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French rider arriving in SF

snyfer

snyfer

New member
Joined
Nov 18, 2010
Location
San Francisco / Paris (France)
Moto(s)
Triumph Sprint RS
French rider just arrived in SF

Hi there!

I just arrived from France a couple weeks ago, and I'm already missing the SV650 I've been riding for 4 years both on roads (and we've got a bunch of amazing roads in central/eastern/southern France!) and track.

As I'm intending to stay here from 4 months to a year, I'm considering buying one here... but I must say I'm a bit lost!

Do I need a californian driving licence? What kind of registration is required after buying a bike? What about insurances? Where can I park the bike (obviously not on the sidewalks... but where then? Is it free?)

Etc etc...

Any information will be greatly appreciated, and don't hesitate donc correct my english if it's wrong!

Edit : and I've seen about your EuroBARF 2011 trip... if you have any question about riding in France, just ask!
(and my personnal advice is to consider switching from Alps to Massif Central/Auvergne/Ardeche/Cevennes, these roads are just incredibly twisting but with much less "sharps turn then full throtle until the next sharp turn" than the Alps)
 
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Welcome to the Bay Area!

I'll try to answer the best I can.

License:
Yes you need a California Driver License, class M1 is for motorcycle. Class C is for cars if you're planning on driving as well. For the M1, there are two tests: written (traffic laws) and skills (slow speed maneuvers in a parking lot which i'm sure aren't a problem for you.) The Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) is where to obtain the licenses.

Registration:
If you purchase a bike from a private seller, you need to obtain the Certificate of Title (aka the pink slip because of its color.) Then you take that to the DMV to change the ownership of the bike, thus register it to you.

If you purchase a new bike from a dealership, they will take care of the registering process for you.

So yes, you probably need two trips to the DMV which doubly sucks!

Insurance:
You can buy insurance online. Google 'motorcycle insurance' and a shit load will show up.

Parking:
You park on the streets or in garages... There are some designated bike parking zones which may or may not be free. If you see a stall for paying, it's not free. ;) I don't live in the SF. That's all I know.

Good luck. And welcome to BARF.
 
Actually you may be in luck. I think it depends on whether you have a job here. From http://www.caldrive.com/law.html :

If you are temporarily visiting California, you can use your out-of-state or foreign driver's license for as long as it's valid where it was issued — you do not need to register with the DMV or do anything beyond making sure your license is valid and current. In most cases, (e.g. Western European countries, Australia, most of SE. Asia, etc.) foreigners do not really need one of those additional International Driver's License as well, but if your license looks exotic, it would probably help to have one just in case (this is the license issued by the relevant Automobile Association or Government body in your country that certifies in several languages that you have a license in your own country. You must also have your normal license with you if you use the International License).

If you intend working here, or establishing a long-term residence here, then technically you must get a California driver's license after ten day's residence ....
Click to expand...

Welcome to the U.S., California and BARF!
 
thanks to both of you :)

I was considering taking a californian licence because it seems that insurances doesn't like my french licence that much, even if I bet I struggled much harder to obtain it than you did for yours :D

about parking, I go to school in fisherman's wharf... I guess it won't be free :/
 
:newbie You'll love it here!

We love riding there too! Check out the EuroBARF link in my sig.
 
Welcome
Yes you can ride on your foreign license but the bike will need to be registered AND insured in your name. That's where it get's sticky. The insurance will want a CA liscense.
PM me if you want it really broken down.
 
Happy Hornet said:
The insurance will want a CA liscense.
Click to expand...
No, it will not, otherwise every non-resident with a pied-a-terre and registered and insured vehicle in California would have to have two or more driver licenses in the US, which is "strictement defendu", like our newly arrived friend would say.

And it's even more strictly prohibited to dispense legal advice without being a laywer, so, not being a lawyer, everything I say is not legal advice.

