ATV Florida Forum

Hey everyone, anyone know if riding a street bike without a motorcycle endorsement is a big problem or what the punishment is if you get caught?  My dads buddy has a street bike that I really want to test out but since I dont have my endorsement he isn't comfortable with me leaving his neighborhood on it. 
Thanks in advance.

Its the same as driving a car with no drivers license... Illegal!!

Could get you a free night at the gray bar inn! :O

if u do get pulled be nice  u dont go to jail    u get slap on the hand and told dont do it agian

$ 238 fine for no endorsment if he decides to write it  or just a warning you decide  ;D

You almost make it sound pleasant Matt, truth is it can go a number of ways.  Personally I wouldn't risk it these days, not to say I didn't do it all the time 15 yrs ago, if your seriously considering getting a bike you should just get the endorsment anyway... just my $.02

The easiest thing to do is to go take the written test and get the temporary permit. It does not cost anything until you actually take the final test. The permit is good for 90 day and you can get a few extensions after those days are up.

If you do chance it and the cop plays by the rules you go to jail directly to jail and do not get to pass go.

You choose your way..

I was caught without an endorsement and it cost me a couple hundred dollars.  Cop said he could have the bike towed since I wasn't qualified to operate it.  He let me go because I was in the Smokie Mountains, 900 miles from home and agreed with my argument that having a Class A endorsement trumps a motorcycle endorsement (even though the law doesn't read that way).  Luckily, since it was a federal ranger, it did not count against my license and there is no state record of the infraction.  I will say, though, I logged nearly 20,000 miles without having an endorsement.  I would highly recommend getting it since the consequences could be severe.  I know I wouldn't want a tow truck driver hooking up my bike and hauling it away while I got a chauffered ride to the police station.  :o

FYI. There aren't any temp permits any more in Florida. You have to take a motorcycle training course to get your endorsement.

I pulled a guy over a couple weeks ago with no endorsement. Caught him flying down the highway and hopped behind him. Ran his info and he had just got out of prison a week earlier for Auto Grand Theft. I didn't bust his balls I just lectured him on making responsible decisions. He was cool and appreciative for the lecture. Could have easily cuffed him up... But why would I do such a thing when it took me well over a year to get mine when I rode streetbikes. I let him go....

Thanks for all of the info everyone. I really want to get a bike in which case I would definitely get the endorsement, but I probably wont get one anytime soon and by testing out my buddies bike i just mean like a 20 minute or so ride.

And he's a car thief, not to hard to imagine he'd steal atvs and or motorcycles as well. I'd have banged him till he bled  >:(

I know  once  a  thief  always  a  thief  but  there  is  the  slim  chance  he  has  changed  so  dont  always  be  quick  to  judge  someone  just  my  2  cents  !!!!!

I rode street bikes for years with no endorsement.............and it ended up costing me in tickets. The only reason I stayed out of jail the last time I was caught was because it was an accident that wasn't my fault and they thought my leg was broke. Cop went to the hospital with me and told me if it wasn't broke I was going to jail. He changed his mind and attitude when he decided it would kill his chance at asking out my sister (which he spent more time doing than writing my tickets). Leg wasn't broken and my sister never called the guy - but you might not get so lucky. don't ride without the required endorsement  ;)

I guess you have lived the perfect life and have never done anything wrong. He paid his debt to society by doing his time. The bike came back to his dad and when I talked to him he was upfront about his past. We all have done things in the past we're not so proud of. I have anyway....

people do change it takes longer for some and others never do. great attitude Ride1Rob.

I got stopped in a parking lot on my brother's bike cause the tag had fallen off.  I had no motorcycle endorsement.  The cop wrote me a ticket and let me go.  I got a learners pemit and showed the judge.  Cost me about $200 for the court cost.  I am 5'10" 140lbs and did the bike test on a Yamaha Road Star Warrior.  Tester didnt think I would pass. 

It was a nice bike until my brother(bike owner) flipped it several times after loosing it going 80-90 around a corner and walked away with a bruised chest from the mirror.  He had on his gear and it was the second wreck.  His wife wont let him have another bike but I told him he can keep it at my house.

People I know of that ride without a license usually get out of the first one with just money.  But they get in major pain if they are caught a second time.  Really, if it is just a test drive, go for it.  If you gonna actually ride, you need the MSF course.  It's that simple.

Yeah, me too.  One time, there was this over-weight redhead I met at 3 AM and... oh wait, off topic and not a family-friendly story.   :D