motorcycles in France

[ROV]

I have been looking into getting a new bike. There's about a million different stories I've heard about liscences, displacement limits, the lot. I was told that I would be limited to a 125cc with my drivers liscence (which is valid here from the state I'm from in the US). Otherwise I have to go through the whole long term, potentially 2 year process just to ride something of larger dispalcement. Is this true? Has anyone here gone through the process?
I'm not looking for a vespa or something, rather a proper motorcycle. Right now my main point of reference are the french nationals I work with, and as expats there's always something different we have to comply with. I figured my local prefecture would be a good place to start, but before I show up I figure its best to be prepared. Most of the online articles I've read are closer to heresay rather than fact, and not worth relying on. Most (if not all) of the official French websites are biased towards nationals (naturally), with no real information for expats. Has anyone here gone through the process. Ideally I would just like to go out, purchase a new bike, insure it, don my lid and be off. Any non EU expats here try it before? How did it go? Could you just go out and buy a bike? Thanks in advance. ROV

[Bevdeforges]

The laws regarding motorcycles are in the process of changing. They're talking about subjecting "two wheeled" vehicles (which I assume would include these new three wheeled motorcycles I've been seeing around) to inspections ("controles techniques") every few years.

Anyhow, the official word on license for motos is here: Permis de conduire A : permis moto - Service-public.fr. Service-public is always a good, authoritative site for regulations.
Cheers,
Bev

[ROV]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

The laws regarding motorcycles are in the process of changing. They're talking about subjecting "two wheeled" vehicles (which I assume would include these new three wheeled motorcycles I've been seeing around) to inspections ("controles techniques") every few years.

Anyhow, the official word on license for motos is here: Permis de conduire A : permis moto - Service-public.fr. Service-public is always a good, authoritative site for regulations.
Cheers,
Bev

Bev, Thanks for the heads up!