Hey folks,

I just want to introduce myself, show you a picture or two of my bikes and have a little chit chat.
My name is daniel, i'm 25 and live in Amsterdam! I bought 2 GS500's for 750 euro last month. One will be a daily driver and the other a project bike.

First of all i'd like to tell you guys about getting a motorcycle liscence here in holland (as i just passed my exam today!). It seems to be a lot more difficult to get into riding than back in the states. Not to sure how the MSF course works but here we need to pass 3 exams to get a liscence.

You have to take at least 20 hours of lessons with a certified school. If you are younger than 21 you may only drive a bike with no more power than 25kW over 21 doesn't matter. Our lesson bikes were CBF500's. You usually drive with another student and an instructor. The helmets are equipped with one way radio's so the instructor can communicate with both students. The lesson last 90 minutes and cost 60 euro each!! You take turns driving in the first or second position and the instructor is always last. It took me 16 lessons to finally get my liscene and cost 1400 euro (lessons, books and exams).

The Written Test.....
Is a 50 question test where you have to anwser 45 correctly in order to pass. The test covers traffic rules, meanings of signs, technical and safety issues, and traffic situations with pictures (who goes first). About 50% of the people pass per test. This one is the easy one

The Bike Control Test....
The second test you take in the long and expensive journey is the control test. This test takes place on a parking lot or similar. The examinator will put out lots of different coloured cones and ask you to do the following:
-High speed slalom
-Low speed slalom
-Precision stop
-Normal stop
-Emergancy stop
-5m radius double figure 8
-High speed obstacle avoidance
-Walking and parking the motorcycle
-Tight 180
It takes about 2 or 3 1.5 hour lessons to get all the skills to pass this test

-Final Test
This is the last test you take, where you ride in front of a car with your instructor + examinator. Your instructor will tell you through the radio where to go and you have to drive as you normally would. Any major mistakes and you flunk. When you pass the test you can pick up your liscence 8 days later, you are also not allowed to drive till then...

I think the overal quality of beginner drivers here is much better than the states as you get a lot more practice and preaching before you drive on your own. You learn to crerate your own space on the highway, and drive defensivly (sp?).

Anyhoo here are some pics of my first bike, bought it for 600 euro. It's a '90 with 88k on the clock. Runs excellent. I had to replace the choke cable, tacht cable. rear pads, plugs, oil and filters. Also the rear brake was seized so i rebuilt the caliper. Oh yeah, there was a huge dent in the exhaust. i got it out by drilling a small hole in the middle and used a propane torch to get it red hot. With an allen wrench i managed to pull the dent out and weld the hole shut..

Insureance and road tax are a joke here. I pay 4 euro per month for roadtax and my insureance is 25 euro a year! Also no emission test or yearly safety checks.






(Before and after of the brake pistons).

Sorry bout the quality of the pics, i toke them with my phone.

Thanks for reading

Daniel

Welcome.I agree that it's harder there than here to get a MC endorsement.The MSF is not required here.All we have to do is go to the DMV and do a 20 question test.90% correct and you pass and get a learners permit.Then you ride unsupervised for 180 days and then take a driving test in a parking lot.They do the same test that you mentioned above.If you pass they give you a license.Some states do it differently,but that's how the instructor told me he would do mine.I have ridden for over 15 years with no MC license,but I don't ride crazy.I started out on dirt bikes and mini bikes,so it's not like I just hopped on an MC and started blasting around the streets.

In VA if you are 19 or over you take a written exam for your learner's and can ride with a licensed rider.  There is a 30 day waiting period before you can take the road skills test.  You pass that, they give you a license with an M designation on it.  If you take an MSF you can use that certificate of completion to waive the road skills test.

-Lucas

Welcome, Dellolled!

Quote from: ben2go on April 01, 2008, 10:29:28 AM
I have ridden for over 15 years with no MC license.

ben2go, doesn't this cause you problems with insurance? I always thought that failure to hold a valid operating license would void any insurance policies.

