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START
your ride
IMPROVE
your ride
ADVANCE
your ride

START
your ride
IMPROVE
your ride
ADVANCE
your ride

Start your Ride

Improve Your Ride

Advance Your Ride

Test Your Motorcycling Knowledge

Test yourself with this 48-question quiz on the basics of motorcycling. These questions were drawn from the Basic RiderCourse classroom session and handbook.

Step 1 of 48

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Start the Quiz:

An off-highway motorcycle:

Performs well on public streets and highways.

Has turn signals and mirrors.

Primarily is used for off-highway recreation and competition.

Before risks can be managed, a rider must:

Develop superior riding skills.

Consider the consequences of actions.

Wear the minimum protective gear.

To have a margin of safety means to:

Keep a 12 second following distance.

Create time and space.

Ride where there is little traffic.

The primary function of helmet is to:

Increase visibility.

Keep warm on cooler days.

Protect the head and brain.

Which of the following stickers indicates a helmet manufactured to meet federal requirements?

DOT

AMA

USA

Good advice for cold weather riding is to:

Dress in layers.

Wear bulky gloves.

Wear clothing with lots of zippers.

A good way to remember the pre-ride inspection checklist is to think:

Tires, wheels, engine.

T-CLOCS.

Parts and controls.

The throttle is:

The right handgrip.

Operated by the right foot.

Used in a wrist-up position.

The clutch lever is used to:

Connect power from the engine to the rear wheel.

Increase brake pressure to the rear tire.

Initiate a low-speed turn.

The shift pattern on a motorcycle is:

Different for each motorcycle.

Indicated in the instrument cluster.

Set up to shift to higher gears by lifting the gearshift lever.

A way to remember the engine start procedure is:

T-CLOCS

Thumb/Key/Throttle

FINE-C

The friction zone is used to:

Control starting out from a stop.

Increase the ability to brake.

Help keep feet stable when stopped.

Most of a motorcycle's stopping power is related to its:

Front brake.

Clutch lever.

Engine displacement.

A motorcyclist generally divides a road lane into:

Halves

Thirds

Quarters

The recommended distance to look ahead to identify hazards is:

As far as you can see.

12 seconds.

The 2-second following distance.

A proper technique for going over an obstacle is:

Brake while crossing the obstacle.

Speed up prior to crossing the obstacle.

Rise off the seat.

Overriding the headlights occurs when:

Riding too fast for conditions at night.

The high beam headlight is not working.

Oncoming car lights are aimed improperly.

Linked brakes are brakes that:

Will not lock up.

Automatically adjust to surface conditions.

Cause both brakes to be applied if either is used.

When it is necessary to respond to a close call, a rider should.

Separate braking and swerving.

Brake first, then swerve.

Swerve first, then brake.

The surface of a road is most slippery when it first begins to rain because:

The motorcycle tires need to be wet to work best.

Other drivers are not paying attention.

Water mixes with dirt and oil.

A correct procedure for a passenger to follow is to:

Lean in the opposite direction of a turn.

Put feet down when stopped at an intersection.

Look over the rider's shoulder in the direction of turns.

A good response to a dog that chases after you is to:

Kick at it.

Upset its timing.

Stop until it goes away.

The two primary effects of alcohol on riding are:

Vision and judgement.

Coordination and balance.

Seeing and hearing.

Which of the following is not considered one drink:

One ounce of wine.

12 ounces of beer.

One shot of whiskey.

The best way to intervene when someone has had too much to drink is to:

Provide vital statistics.

Plead with the safety sense of the person.

Enlist the help of others.

Primary differences between cars and motorcycles are:

Stability and vulnerability

Speed and power

Style and performance

Who is primarily responsible for a motorcyclist's safety?:

The motorcycle industry

The rider

The government

The primary cause of motorcycle crashes is:

An interaction of factors

Road surface conditions

Poor mechanical condition of the motorcycle

The primary purposes of personal protective gear are:

Comfort and protection

Looks and style

Gain attention and look cool

The retention system on a helmet is designed to:

Keep the helmet in place

Keep the face shield from moving

Provide additional visibility

Hypothermia refers to

Excessive wind conditions

Taking medication for illness

Subnormal body temperature

The best source of information about routine motorcycle maintenance is:

A good website

A veteran rider

The motorcycle owner's manual

The primary motorcycle control is:

The brakes

The throttle

The handlebar

To initiate lean on a motorcycle, a rider:

Turns the handlebars in the direction of the turn

Presses the handgrip in the direction of the turn

Leans the upper body away from the turn

A rider changes gears by:

Squeezing both brakes

Using the right hand to squeeze the clutch

Lifting or pressing on the shift lever

The brakes are operated by:

The left hand and the right foot

The right hand and left foot

The right hand and the right foot

The fuel supply valve:

Adjusts the fuel mileage

Controls the flow of gasoline to the engine

Makes the clutch easier to operate

The engine cut-off switch is located:

Near the clutch lever

Near the right handgrip

Near the ignition switch

The tachometer shows:

Engine speed

Motorcycle speed

Fuel level

Match the indicator light to its color:

Oil pressure light - yellow

Neutral light - green

Turn signal light - blue

The 4 steps to turn, in order, are:

Slow, look, roll, press

Look, press, roll, slow

Slow, look, press, roll

The recommended braking technique is to:

Use the rear brake more than the front brake

Use both brakes whenever slowing or stopping

Press the front brake and squeeze the rear brake

To have a margin of safety means to:

Maintain a space cushion all around

Be conspicuous

Have good steering and braking skills

The three components of total stopping distance are:

Perception, reaction, braking

Speed, time, and distance

Brakes, gears, and throttle

What is the No-Zone?

The space across an intersection

The area around a truck

Drinking and riding

The best way to brake in the shortest distance is to:

Lock both brakes

Apply both brakes fully without locking either wheel

Use only the rear brake

A crowned road affects riding mostly in which situation?

Going around a curve to the left

Going up a hill

Making a right turn at an intersection

Alcohol is eliminated:

Faster than it accumulates in the bloodstream

According to the size of the kidneys

At a rate around one drink per hour

Δ

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Vision: To help motorcycle riders realize their full potential, elevating awareness of motorcycling safety in order to save lives.

Mission: Motorcycle Safety Foundation is the country’s leading safety resource and advocate for motorcyclists. We create world-class education and training systems for riders of every experience level. We raise public awareness of motorcycling to promote a safe riding environment.

Helpful Links

ATV Safety Institute

The Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA)

For Car Drivers

International Motorcycle Institute

The National Motorcycle Safety Fund

Sponsored by the U.S. manufacturers and distributors of BMW, BRP, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Indian Motorcycle, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha.

© 2025 Motorcycle Safety Foundation

For Questions Contact:

Corey Eastman
Director of Rider Education Expansion
Motorcycle Safety Foundation

949.202.6529
ceastman@msf-usa.org

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