What are the requirements for a large-displacement motorcycle license?
3 Answers
In China, motorcycle driver's licenses are not categorized by engine displacement. Here's why: 1. Motorcycle licenses are primarily related to vehicle type rather than displacement. Currently, China has three types of motorcycle licenses: F, E, and D. 2. An F license only permits riding light motorcycles with engine displacements below 50CC. An E license allows riding any two-wheeled motorcycle regardless of displacement. A D license permits riding all two-wheeled and three-wheeled motorcycles. Therefore, with an E license, you can ride all two-wheeled motorcycles, including large-displacement models, as there is no separate license specifically for large-displacement motorcycles.
Last time I accompanied a friend to take the large-displacement motorcycle license test, I realized there are quite a few requirements and details to pay attention to. First, you must be at least 18 years old and in good health, with no conditions like epilepsy or heart disease that could affect operation. When registering, you need to bring your ID card and medical examination report to the DMV to submit documents. After their review, they’ll also require you to take a color blindness test and vision check at a designated hospital—wearing glasses is fine as long as your vision reaches 0.8 or above. The test consists of Theory (Subjects 1 and 4) and Practical (Subjects 2 and 3). My friend’s instructor at the driving school kept emphasizing during the pole-training session: For the Class E license (corresponding to motorcycles above 250cc), you must practice figure-8 weaving on an 800-pound training bike. Poor coordination between the throttle and clutch will result in an immediate fail. It’s recommended to start practicing two to three months in advance. During the test, you must wear a helmet and protective gear. The roadside parking segment is the most challenging for stability—don’t end up like the guy at the next testing site who crossed the line three times and had to retake the test.
Before getting a license for large-displacement motorcycles, it's essential to understand the vehicle classification. Models above 400cc require an E-class license. When I enrolled in driving school, I specifically consulted traffic regulations and found the process quite standardized: the theory test covers traffic laws and safety knowledge with a question bank of over 800 items – two weeks of practice should suffice. The practical test has three challenging components: hill starts requiring half-clutch RPM control, maintaining balance on a narrow beam for 30 seconds, and the most demanding part – emergency braking, which requires stopping from 40 km/h within three seconds without falling. The total cost is around 2,000 RMB, including twenty practical training sessions. Always choose accredited driving schools and avoid cheaper alternatives. A reminder for out-of-town applicants: while driver's licenses are now nationally networked, retests must be taken at the original registration location to avoid unnecessary trips.
