What are the requirements for a motorcycle license in california?

You can take the written test then use your own motorcycle for the behind the wheel at DMV, or you can take the written test then take the safety class in small cc motorcycles and get a certificate that covers the behind the wheel at the class.

You have to take a complete and separate driver’s test for a motorcycle. That includes written and riding.

A tip from someone who has done it:

Find somewhere with closely spaced orange cones or buy some to put out yourself. Practice going slowly through those without touching them or putting your feet down. That is part of the test and is not easy without practice. They left the cones out for an hour at my local DMV so I nipped over to practice with them for a bit.

The riding test consists of the person doing the testing walking beside you as s/he takes you through a set of cones and around a circle… slowly. The guy testing me just ambled along.

I took the test in the 80’s so it might have changed. Ask a friend what they do now.

It is easier to do this with a smaller bike, as @Judi said, the longer and larger the bike the more difficult. That being said, I did mine on a chopper style bike.

Take an MSF course. It’s totally worth it—you actually learn how to ride, plus you get to take your driving test with your instructor.

I took the MSF course and it was great. It did not have the driving test included but it was excellent. Maybe it has changed now but, even without it having the test, it was great. I enrolled in the course the day I got my bike.

My hubby took the class with me. He’s an experienced rider and still felt like heclearned a lot.

I would definitely take the MSF course. It’s only a couple hundred bucks, and they TEACH you on their bikes how to take the practical (riding) test. Then they administer the test, and it’s alot better b/c you aren’t all flustered or upset that you just had to wait at the DMV for an hour.

Then they give you a certificate, you take it to the DMV, and they put the certification on your license.

Also, I forgot the specific stat, but taking the course reduces the likelihood of you getting into an accident by alot.

What I learned in the MSF course stayed with me to this day and I credit with keeping me shiny side up, rubber side down more than once. They run you through the various situations enough times and similar situations are common enough that what they teach becomes habit.

I do not remember how much the course was when I took it but it is well worth a couple hundred dollars.

When I took it you could take the course on their bikes or your bike.

I really like the thought of them administering the driving test… they did not do that back in the 80’s.