Got My Class 2 Today

[dot dot dot]

hahaha... thanks for waking me up SE, I appreciate!

Eric

[sundaymorningstaple]

No, it's a pretty looking bike but not very comfortable to ride. Makes a great bar hopper though. I'm going for the Valk 1500.

There's a local guy in my HDB estate here in Serangoon North with a yellow & white 1500. First time I saw it I didn't even know what it was. Seems they are a lot rarer here than goldwings are.

[Strong Eagle]

Heard getting an driving lic in singapore is not so easzy..

As mentioned before it really depends on the class of the foreign licence you currently have, your experience with larger bikes, and probably the particular official you ask on any one day. What is so amazing in such an otherwise controlled country is that there really seems no firm policy regarding licence conversion for foreigners.

As it turns out I rang the licencing division of the Traffic Police yesterday, conversation went like this:

"I have just moved to Singapore from the UK and I've had a UK licence for 6 years that allows me to ride any size of bike there, so does that mean I can ride any class of bike here also?"

"Is the licence in English?"

"Yes, it's a UK licence!"

"Then it's ok. You can ride for up to 12 months but then have to convert."

"And when I convert, it will be to an unrestricted licence right, I will still be able to ride my 800 cc?"

"Yes".

So nothing provided in writing, but I am using that conversation plus the experience of others here to go ahead with reasonable level of confidence. I guess once you've been riding around on a big bike for a few months (and hopefully kept your nose clean!), then the Police would look pretty stupid downgrading you to a licence for 200 cc bike or whatever. Having said that it's also quite incredible asking someone to sit a Highway Code test after you've been riding/driving around for 12 months!!

Good luck with it anyway, let us know how you get on.

I think the law is written to give the traffic police some latitude in determining who gets the unlimited class 2 license. I think they don't want some 17 or 18 year old, who has little experience, to convert to a class 2 license, buy a Hayabusa and go kill themselves.

A lot of the laws in Singapore seem to have exceptions for exceptional circumstance and that is a good thing... a measure of flexibility instead of some of the stupid laws in the US that see everything in black and white... when the world is shades of gray.

The basic theory test is easy... 50 questions... and perhaps the traffic markings in the UK are the same as here which means you know them... but different than in the US... understanding the road markings is useful. You get one hour to take the 50 question test... I finsihed in 12 minutes and that was with a review.

[Strong Eagle]

No, it's a pretty looking bike but not very comfortable to ride. Makes a great bar hopper though. I'm going for the Valk 1500.

There's a local guy in my HDB estate here in Serangoon North with a yellow & white 1500. First time I saw it I didn't even know what it was. Seems they are a lot rarer here than goldwings are.

The estimates are that there are only 20 to 30 Valkyries total in Singapore... most have been hauled off to Malaysia.

Does the guy want to sell his Valk?

[dot dot dot]

SE, I think we need to get together for another reason.

I had motorcycle licence in Holland. Lost my driving licence, got a copy from the authorities, but it didnot state the class for motorcycles. Been waiting for more than a year to get that fixed, then we moved back to Singapore and now the Dutch authorities told me they can't track it down....

So now I am stuck, when my licence here got conversed, I didnot get the class 2 on my licence of course.

I can live with the fact that I will have to do classes for class 2 straight away, but in no way am I gonna do 2b, wait a year, do 2a and wait another year for 'full' class 2 licence.

How do I convince these guys here at the traffic police, you got any clue? Is there test riding available, do I need to write a letter to MM Lee?

ps. Beers are cold and waiting.

Eric

[sundaymorningstaple]

No, it's a pretty looking bike but not very comfortable to ride. Makes a great bar hopper though. I'm going for the Valk 1500.

There's a local guy in my HDB estate here in Serangoon North with a yellow & white 1500. First time I saw it I didn't even know what it was. Seems they are a lot rarer here than goldwings are.

The estimates are that there are only 20 to 30 Valkyries total in Singapore... most have been hauled off to Malaysia.

Does the guy want to sell his Valk?

Don't know but if you want, I'll leave a note on his bike (always under cover in the carpark not out in the weather so looks in pretty good nick)?

sms

[Strong Eagle]

Don't know but if you want, I'll leave a note on his bike (always under cover in the carpark not out in the weather so looks in pretty good nick)?

sms

That would be great. Chances are against it, but you never know.

Many thanks.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Don't know but if you want, I'll leave a note on his bike (always under cover in the carpark not out in the weather so looks in pretty good nick)?

sms

That would be great. Chances are against it, but you never know.

Many thanks.

Will do when I return home this evening.

[Scorpion]

It depends. If you are converting a foreign drivers license and you do it within one year of arriving here, it is very easy. By law, you can only convert a motorcycle license to a class 2b, 200 cc and less. However, if you are older and have lots of experience, you can ask for and get a class 2, unlimited. I did, and I know two other people (also older) who did the same thing.

Otherwise, yes a hassle... see the chart.

Ohh great, thx for the information