California Motorcycle Test Study Guide

Be completely familiar with a motorcycle before you take it on the street — find the turn signals, horn, headlight dimmer, fuel valve, and engine cut-off switch without looking (DL 665 p.11-12). Sit so your arms steer the motorcycle rather than hold you up: arms slightly bent, knees against the tank, feet firmly on the footrests near the controls, and your right wrist flat so you do not accidentally use too much throttle (DL 665 p.14).

• A street-legal motorcycle must at minimum have front and rear brakes, a horn, mirror(s), and operable lights (DL 665 p.11).
• Keep your knees against the gas tank for balance and your feet on the footrests — never drag your feet (DL 665 p.14).
• Stay in first gear while stopped so you can move out quickly if you need to (DL 665 p.14).

California law requires every rider and passenger to wear a U.S. DOT compliant motorcycle safety helmet certified to FMVSS 218 (CVC §27803, DL 665 p.8). At collision speeds under 30 mph a DOT helmet can cut head injuries by 50 percent, and a helmeted rider is three times more likely to survive a head injury (DL 665 p.8-9). Face and eye protection are highly suggested but not required by California law.

• Make sure the DOT certification is permanently applied — not an easily removed stick-on label; novelty helmets lack real protection (DL 665 p.8-9).
• A face shield protects your whole face; goggles protect only your eyes, and a windshield is not a substitute for either (DL 665 p.9, 16).
• Wear a jacket, long pants, over-the-ankle boots, and full-fingered gloves, and choose brightly colored or reflective gear (DL 665 p.8, 27).

Your motorcycle has two brakes — always use both at the same time. The front brake provides three-quarters of your stopping power and is safe when you squeeze it firmly rather than grab it (DL 665 p.15). Using both brakes for every normal stop builds the habit and skill you will need in an emergency.

• Grabbing the front brake or jamming the rear brake locks the wheels and causes a skid (DL 665 p.15).
• Change gears before you start a turn — a sudden change of power to the rear wheel can cause a skid (DL 665 p.14).
• Shift down through the gears as you slow, and release the clutch smoothly, especially when downshifting (DL 665 p.14).

Riders crash by taking curves too fast and running wide — a primary cause of single-vehicle collisions (DL 665 p.32). Use four steps for every turn: SLOW before the turn, LOOK through it by turning only your head, PRESS the handgrip in the direction of the turn to lean, and ROLL on the throttle through the turn to stay stable (DL 665 p.15-16).

• Press left, lean left, go left — higher speeds and tighter turns require the motorcycle to lean more (DL 665 p.16).
• In a slow, tight turn keep your body straight and lean only the motorcycle; in a normal turn lean together (DL 665 p.16).
• To swerve, press the handgrip toward your escape route, then press the other to recover — never brake while swerving (DL 665 p.31-32).

Each lane gives a motorcycle three paths of travel, and there is no single best position — change it as traffic changes (DL 665 p.16). Ride in path 2 or 3 if hazards are on your left, the center if vehicles are on both sides, and keep at least a two-second following distance — three seconds or more when the pavement is slippery, traffic is heavy, or you cannot see ahead (DL 665 p.16, 18).

• The oily center strip is usually no more than two feet wide; you can ride just left or right of it (DL 665 p.16).
• Lane splitting — riding between lanes of stopped or slower traffic — is legal in California; do it with caution (DL 665 p.20).
• When passing a parked car, ride toward the left of your lane to avoid opening doors and people stepping out (DL 665 p.23).

Experienced riders use SEE — Search, Evaluate, Execute — to spot hazards and act early (DL 665 p.21). Search ahead, to the sides, and behind; scan your path 10 to 15 seconds ahead. Evaluate how the speed, distance, and direction of a hazard could create risk. Execute by communicating with lights or horn and adjusting your speed and position.

• Handle two or more hazards one at a time — adjust speed so they separate, then deal with each (DL 665 p.22).
• In high-risk areas such as intersections, school zones, and construction zones, reduce speed and cover the clutch and both brakes (DL 665 p.22).
• Never count on eye contact — a driver can look right at you and still not see you (DL 665 p.22).

