Do you intend to pass a test? Without a licence to ride a motorcycle any insurances to have will be invalid which will be bad news for yourself and anyone you injure.

The OP is in Peru' NOW. Test? You worry too much.
Have you ridden or driven throughout S. America? Any license will do, mostly what authorities want to see is your passport. They don't care about licenses. But a car license is fine, valid for car or bike in most places.

Insurance is a good idea and often required upon entry to most countries. So if it's issued to you, it's valid regardless of license status ... which they can't check or decipher in any case.

First, I don't know whether Peru has a specific motorcycle license. Apparently, no one else here does either, or I assume they'd have said so. The OP can check that out, since it'll have some applicability should he, for example, wish to buy insurance. It might also be important should he get in any sort of accident.

Second, I do know that some countries in South America do indeed check that you've got a motorcycle license (or endorsement) when they admit you at borders. I've been through all of them, and most more than once. I can't remember which ones did or did not, since it had no relevance to me (as an endorsed rider).

Last, the majority of countries in South America did not require insurance at borders last I was riding down there (±5 years ago). However, it's widely assumed that even if you do buy insurance it will be considered invalid if you are not licensed to ride a motorcycle at the time of an accident. I can't confirm this, but I'd not blithely assume it's untrue.

The original question was about learning to ride, rather than obtaining the right documentation. I think those of us who've been riding for a long time might tend to forget how long it took when we first learned...and how dangerous this really was at times. I'd suggest the OP be really, really careful for at least the first days, weeks and months. Practice basic skills a lot, and do it far from the chaotic traffic of the cities and the suicide derbies of the main highways. If there are riding schools in Peru, take advantage. If there are not, figure out another way to get some instruction in the basics. Plus read some of the ridiculous number of blogs by people whose South American trips and entire lives were altered by accidents.

Hope that's helpful to the OP or others.

Mark

Wow thanks for the input so far guys. Yes, I am already in Peru and I have found myself a safety course here that I am definitely going to take. I also am DEFINITELY going to take things as slow as possible. I'll push myself, but I'm never going to want to find myself in a situation where I feel way over my head (willing to drive like a grandma).

I know I shouldn't worry too much about all the bad things that probably won't happen, but there's still that little voice in the back of my head warning me of all the potential dangers. Is this natural?

Is it natural to see potential dangers? well yes! Just keep it in mind and you will be fine. I would be more concerned if you didn't see any danger!

As to being Crazy, what's wrong with that anyway. My family think I'm crazy I'm proud of that

You will have the time of your life.

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Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway

Is this you Corey??

To all the others: YES, in Peru you DO need a car driver license from your home country (while you are on a tourist visa). That is good for all cars and pickups, PLUS all motorcycles 250cc and OVER. Why you would need a separate license for smaller bikes is BEYOND ME!!

Here in Peru we help people get Peruvian registered bikes, sort everything out and prep them (the bike and/or the rider! ) for the long haul.

Toby

Haha you got me Toby!

And to everyone else, thanks for the encouragement. It's so refreshing when all I get is scorn, disappointment, and worry from my friends and family back home. You guys are the best!

If your wife/son/daughter get hit and crippled or killed by an un-licenced foreign motorcyclist in California can we all have a good together?

I'll ask again since you don't seem to want to answer the question ...
have you ridden a motorcycle anywhere in mexico, Cent. Am or S. America?
Have you ever ridden a bike outside the UK? How many accidents have you been in or been witness to in Latin America ... or have even read about here or on other forums?

Don't assume everything works the same as the UK ... it doesn't. Cross that border and you're in a Foreign country!

OK, you have the advantage that you have ridden in South America, I have not. I have ridden extensively in Europe and am a member of the oldest touring club in the world. Several of my fellow members have ridden a lot in South America and some have had accidents or have first hand knowledge of incidents that have occurred.
My point, that your Gung-Ho attitude seems to miss, is the having a licence means you have a proven ability to handle the motorcycle in a safe and legal manner and do not pose a threat to other road users, it's not just a piece of paper. What most of the travelling community seem to miss is that it's not all about you, it's about respecting the right to safety of every person.

Gung Ho? Read my 1st post in this thread. I was 1st to suggest practice and taking serious learning to ride to survive.

Regards your comment that a license means you've got skills, been trained and indicates ability to handle a motorcycle. Once again, better step out of the UK mate.
In California (we have most licensed motorcyclists of any USA state) has a riding test that is a joke. Tests nothing really. It's not like the UK or Europe where they REALLY test your riding ability and require serious training. Only kids under 18 must take a course before being issued a MC license.

Most USA states are the same ... the bike test is simply riding round a circle, or riding up and back. That's it, you're done. A joke. Also, for your info, we have NO tiered licensing system like UK. A 16 year old who has NEVER ridden a bike can go into a dealer and buy a Hayabusa. (180 MPH top speed)

It's quite rare that a rider hits a pedestrian. Usually other way round where biker gets nailed. But of course care must be taken, insurance should be in place. Practice practice practice!

Drivers license "training" is well overrated. I had to take additional courses to learn the skills I felt I need. I can think of heaps of awesome riders that were riding bikes well before they were "allowed" to and are way better than all the riders that only ever did a license test and associated "training". Hell, Max Verstappen is driving in the formula 1 and only just got his drivers license last week!!!

To the OP. Go for it mate. Use common sense. We did our first trip when we didn't didn't know shit about riding (my Mrs couldn't remember which was the clutch) or bikes. Learnt along the way.

Feel free to have a laugh about it below. We put it up because we thought it would be funny for others, and to show the "nay sayers" that adventure comes with risks but that they are manageable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv4XA3o3nz4

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Try this in Chile or Argentina and your bike will be taken off you. Believe it or not you do need a licence in these countries.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

I don't think you can prepare for all types of wrecks and accidents. My first was easy--wet city road, idiot doing left turn and stopping when he saw me. The worst--nail in rear tire on the interstate in rush hour traffic. Lucky me, the guy I had just passed had new breaks and good reflexes. I didn't do the fall down on wet grass lesson, but it will probably help you to learn how to set the bike down. Just try to be careful and remember, if someone runs over you, they get their last Driving While Drunk conviction erased from their record. Staying paranoid can keep you alive.

Brought a ~20 year old 750cc from my brother, my first. Completed a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course (highly recommended) and a couple of months later took a test to get my motorcycle endorsement added to my driver license. Rode to work a lot and took a couple of over night trips (including a Horizons Unlimited meeting.)

18 months after starting to ride, I left on a 4 month trip from New Jersey to Costa Rica and back. I was still getting comfortable with turns when I got home. A year or so later I took a performance turns class and now enjoy the curves. =)

Get some safety training and experience in the saddle, but mostly just do it.

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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride