For my second post, I thought I'd describe the steps that are needed to get a motorcycle license in Quebec. It was a complete mystery to me before I started to look around, and fortunately I had people around me that were familiar with the process to that made it even simpler. By posting the info here, hopefully you'll have a simpler time going through the first steps.
Now, the first thing you need to do is call your local driving school, or look them up on line to see whether or not they have lessons for motorcycles, it is not every school that offers them. In my case, I got lucky and had a school about 10 minutes away from me called Morty's in D.D.O.
The following was taken from Morty's website:
The motorcycle course consists of 9 hours of theoretical instruction and 22 hours on a motorcycle.
After you have completed your 9 hours of theory you may register with the S.A.A.Q to do a motorcycle theory test consisting of 32 multiple-choice questions and you must achieve 85% to pass.
Upon successfully passing this exam, you will receive your 6R permit which allows you to practise on a motorcycle.
Once you pass this test you will be given the mandatory 22 hours of practise on a motorcycle.
30 days after receiving your 6R permit and have completed the 22 hours of practise during those 30 days, we will register you with the S.A.A.Q for your closed track exam.
Sounds simple enough, right? It is actually, the best part is that the theory is offered during winter months. In my case, I took my theory classes early January, and I passed my test at the S.A.A.Q. by the beginning of February (only 1 wrong baby, woooh!!). I recommend going this route for a couple of reasons.
1. If you fail your S.A.A.Q. theory test, you have to wait 30 days before taking it again. So, if you go for your first try in February and fail, you go back in March to retake it, giving you plenty of time to be ready for your practical lessons in April.
2. The law requires you to hold your 6R license for 11 months before obtaining your 6A, so if you get your 6R in April, that will give you a whole season (May to October) to practise before booking your final road test the following year. You haven't wasted any time. Compare this to getting your 6R in say, September, that gives you a month-ish of riding before you put your bike away for the winter, then you have to ride the whole next year as a student until the following August.
Another detail is that if you have a valid driver's license, the theory exam will only ask question about motorcycle riding. You won't have to worry about all traffic signs, etc. And last but not least, if you don't know how to drive standard, learn it. You will have more difficulty when it comes time to ride than those of us who have a stick in our cars. Motorcycles are all standard, and friction point is going to be a term used over and over again. There are enough things to think about when learning to ride, if you can eliminate things like understanding the relationship between gears and engine speed, it'll just make your life easier.
So that's it, just two simple steps although the time frame to the final 6A license is quite long, getting the 6R isn't too painful at all.
So that's it, just two simple steps although the time frame to the final 6A license is quite long, getting the 6R isn't too painful at all.
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