Motorcycle Endorsement License Information

• How do I obtain a Temporary Motorcycle Learner's Permit?
• How do I obtain Motorcycle License or Endorsement?
• What is required to pass Ohio's Endorsement Test?
• What is the Mobile Program and how can it help me?
• What is the T-CLOCK inspection procedure?
• How can I become a Motorcycle Ohio Instructor?
• What is the Motorcycle Ohio Saved by the Helmet program?
• What are Ohio's Laws about Alcohol and Riding?
• What is Motorcycle Ohio's Address and Phone Number?

• The Basic Rider Course -- What is it?
• The Basic Rider Course -- What is required to pass?
• What do I need to bring and wear to the classroom portions of the Basic Rider Course?
• What do I need to bring and wear to the riding sessions of the Basic Rider Course?
• May I use my own motorcycle in the Basic Rider Course?

• The Experienced Rider Course -- What is it?
• The Experienced Rider Course -- What is required to pass?
• What do I need to bring and wear to the classroom portions of the Experienced Rider Course?
• What do I need to bring and wear to the riding sessions of the Experienced Rider Course? 

Answers

How do I obtain a Temporary Motorcycle Learner's Permit?

• Visit any license agency and ask for a motorcycle permit packet. A fee is charged for this packet
• To help you study for the written test, be sure to pick up a Motorcycle Operator Manual and a Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws.
• After studying for the test, go to a drivers license exam station and take a vision test and the written test for motorcycle. No fee is charged for either test.
• After passing the written test, the examiner will fill out and validate the red permit from your packet.Please Note: The temporary permit is NOT VALID unless validated by the examiner.
• This form now becomes your temporary instructional permit. Note: You must keep both the blue and red portions as both portions are required to get your endorsement.

How do I obtain Motorcycle License or Endorsement?

• Contact a drivers license examination station to make an appointment for the on-cycle examination. No fee is charged for this test. The examination stations are located in the back of the Motorcycle Operators Manual.
• You must bring a street legal motorcycle to the examination site and you must wear a helmet and eye protection during the test.
• After you have passed the On-Cycle Test, the examiner will fill out and validate the blue copy of the driving permit from your packet.
• The blue permit, red permit, and your drivers license (if you have one) must be presented to the license agency to receive your motorcycle license or to add a motorcycle endorsement to your current valid license. A fee is charged for issuing this new license.
• If you are 16 or 17 years old, you must show proof of completing a driver education course and a motorcycle safety course before you are eligible to take the On-Cycle Test, to obtain a motorcycle license or endorsement.
• If you are 18 years old or above, you are not required to complete either course to take the On-Cycle Test. However, completion of the motorcycle course will help provide you with the skills to pass the test.

What is required to pass Ohio's Endorsement Test?

Ohio's Motorcycle Endorsement test is an On-Cycle Test based on the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Alternate Motorcycle Operator Skill Test (ALT-MOST), which consists of seven different skill exercises. These seven exercises evaluate your ability to perform basic vehicle control, rider judgment, and hazard response skills. These skills are evaluated by the applicants performing a sharp turn, normal stop, cone weave, U-turn, quick stop, and obstacle swerve.

The test may be terminated due to equipment failure, point accumulation, falling or dropping the motorcycle, disregard for instructions, committing an unsafe act or failure to understand or follow instructions. If at any time you feel an exercise is too difficult you my stop the test. However, you must complete the entire test to pass it.

If you are having trouble passing this test or are apprehensive, consider taking a Rider Training Course. There is the Basic Rider Course called the Riding and Street Skills (RSS) and the Experienced Rider Course (ERC) for riders with more than 6 months applicable experience.

Four "On-Cycle Test" Components

Run 1:	Applicants will be asked to ride a straight line, make a sharp left hand turn, and stop with their front tire in the box.
Run 2:	Applicants will go through a cone weave, make a sweeping right turn and then demonstrate a U-turn in a box.
Run 3:	Applicants will accelerate, stabilize speed at 12 - 20 mph from a starting point, ride through a set of cones and make a quick stop. Testing is based on the applicant's ability to stop in a predetermined stopping distance relative to the speed traveled.
Run 4:	Applicants will be asked to drive a straight line, from a starting point, through two cones and swerve to the right or left around an obstacle box.

Stalling the engine is scored during each turn. Speed, stopping distance and observable events such as tire crossing a line, are used in scoring. Subjective judgments of style or technique are not evaluated. All motorcycles used in the On-Cycle Test must be street legal, including functioning electronic turn signals. applicants must wear a Department of Transportation approved helmet and have appropriate eye protection.

What is the Mobile Program and how can it help me?

The MO Mobile Program provides training in the rural areas of Ohio. Two truck and trailer units deliver motorcycles and all other course supplies to mobile training sites. If you think the mobile program should be offered in your community or if your group or club would like rider education training, then call MO at 1-800-83-RIDER.

Courses may be scheduled in your community on request if:

1. Sufficient advance notice is given
2. The mobile training unit is available
3. A suitable riding area is secured
4. Training is not available in your areaMobile Program Training Locations

May I use my own motorcycle in the Beginner Rider Course?

Student owned motorcycles may be used in the Beginner Rider Course (MRC-RSS) only when prior written approval is received from Motorcycle Ohio.

Student Motorcycles must meet the following restrictions to be used during the Beginner Rider Course:

• The student motorcycle must be 350cc or under.
• The motorcycle must be street legal.
• The motorcycle must be currently licensed. (Documentation is required)
• The motorcycle must be currently insured. (Documentation is required)
• The motorcycle must be in good operating condition and pass a T-Clock inspection by an Instructor prior to each riding session.

If your motorcycle qualifies, you may contact Motorcycle Ohio with supporting documentation two weeks in advance of the class and request inspection and approval to ride your motorcycle during the course.

PLEASE NOTE: Motorcycle Ohio reserves the right to accept or reject any motorcycle and the decision of Motorcycle Ohio, the Instructor or the Sponsor(s) is final.

What is the T-CLOCK inspection proceedure?

T-CLOCK is an accronym for the letters of the major items that should be checked prior to each time the motorcycle is ridden. The T-CLOCK accronim stands for:

	T	Tires & wheels
	C	Controls
	L	Lights
	O	Oil
	C	Chassis
	K	Kickstand

How can I become a Motorcycle Ohio Instructor?

What is the Motorcycle Ohio Saved by the Helmet program?

What are Ohio's Laws about Alcohol and Riding?

Alcohol and Ohio Law

Motor Vehicle operators arrested for suspected impaired driving, under Ohio Law will:

• Be asked to take a sobriety test. If the test results are .10% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or above the operator will be charged with DUI.
• Immediately have their license taken away by the arresting law enforcement officer and be immediately placed under license suspension.
• Lose their driver's license for at least 90 days and will be subject to other court penalties.Refusal to take the sobriety test will result in automatic loss of driver's license for one full year!

Alcohol and Motorcycling

Alcohol is a major contributor to motorcycle collisions, particularly fatal collisions. Studies show that 40% to 50% of all riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking. Only one-third of those riders had a BAC above legal limits. The rest had only a few drinks in their systems, enough to impair their riding skills. Riding "under the influence" of alcohol poses physical and legal hazards for every rider.

What is Motorcycle Ohio's Address and Phone Number?

The Ohio Department of Public Safety

Motorcycle Ohio
1970 West Broad Street 4th Floor, P.O. Box 182081
Columbus, Ohio 43218-2081
Toll Free: 1-800-83-RIDER
Phone: 614-466-4041
Fax: 614-728-8330
Email: mogen@dps.state.oh.us