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
48€/yr road tax and 25€/yr insurance?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
I pay 74€/yr tax and 200+€ insurance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Safety and emission checks every other year!!!!!!!!!
And we're both in EU!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANNA KILL YA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just kidding mate, welcome and congrats both on your rides and your newly-acquired license.

Quote from: beRto on April 01, 2008, 10:40:55 AM
Welcome, Dellolled!

Quote from: ben2go on April 01, 2008, 10:29:28 AM
I have ridden for over 15 years with no MC license.

ben2go, doesn't this cause you problems with insurance? I always thought that failure to hold a valid operating license would void any insurance policies.

I thought the same thing but in SC you can register and insure any vehicle without having a valid drivers license.  I am going to get my license.I currently hold a permit but it will expire before I finish the maintence on my bike.The weather here has been crappy and I work on my bike out side.

Damn Thats Cheap!! Insurance and Tax!

I pay 65 pounds Tax and 290 pounds Insuarance Third party fire and theft

However my motorbike test is broken down to

Cbt when i was 17 60 pounds i think , it was a while ago

Then main test , 30 pounds theory and 500 pounds for the bike test , bike of choice for The test? Suzuki....... Gs500 

Quote from: Jay_wolf on April 01, 2008, 04:25:14 PM
Damn Thats Cheap!! Insurance and Tax!

I pay 65 pounds Tax and 290 pounds Insuarance Third party fire and theft

However my motorbike test is broken down to

Cbt when i was 17 60 pounds i think , it was a while ago

Then main test , 30 pounds theory and 500 pounds for the bike test , bike of choice for The test? Suzuki....... Gs500 

I feel for you mate.However your country needs an enema.You folks need to do to your government,what we did to King George in 1776.You have big brother out the bum! Get rid of all that Socialist dribble in your great land.

I will say.Looks like we may need to do that here.We are fast becoming you! 

Quote from: Ronin on April 01, 2008, 04:33:15 PM
You folks need to do to your government,what we did to King George in 1776.You have big brother out the bum! Get rid of all that Socialist dribble in your great land.

Without wanting to spark off a mindless flame-war, I feel that I can't let this comment go without pointing out - your country is hardly a utopian society... 

Howdy and welcome!

And yes, anywhere there are humans on the planet they pretty much manage to make it suck, so don't anybody go all tribal. 

Quote from: beRto on April 01, 2008, 10:40:55 AM
Welcome, Dellolled!

Quote from: ben2go on April 01, 2008, 10:29:28 AM
I have ridden for over 15 years with no MC license.

ben2go, doesn't this cause you problems with insurance? I always thought that failure to hold a valid operating license would void any insurance policies.

Another crazy thing to point out is my insurance is cheaper than with an M endorsement.$77 a year full coverage and $33 for taxes.If they hadn't add the $25 road tax to mc's I would pay $8 for taxes.I live in the heaviest taxed town in my county.Cars are stupidly expensive on insurance and taxes.2001 base model Ford Ranger standard cab cost me $1100 for bare minimum insurance every 6 moth's.That's cheap.I haven't had any tickets in over 6 years and no wreaks in 10 years.Taxes on the truck are $189 with the high mileage discount.Our gov is really screwed up in my state and county.

Welcome!

That was a very informative post! Its amazing the different things you need to do in other countries and states to get a MC license 

Seeing how some of my friends ride and how many have been killed or injured for life.I think the MSF should be mandatory.If everyone had to do it,the cost would come down,insurance rates would go down,and hopefully the cops would lay off.I will prolly take the advanced class.

Quote from: philward on April 01, 2008, 04:41:52 PM

Quote from: Ronin on April 01, 2008, 04:33:15 PM
You folks need to do to your government,what we did to King George in 1776.You have big brother out the bum! Get rid of all that Socialist dribble in your great land.

Without wanting to spark off a mindless flame-war, I feel that I can't let this comment go without pointing out - your country is hardly a utopian society... 

Correct mate.That's why I made the comment about us cleanning out our own house. Socialist Suck!

Nice to meet you Daniel..You'll enjoy it here