When did mandatory motorcycle licences become law in California, was it in the 60's or 70's?
I had been bikes riding bikes since 1948 and the first licence test was about 20 questions, if I remember correctly.
They had a couple of traffic cones set up in parking lot that you negotiated, stopped and started and went on your merry way.
When I moved to Oregon in '90, the bike written test was more complicated, I didn't have to take a riding test because I had a valid CA licence for trucks and bikes.
I swear that the fools that created those tests had never ridden a motorcycle!
I love your "Back When Dirt Was Young" stories.
LOVE YOU, MAN!
Here's a link to a document that describes the test, including a diagram of the "course"
http://www.ducatigirl.com/california/dmv_moto_test.pdf