The CA DMV says you must obtain a CA license within 10 days of becoming a CA resident. However, you can always argue that a 4-month assignment --like a tax professional temporarily in CA during tax season-- doesn't constitute residency, and may get away with it if a LEO asks to see your license. A one-year assignment, though, may be a bit more difficult to explain your laissez-faire and may get you in trouble.

Neither here or there, driver and motorcycle licenses in CA are a walk in the park compared to Europe. I compiled these sites (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351158&highlight=permit+test) and found 3 iPod apps. It's a no-brainer, do it, and it's one less thing in your mind while enjoying your rides.

Bienvenu, and drop a note if you care for a group ride.

Marc.
 
I have yet to find an Insurance company that will insure on a foreign license. If you know one it would be very helpful to share.
It is 100% LEGAL to ride on the French M endorsement it only gets sticky with respect to insuring the bike in YOUR name.
 
Welcome to barf snyfer :thumbup

And to the USA / Bay Area... I think you picked a good spot to land!

Good luck in school and have fun on our roads and on :barf
 
Happy Hornet said:
I have yet to find an Insurance company that will insure on a foreign license. If you know one it would be very helpful to share.
It is 100% LEGAL to ride on the French M endorsement it only gets sticky with respect to insuring the bike in YOUR name.
Click to expand...

You said the insurer will require a CA license, which it will not. A license from any US state or Canadian provinces is sufficient with Progressive. There's even an option to choose "International" for the field "License State". I'm adding a fictitious driver into my Progressive policy as I write this.

In the '90s I lived in Europe, owned a car and a bike, had a foreign license and was properly insured with Zurich. In '95, I moved to Texas and bought and insured a car with State Farm with a foreign license. Things may have changed in 15 years, but I can't imagine that the thousands of short-term temporary foreign visitors, students, workers, etc, that buy vehicles in their names and want insure those vehicles have to get a US license. I bet if we dig, many insurers offer special riders.

As a matter of fact, I wonder if I must have a license to own and insure the vehicle in my name. If I were a rich minor or elderly without a license, I still can buy a Rolls-Royce and hire a chauffeur to drive it. I damn sure don't want to my Rolls registered in my chauffeur's name, because otherwise it's his.

And back to easier thoughts, the DMV all but gives licenses away. Get it!
 
welcome Snyfer, come out to a meet in SF.

there is one tonight, and you will meet many people from the area, that ride as well. they can point you in the direction of great roads, back roads, twisties, and get togethers that are a ton of fun.

see these links for tonights (wednesday) meets, although I summize, we'll be at Benders bar and grill tonight for most of the festivities. :D
 
I didn't expect so many replies within just a day, even more considering that my initial post is a week old :D


I went to the DMV yesterday and passed both C and M written tests without even opening the handbooks, so they were a "walk in the park", indeed :teeth

As I do already own a French license, they gave me a temporary Californian one... now I have to figure out how to pass the "behind the wheel" tests, I've understood that I'd need to come with my own vehicles.. would it work with a rented one?

(Especially a rental car, as I don't plan to buy one)


I surely would be happy to join you for a ride, but I first need to buy a bike and to have all my gear sent from France (about that, what would be your advice? Leather or winter textile? I'm not used to the bay area climate...)
 
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Snyfer what is absolutely CRAZY in the US is that you can get an M endorsement ON A FREAKING 125cc scooter :wow I am not making this up.
 
Bienvenue a la Bay Area! C'est merveilleux ici!
Hope to see you at one of the bike meets!
 
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If you need a vehicle for the DMV auto test, let me know. If you can drive a manual you can borrow my truck. If you want to borrow a motorcycle...hmmmm, sorry I can't help you. :p
 
That's very kind of you!

as an European driver, I surely can drive manual cars... I don't know about trucks, though :teeth

Too bad for the bike, the superduke is one of the few on top of my "to-try" list :x
 
welcome.
Your written English is better than many posting on this site.

One of our occasional poster is another French guy, Eric Gauthier, he has a shop in Mountain View. He was like on the French Enduro team or something. Pretty great rider. Good guy too, if you need to speak French with someone...
 
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