ride at night or on freeways.

I have a 14 mile commute from western Rancho Bernardo to El Camino in CV and I can take all backroads so a cheap scooter/ motorcycle seems like a good investment over the family truckster.

If I had to commute on a bike, I’d rather take 14 miles of light traffic on the freeway over 14 miles of traffic lights and stop signs. If you’re a responsible rider, the most likely places to get into an accident are intersections (for example, if someone turns in front of you). Cruising 65 mph on the freeway is relatively safe, as long as you keep distance and stay out of other vehicles’ blind spots.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

[quote=esmith]

If I had to commute on a bike, I’d rather take 14 miles of light traffic on the freeway over 14 miles of traffic lights and stop signs. If you’re a responsible rider, the most likely places to get into an accident are intersections (for example, if someone turns in front of you). Cruising 65 mph on the freeway is relatively safe, as long as you keep distance and stay out of other vehicles’ blind spots.[/quote]

Well the ride on backroads is through RSF on San Dieguito Road, then down El Camino for about two miles or CV Road all the way to El Camino.

Im with you in that the freeway could be faster, but the drive down the backroads is quite nice. Almost all the lights on San Dieguito are green all the way to El Camino.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

[quote=esmith]

If I had to commute on a bike, I’d rather take 14 miles of light traffic on the freeway over 14 miles of traffic lights and stop signs. If you’re a responsible rider, the most likely places to get into an accident are intersections (for example, if someone turns in front of you). Cruising 65 mph on the freeway is relatively safe, as long as you keep distance and stay out of other vehicles’ blind spots.[/quote]

Well the ride on backroads is through RSF on San Dieguito Road, then down El Camino for about two miles or CV Road all the way to El Camino.

Im with you in that the freeway could be faster, but the drive down the backroads is quite nice. Almost all the lights on San Dieguito are green all the way to El Camino.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

[quote=esmith]

If I had to commute on a bike, I’d rather take 14 miles of light traffic on the freeway over 14 miles of traffic lights and stop signs. If you’re a responsible rider, the most likely places to get into an accident are intersections (for example, if someone turns in front of you). Cruising 65 mph on the freeway is relatively safe, as long as you keep distance and stay out of other vehicles’ blind spots.[/quote]

Well the ride on backroads is through RSF on San Dieguito Road, then down El Camino for about two miles or CV Road all the way to El Camino.

Im with you in that the freeway could be faster, but the drive down the backroads is quite nice. Almost all the lights on San Dieguito are green all the way to El Camino.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

[quote=esmith]

If I had to commute on a bike, I’d rather take 14 miles of light traffic on the freeway over 14 miles of traffic lights and stop signs. If you’re a responsible rider, the most likely places to get into an accident are intersections (for example, if someone turns in front of you). Cruising 65 mph on the freeway is relatively safe, as long as you keep distance and stay out of other vehicles’ blind spots.[/quote]

Well the ride on backroads is through RSF on San Dieguito Road, then down El Camino for about two miles or CV Road all the way to El Camino.

Im with you in that the freeway could be faster, but the drive down the backroads is quite nice. Almost all the lights on San Dieguito are green all the way to El Camino.

[LAAFTERHOURS]

[quote=esmith]

If I had to commute on a bike, I’d rather take 14 miles of light traffic on the freeway over 14 miles of traffic lights and stop signs. If you’re a responsible rider, the most likely places to get into an accident are intersections (for example, if someone turns in front of you). Cruising 65 mph on the freeway is relatively safe, as long as you keep distance and stay out of other vehicles’ blind spots.[/quote]

Well the ride on backroads is through RSF on San Dieguito Road, then down El Camino for about two miles or CV Road all the way to El Camino.

Im with you in that the freeway could be faster, but the drive down the backroads is quite nice. Almost all the lights on San Dieguito are green all the way to El Camino.

[jpinpb]

Nope. You can do the test w/a scooter. “Anything that falls under the heading of motorcycle or motor-driven cycle can do the skills test.”

I researched it. I let a friend borrow the Yamaha 80 to take the skills test, rather than have him do it on the 600cc. They were at first trying to tell him he could only get an M2. But he told them to check to make sure (since I took the test on it and got the M1) Sure enough, they came back and told him the quote. CC size, amazingly, doesn’t matter either.

If you pick up the motorcycle manual, you will see scooter is a motor-driven cycle, and thus you can get an M1.

I think M2 is pretty much for mopeds, anything w/pedals. My scooter is not automatic. The new Vespas are. BUT, it doesn’t matter. I’ve seen them do the test w/new scooters. And actually, not so easy to do it w/an automatic. Personally, I think it’s easier to do it holding the clutch and finding the sweet spot.

esmith is right about the freeways. I did forget to mention that you can’t ride on freeways w/a permit, either, besides carrying passengers and at night.

[jpinpb]

Nope. You can do the test w/a scooter. “Anything that falls under the heading of motorcycle or motor-driven cycle can do the skills test.”

I researched it. I let a friend borrow the Yamaha 80 to take the skills test, rather than have him do it on the 600cc. They were at first trying to tell him he could only get an M2. But he told them to check to make sure (since I took the test on it and got the M1) Sure enough, they came back and told him the quote. CC size, amazingly, doesn’t matter either.

If you pick up the motorcycle manual, you will see scooter is a motor-driven cycle, and thus you can get an M1.

