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Riding a Motorbike without Motorbikelicense Riding a Motorbike without Motorbikelicense
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  • 4 Post By mark manley
  • 3 Post By beebeer54
  • 1 Post By krzl

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  #1  
Old 27 Nov 2019
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Riding a Motorbike without Motorbikelicense
Hi,
i already posted the "Buying a MB between Gabon and Namibia" Thread and received some great and helpful answers.
What i still couldn´t find out and what´s giving me a headache, is that i don´t have a license for motorbikes and if this will bring me in trouble.
I´m allowed to drive trucks, tractor, trailer and so on. But not a small 125cc machine which i would like to buy somewhere in the region.
The IDP and the national card license (German) has pictograms which makes it easy for everybody to find out what is it all about.
Has anybody driven there under such circumstances or can tell if i must be concerned if i drive without moto-license?
i´m happy about every hint!
Chris
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  #2  
Old 28 Nov 2019
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The police will be bothered particularly if you have an accident with no licence which in many countries can land you in jail. Apart from that if you try claiming on your travel as in medical insurance for treatment if you have an accident and the first thing your insurance company will ask for is a copy of your full motorcycle licence, no licence and you are not covered.
Finally ask yourself would you be happy for an African to ride around Germany with no licence?
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  #3  
Old 28 Nov 2019
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I would add to Mark's very valid points, don't consider riding a motorbike at all in that part of the world if you're not an experienced rider, doesn't matter how much you've driven other vehicles. African traffic and terrain is not the place for a noobie.
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  #4  
Old 28 Nov 2019
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One thing that Mark and Tomkat didn't mention is that you probably enjoy the trip a great deal more if you have some experience and that can be gained whilst learning to ride in a safe environment. Think back to when you first started driving trucks with trailers - you wouldn't want to learn to drive one of those in a completely foreign environment.
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  #5  
Old 28 Nov 2019
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Don't know about Germany, but in some places IDPs only recognise full licenses to ant form of provisional license doesn't count
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  #6  
Old 29 Nov 2019
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Thanks a lot for the solid advices. Much appreciated.
I´m not giving up completely but more and more i think about plans B and C.
I really would like to avoid public transport this time and enjoy the freedom of my own vehicle/ means of transport. Maybe it´s the bicycle...i will see.
Thanks again!
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  #7  
Old 30 Nov 2019
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Why not do the obvious and learn to ride a motor bike and get a license?
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  #8  
Old 30 Nov 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beebeer54 View Post
Why not do the obvious and learn to ride a motor bike and get a license?
Seriously krzl, it takes 3 months maximum if you hang in there, 6 weeks if you are talented, 1 week if you take a holiday to take a "Schnellkurs" if one is available near you.

For 1500 Euro tops your in the clear, I really don't understand why you're spending time asking this question when you should be taking motorcycle lessons.
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  #9  
Old 30 Nov 2019
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I watched a video blog of a couple doing it by public transport and it looked like an absolute nightmare. If you’re going to do something especially travelling Africa do it properly. Like bee54 said get a license IMO it’s a no brainer
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  #10  
Old 30 Nov 2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by krzl View Post
Maybe it´s the bicycle...i will see.
Not a bad idea, I now make more journeys by bicycle than motorcycle including a couple of long tours, better than backpacking with more independence but you can always put it and yourself on a bus if needed. What out for those lorry drivers in Africa and be prepared to get off of the road at any time to avoid being run over.
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  #11  
Old 3 Dec 2019
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Originally Posted by Herr_Bünzli View Post
Seriously krzl, it takes 3 months maximum if you hang in there, 6 weeks if you are talented, 1 week if you take a holiday to take a "Schnellkurs" if one is available near you.

For 1500 Euro tops your in the clear, I really don't understand why you're spending time asking this question when you should be taking motorcycle lessons.
Everything true, no doubt. I understand the points.
Just to explain: Due to certain circumstances i want/ must start around march. When inquired at the driving schools i was told that season for practical lessions has stopped ´til march.
As said the idea was simply to avoid public transport this time (did it a lot on the continent). I´m actually not planning to drive a moto elsewhere. Is´s simply for this idea. All this alongside with the price makes a motolicense somehow not the best idea for me.
But in generel i agree, just getting the license would be the solution.
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  #12  
Old 4 Dec 2019
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Back in 2009 I did a trip on locally purchased 125cc from Yaounde to Brazzaville. Though I did have a driving license, I did not knew how to ride it (including how to shift gears). I have had some problems with my low skills, exactly 12 times I have landed hard, damaged a bit the bike, not much myself.
This was an alternative to public transport on the west side of Africa. Doable, with risks.
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  #13  
Old 7 Dec 2019
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Riding a bike isn't just about balancing the thing and getting it to stop and go. There's a whole mental approach to it that helps you to keep out of trouble, and lessons I learned when being trained still ring in my head today. Half of that mental thing is predicting what other road users will do, very helpful in the chaos you will find on the roads in some countries.
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  #14  
Old 12 Dec 2019
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Just a small thought, get a local motobike driving license. It will be much cheaper and they also provide international riding licenses depending the country that allows you to ride in other african countries.


Greetings,
Chris
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  #15  
Old 16 Dec 2019
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Alright, thanks again for all the hints and support! Much appreciated!
For now i decided to skip the motobike idea and try it via bicycle. I think organizing the motobike thing will consume plenty of time and money and with some points i´m still uncertain. Plan B just feels better for now.
Cheers, Chris
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