20 Safe Riding & Maneuvers Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. When making a normal stop on a motorcycle, you should:

   • A.Use both the front brake and the rear brake, every time✓ Answer
   • B.Use the rear brake only, so you do not pitch over the handlebars
   • C.Use the front brake only, since it does most of the work
   • D.Downshift through the gears and let engine braking stop the bike

   Two brakes produce more total braking force than either one alone, so using both shortens the stopping distance. Just as important, braking with both controls on every ordinary stop builds the automatic habit you will need in an emergency, when there is no time to think about which control to reach for.

   Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Basic Vehicle Control - Braking (use both brakes every time you slow or stop)Report a problem with this question

2. 2. Roughly how much of a motorcycle's total stopping power can the FRONT brake provide?

   • A.About 25 percent
   • B.70 percent or more✓ Answer
   • C.Less than the rear brake on most motorcycles
   • D.About 50 percent

   When you brake, the motorcycle's weight shifts forward and presses the front tire into the pavement, which increases the traction available at the front wheel while the rear wheel is unloaded. That is why the front brake supplies 70 percent or more of the stopping power, and why crash-involved riders are typically found to have under-used the front brake and over-used the rear.

   Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Braking - the front brake provides 70% or more of total stopping powerReport a problem with this question

3. 3. You must stop quickly while you are leaned over in a curve, and you have room to change your path. The best technique is to:

   • A.Increase your lean angle so the tires bite harder, then brake
   • B.Grab the front brake lever hard while still leaned over
   • C.Straighten the motorcycle up and square the handlebars first, then brake hard with both brakes✓ Answer
   • D.Keep the same lean angle and apply only the rear brake

   A tire has only a limited amount of traction, and leaning uses part of it up for cornering, leaving less available for braking. Straightening the motorcycle and squaring the handlebars returns full traction to braking; if you cannot straighten up because of traffic or the edge of the road, brake smoothly and gradually, adding pressure as the bike comes upright.

   Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Stopping Quickly - stopping in a curve (straighten and square the handlebars before maximum braking)Report a problem with this question

4. 4. You are making an emergency stop on a motorcycle equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS). You should:

   • A.Apply firm, full pressure on both brakes and hold it until you stop✓ Answer
   • B.Release the levers as soon as you feel them pulsing
   • C.Pump both brakes rapidly to help the system work
   • D.Use the rear brake only, because ABS protects the rear wheel

   ABS works by sensing an impending lockup and releasing and reapplying the brake many times per second, which is why the lever or pedal pulses. The system can only do that while you are holding pressure on, so releasing or pumping defeats it; apply firm, full pressure on both controls and hold until the motorcycle has stopped.

   Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Braking - motorcycles with anti-lock brakes (apply and hold full pressure; pulsation is normal)Report a problem with this question

5. 5. During a hard stop the wheels begin to lock. What is the correct response?

   • A.Keep the front locked for maximum drag and release the rear at once
   • B.Release the front brake immediately and completely, but keep a locked rear wheel locked until you stop✓ Answer
   • C.Release either locked wheel immediately, front or rear alike
   • D.Hold both wheels locked until the motorcycle comes to a stop

   A locked front wheel gives up steering and balance instantly, so it must be released the moment it locks and then reapplied smoothly with less pressure. A locked rear wheel does not cost you steering; if you release it while the rear is out of line with the front, the tire regains grip suddenly and can snap the motorcycle upright into a high-side crash, so keep it locked until you have stopped.

   Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Stopping Quickly - front-wheel lockup (release immediately) vs. rear-wheel lockup (keep locked until stopped)Report a problem with this question

6. 6. A rider has had several drinks and wants to be safe to ride. The ONLY thing that actually lowers blood alcohol content is:

   • A.Vigorous exercise or a large meal
   • B.The passage of time✓ Answer
   • C.A cold shower and fresh air
   • D.Strong black coffee

   The body eliminates alcohol at a fairly fixed rate of roughly one standard drink per hour, and nothing speeds that up - coffee, showers, food and exercise may make a rider feel more alert while the blood alcohol content is unchanged, which is more dangerous than feeling impaired. Judgment is the first ability alcohol degrades, so a rider is affected long before any legal limit is reached; fatigue works the same way, and only rest restores alertness.

   Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Being in Shape to Ride - Alcohol in the Body (about one drink per hour eliminated; only time sobers you)Report a problem with this question

7. 7. What is the correct sequence for taking a curve or turn?

   • A.Slow, Look, Press, Roll✓ Answer
   • B.Look, Slow, Roll, Press
   • C.Slow, Press, Roll, Look
   • D.Press, Roll, Slow, Look

   Slow - Look - Press - Roll puts the actions in the order the physics requires: set your entry speed with the throttle and brakes BEFORE the turn, look through the turn to where you want to end up, press the handgrip to lean the motorcycle, then roll on the throttle to hold a steady speed through the curve. Entering too fast and having to brake mid-corner is the classic cause of running wide, one of the most common single-vehicle motorcycle crashes.

   Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Turning - the four steps: Slow, Look, Press, RollReport a problem with this question

8. 8. To turn RIGHT at normal riding speed, you should:

   • A.Press forward on the left handgrip
   • B.Press forward on the right handgrip✓ Answer
   • C.Steer the handlebars to the right as you would a bicycle at walking pace
   • D.Lean your shoulders to the right while keeping the bike upright

   Above roughly walking speed a motorcycle turns by leaning, and countersteering is what makes it lean: pressing forward on the right grip momentarily points the front wheel slightly left, which lets the motorcycle fall to the right into the lean that carries you around the turn. The rule is simply press right, go right - press left, go left - and the faster the speed and sharper the turn, the greater the lean required.

   Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Turning - Press (countersteering: press left, lean left, go left)Report a problem with this question

9. 9. An obstacle appears in your path and you decide to swerve around it. Regarding the brakes, you should:

   • A.Brake hard at the same time you swerve, to reduce the impact if you hit it
   • B.Brake before or after the swerve, but never while swerving✓ Answer
   • C.Trail the front brake lightly all the way through the swerve
   • D.Apply the rear brake only during the swerve

   Tires have a limited amount of traction and a swerve uses nearly all of it for the sudden change in direction; adding braking on top of that demands more grip than the tires have and will cause a skid. Separate the two - if there is room, brake first and then swerve, or swerve clear and then brake. Failing to separate braking from swerving is one of the most commonly missed points on the knowledge test and a characteristic error in real crashes.

   Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Crash Avoidance - Swerving (never brake while swerving)Report a problem with this question

10. 10. The proper technique for swerving quickly around an object is to:

    • A.Lean your whole upper body hard into the swerve with the motorcycle
    • B.Press the handgrip on the side you want to go and keep your body upright over the motorcycle✓ Answer
    • C.Stand on the footrests and steer the handlebars toward the escape path
    • D.Shift your weight on the seat and let the handlebars follow

    A swerve is two quick presses: press the grip on the side you want to go to lean the motorcycle away from the hazard, then press the opposite grip to bring it back up. Keeping your body upright while the motorcycle leans beneath you, with knees against the tank and eyes on your escape path, lets the bike change direction faster and recover sooner than if you lean your whole body with it.

    Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Crash Avoidance - Swerving (press the grip on the side you want to go; keep body upright)Report a problem with this question

11. 11. In the SEE strategy taught for managing risk, the three steps stand for:

    • A.Search, Evaluate, Execute✓ Answer
    • B.Slow, Escape, Evaluate
    • C.Signal, Enter, Exit
    • D.Stop, Examine, Engage

    SEE stands for Search, Evaluate, Execute: search aggressively ahead, to the sides and behind for surface conditions, traffic controls and other road users; evaluate how those hazards could interact and what could go wrong; then execute by adjusting speed, adjusting position, and communicating your presence. It works because safe riding depends far more on the eyes and mind gathering information early than on hand and foot skills applied late.

    Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, SEE - Search, Evaluate, ExecuteReport a problem with this question

12. 12. Under good conditions, the MINIMUM following distance a rider should keep behind the vehicle ahead is:

    • A.One motorcycle length for every 10 mph of speed
    • B.Two seconds, increased to four or more seconds when conditions are less than ideal✓ Answer
    • C.Four car lengths, regardless of speed
    • D.One second, increased to two seconds at highway speed

    A two-second cushion is the minimum time needed to perceive a problem ahead and react to it, and it is measured in time rather than length so it scales automatically with speed - pick a fixed marker, and if you reach it before counting off two seconds after the vehicle ahead passed it, you are too close. Open the gap to four seconds or more when the pavement is slippery, when you cannot see past the vehicle ahead, in heavy traffic, at night, or when someone is likely to squeeze in.

    Source: MSF Motorcycle Operator Manual (21st ed.), Keeping Your Distance - minimum 2-second following distance, increased when conditions are less than idealReport a problem with this question

13. 13. You are riding on a multi-lane street with vehicles on both sides of you. The best lane position is usually:

    • A.Position 3, the right third of the lane
    • B.Position 1, the left third of the lane
    • C.Whichever side has the newest pavement
    • D.Position 2, the center of the lane✓ Answer

    Each lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel, and the right one is whichever maximizes your space cushion, your view, and your visibility to others - so with hazards on both sides, the center path keeps the greatest distance from each. No portion of the lane must be avoided as a rule: the oily strip down the center is normally no more than about two feet wide and provides adequate traction except on heavy buildups or when the road is wet.

    Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Lane Positions - three paths of travel; choose the position that maximizes space and visibilityReport a problem with this question

14. 14. Railroad tracks cross the road at a slight angle ahead of you. The safest way to cross them is to:

    • A.Brake hard just before the tracks so you cross at the lowest possible speed
    • B.Ride straight within your lane and cross them as they lie✓ Answer
    • C.Swing wide and cross them at a 90-degree angle, even if it takes you toward the lane line
    • D.Stand up on the footrests and coast across with the clutch pulled in

    For tracks that cross your path, the slight angle is not enough to catch a tire, and deliberately swerving to square them up is the greater risk because it can carry you into another lane or into oncoming traffic. Ride straight within your lane and cross as they lie. The 45-degree rule applies to a different hazard: tracks, ruts or pavement seams that run PARALLEL to your path, which you should move away from and then cross with one quick, sharp turn at an angle of at least 45 degrees.

    Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Surface Hazards - crossing railroad tracks (ride straight within your lane) and parallel tracks or seams (cross at 45 degrees or more)Report a problem with this question

15. 15. Riding over rain grooves or a metal bridge grating makes the motorcycle feel like it is weaving. You should:

    • A.Accelerate hard to power through the grooved section
    • B.Brake firmly until the weaving stops
    • C.Zigzag to keep the wheels perpendicular to the grooves
    • D.Keep a steady speed, ride straight across, and relax on the handlebars✓ Answer

    The weaving comes from the grooves guiding the tires slightly and is generally not dangerous - the motorcycle stays on course. Keep your head and eyes up, hold a steady throttle and ride straight across without fighting the bars; zigzagging or braking in an attempt to stop the sensation puts you across the grooves at changing angles and is far more likely to upset the motorcycle than the weave itself.

    Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Surface Hazards - grooved pavement and bridge gratings (maintain a steady speed and ride straight across)Report a problem with this question

16. 16. Why is pavement usually MOST slippery during the first few minutes of a rain shower after a long dry spell?

    • A.Tire pressure rises quickly when the tires are cooled
    • B.Oil and grease built up on the surface have not yet been washed away✓ Answer
    • C.Water always reduces traction more than any other contaminant
    • D.Cold rainwater hardens the rubber of the tires

    Oil, grease and rubber dust collect on dry pavement and the first rain lifts them into a slick film on top of the road before enough water falls to wash them away, so traction is at its worst right after the rain starts. On any slippery surface reduce speed before you reach it, avoid sudden changes in speed or direction, and use both brakes gently; once the rain is steady, riding in the tire tracks left by cars puts you on the part of the lane that has been wiped cleanest of water and oil.

    Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Surface Hazards - wet pavement is most slippery just after rain begins; ride in car tire tracksReport a problem with this question

17. 17. A strong, steady crosswind is blowing from your left. To hold your line you should:

    • A.Sit up tall so your body catches the wind and steadies the bike
    • B.Apply forward pressure on the right handgrip to lean away from the wind
    • C.Ride close beside large trucks so they block the wind
    • D.Apply forward pressure on the left handgrip to lean into the wind✓ Answer

    A crosswind pushes the motorcycle downwind, so you counteract it by leaning into the wind - and because a motorcycle leans through countersteering, that means pressing forward on the handgrip on the windward side, the left grip for a wind from the left. Also keep extra space around large vehicles: the blast and the sudden calm as you pass or are passed by a truck or bus can shove you sideways.

    Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Special Riding Situations - riding in strong winds (press the handgrip on the side the wind is coming from)Report a problem with this question

18. 18. Compared with the same road in daylight, riding at night requires you to:

    • A.Keep the same speed but use the high beam constantly, including behind other vehicles
    • B.Wear a lightly tinted face shield to cut oncoming headlight glare
    • C.Reduce your speed and increase your following distance✓ Answer
    • D.Follow closer so you can use the car ahead as a guide

    At night your headlight shows less of the road than daylight does and you are harder for others to see, so the distance in which you can spot and react to a hazard shrinks - reducing speed and opening up your following distance restores the time you need. Use the high beam whenever you are not following or meeting another vehicle, and never use a tinted shield or tinted glasses after dark, since they cut the little light that is available.

    Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Factors Affecting Rider Performance - night riding (reduce speed, increase following distance, high beam when not following or meeting traffic)Report a problem with this question

19. 19. When loading cargo on a motorcycle, the load should be:

    • A.Loaded heavier on one side so the motorcycle resists crosswinds
    • B.Kept low and as far forward as possible, over or ahead of the rear axle✓ Answer
    • C.Piled high against the sissy bar so it stays clear of the wheel
    • D.Placed well behind the rear axle to keep weight off the front tire

    Weight carried low keeps the center of gravity low so the motorcycle still handles predictably, and weight kept over or ahead of the rear axle stays within the wheelbase. A load stacked high or hung behind the rear axle lightens the front wheel and acts like a lever on the steering, degrading turning and braking and inviting a wobble; the load must also be balanced side to side and secured with elastic cords or a net at several points, because rope stretches and knots work loose.

    Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Carrying Loads - keep the load low, forward (over or ahead of the rear axle), distributed evenly and securedReport a problem with this question

20. 20. A group of riders is travelling together on a two-lane highway. The recommended formation is:

    • A.Single file at all times, no matter the road
    • B.Side by side in pairs, so the group takes up less road
    • C.Staggered, moving to single file for curves, turns and highway entrances and exits✓ Answer
    • D.Staggered at all times, including through curves and turns

    A staggered formation keeps the group compact while still giving every rider a full share of the lane and room to move sideways if a hazard appears; riding two abreast leaves a rider nowhere to go. The leader takes the left portion of the lane, the next rider stays at least one second back in the right portion, the third at least two seconds behind the leader in the left portion, and so on - but in curves, turns and when entering or leaving a highway the group should go single file, because each rider needs the whole lane to choose a safe path.

    Source: MSF/AAMVA Motorcycle Operator Manual, Group Riding - keep the group in a staggered formation; move to single file in curves, turns, and on highway entrances and exitsReport a problem with this question

Practice questions based on the MSF Basic RiderCourse and state motorcycle operator manuals. Requirements vary by state — study your state's official motorcycle manual before your test. About the MSF course →