I think M2 is pretty much for mopeds, anything w/pedals. My scooter is not automatic. The new Vespas are. BUT, it doesn’t matter. I’ve seen them do the test w/new scooters. And actually, not so easy to do it w/an automatic. Personally, I think it’s easier to do it holding the clutch and finding the sweet spot.

esmith is right about the freeways. I did forget to mention that you can’t ride on freeways w/a permit, either, besides carrying passengers and at night.

[jpinpb]

Nope. You can do the test w/a scooter. “Anything that falls under the heading of motorcycle or motor-driven cycle can do the skills test.”

I researched it. I let a friend borrow the Yamaha 80 to take the skills test, rather than have him do it on the 600cc. They were at first trying to tell him he could only get an M2. But he told them to check to make sure (since I took the test on it and got the M1) Sure enough, they came back and told him the quote. CC size, amazingly, doesn’t matter either.

If you pick up the motorcycle manual, you will see scooter is a motor-driven cycle, and thus you can get an M1.

I think M2 is pretty much for mopeds, anything w/pedals. My scooter is not automatic. The new Vespas are. BUT, it doesn’t matter. I’ve seen them do the test w/new scooters. And actually, not so easy to do it w/an automatic. Personally, I think it’s easier to do it holding the clutch and finding the sweet spot.

esmith is right about the freeways. I did forget to mention that you can’t ride on freeways w/a permit, either, besides carrying passengers and at night.

[jpinpb]

Nope. You can do the test w/a scooter. “Anything that falls under the heading of motorcycle or motor-driven cycle can do the skills test.”

I researched it. I let a friend borrow the Yamaha 80 to take the skills test, rather than have him do it on the 600cc. They were at first trying to tell him he could only get an M2. But he told them to check to make sure (since I took the test on it and got the M1) Sure enough, they came back and told him the quote. CC size, amazingly, doesn’t matter either.

If you pick up the motorcycle manual, you will see scooter is a motor-driven cycle, and thus you can get an M1.

I think M2 is pretty much for mopeds, anything w/pedals. My scooter is not automatic. The new Vespas are. BUT, it doesn’t matter. I’ve seen them do the test w/new scooters. And actually, not so easy to do it w/an automatic. Personally, I think it’s easier to do it holding the clutch and finding the sweet spot.

esmith is right about the freeways. I did forget to mention that you can’t ride on freeways w/a permit, either, besides carrying passengers and at night.

[jpinpb]

Nope. You can do the test w/a scooter. “Anything that falls under the heading of motorcycle or motor-driven cycle can do the skills test.”

I researched it. I let a friend borrow the Yamaha 80 to take the skills test, rather than have him do it on the 600cc. They were at first trying to tell him he could only get an M2. But he told them to check to make sure (since I took the test on it and got the M1) Sure enough, they came back and told him the quote. CC size, amazingly, doesn’t matter either.

If you pick up the motorcycle manual, you will see scooter is a motor-driven cycle, and thus you can get an M1.

I think M2 is pretty much for mopeds, anything w/pedals. My scooter is not automatic. The new Vespas are. BUT, it doesn’t matter. I’ve seen them do the test w/new scooters. And actually, not so easy to do it w/an automatic. Personally, I think it’s easier to do it holding the clutch and finding the sweet spot.

esmith is right about the freeways. I did forget to mention that you can’t ride on freeways w/a permit, either, besides carrying passengers and at night.

[nostradamus]

I highly recommend the CHP/Motorcycle Safety test that jpinpb and esmith have mentioned. In it they teach you emergency maneuvers, like sudden turns , what to do when the brakes lock, and so on. The instructors actually have you lock up the brakes.

They teach you important stuff like when you lock up the REAR brake, you SHOULD NOT unlock it because it can whip you right off the bike. If you lock up the front brake, you should release it. They will also teach you the very important evasive technique of counter-steering which is counter-intuitive for most people.

Be safe!

[nostradamus]

I highly recommend the CHP/Motorcycle Safety test that jpinpb and esmith have mentioned. In it they teach you emergency maneuvers, like sudden turns , what to do when the brakes lock, and so on. The instructors actually have you lock up the brakes.

They teach you important stuff like when you lock up the REAR brake, you SHOULD NOT unlock it because it can whip you right off the bike. If you lock up the front brake, you should release it. They will also teach you the very important evasive technique of counter-steering which is counter-intuitive for most people.

Be safe!

[nostradamus]

I highly recommend the CHP/Motorcycle Safety test that jpinpb and esmith have mentioned. In it they teach you emergency maneuvers, like sudden turns , what to do when the brakes lock, and so on. The instructors actually have you lock up the brakes.

They teach you important stuff like when you lock up the REAR brake, you SHOULD NOT unlock it because it can whip you right off the bike. If you lock up the front brake, you should release it. They will also teach you the very important evasive technique of counter-steering which is counter-intuitive for most people.

Be safe!

[nostradamus]

I highly recommend the CHP/Motorcycle Safety test that jpinpb and esmith have mentioned. In it they teach you emergency maneuvers, like sudden turns , what to do when the brakes lock, and so on. The instructors actually have you lock up the brakes.

They teach you important stuff like when you lock up the REAR brake, you SHOULD NOT unlock it because it can whip you right off the bike. If you lock up the front brake, you should release it. They will also teach you the very important evasive technique of counter-steering which is counter-intuitive for most people.

Be safe!

[Author]

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