So, I finally went ahead and got my motorcycle permit here in Minnesota. It’s been on my mind for a good while, you know? Every time I saw someone cruising on a bike, especially on those perfect sunny days, I just thought, “I gotta try that.” Plus, to be honest, my car’s seen better days, and the thought of zipping around on two wheels sounded pretty appealing.
Figuring Out the First Steps
First things first, I had to figure out what the heck I actually needed to do. So, I did what most folks do, I guess – went online. Landed on the Minnesota DVS (Driver and Vehicle Services) website. Found their motorcycle manual and downloaded it. Man, that thing looked a bit chunky at first glance. Lots of pages, diagrams, rules… felt like I was back in school for a hot minute. But hey, gotta start somewhere, right?
The “Study” Grind
Alright, so I started flipping through that manual. Some of it was pretty straightforward, stuff you’d expect. But then you get into the details like proper lane positioning, what to do when riding in a group, hand signals I hadn’t thought about in years. It was more than just “don’t fall off.”
I also looked up some practice tests online. Those were a game changer, seriously. Way better than just reading the manual cover to cover. Actually doing the questions showed me what I really didn’t know, or what I just thought I knew. I spent a couple of evenings with the manual open, a coffee on the side. My dog just looked at me like I was nuts, probably wondering why I wasn’t throwing his ball.
Heading to the DVS Office
Then came the day. I picked a weekday morning, hoping it wouldn’t be a total madhouse. Drove over to the local DVS office. You know how those places can be. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you’re in for a long haul. I walked in, got my number, and settled in to wait. Did a bit of last-minute flipping through the manual on my phone, trying to cram a few more details in. The waiting area is always prime people-watching territory, too.
Tackling the Written Test
When they finally called my number, I went up, did the paperwork, paid the fee – all that jazz. Then they sent me over to a little computer station for the test. It was all multiple choice, which is usually a good thing. Some questions were super easy, like, “Should you wear a helmet?” Duh. But others really made me stop and think, those ones where a couple of answers seem plausible. I just tried to recall what the manual specifically said, not just what felt like common sense from driving a car for years.
Clicked through all the questions, hit submit, and then there’s that moment of truth, right?
Success! (Sort of)
And… I passed! Phew. Honestly, such a weight off. You just never know with those tests. They snapped my photo for the permit – you know, the standard, slightly awkward government ID photo – and then a few minutes later, I had my temporary motorcycle permit in hand. Felt pretty good, not gonna lie.
Now, this isn’t the full license, just the permit. It means I can actually get on a bike and practice, but there are some rules I gotta follow. For example:
- I can only ride during daylight hours.
- No passengers allowed on the back.
- Gotta wear a helmet, of course.
- And I need to have a licensed rider supervising me, someone who’s 21 or older and has their own motorcycle license.
But hey, it’s the first big step! Getting that permit means I can finally start getting some real riding experience, which is what this whole thing is about.
What’s Next on the Agenda
So, the next big thing is practice. Lots and lots of practice. I need to get comfortable with the bike before I even think about taking the actual on-cycle skills test to get the full endorsement. I’ve also been looking into taking a Basic RiderCourse. Seems like a smart move to learn the ropes from instructors who actually know their stuff, rather than just trying to figure it all out on my own in an empty parking lot, though I’ll probably do some of that too. One step at a time, but getting the permit felt like a solid win.
