so i renewed my class M permit this morning.  up until 2006, in PA, all you had to do was go to a fast tags place, fill out a form and pay 25 bucks and u have a permit that lasts 1 year.  now you have to go to a license exam center and take a computer test and pay 10 bucks.  easy.  so i went to renew mine this morning and passed with flying colors (of course).  then i inquired about requirements for taking the Class M road test.  the permit fee covers my road test as well so it costs me zero dollars to become fully legal!  im scheduled for the test in 2 weeks.  any tips? what can i expect?

now i knwo what ur all gonna say.. go take the MSF yadda yadda.. listen i TOTALLY agree.  back when i got my bike 2 years ago i signed up.   its over an hour drive for me.  no big deal except for the fact that its 4 days long.  a wednesday and saturday, then a wednesday and a saturday again.   the wednesday classes start in the early evening and its impossible for me to get there 2 weeks in a row.  i tried and failed.   so in a perfect world, the MSF is a must, but for me its jsut not possible at this time..

Go sit on the bike in your driveway and make motorcycle sounds until you take the MSF! You should be pretty good at this since you've been riding for two years and know what the bike sounds like. But you can't ride until you take the MSF!

Sorry...i have no real advice on the test...i just wanted to post a jerk response. Good luck with that though! i have heard that the DMV tests are a lot harder than the MSF test. 

lol.  they may be harder but that doesnt bother me.  im also not bothered by the fact that i had to take a test this time for the permit.  it helps weed out the squids!  if i dont pass the dmv test then i prob shouldnt get my license.  thats the way i see it.

There were at least 4-5 people in my MSF class that had been riding for years and failed the DMV test. Most of them ride big cruisers and couldn't do the precision slow-speed stuff on their 800 lb bikes. One guy tried it on an 100ci Indian and couldn't even make the u-turn...let alone keep his wheels in between the lines.

advice anyone?!

I dunno anything about PA, but I guess most states are probably similar when it comes to road tests?

First thing is relax. You already know how to ride the bike. So don't be nervous. That will likely be your worst enemy. Be confidence and don't think about them "evaluating you". Just do it right. Like Aristotle said, excellence is not an act but a habit. Which means prior to taking the test:

- Practice using your mirrors and looking over your shoulder properly

- Make sure the bike's lights, horn, etc. etc all work. The test isn't a good time to realise your directionals don't work

- Wear your gear so they see you are responsible. I know you don't have to have a helmet in PA but you ride with one anyways, so make sure that goes with you to the test.

- Practice some low speed maneauvers that you will prolly never use again. In NY, we have to do two figure 8's each way and two circles in a city street each way. Stupid, but it shows you can maneauver the bike. Needs a lot of throttle and clutch control.

- I think it is helpful if you go riding right before your test. The tires and bike are all warmed up, your warmed up, and you are all adjusted and into it.

You prolly don't need a licensed class M operator at the test with you? In NY, we have to bring someone that has a Class M with us to the test. But whatever the case, make sure you meet all of their requirements.

ask for the layout of the test, usually some course painted in the back of your DMV.  Go and practice after hours and make it fun.  I practiced on that course after i had my license and i have one thing to say "clutch control"