imported post
It is a bit better now than when I was a kid. I was 14 when I got my Cushman, just had to pay the $3 and I had a permit. At 16 I took my drivers license test in an old pickup and then hopped on my Triumph 650 which were the wheels I had. Learned to ride it by trial and error, luckily the old bike already had battle scars so the ones I added didn't show all that much. Wouldn't have had to wear a helmet except my father was assigned to Edwards AFB.
Things are a little tighter now. I was surprised when I took my MC performance exam a year ago, didn't have to have one when I last owned bike. Out of 12 of us four failed. (no it wasn't me) Washington State does have subsidized MC training, that's the justification they have for changing more for MC endorsement that my CDL. The problem is that they have a waiting period of several months for a class and that's in the winter. One other oddity is that they used to have more than one class of MC license depending on displacement. Recently they dropped that requirement, so if you want to you can take a Honda 50 and pass your test then jump on a Goldwing. Weird ain't it? The best reason I heard when asking DMV was that a single class license was cheaper and took less paperwork and time. Most of the other reasons given when I asked was, "who knows?", which is the typical bureaucrat answer.
On reflection though, I think people should just hop on and learn. If you're dumb enough to think you don't need any training then take your risk. Should be mandatory for those under legal age to have training, but adults should be able to make up their own minds. Mind you I don't like seat belt and helmet laws either except for kids even though I always use both. Don't need the great nanny government to tell me how to live as long as I'm not hurting someone else.