Thinking of taking my motorcycle test in the Summer, question is, would it be easier to do a weeks course in the UK or stay here and have a go. My German is limited, have got a Swiss driving licence as well so not sure if that and the fact that I am a resident here now would limit my choices in the UK. Anybody else had a go at doing this? cheers

Hello PerkyP, I had the same dilema and decided to go with the getting my bike licence in Switzerland option. Like you I already have the Swiss driving licence and my Lernfahrausweis (the lerner permit required to ride a Motorbike as a lerner in Switzerland.) Not all details are clear to me (yet!) But I already have a bike and I'm riding around on it-I also have a meeting with a Motorcycle teacher tomorrow, so I will you know how that goes if you like. My German is OK-I can just about scrape by with chucking the odd English word in every now and again and it seems to work. I tried speaking English with this teacher, but it didn't work out too well and I'm starting to wonder if my German is better than his English (that would be a first!) Anyway, good luck man-let me know if I can help, or even better if you get a bike, maybe we could head out for a blast!?

Martin.

I would also do everything here. It saves changing or even doing everything twice. Ring around, i am sure someone speaks english. Goodluck! I am also going for my bike licence.

Hi Martin,

Would be grateful if you could keep us up to date on your progress

As for going out for a blast- depends on what you've got or getting- LOL

I speak english and a little german, understand it very well, id be happy to help. I also have done the euro test and my advanced riders... so if you need any pointers or a practise partner let me know .

K

Quite a long time ago I did my training and test in Switzerland and at that point i spoke no German.

The ground training I did with a guy in Oerlikon who spoke decent enough English, I can dig out his email for you if you like (though im not sure if he is back in Switzerland after a round the world trip).

I then had a couple of lessons around Aarau where I took my test, again with an instructor who spoke reasonable English.

For the test itself there was no spoken communication at all between the examiner an myself, he just jumped on the back of the the second bike taking the test that day and motioned for me to follow. After following to a small side road we did some maneuvers, I just watched what maneuver the girl in front was doing and then copied (good idea to know exactly what they can ask you do to on the test) and then carried on riding. After 20 mins the examiner jumped on the back of my bike and it was simply a case of following taps on the left or right shoulder to turn and a pat on the back to stop.

Ended up back at the test center where he gave the thumbs up told me well done and gave me a ticket to get my licenses from the counter.

Hi all, so I met with this driving teacher in Regensdorf today. We spoke mainly German-but a bit in English as and when I wasn't quite following. He seemed nice enough and told me I need to make three courses of 4 hours each. 100 CHF per course. (I have to do 12 hrs in total by Law.) The first course is bike control, the second is driving in traffic and the third is all about cornering. It will all happen within the space of a month (June) and then I have until October 2010 to pass my practical test.

Plenty of time to practise then.... Oh and Perkyp: I have a Honda Dominator 650cc-don't worry, I'm a new rider so I'm a far cry from greased lightening! Let me know if/when you get a bike and want to head out.

Ride safe everyone.

Hi All,

I am waiting for my English license to chnage to Swiss, then I woul dlike to get my bike test done...I have played around on bikes but never took the test... Questions and clarifications if anyone can help.

After receiving the Lernfahrausweis I have 1 year before I take the practical test?

The size of the bike possible and the PS allowed( I am 41 now)

What are the practical tests and requirements to the best of your knowledge( 8 I believe and have 1 year to do them all in)?

How hefty will the insurance be?

I suspect that only pillion riders allowed must hold a valid license until the full skills have been passed

once you have your licence you have 6 months to take the provisional test... you can ride any size bike you like... no restrictions if you have got a full car licence. The requirement is that you do 8 hours practical riding with a recognised school . Get yourself booked in asap... insurance is always hefty here, we cant tell you how much until you know the size and type of bike and you ask your broker .. your not allowed to take pillion passengers until youve passed .

Hi Karlnmik,

So can you tell me the specifics of the 8 skill sets to be tested i.e. figure 8,slalom and emergency stopping distances and approximate distances between cones etc? this is only rough so that within the period I can practice all aspects

I still have my American driver's license with motorcycle endorsement; I am hoping both the car and the motorcycle licenses will transfer over to Swtizerland.

I've been riding motorcycles for nearly twenty years. In fact, I even sold BMW motorycycles in the US.

Unfortunatelym, since I've been in Sweden, I haven't had the time nor the money to get my motorcycle license. Besides, given the short riding season, I didn't see the point.

I read somewhere on the board (I think), that Americans (coming from America) can just turn in their license and get a Swiss one. I hope I can do the same, even though I'm coming from Sweden.

Anyone with previous experiences?

I am in the process right now and a few details/corrections: You need to do the basic training within 4 months not six (says so in my Lernfahrerausweis), if you want to make the unlimited license you bike has a restriction: Needs to have at least 35kw/48hp and needs to be a two seater. Insurance depends extremely on the model, ranging from something as 200 a year till several thousands for the superbikes.

The basic training within the first 4months goes for 12 hours if you have no other licence i.e car driver. The cost of having a teacher is about 90fr. per hour. I have just started and am really scared of giving gas. Being able to take off without killing the bike has been a cool step. I still love it and drive around with a huge grin on my face.

Does anyone know where you can get the basic Swiss training course done in or around Geneva? Or know of any English speaking instructors in or around Geneva?
thanks

Hi there ,
I got a 125 scooter last year and love it , did the 8 hour test and so on ....
now I'd like to get an unlimited license , and think that I will do the test in the UK. Does anyone know if there are/could be difficulties getting that recognised over here ?

[QUOTE=jeverett486;479660]I still have my American driver's license with motorcycle endorsement; I am hoping both the car and the motorcycle licenses will transfer over to Swtizerland.

Your USA motorcycle license will work here, no need for class or testing.