What an adventure. I am truly cursed. There is some higher power that does not want me to ride motorcycle. Today, I took my motorcycle license test (the road portion). It was my third attempt at the test. Apparently, it's normal for a person to take it 2 or 3 times before passing.

I got up this morning, got ready, fired up the SV650 and drove to work. A while later, I fired up the motorcycle to drive to the testing site. Then I fired up the motorcycle to drive to the start line of the test.

The examiner checked my brake lights, turn signals, etc. She said "Shut off the engine while I explain the test to you." So I did. After a bit of talk, she said "go whenever you're ready." So I put it in neutral and pressed the ignition. I didn't even turn over all the way! The battery was practically dead.

This has only happened to me one other time - right before the 2nd time I took the test. What are the chances of that?

I believe that before the 2nd attempt at the exam, I accidentally left the parking lights on. The "P" is right next to "Lock" on the ignition. I don't know what happened this time around, because I usually check that the ignition is in the "Lock" position.

In front of all those people, I wheeled my bike off to the side and let it sit for a while, hoping it would start after sitting for a few minutes. Two or three other people took their test while I stood there. Then I tried to start it again. It hardly made a noise when I pressed the button.

Luckily, the "loaner" from the local Honda dealership that people use to take the test was there. While the examiner did paperwork, I cruised around the course on the single-cylinder, 125cc bike and decided to try the test with it.

It was a piece of cake. I stopped too slow (that bike has terrible brakes compared to the Suzuki) and knocked over one cone. But that wasn't enough to fail me.

To get my bike back to the apartment, two guys there helped me push start it. A bit humiliating, but it got the bike home.

All that trouble for a little "M" on my license.