Fwiw, in California it’s customary to do a day long motorcycle safety course in lieu of taking an on road test with the DMV, which is noted as having some aspects that are unusually difficult.
I did both, but the rules have changed since then. When I did the CA DMV motorcycle test it was super easy. Ride straight between two white lines, then around a full circle between the lines, then back between another set of lines - all you have to do is stay in the lines. Took all of about 1 minute. The trick was to use a small motorcycle, you need a 250cc or above for M1 so I borrowed a 250. Piece of cake.
When I did it (long ago) I think there was a cone weave as well. I started off thinking that test was a poor representation of what riding was actually like, but came to understand that for a quick test, it probably mapped pretty well to basic MC skills.
I did it about 15 years ago, but I think this is what I was referring to - I had just purchased an SV650 and was told the test would be virtually impossible to do with the bike (and most bikes) due to some low speed maneuverability portion that was only feasible with the small cruisers they use in the safety schools.
My instructor claimed the DMV had done this on purpose to encourage people to take the safety course, how they can't force people to do one by law so this is how they got around it.
