Earning Your License

Knowledge And Skill

Safe riding requires knowledge and skill. Licensing tests are the best measurement of the skills necessary to operate safely in traffic. Assessing your own skills is not enough. People often overestimate their own abilities. It's even harder for friends and relatives to be totally honest about your skills. Licensing exams are designed to be scored more objectively.

To earn your license, you must pass a knowledge test and an on-cycle skill test. Knowledge test questions are based on information, practices, and ideas from this manual. They require that you know and understand road rules and safe riding practices. An on-cycle skill test will either be conducted in an actual traffic environment or in a controlled, off-street area.

(Sample Questions)

1. It is MOST important to flash your brake light when:

A. Someone is following too closely. 
B. You will be slowing suddenly. 
C. There is a stop sign ahead. 
D. Your signals are not working.

2. The FRONT brake supplies how much of the potential stopping power?

A. About one-quarter. 
B. About one-half. 
C. About three-quarters. 
D. All of the stopping power.

3. To swerve correctly:

A. Shift your weight quickly. 
B. Turn the handlebars quickly.
C. Press the handgrip in the direction of the turn.  
D. Press the handgrip in the opposite direction of the turn.

4. If a tire goes flat while riding, and you must stop, it is usually best to:

A. Relax on the handlegrips. 
B. Shift your weight toward the good tire. 
C. Brake on the good tire and steer to the side of the road. 
D. Use both brakes and stop quickly.

5. The car below is waiting to enter the intersection. It is best to:

A. Make eye contact with the driver. 
B. Reduce speed and be ready to react. 
C. Maintain speed and position. 
D. Maintain speed and move right.

Answers to the questions above: 1-B, 2-C, 3-C, 4-C, 5-B

Answers to Test Yourself  (previous pages) 1-C, 2-D, 3-D,4-A, 5-B, 6-C, 7-D, 8-D, 9-C, 10-C, 11-D, 12-A, 13-A, 14-C

ON-CYCLE SKILL TEST

Basic vehicle control and crash-avoidance skills are included in on-cycle tests to determine your ability to handle normal and hazardous traffic situations. You may be tested for your ability to: 

	Know your motorcycle and your riding limits.
	Accelerate, brake, and turn safely.
	See, be seen and communicate with others.
	Adjust speed and position to the traffic situation.
	Stop, turn and swerve quickly.
	Make critical decisions and carry them out.

Examiners may score on factors related to safety such as:

	Selecting safe speeds to perform maneuvers.
	Choosing the correct path and staying within boundaries.
	Completing normal and quick stops.
	Completing normal and quick turns, or swerves.

Diagrams and drawings used in this manual are for reference only and are not to correct scale for size of vehicles and distances.