Intersections are where the greatest potential for a collision exists — over half of motorcycle/vehicle crashes are caused by drivers entering a rider's right-of-way (DL 665 p.22). Drivers often say they never saw the motorcycle. Keep your headlight on, ride in a lane position that gives the best view of oncoming traffic, and signal early so others can react.

• At a blind intersection, stop at the line, then edge forward and stop again where you can see cross traffic (DL 665 p.23).
• Signal during the last 100 feet before a turn, and at least 5 seconds before a lane change at highway speed (DL 665 p.27).
• A motorcycle's brake light is less noticeable than a car's — flash it before you slow where others may not expect it (DL 665 p.28).

When you find yourself in a tight spot, two skills save you: stopping quickly and swerving (DL 665 p.30). To stop quickly, apply both brakes at the same time and squeeze the front lever firmly without grabbing it. When there is no room to stop, swerve around the obstacle and keep braking separate from swerving.

• If the front wheel locks, release the front brake immediately, then reapply it firmly (DL 665 p.30).
• If you lock the rear wheel on a good traction surface, you can keep it locked until you have completely stopped (DL 665 p.30).
• To stop quickly in a curve, straighten the motorcycle first and then brake (DL 665 p.31).

Wet pavement, gravel, mud, leaves, lane markings, and metal plates all reduce traction. Slow down before you reach a slippery surface, avoid sudden moves, and use both brakes gently (DL 665 p.34). When it starts to rain, ride in the tire tracks left by cars and avoid the oily center strip until surface oil washes away (DL 665 p.34).

• Cross railroad and trolley tracks by riding straight within your lane — taking them head-on can carry you into another lane (DL 665 p.35).
• For pavement seams that run parallel to your path, move away and cross them at an angle of at least 45 degrees (DL 665 p.35).
• At night, slow down, open a three-second-or-more following distance, and use your high beam when not following or meeting a car (DL 665 p.29-30).

A motorcycle needs more frequent attention than a car — make safety checks before every ride (DL 665 p.12). Confirm the throttle snaps back, the clutch is smooth, both brakes feel firm, the brake light works from both controls, the mirrors are clean and adjusted, and the tires, lights, and signals are good. Check the wheels, cables, fasteners, and fluids weekly.

• If a tire goes flat, hold the grips firmly, ease off the throttle, and keep a straight course (DL 665 p.36).
• If the throttle sticks, twist it; if it stays stuck, use the engine cut-off switch and pull in the clutch (DL 665 p.36).
• For a wobble, roll off the throttle gradually — do not brake and do not try to accelerate out of it (DL 665 p.36).

Only experienced riders should carry passengers or large loads, because the extra weight changes how the motorcycle handles, balances, and stops (DL 665 p.38). A passenger sits as far forward as possible without crowding you, holds your waist, hips, or belt, keeps both feet on the footrests even when stopped, and leans as you lean (DL 665 p.39).

• With a passenger, ride slower, begin slowing sooner, and open up a larger space cushion (DL 665 p.39-40).
• Keep cargo low and forward — over or in front of the rear axle — distributed evenly and fastened securely (DL 665 p.40-41).
• Ride in groups of no more than four or five, in a staggered formation, and move to single file for curves and ramps (DL 665 p.41-43).

Alcohol and other drugs affect your ability to ride safely more than any other factor — as little as one drink has a significant effect (DL 665 p.43). In California it is illegal to ride with a BAC of 0.08% or higher if you are 21 or older, and 0.01% or higher if you are under 21 (zero tolerance). Alcohol clears the body at only about one drink per hour (DL 665 p.43, 45).

• If you drink two drinks in an hour, at least one drink still remains in your bloodstream at the end of that hour (DL 665 p.43).
• The surest way to minimize risk is simple: do not drink, and if you have been drinking, do not ride (DL 665 p.45).
• Riding a motorcycle is more tiring than driving — take a rest break at least every two hours and never ride fatigued (DL 665 p.45).