It’s hot outside…  and it must be in the air, the need for a cool breeze rushing across your face, open shirt flowing in the wind and the freedom to just accelerate for more cold air.

If it isn’t that, then I don’t know what it is but I’ve had several different ‘non biker’s’ ask me in the past week about how to get their motorcycle license.  I told them to buy an electric scooter and they wouldn’t have to worry about getting an ‘M’ class license because it’s not required here in Ontario…  : )

But for those who need to feel the power, your going to need a bit more than this and you must know that it’s a bit of a process to obtain an ‘M’ class license.  So to help out, I thought I’d write up the following post so you can refer back to the steps involved and eventually, I hope my literature pays off and I see them out on the roads along side me.

So here goes… Step one, you need to obtain your M1 permit.  This is a 90 day permit (a piece of paper) that expires on or after the 90^th day of holding the permit.  To get your M1 permit, all you need to do is read the motorcycle drivers hand book and take the written test at a local Driver Examination Centre.  And of course, there are a few rules that apply:

• your blood alcohol level must be zero;
• you must ride only during daylight hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset);
• you must not ride on highways with speed limits of more than 80 km/h except highways 11, 17, 61, 69, 71, 101, 102, 144, 655;
• you cannot carry passengers.

Step two is to graduate to what we call an ‘M2′.  This can take place anytime before the ‘M1′ 90 expiration and after a minimum of 60 days of holding the ‘M1″ permit.  This is primarily a driving test and it is highly recommended that you graduate though one of the accredited Motorcycle Driver Training Centres such as RTI or Humber Collage.  I encourage this because as a new driver your confidence will increase substantially while learning handling and maneuvering skills, not to mention that if you do not own a motorcycle you can use the institutes equipment to take your test. Also, like the ‘M1′, there are a few rules that apply to the ‘M2′:

• your blood alcohol level must be zero;
• you will be eligible to take a Class ‘M’ road test after you have completed the 22 months required with an ‘M2′ license;
• your ‘M2′ will expire after 60 months if your ‘M’ class license has not been obtained.

A couple of highlights to note with the ‘M2′ license are that you can drive at night as well as carry a passenger.  Oh, don’t forget that you can ride the 400 series highways too.

Our last step, step three can take place in as little as 18 months after successfully graduating from one of the courses mentioned above, otherwise, if no course, then you must hold your ‘M2′ for a minimum of 22 month. One major difference about the ‘M2′ exit is that you must use your own registered and insured motorcycle and it must be a minimum of 250cc’s.  Once again, I do encourage that you take the ‘M2′ exit course though one of the accredited Motorcycle Driver Training Centres such as RTI or Humber Collage.  These courses are packed full of valuable handling and maneuvering techniques that you just simply cannot get any other place without having years of experience.

And that’s it, I look forward to riding with you!